Writing an article review requires you to summarize and analyze another writer’s article. Article reviews are common assignments in many college classes, especially in literature, history, nursing, education, and social science classes. When assigned an article review, your instructor is asking you to evaluate and interpret the content, evidence, conclusions, and writing style presented in an article from a scholarly publication.
The purpose of an article review is to provide a concise synthesis of another work and to comment critically on the content, analytical soundness, and style of presentation. While there are variations depending on your instructor’s guidelines, most article reviews are structured in the following way:
Introduction
Provide the full title and bibliographical information for the article being reviewed in the first paragraph. Briefly introduce the topic and main purpose or thesis of the article in the second paragraph.
Summary
Concisely summarize the article’s key points and arguments without much analysis or criticism in 2-3 paragraphs. Focus on the purpose, scope, conclusions, and structure of the article. Include short paraphrases of the article’s main ideas and key supporting points. Do not copy significant portions of verbatim text from the original article.
Analysis
Critically evaluate the article’s key arguments and organizational structure in 2-3 paragraphs. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence used to support the article’s conclusions. Consider whether the evidence is substantial, relevant, and logically presented. Determine how accurate, convincing, and comprehensive the arguments are. Evaluate the clarity and flow of ideas. Consider whether the author based conclusions soundly on the evidence presented.
Evaluation
Judge the significance and limitations of the work in 2-3 paragraphs. Consider the importance and usefulness of the ideas and conclusions. Assess whether the conclusions further the current state of knowledge on the topic. Determine to what extent this work fills a gap or extends previous research. Consider whether the research methods were appropriate and whether important aspects of the topic were omitted or not addressed in enough depth.
Conclusion
Summarize your evaluation of the article’s usefulness and effectiveness in 1-2 concise paragraphs. Restate the thesis and purpose. Make a judgment on the article’s overall quality based on your analysis. Suggest how the ideas presented could be expanded upon. Close by relating your evaluation back to the article’s significance within its field of study.
Formatting and Style
Follow your instructor’s guidelines for length, formatting, and style. Double space the review on standard size paper with 1-inch margins. Use 12 pt. font. Include the article’s bibliographical citation at the end in the style required by your discipline (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation throughout. Write in a clear, organized, and objective academic style without personal pronouns. Cite any ideas that are not your own.
Here are some additional tips for writing an effective article review:
Read the article carefully multiple times to fully understand its scope and purpose before starting to write. Have the original article available for reference.
Limit direct quotations from the original article and paraphrase ideas instead. Do not copy significant portions of text verbatim without using quotation marks.
Be objective in your evaluation and avoid making personalized judgements about the author. Do not criticize aspects beyond the scope of the article.
Use topic sentences to introduce paragraphs and signal the direction of your analysis or critique for each section.
Make sure your analysis and evaluation is supported by specific examples, evidence, and reasons from the original article to justify your critique.
State strengths and weaknesses and consider different perspectives, not just those that align with your own views. Remain balanced in your assessment.
Use terminology from the field appropriately and define any specialized terms that may be unfamiliar to general readers.
Proofread carefully for clarity, flow, grammar, spelling, and correct citation style before submission. Have someone else review it as well to catch any errors.
Consult your instructor’s evaluation rubric or criteria to ensure your review addresses all required components and can achieve a high score. Address the assessment criteria in your writing.
Following this overall structure and these tips will help you write a high-quality article review that effectively summarizes, analyzes, evaluates, and critiques another scholarly work. Remember that the goal is to concisely communicate your understanding and critical assessment of the article to your reader, whether that is your instructor or future readers in your field. With practice, writing article reviews can improve your ability to comprehend, evaluate, and discuss academic research.