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Reading a Citation and Abstract of a Scholarly Article in a Subject Database:

Author(s): 1. Check their academic background and expertise. Source: 2.The title of the journal may suggest a particular disciplinary lens; the publication date indicates the currency of the scholarship. SubjectTerms: 3. theoretical/contextual frameworks of discussions. Abstract: 4. Read the abstract for the scope of article—what it covers and in what depth: Does the source make an argument relevant to your topic? Does it respond to other arguments made by other scholars? Does it lay out background information relevant to your topic? Does it summarize other research on your topic? If you wanted to gain background information on this topic, would looking at this article be enough, or would you need to consult other sources? **Remember bibliographies in articles and books may lead to other potentially interesting sources.

A sample Record of Citation+abstract from a subject database:

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Reading a Scholarly Journal Article:

A systematic approach in your reading helps you consider the article critically. A good critique is really more about your own confidence as a reader than about possession of specific knowledge. 1. Read the abstract first. The abstract will tell you what to expect from an article so you know what to look for as you read it. (See above, too.) 3. Next, read the introduction and the conclusion. A good introduction will tell you exactly what to expect, especially concerning the thesis or hypothesis. The conclusion will summarize the main points, the arguments, and importance of the article. 4. Skim the article to find images and data such as tables and graphs. Take the time to locate them and try to understand them in the context of what you know from the introduction and conclusion sections. This will better prepare you for all the dense information found in the article. 5. Read through the entire article. Once you have finished steps 1-3 you will be far better prepared to understand the article than if you read it just once from start to finish. 6. Review the reference section and/or the footnotes. One of the best ways to find relevant scholarly literature is to pay close attention to which studies are cited in the article you are reading. By definition, these studies will be relevant to the information you just read.

The BEAM model (Background, Exhibits, Argument, Method) is one illustration of the variety of ways we can use our readings/sources. Bizup, Joseph. "BEAM: A Rhetorical Vocabulary for Teaching Research-Based Writing." Rhetoric Review vol. 27, no. 1, 2008, 72-86.