Start with a question, not a dictionary
Before reading, write one question linked to your module: for example, what does this paper contribute to the week's topic? A purpose helps you distinguish an important paragraph from material you can return to later. Check whether your lecturer expects a general discussion, a close analysis or a particular section.
The University of Leeds Library distinguishes scanning, skimming and detailed reading. UCL's critical-reading guidance focuses on questioning knowledge claims rather than simply accepting them. The routine below is our practical worksheet, not a university requirement or a promise that every paper can be understood quickly.
Map the article before reading line by line
For a first pass, inspect the title, abstract and headings, then locate the conclusion and the section explaining the approach. Write a provisional one-sentence answer to your starting question. Mark it as provisional: an abstract is an overview, not a substitute for examining the reasoning.
Not all disciplines or papers use the same layout. A theoretical argument may not have a separate methods section. Adapt your map to the actual text and revisit any part your course requires.
- Question: What is the author trying to explain or investigate?
- Approach: What kind of evidence or reasoning does the paper use?
- Conclusion: What does the author claim follows from it?
- Next section: Where can you check the support for that claim?
Separate a language difficulty from a subject difficulty
If a sentence is difficult, identify its main claim before looking up every word. Try marking the subject, the main verb and any qualification. A word such as 'may' can change a strong-sounding sentence into a cautious claim. Keep the surrounding paragraph in view.
Maintain two short lists. Put unfamiliar expressions in a language list; put concepts you cannot explain in a subject list. A translation might help you recognise a phrase, but it does not necessarily explain a statistical method, economic theory or research assumption.
- Language question: What does this expression mean in this paragraph?
- Subject question: Why would this evidence support the author's conclusion?
- Check: Can I explain the distinction in my own words, in either language?
Ask what the evidence can actually support
After locating a claim, read the relevant passage carefully. Note whose experiences, observations or arguments are represented, the scope of the analysis and what remains uncertain. Use the critical questions that fit this particular reading rather than mechanically answering a long checklist.
Here is a fictional learning example, not a real study: an article describes students who chose to attend a revision workshop and later reported greater confidence. Before turning that into 'workshops improve grades', ask whether grades were measured, whether there was a comparison and what could explain the reports. This exercise is about keeping a conclusion within the evidence described, not dismissing all student feedback.
Make a note you can use again
Use this original note format: source and page or section; author's claim; supporting evidence; my interpretation; unresolved question. Separating those items makes it easier to revisit the text and see where your own reasoning begins.
Label direct quotations clearly and record the location immediately. When paraphrasing, close the passage and write your understanding, then reopen it to check accuracy and add the required reference. Follow your own university's citation and assessment rules; these notes are preparation for your work, not a completed assignment.
- A useful note names the specific claim rather than saying 'the article is interesting'.
- An interpretation explains why the evidence matters to your reading question.
- An unresolved question identifies the next passage, concept or source to check.
Use a short practice session to find your next learning step
For practice, choose one permitted reading and give yourself a manageable first pass: map it, examine one important claim and write one note. The goal is to find what needs deeper work, not to declare the whole paper understood. If the text is central to an assessment, allow additional time for the required detailed reading.
Try explaining the claim and its limitation without looking at the paper. If vocabulary blocks you, practise the expression in another sentence. If the reasoning blocks you, identify the concept to review or ask your module team about. When enquiring about tutoring, describe that precise difficulty and share only material you are permitted to share.
Official resources are listed below for further reading. They are independent references, not evidence of a partnership with the college. Do not share university passwords, restricted course materials or another person's data with a tutor.
References
Your next step
Tell the college your module, the reading skill you want to practise and where you get stuck. Our team can discuss appropriate learning support and confirm available arrangements.