An article review is a summary and evaluation of articles by other authors. Teachers often assign article review writing so that students can get to know the work of experts in various fields. Experts are also often asked to review the work of other professionals. Understanding the main aspects and arguments of an article is very important for making accurate conclusions. A logical evaluation of the main theme, supporting arguments, and suggestions for further research are important elements of a review. Here are some guidelines for writing an article review.
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Method 1 of 2: Preparing to Write a Review
Step 1. Understand what an article review is all about
Article reviews are written for readers who are well acquainted with the topic of the article and not readers in general. When writing a review article, you will summarize the main aspects, arguments, positions, and findings and then critique the article's contribution in an area and its overall effectiveness.
- Article reviews present more than one opinion. You will engage with the article to generate a response to the ideas of the learned author. You will respond to and use ideas, theories and research from your own research. Criticism of articles will be based on evidence and insight.
- Article reviews respond only to the author's research. This review does not provide new research.
- Article reviews summarize and evaluate articles.
Step 2. Think about the structure of the article review
Before starting to read the article to be reviewed, you need to understand how the article review will be structured. This will help you understand how to read articles so you can write effective reviews. The review will be organized into the following sections:
- Summarize the article. Focus on aspects, affirmations, and information that are important.
- Discuss the positive aspects of this article. Think about what made the author good at writing, the good aspects he made, and in-depth observations.
- Identify contradictions, gaps, and inconsistencies in the article. Find out if there is enough data or research in it to support the author's assertion. Look for unanswered questions in the article.
Step 3. Study the article first
Start by studying the title, abstract, introduction, opening sentences of each paragraph, and conclusion. Then read the first few paragraphs, followed by the conclusion. These steps help you to begin to identify the author's main arguments and aspects. Then read the whole article. If it's your first time reading it, read the outline – that is, look for the overall argument and purpose of the article.
- Make notes of any words or problems you don't understand and any questions you have.
- Look up the meaning of unfamiliar terms or concepts so that you can fully understand the article.
Step 4. Read the article carefully
Read the article two or three times. Use a marker or pen to take notes or mark important points. Highlight the main aspects and supporting facts. Don't: mark all paragraphs, just the main aspects.
We recommend: complete the most important aspects with notes or other references.
- Connect what you read in the article with knowledge about the topic. Think about things you have discussed in class or other articles you have read. Is the article appropriate or not with your previous knowledge? Was the article based on other knowledge of the field? Find out how the article being reviewed is similar to and different from other articles you've read on the topic.
- Pay close attention to the meaning of the article. Make sure you really understand it. The only way to write a good article review is to understand the article.
Step 5. Rewrite the article
You can do this as a free-written paragraph or as an outline. Start by rewriting the article. Focus on the arguments, research, and affirmations in the article. Be sure to include all the important aspects. It is also important to be accurate. Don't: spend time editing or composing sentences. This outline is just to help you.
We recommend: write clear and structured to test your understanding.
- With another method, outline the main aspects of the article, supporting research, or argument. This outline is strictly a restatement of the main aspects of the article and does not include your opinion.
- After rewriting the article, find out which parts of the article you want to cover in your review. You can focus on the theoretical approach, the content of the article, the presentation or interpretation of evidence, or the style of the article. You will always cover the main issues in the article, but sometimes you can also focus on certain aspects. This is useful if you want to focus your review on the content of the article.
- Review the summary outline to eliminate unnecessary things. Eliminate any additional arguments or information that are less important.
Step 6. Write an opinion outline
Review each aspect of the article summary to see if the author has made an accurate and clear article. Write down everything about effective writing, new contributions to the field, as well as areas of the article that need improvement. Make a list of strengths and weaknesses. The strength of the article, for example, is the clear conclusion of a particular problem. The weakness of articles, for example, is that they do not offer new information or solutions. Use specific examples and references. For example, the article may have misreported popular research facts. Write these observations in an outline and look for facts from the study to confirm your observations. Think of the following questions to help you critique and get into the article:
- What is described in the article?
