Excel In Article Review Writing [Useful Tips, & Topics]

What is Article Review

Most of the writing tasks revolve around a specific subject. However, an article review assesses the work of field experts. Article review writing is not limited to the academic curriculum.

Even the professionals need to review the work of their contemporaries. It helps in clarifying the ambiguity, evaluating the authenticity, and assessing the experts’ contribution to the discipline. Further, they help determine the possible areas of research. Moreover, they enable you to conclude the data in hand.

Today, let’s dive into the depths of article review writing. We will guide you through how to write an article review successfully.

What is Article Review

What Is An Article Review?

Often people get confused with the term “article review”. So, let us first discuss the article review definition.

An article review is a piece of writing that shares a well-assessed abstract of another person’s published write-ups. Moreover, it requires in-depth evaluation and presenting the arguments in a well-structured manner. Article reviews are generally based on summary, analysis, classification, and comparison.

A scientific review involves performing the research using database searches. Moreover, the aim is to present a clear and well-summarized paper on the central theme.

Just like any other writing task, a review article follows a pre-defined set of guidelines and writing format. So, a review could either be literary or a critical one.

Here are some of the major reasons behind drafting an article review:

  • It efficiently helps in clarifying the questions.
  • Going through various types of reviews enables the writers to break their personal biases.
  • It is a practical way to improve your grammar and enhance your writing skills.
  • Review articles are an excellent opportunity to get to know what and how other people perceive the ongoing issues.
  • It is a wonderful way to develop a firm grasp of the concepts of language and sentence structuring.
  • This is a great way to evolve your understanding of providing valuable criticism and suggestions for future projects.

Types Of Article Reviews

Types of Article Review

There are majorly three types of review articles. Let’s give you a brief view of each one of them:

Journal Article Review

A journal article review analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of a publication. Basically, it requires a critical evaluation of the author’s work and the demonstration of its true value.

Research Article Review

A research review article evaluates the methods of research implemented in a study. Furthermore, they use this information for analysis and critique.

Scientific Article Review

As the name suggests, a scientific article review deals with anything related to science. The scientific publications have a significant amount of background information.

Moreover, you can use these details for an extensive analysis of the publication.

Article Review Topics For 2021 

Check out these interesting article review topics that you could use!

  1. How important sport is in a student’s life?
  2. Discuss the communication gap between males and females.
  3. What are the negative health impacts caused by illegal drugs and substances?
  4. What are your thoughts on gun violence incidents in the USA?
  5. Write about the illegal immigration occurrences in the USA.
  6. Share your thoughts on drug usage in professional sports.
  7. How have gender roles evolved in the modern world?
  8. How does obesity affect health negatively?
  9. What are the causes and impacts of greenhouse gases on our planet?
  10. Is recycling really helpful? What are your thoughts on it?
  11. What are your thoughts on racial discrimination?
  12. Global warming is on the rise. How does humankind contribute to it?
  13. Share a critical analysis of the street art tendencies in the USA.
  14. Ethnic music depicts the history and the stories of religious communities.
  15. Share your views on the modern idea of multicultural families.

Useful Writing Tips For Drafting A Successful Article Review

  • Mostly, students are in a rush to just get done with their projects. Instead, devote a considerable amount of time to research and create a critique to ensure top-notch results. Planning everything ahead of time helps in timely deliveries.
  • Make sure to gather as much information as you can. This way, you will be prepared for the road ahead.
  • It is always recommended to draft the article review compatible with the paper you are assessing.
  • Never miss out on the summary or evaluation part as both are meant to work simultaneously. Consequently, it paints a clear picture of the article.
  • Do explain every single point discussed by the author. This makes it easy for the readers to understand the true message. Further, it helps in developing the value of the article.
  • An in-depth analysis of the work is highly important to help the readers understand the true worth of the work.
  • A quality assessment of different aspects of the article is crucial. It would help the readers get the clear context of the write-up. This way, they can use the information as per their requirements.

The Perfect Format For Article Review Writing

Mostly, the article review format is based on the citation style requirements decided by the assignor. Address the following points before deciding on the format.

  • The format style for article citation. This includes ASA format, APA format, MLA format, Chicago format, etc.
  • The total length of your review.
  • Do you aim to bring all the attention to the key idea of the article?
  • Is there any need for a critique, personal opinion, or summary?

After assessing all these queries, it is time you start working on the paper.

So, let’s now look at the popular article review writing formats.

The APA Format Style

This one is a common format for articles published in newspapers, websites, and journals. Writing in the APA format involves mentioning bibliographical details of the sources you have used in the assignment.

