# Non-Expert Paper-Reading Worksheet

Use with [Reading an Academic Paper as a Non-Expert](/articles/read-academic-paper-as-non-expert).

## Before you start

- Paper title and authors: __________
- Preprint or peer-reviewed? (check the venue) __________
- My one-sentence claim from the abstract, written before any AI use: __________

## Jargon log

| Term | Plain-language definition | Source of definition (AI-general or paper-specific) |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |

## Comprehension checks

| Passage (page/section) | My paraphrase | What I got right | What I got wrong (with corrected quote) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |

## Authors' own stated limitations (quoted, not inferred)

1.
2.
3.

## Claim / quote / inference table

| Claim | Type (quote / paraphrase / my inference) | Source location |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |

## Scope check

- Population/sample studied: __________
- Setting/context: __________
- Anything I am tempted to generalize beyond this scope: __________

## Before acting on this paper

- [ ] Checked the Retraction Watch Database if the finding is medical, high-stakes, or surprising
- [ ] Separated the paper's actual scoped claim from any broader interpretation
- [ ] If this affects a medical, legal, or financial decision, brought my summary to a qualified person before acting