Strategic Reading Strategy 1: Finding the Claim/Main Purpose

By first identifying the main purpose and claim of a piece of text, you will be able to more clearly understand the content of all the supporting text, and if the text will ultimately be useful for your research purposes.
Approach reading by going directly to the main argument or purpose of the writing. In academic and research-based articles, this will come early on, perhaps even in the abstract.
As you approach the article, start by writing out the main argument, position or claim of the text. Where do you first encounter this claim, and what language indicates that it’s the primary point of the writing?
Then articulate why this claim is significant. Does the author cite or indicate other opposing positions?
What evidence does the author(s) offer to support the claim? How was this evidence collected, and does the research design address the question posed?
Finally, write down your own assessment of the overall effectiveness of the writing. What were the strengths, what do you still have questions about?