Don't try to read the entire article all at once, from start to finish. Instead, take a step-by-step approach.

1. Read the abstract. The abstract is a brief summary of the article. It should give you an overview of what the paper is about and what the authors' research accomplished. If the content of the paper does not seem to meet your expectations and will not help you answer your questions, you may want to choose another article.

2. Skim the article. Look at the section headings and any figures or tables, taking time to read the captions.

3. Go back and carefully read the entire article, section by section. Write down any questions you have about the article while you're reading it; that way, you can see if the authors answer your questions later in the article. Focus on the Introduction, Results, and Conclusion, and don't get bogged down in the methods.

Note: Look up any words that you don't understand. Use a science dictionary or biology dictionary for scientific terms. If you still don't understand some concepts in the article, even after reading it several times, ask your instructor for help.

References:
Pechenik, Jan A. A Short Guide to Writing About Biology. 4th ed. Boston, MA : Longman, c2001.