Researchers and practitioners have identified the ability to read scientific literature effectively as a core competency in undergraduate STEM education, but comparatively little research has been conducted on how students engage, both cognitively and affectively, with advanced scientific research. This mixed-methods study assesses the process through which students engaged with a series of scaffolded, alternatively graded assignments focused on reading Molecular Biology research articles (the "journal club"). The results of the study suggest that alternative grading can be implemented strategically to address affective barriers in how and why students read science, with potential implications for addressing gender inequities.