Here are some strategies one might use to read a paper.

Pass one.
• Read the Abstract. What is the paper about? What kind of paper is it?
  
• Read the last paragraph or page. Usually this is the conclusion. Does this change your opinion of what the paper is about?
  
• Look at the picture or diagrams. Read the captions. What did you learn.

Pass two. Skim the paper.
• Look at the chapter or section headings. Read the first sentence or paragraph of each chapter or section. Now speculate a little about the paper.
  1. In what context is the author writing?
     
  2. What point is the author trying to make?
     
  3. What kind of paper is he writing?
     
  4. How is the author going to make that point? What techniques will he use?
     
  5. How is the paper organized?
     
  6. Is the author a good writer? Is it worth reading the rest of the paper?

Pass three. Read the paper in full.
• Take notes. List the important ideas as you come to them here.
  1. 
     
  2. 
     
  3. 
     
  
  
• Once you're done, answer these questions.
  • What is the papers main contribution?
    
  • What distinguishes this paper from other work?
    
  • Who else has written on this or similar topics?
    
  • What questions do I still have? What don’t I understand?
  
  

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