View this example of a the Anatomy of a Scholarly Article from the NCSU Libraries:
Here is an excellent explanation of how to read a scientific paper from ASU School of Life Sciences.
More tips on how to read a scientific paper:
"AJB requires structured abstracts for manuscript submission. The abstract is 250 words or less, written in the following structured format: Premise of the study (why the work was done, what major questions of plant biology are addressed, and why it is important to the broad AJB readership); Methods; Key results; Conclusions (what major points should the reader take from this article)" [accessed 2014 Jan 6]
What is a primary source?
Primary sources are original materials. These sources are from the time period involved and have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation. Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based. They represent original thinking, report a discovery, or share new information.
Some types of primary sources in the sciences include:
What is a secondary source?
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are usually one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them. Some types of secondary sources include:
What is a tertiary source?