Knowing who published the article, is a major sign in knowing the audience and purpose of the article. It will give many clues on the overall structure of the article.

This is such a crucial thing, as not knowing the main points of the article will make or break your ability to gain any insight on the article. To have a clear cut section that clearly outlines the main points is a cheat code and must be utilized.

I find this very helpful, as I have made it a habit to always look at the course syllabus as soon as possible. It gives me a strong head start on knowing what is to come and allowing me to prepare myself.