Skip to Main Content
Research Guides
? Ask Us / FAQS

Reading Like a Graduate Student: A Framework for Developing Best Practices

This is a general guide on developing best practices.

Reading for Class

  • Review the course’s syllabus in its entirety.
  • Engage in an analytical reading of portions of the text for argument, context, and purpose.
    • This may be more useful for comprehension and retention than reading the whole text.
    • Do not read for detail or to memorize.
  • Initially, skim the content of the reading.
  • Read the abstract, introductory paragraph/section, and conclusion in depth.
  • Read the content strategically and tease out the main themes.
    • Take notes in your own words. This can help with analyzing and synthesizing information and raising questions about the reading. Using your own words will help you avoid plagiarism.
  • Does the reading include a literature review? What does it cover?
  • What types of evidence does the reading use?
  • Note down your key takeaways.
    • Are the key takeaways supported by the reading?
    • Do they resonate?