Read Research Papers with AI
Paper mapping, methods decoding, limitations extraction, reproducibility checklists, related work discovery, and math translation — every hard part of academic reading, solved with one prompt each.
Research Paper Guides
6 guides — one for each hard part of academic reading. Each gives you a copy-paste prompt that works on any paper.
Paper Map: Summarize Each Section the Right Way
A section-by-section summary from Abstract → Conclusion — each in 2–3 sentences. Get the full picture of any paper in 2 minutes.
Methods Decoder: Plain-English Methods Section
Translates methodology into plain language — study design, sample, variables, and analysis approach. Plus: which choices strengthen or weaken the findings.
Limitations & Assumptions: What the Paper Admits
Extracts both stated limitations and unstated assumptions — the explicit weaknesses the authors acknowledge and the hidden ones baked into the design.
Reproducibility Checklist: Could You Replicate This?
What data, tools, parameters, and conditions would you need to reproduce this study? A checklist that reveals how transparent the paper really is.
Related Work Finder: What Should I Read Next?
AI identifies the key papers cited by this study, suggests related work worth reading, and maps the intellectual lineage of the research.
Math & Notation Explainer: Symbols → Words
Translates equations, Greek symbols, and formal notation into plain-language explanations — what each symbol means, what it computes, and why it matters.
Why Research Papers Are Hard (and Why Reading Them Linearly Is Wrong)
Most people read research papers the way they read articles — start at the beginning, read to the end. This doesn’t work. A research paper isn’t a story; it’s a structured argument with specialized sections, each serving a different purpose. Reading it linearly means you hit the hardest parts (methods, math) before you have enough context to understand them.
The smarter approach: map first, then dive deep. Get a section-by-section overview (C061), decide which sections matter for your purpose, then use specialized prompts to decode the hard parts — methods (C062), limitations (C063), math (C066).
Anatomy of a Paper (and Which Guide Unlocks Each Section)
Always paste the full text, not a link. AI cannot access PDFs behind paywalls or institutional logins. Copy the text from the PDF and paste it directly. For very long papers, paste one section at a time and use the appropriate specialized prompt for each.
3 Reading Depths for Research Papers
Where Research Papers Connect to Other Pillars
Academic reading draws on skills from across the system:
- Paper too dense to parse? → Understand Difficult Text (P2) for jargon and prerequisites
- Need to evaluate claims, not just understand them? → Critical Reading (P6)
- Synthesizing multiple papers? → Reading for Work (P7) — Research Brief prompt (C052)
- Building notes from papers? → Notes & Memory (P4) — especially Zettelkasten (C023)
- Drawing cross-study conclusions? → Inference & Synthesis (P9)
Papers Get Easier When Reading Gets Stronger
These prompts decode specific sections. The course builds the underlying analytical reading skills — argument structure, evidence evaluation, and inference — that make every paper less intimidating.
Start Learning →Frequently Asked Questions
Read Any Paper. Understand Every Section.
6 guides. 7+ prompts. A complete toolkit for academic reading — from 2-minute survey passes to full 20-minute deep audits with reproducibility checks and math translation.
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