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Notes on how to read a paper

Notes on how to read a paper. Reading is more than just passing your eyes over the words in consecutive order. Reading is understanding. Why Are You Reading the Paper?. To answer a particular question Looking for help solving a problem Educating yourself

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Notes on how to read a paper

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  1. Notes on how to read a paper • Reading is more than just passing your eyes over the words in consecutive order. • Reading is understanding

  2. Why Are You Reading the Paper? • To answer a particular question • Looking for help solving a problem • Educating yourself • Learn if your own work or ideas are novel • It has been assigned by someone • Reviewing or abstracting it • Preparing a presentation on it • Looking for inspiration • Waiting for the dentist, got nothing better to do

  3. What should I get out of reading a paper? • The context of the paper • The thesis being investigated • The contribution • The method of investigation • The “power” of the results • The influence of the paper • The applicability of the results • Summary of the development • Details of any examples • Thanks to Jim Hook for this list.

  4. Think about “Do Robots …” • The context of the book • The thesis of the book • The contribution of the book • The method of investigation • The “power” of the results • The influence of the paper • The applicability of the results • Summary of the development • Details of any examples

  5. How to Read • I usually attack a book or paper in several passes, sometimes spread over time. • Pass 1: • Abstract • to determine relevance • to determine kind of paper • Pictures • tables, graphs, and diagrams • concepts • and References • do I recognize them or know what they’re about?

  6. Pass 2 • Pass 2: • Introduction, Chapters, Section beginnings, Examples, Summary • to determine organization and content • might decide on this basis only to read parts of the book or paper • figure out if authors are good writers • if you have a choice why not read the well written paper • help set priority/payoff`

  7. Pass 3 • Pass 3: • Full reading • Often take notes during this phase • Try to capture main contributions • What distinguishes it from other work • What it is similar to • What are assumptions or line of development • Questions on what I don’t understand • write these right on the front (for when you read it again)

  8. Pass 4 • Pass 4: • Detailed study • Go back over hard or unclear parts • Frame my own questions about what is left un-answered.

  9. How to read an assignment • How do I know what Professor Sheard wants me to do? • What should I turn in? • When is it due? • How hard should I work on this? • Is it a simple throwaway • Is it 30% of the semester grade?

  10. Steps • Read the whole assignment. • Read all of it! • Use the skills you just learned about reading papers. • What is the purpose of this assignment? • Simple reading comprehension? Practice writing skills? Become knowledgeable about a new area? • Follow and read all the links. The links are there for a purpose. • Why did Prof. Sheard put those links? What does he want me to learn? • Write down a list of things that must be turned in. • Are there specific formats? When must I turn them in?

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