The third edition of Success in Academic Writing (Bloomsbury) was published yesterday in paper and…

How to read a scientific paper
Recently, I was lead author of a University of Bath online resource called Evaluating Scientific Research Literature. Aimed at helping science undergraduates read academic papers more critically, we involved postgraduates in designing it and undergraduates in testing it. I interviewed the authors of academic papers to reveal their motivations for writing them, and to offer guidance to students on how best to read them. Our project team learnt a great deal, and I gained insights that will help me write the second edition of my book Success in Academic Writing.
What were the insights?