  • Journal: Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Publication Year). Publication Title. Periodical Title, Volume(Issue), pp.-pp.
  • Web:Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Title. Retrieved from {link}
  • Newspaper:Author [last name], A.A [first and middle initial]. (Year, Month Date of Publication). Publication Title. Magazine Title, pp. xx-xx.

The MLA Format Style

Writing in the MLA format involves mentioning brief details of the sources you have used in the assignment.

  • Web: Last, First Middle Initial. “Publication Title.” Website Title. Website Publisher, Date Month Year Published. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.
  • Newspaper: Last, First M. “Publication Title.” Newspaper Title [City] Date, Month, Year Published: Page(s). Print.
  • Journal: Last, First M. “Publication Title.” Journal Title Series Volume. Issue (Year Published): Page(s). Database Name. Web. Date Month Year Accessed.

Article Review Outline

Having an outline is essential for any form of paper writing assignment. If you are confused about how to write an article review, then start with an outline. It helps in maintaining a coherent flow of ideas Moreover it keeps the structure systematic and organized throughout the content.

Let us discuss how you can outline your article review.

    • Pre-Title Page: Start with mentioning the type of article that you are going to review. It also includes details such as the publication’s title. Further, mention the name of the authors and their affiliations; such as e-mail ID, state, country, institute, department, position, etc.
    • Corresponding Details Of The Author: This is an optional part. However, it brings value to your assignment. Here, mention the details such as the author’s name, phone number, fax number, address, etc.
    • The Running Head: Write a running head if you are following the APA format. Basically, present your paper’s title in 40 characters or less.
    • Summary Page: It is an 800-word long summary where you need to be clear with the language and be direct. Avoid including references or repeating the text verbatim. You need to provide relevant background information and explain the purpose of doing the work.
    • Title Page: It is a 250-word abstract with a full title. It includes 4-5 keywords.
    • Introductory paragraph: Provide a quick and brief glimpse of what the readers can expect in the content ahead. Make sure to make it hook-worthy. Do mention a thesis statement relevant to the subject.
    • Main Body: The body is divided into different sections including the information backed up with evidence. You must aim at breaking down the work and assess if it attains the goals.

Evaluate if it’s useful in explaining the subject. It’s time for you to analyze the article’s contribution to the field and its credibility.

  • Conclusion: The conclusion does not have to be longer than one or two paragraphs. The idea is to summarize everything and present the core idea as well as opinions in the assignment.

Further, write about the level of accuracy and importance of the work.

The Step-By-Step Process Of Article Review Writing

How to Write an Article Review

  1. Pick A Suitable Title

The title of your assignment provides a quick idea of what’s inside. You can keep the title descriptive, interrogative, or declarative.

  1. Article Citation

You need to work on the citation of the reviewed article and then fit it into the title. Keep the citation style specified by the instructor in mind.

  1. Identification Of The Article

Next, you need to mention the identification of the article you have reviewed. Write these details in the first paragraph:

  • Article’s title
  • Author’s name
  • Journal’s title
  • The year of publication
  1. Introduction

Initially, you need to organize your ideas systematically to ensure meaningful placement of all the information within the assignment. As we discussed earlier, stick with a review article outline to maintain the flow of thoughts.

So, how do you start writing the introductory paragraph? Let us guide you with that:

  • Present a thesis statement relevant to your review.
  • Share an abstract of the core ideas of the assignment.
  • Mention all the positive points, facts, and figures from the research study.
  • A critique of the published review such as gaps within the write-up, unresolved queries, disparities within the text, contradictory ideas, etc.
  1. Present Summary Of The Article

Here, share a summarized view of the article by recalling and stating the author’s thoughts. Moreover, share all the arguments and facts presented in the article.

  1. A Critical View

It’s time to discuss all the strengths and weaknesses you could spot in the article. Do not forget to write about the significant contribution the author has made in the field with his valuable knowledge.

Did you feel there were gaps and contradictions within the article? Share them with the readers. Also, do take a stand either supporting or opposing the assertions made by the author. Always remember to support them with relevant claims and evidence.

  1. Conclusion

The concluding paragraph basically provides a list of all the key points, critiques, and findings. Moreover, share your views on how accurate, relevant and valid the review is. This way, you can provide a smoother pathway for future research work.

  1. Revisions And Proofreading

Last but not the least, make sure to revise all the information and proofread your article reviews. It’s a crucial part, regardless of the type of paper you are working on.

Check and verify the grammar, spelling, sentence structuring, and punctuation. You can also use online tools to assure everything is in place.

Final Words

It is not easy to write a critique. The task is undoubtedly tricky and challenging. Moreover, you need to look into multiple reliable resources and assess the information critically. Further, you must have a flair for writing.

We hope we could help you understand what is an article review, and how to successfully write a winning copy. Follow these tips and tricks while drafting your next review copy and you will be amazed to see the results.