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How to Read a Scholarly Article

Reverse Oreo

Picture of an Oreo cookie

In a regular Oreo cookie, the "good stuff" is in the middle surrounded by a harder, drier part.

 

 

Scholarly articles are like a "reverse Oreo."  The good stuff is on the outside edges of the article with the harder stuff in the middle.

Part of a Scholarly Article with the key parts starred

 

 

So remember...  Read the Abstract and Intro first combined with the Discussion/Conclusions.  Then go back to read the middle parts that contain the technical details.