How to Read a Scholarly Source

Question 1

Step 1

Answer 1

Read the Title

Question 2

Step 2

Answer 2

Look at the abstract and find out the main idea and major claims

Question 3

Step 3 (after reading abstract)

Answer 3

read the introduction

Question 4

Step 4( after reading introduction)

Answer 4

check the section headings, and read the conclusion/discussion/findings to see what the big takeaways are

and read the sections that matter most to your research

Question 5

Step 5 (after reading sections)

Answer 5

Pull out evidence that support the claims

Question 6

Step 6 (after finding evidence)

Answer 6

pull out quote nuggets you can use in your paper

Question 7

Step 7 and 8 (after quote nuggets)

Answer 7

use works cited to get other sources/find experts in the field

use the key words to get search string ideas