Leading a reading group

A reading group (or journal club) is a regular meeting where one person presents a paper and everyone discusses it. It is one of the fastest ways to read more, and to read better.

Presenting a paper in 10 minutes

1. Why this paper (1 minute): the problem and why it matters.
2. The claim (1 minute): one sentence.
3. How they did it (3 minutes): the core method, with one diagram.
4. The evidence (3 minutes): the one or two key results, with their baselines.
5. Your doubts and questions (2 minutes): this is what starts the discussion.

Do not walk through every section in order. Your job is to give the group the argument, not the whole paper.

Running the discussion

• Start with clarifying questions: does everyone understand the claim?
• Then evidence: is it convincing?
• Then use: what would we do differently, or next?
• End with one sentence the group agrees on about the paper.

Making it work over time

Meet at the same time every week or two. Rotate who presents. Everyone reads at least the first pass before the meeting. Keep a shared list of papers discussed, with each one's one-sentence verdict. After a year, that list is a map of your field.

RememberPresent the argument, not the paper. End every discussion with one sentence your group would stand behind.