THE DEFINITION OF “READING” IN GRADUATE SCHOOL

Dr. Nicole Benedek

Learn to Find Papers Yourself As demonstrated, the UT library system

has a lot of stuff available! Remember, not everything is online.

Sometimes, you have to physically go to the library.

Document delivery/interlibrary services can locate and retrieve items from other universities. If UT doesn’t have what you need, use one of these services.

Organization is Critical

Use a searchable archive system to organize papers that you find Endnote/Papers Start with your first paper. Endnote available at Campus Computer

Store for $79. Papers available for online download for

$79 (Google search “papers for mac”).

What You Need Affects How You Read

What can you learn from a paper? Data point/number New techniques/methods New science (not everything is in

textbooks!) What other researchers in the field have

done/are doing (so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel)

Inspiration! New ideas come through reading.

What You Need Affects How You Read

Knowledge from textbooks is usually correct, but with papers, you must read critically. Read actively

Ask questions while you read. Try to derive equations yourself.

Papers can contain mistakes/math errors. Check everything.

Reading Expectations

Begin the transition to independence now. Use the bibliography from the first paper your

supervisor gives you to locate additional papers for reading.

Be prepared to read a lot, to read deeply, critically, and often.

Think ahead. If you have to present a paper in two weeks, start reading now. Chances are, you will have to read other papers in order to accurately explain this one. Sometimes, you have to chase information down.