{"id":639,"date":"2026-10-06T00:05:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T00:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/?p=639"},"modified":"2026-10-06T00:05:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T00:05:12","slug":"how-to-read-research-papers-before-you-actually-start-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/2026\/10\/06\/how-to-read-research-papers-before-you-actually-start-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read Research Papers Before You Actually Start Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By: Kruti Shah<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s be honest&#8230; The moment professors mention &#8220;research paper,&#8221; almost all of us have the same instant response: panic, confusion, and a little bit of denial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can easily picture it: your professor nonchalantly announces the assignment, and all of a sudden, you are contemplating whether to read first, write first, or burst into tears first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u00a0Most students don\u2019t struggle with writing itself; rather, the primary strain comes from the reading phase that precedes it. It is in this phase that one needs to find a proper way of tackling research articles. Once this phase is understood, writing becomes much less intimidating and more systematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article is intended to help guide the reader on how to strategically read research articles before you start your writing process. It is based on academic principles and my own experiences as an undergraduate and graduate student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. You\u2019re Not Supposed to Know Everything at the Start<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the biggest thing I\u2019ve learned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Research is not about starting with answers; it\u2019s about discovering them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t need a thesis before you begin. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t need to understand every article perfectly. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t need to write beautifully on the first try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You just need to start with curiosity and build from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Pause and Actually Think<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;This might sound obvious, but taking a small break to think helps more than you\u2019d expect.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&nbsp;After reading a few articles, ask yourself: &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What did I learn?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What seems important?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What argument feels realistic for this assignment length?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ideas hit differently when you give your brain a moment to breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Start With a Purpose Instead of Pure Panic<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the past, I would open random research articles haphazardly, hoping something would make sense and inspire a thesis. Spoiler: it didn\u2019t; rather, it made me feel more lost! Instead, what actually helps is to start with a clear sense of direction. Before opening or looking for any article, ask yourself:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is this assignment asking me to do?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What am I curious about?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What question do I want to answer? \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don\u2019t need a perfect thesis right away, but having a general direction helps you not waste time and energy on irrelevant sources. For example, start by listing a few keywords or questions that pertain to your topic. You can then use these keywords to search in academic databases. This transforms random searching into a much more goal-oriented process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Skim Like You Mean It<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody reads a 20-page research article straight through, not even researchers. Skimming is your best friend. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Look at the:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Abstract: a brief summary of the entire article, which includes its purpose and main findings&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Introduction: it gives background information, and it also explains the main research questions\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Headings: it shows how the paper is organized, which helps a lot to increase the readability\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Figures\/graphs: visual representation of the resulting data from any experiments\/surveys\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Conclusion: concisely summarizes the key findings and their significance \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This helps you quickly figure out if the source is useful before you commit 30 minutes of your life to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Write Down Questions While You Read<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the easiest ways to generate ideas is by simply paying attention to what confuses you or interests you. Start looking at confusion as your friend and not a bad thing\u2026. It helps, I bet. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask yourself:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why did the author do this?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What evidence is missing?\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What do I want to know more about? \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These little questions turn into amazing paragraphs later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Make a Simple Source Map (Trust Me, It Helps)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the past, I\u2019d save articles with names like \u201cPDF (1)\u201d and then forget why I downloaded them in the first place.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now I keep a quick list that includes:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Main idea\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Key quotes\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How I might use it\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Any problems or limitations \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This tiny bit of organization saves you so much time when writing your draft.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/files\/2026\/10\/image-2-1024x474.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/files\/2026\/10\/image-2-1024x474.png 1024w, https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/files\/2026\/10\/image-2-300x139.png 300w, https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/files\/2026\/10\/image-2-767x355.png 767w, https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/files\/2026\/10\/image-2.png 1113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Example of a source map to organize research articles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Don\u2019t Just Read, Annotate<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reading an academic article without annotating often leads to forgetting key information quickly. Annotation actually feels like you are interacting with the text as you read. In my opinion, the best method is to print out the article and highlight important parts while annotating, or to use a computer tool such as Microsoft Word (Review &gt; New Comment). &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mark:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Important claims\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Definitions\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quotes that stand out\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Questions you want to bring up in your paper \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It doesn\u2019t have to look pretty. It just has to make sense to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Use Library Resources (Don\u2019t Overlook Them!)<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the best resources that you have is your university&#8217;s library. The University of New Haven library offers access to quality and peer-reviewed research articles on its databases, which is far more reliable than just surfing the internet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Instead of doing general searches, you can try to search for articles specifically related to your topic using the <a href=\"https:\/\/mkpeterson.newhaven.edu\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/mkpeterson.newhaven.edu\/\">library\u2019s website<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also check out everything using the link below for a quick search to find databases, journals, and articles on the university\u2019s library website, as it will be the perfect guide for you to get started. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This will not only save your time but will also increase the quality of your research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Phewww\u2026 finally done<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you get to know that a major part of the work actually lies before the writing, then research papers will not be that scary anymore. The initial stages of purpose, skimming, questioning, organizing, and taking breaks facilitate reading and make writing easier and clearer. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And honestly? They set you free from a huge burden. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus, the next time your professor gives you a research paper and your heart sinks slightly, tell yourself: &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>&#8220;I don&#8217;t need to start perfectly. I just need to start cleverly.&#8221;<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can do it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By: Kruti Shah Let&#8217;s be honest&#8230; The moment professors mention &#8220;research paper,&#8221; almost all of us have the same instant response: panic, confusion, and a little bit of denial. You can easily picture it: your professor nonchalantly announces the assignment, and all of a sudden, you are contemplating whether to read first, write first, or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":796,"featured_media":640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"portfolio_post_id":0,"portfolio_citation":"","portfolio_annotation":"","openlab_post_visibility":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brainstorming","category-prewriting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/796"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=639"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":642,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639\/revisions\/642"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unewhavendh.org\/the-writing-center-portfolio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}