- What are the theoretical frameworks or assumptions?
- Are the main concepts clearly outlined?
- How adequate is the evidence?
- How does the article align with the reading sources and the field?
- Does the article increase the knowledge of the article's topic?
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How clear is the author's writing? Don't: include your superficial opinion or personal reaction.
Better: pay attention to your personal prejudices so you can suppress them.
Method 2 of 2: Writing Review Articles
Step 1. Start with the title
The title should reflect the focus of the review. Find out between declarative titles, descriptive titles, or interrogative titles.
Step 2. Cite the article
Under the title, write a complete citation of the article in an appropriate writing style. Move to the next line to start the review. Don't miss a line between the quote and the first sentence.
For example, in the United States Modern Language Association (MLA) writing guide, a citation could be something like this: Duvall, John N. “"The (Super)Marketplace of Images: Television as Unmediated Mediation in DeLillo's White Noise." Arizona Quarterly 50.3 (1994): 127-53. Print
Step 3. Identify the article
Begin the review by referring to the title and author of the article, journal title, and year of publication in the first paragraph.
For example: The article “The use of condoms will increase the spread of AIDS,” was written by Anthony Zimmerman, a Catholic priest
Step 4. Write an introduction
The introduction to the review article will have an identification sentence. The introduction also mentions the main theme of the article, arguments, and author's affirmation. You also need to state the author's views. Sometimes, the view has several aspects. These views may not be clearly stated in the article, so you will have to find out for yourself. Don't: make statements in first person (I) sentences.
Preferably: give an overall view of the article in third person sentences formally and academically.
- The introduction should only be about 10-25 percent of the review.
- End the introduction with a view. The view should mention the above issues. For example: Although the author has good aspects, the article seems biased and contains misinterpretation of data from analyzes of the effectiveness of condom use from other sources.
Step 5. Summarize the article
State the main aspects, arguments, and findings of the article in your own words, referring to the summary as an aid. Show how the article supports affirmation. Be sure to include the conclusion of the article. This can be done in several paragraphs, although the length will depend on the requirements made by your teacher or publisher. Don't: provide examples, data, or background information that experts in the field are familiar with.
It is advisable to: summarize the main aspects of each section of the article sufficiently.
- Do not use too many direct quotes from the author.
- Check the summary you have written. Read the summary several times to make sure it's an accurate description of the author's article.
Step 6. Write a critique
Use the opinion outline to write a few paragraphs explaining how well the author covered the topic. Express your opinion, whether the article is a clear, thorough and useful description of the topic. This is the essence of your article review. Evaluate the article's contribution to the field and its importance to the field. Evaluate the main aspects and arguments in the article. Find out if the author's aspects help the argument. Identify any discrepancies. Find out if you agree with the author, then provide adequate support as to why you agree or disagree. Conclude by suggesting what kind of readers would benefit from this article. Don't: fill the review with lots of unrelated criticism.
Instead: combine criticism and praise into sound arguments to form your own opinion.
- Support your critique with evidence from this or other articles.
- The summary portion is important for your critique. You must make the author's argument clear in the summary section for your evaluation to make sense.
- Remember, this is not the place to say you like or dislike the article. You are assessing the significance and relevance of the article.
- Use topic sentences and supporting arguments for each opinion. For example, you mention strength in the first sentence of the opinion section, followed by several sentences outlining the significance of that aspect.
Step 7. Conclude the article review
In a paragraph, summarize the main aspects of the article, as well as opinions about its significance, accuracy, and clarity. If relevant, also provide comments on suggestions for further research or discussion in the field.
- This conclusion should only be about 10 percent of the entire writing.
- For example: This critical review has evaluated the article “Condom use will increase the spread of AIDS” by Anthony Zimmerman. The arguments in the article show the existence of inequality, prejudice, argumentative writing without supporting details and misinformation. These aspects will weaken the author's argument and reduce its credibility.
Step 8. Make corrections
Reread the review. Look for grammatical errors, technical errors, and grammatical errors. Be sure to eliminate unnecessary redundant information.
