How to write an article review

Writing an Article Review

The significance of an article review remains evident within the academic field and beyond. Therefore, learning the skills to craft a well-structured article review is essential. In this essay, we seek to take you through a step-by-step guide on how to write a tangible review article. We will also highlight relevant article review examples to further help you polish your ability in this imperative skill.

What is an article review?

An article review is a summary and assessment of another writer’s work. It involves a deeper evaluation, understanding, and proper presentation of main points and arguments presented by the given author. A review essay therefore requires you to delve into the author’s thoughts, analyze, and critique the effectiveness of the article and its input to the applicable field. This genre of academic writing demands great analytical and critical thinking skills. The basic features of a review article include

• Exploration of the main points
• Highlighting the methodology or approach used
• Provide a critical assessment
• Clarification of any possible questions

Types of review articles

Article reviews follow a similar structure and serve to achieve the same goal. There are however different types of review articles, and each requires a different approach. In this section, we educate you on the different types of review articles. Each type serves a unique purpose.

1. Journal article review

A journal article review evaluates an academic journal’s strong and weak points. It assesses the theoretical framework and how it contributes to the applicable field. In this type of review, the reviewer is expected to get a complete understanding of the writer’s methodology and purpose of writing and then give an understandable summary of the merits and limitations of the journal. For this article review essay example, contemplate a review of a publication on artificial intelligence where the author expounds on the effects of artificial intelligence on the creation of original work in academic writing.

2. Research article review

A Research article review dwells more on assessing scientific and academic research papers. It focuses more on the research methodologies; this is the distinct feature of this type of review article. A Research review article requires the reviewer to evaluate the research question, the approach or experimental method, the data collected, and the interpreted findings. This process aids the reviewer in assessing the dependability and validity of the research. The reviewer must then give an understandable summary of the analysis and critique. To illustrate, consider reviewing an article on a new clinical procedure. Here a reviewer would assess the experimental procedures carried out alongside the findings.

3. Science Article review

A science article review entails an analysis of scientific pieces. The field of science includes chemistry, biology, physics, and any other that may be classified as a part of this category. A science article review evaluates the scientific concepts as well as the clarity of theories. For a science article review example, contemplate a review of a paper on trends in cancer treatments. The reviewer may do background research on the evolution of cancer treatment methods to aid in the analysis of the article.

Article Review Formats

Making sure you use the correct article review format is essential. The article review format to use depends solely on the citation style required by your instructor. Below are some of the questions to enquire from your instructor:

MLA and APA are among the most common citation styles applied in reviews. Below are article review examples for APA and MLA formats;

APA format article review 

APA format adheres to the American Psychological Association rules. If your instructor has instructed you to write the review in this style you must follow the recommended citation format. Below is a summarized guide on how to write your bibliographical entries;

• Web: Author’s last name, initials. (Year, month date of publication). Title. Retrieved from (link to your source)
• Journal: Author’s last name, initials. (Year of publication). Publication title. Periodical title, volume (issue), pp.-pp.
• Newspaper: Author’s last name, initials. (Year, month date of publication). Publication title. The magazine title, pp. xx-xx.

MLA format article review 

MLA format article review follows the modern language association style. If you have been assigned to write your review in MLA, here is a guide on the format to follow;

• Web: Author’s last name, first name middle name initial. “Publication Title.” Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
• Journal:Author’s last name, first name middle name initial. “Publication Title.” Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year Published): Page(s). Database Name. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
• Newspaper:Author’s last name, first name middle name initial. “Publication Title.” Newspaper Title [City] Date, Month, Year Published: Page(s). Print.

 

 

Commencing your Article review writing process

Do the Groundwork/preparation

Groundwork is the prewriting preparation before commencing the writing process. It is necessary to note the type of review you are required to work on; this will make it easier for you to read and understand the piece. Below are some important tips to help you get started;

• Read through the article: make a summary of the main points, arguments, ideas, and claims presented in the article.
• Highlight the strong points the author has made.
• Critique the article: identify any gaps and assess whether the author has used adequate information to back up their ideas.
• Identify any possible unanswered questions in the article
• Read through the title, abstract, introduction subheadings, and conclusion.
• Read through the full article

 

Craft an Article review outline

A well-planned outline is key to writing a comprehensible article review. An outline enables you to organize your thoughts. Like any other essay, your article must contain an introduction, body, and conclusion. Below are other additional components of an article review;

• Pre-title page: Share important details about the article that is being reviewed which include article review type, title, reviewer name, and any other as stipulated by your instructor.
• Author’s contact details (e.g. email, address, phone number, etc.) this is Optional
• Running head: This is a requirement when using APA format. You should incorporate a concise title for proper formatting
• Summary page: give a summary of the article. Touch on the background, methodology, and results
• Title page: this includes the full title, an abstract of approximately 250 words and keywords for discoverability.
• Introduction: provide a captivating overview of the article
• Body: layout your analysis using headings and subheadings.
• Works Cited or References: cite all the credible sources you have used in your review.

Suggested Reading Page (optional): if allowed you can propose further reading

• Tables and Figure Legends (if required)

 

Components of an article review

Title page

Running head: (This is a requirement when using APA format)

Summary page: Give a summary of the article, highlighting the background, methodology, and results

Introduction: provide a captivating overview of the article

Body: layout your analysis using headings and subheadings.

Works Cited or References: cite all the credible sources used in your review.

Appendices (if required)

 

 

You should also learn How To Write A Book Review as you read how to write an article review.

Stages for writing an article review

1. Write the title

Create an appropriate and attention-capturing title. Make sure your title is concise and clear. The writer is at liberty to write either an inquisitive, descriptive, or declarative title.

2. Cite the article 

Give a citation of the article you are reviewing. The citation should follow the format of the style you have been instructed to use by your instructor.

3. Article identification 

After the publication citation, you are required to provide identification details for the reviewed article or publication in the first paragraph of your paper as follows:

• Title
• Author
• Name of the journal
• Year of publication

4. Provide a Good Introduction.

Construct a good introduction. Include the basic information about the article and the thesis statement. Briefly give a summary of the strong points of the article. Touch on the positive features and factual data in the article you reviewing.

5. Summarize the article 

Provide a summary of the article. Revisit and touch on the author’s key statements, theories, findings, and conclusion in this part of the article review.

6. Critique the article 

After highlighting the positive aspects, identify the inconsistencies and the gaps present in the publication. Be sure to mention the loopholes and weaknesses you came across in the article you are reviewing.

7. Write a conclusion 

Articulate your main points in the publication, and the critiques and sightings in the article. Also, it gives an insight into the validity, correctness, and significance of the findings of the article review. Provide a clear and logical conclusion.

8. Edit and proofread your work.

The last step in every essay is proofreading your work. Correct any grammatical or punctuation errors. Read through to ensure that all paragraphs transition effectively and remove unnecessary information if any.

As you learn on how to write an article review it would also be good to learn How To Write A Thesis Statement.

Summing up

In conclusion, this guide equips you with the invaluable skills of crafting an effective article review. We have provided you with a step-by-step guide and relevant examples of article reviews to enhance your ability to assess and critique articles or publications effectively. Remember the purpose of an article review is to bring out your understanding of the publication and to also contribute to the ongoing discourse of your field of study. As a student we know you might be overwhelmed by the much work you might be having thats why we have article review experts who offer article review assignment help.