Phillip C. Shon received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois (Chicago); he also holds an M.A. in linguistics and a B.A. in philosophy from Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago). He is currently a Professor of Criminology at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology where he teaches courses in homicide and criminological theory.
He is the author of How to Read Journal Articles in the Social Sciences (2^nd ed.). London: Sage, 2015; Language and Demeanor in Police-Citizen Encounters. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2008; Respect, Defense, and Self-Identity: Profiling Parricide in Nineteenth-Century America, 1852-1899. New York: Peter Lang, 2014. He is a co-editor (with Dragan Milovanovic) of Serial Killers: Understanding Lust Murders. (eds). Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2006.
Phil grew up in Chicago. He no longer hides the shame of being a Cubs fan, and has completely forgotten Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. He is patiently awaiting the Chicago Bears to come up with a sequel to the "Super Bowl Shuffle" before they return once more to the Promised Land.

Chapter 1: The Challenges of Reading
Chapter 2: Trying to Fix Mechanical and Structural Writing Problems with Abstract Tools
Chapter 3: Should I even Read This? How to Read the Abstract, General Introduction and Methods Section
Chapter 4: So What? How to Read the General Literature Review, Psychology Introductions, and Results Sections
Chapter 5: Becoming a Part of the Scholarly Community: How to Read the Discussion and Conclusion
Chapter 6: Highlighting and Organizing the ROF, SPL, CPL, GAP, RFW and POC
Chapter 7: Will the Reading Code Organization Sheet Work on Non-social Science Texts?
Chapter 8: Concluding Remarks

This superb guide teaches you how to read critically.  Its no-nonsense, practical approach uses a specially developed reading code to help you read articles for your research project; this simple code enables you to decipher journal articles structurally, mechanically and grammatically. 

Refreshingly free of jargon and written with you in mind, it's packed full of interdisciplinary advice that helps you to decode and critique academic writing.  The author's fuss free approach will improve your performance, boost your confidence and help you to:   

• Read and better understand content
• Take relevant effective notes
• Manage large amounts of information in an easily identifiable and retrievable format
• Write persuasively using formal academic language and style.

New to this edition:

• Additional examples across a range of subjects, including education, health and sociology as well as criminology
• Refined terminology for students in the UK, as well as around the world
• More examples dealing specifically with journal articles.

Clear, focused and practical this handy guide is a great resource for helping you sharpen your use of journal articles and improve your academic writing skills.

'I have used the book over the last five years with my students with great success. The book has helped students to develop their critical thinking, reading and writing skills and when it comes to writing a dissertation they have used the code sheet in their own writing.' - Pete Allison, Head of the Graduate School of Education, University of Edinburgh

The Student Success series are essential guides for students of all levels. From how to think critically and write great essays to planning your dream career, the Student Success series helps you study smarter and get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips and resources for study success!