A Complete Writing Guide of Article Review for Beginners

Are you struggling to write an effective article review? 

Tired of staring at a blank page when attempting to write an article review? Frustrated with not knowing where to begin or how to structure your critique effectively?

Don't worry, you're not alone! Many students struggle with these challenges.

But fear not!

In this blog, we will help you to craft impactful article reviews with confidence. You’ll be equipped with the skills needed to excel in article reviewing.

So, let's get started!

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Order Now

What is an Article Review?

An article review is a critical evaluation and analysis of a scholarly or professional article. 

It involves summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of the article's content, methodology, and relevance to the field.

The reviewer must understand the main points, insights, and observations given in the article to present a logical evaluation during summation.

There are two types of reviews:

1. Critical Analyses: It deals with one particular piece or books extensively
2. Literature Reviews: It provides more broad ideas about many different pieces but less detail on each item.

It acts both as a summary and evaluation of a certain work, and writing one helps you improve your critical analysis skills.

Purpose of Writing an Article Review

Making an article review is vital for a variety of reasons:

• Clear And Accurate Writing: It helps the author make sure that his writing is clear and accurate. This will help them decide on whether it's time for some changes.
• People's Views And Perspectives: A systematic review is a perfect way to allow an author the opportunity of seeing other people's views and perspectives on different issues.
• Grammar and Writing Style: It helps the author improve his grammar and writing style.
  

All this makes writing an article review a good practice and an essential learning tool.

Many students wrongly think that an article review is the same as a research article. On the contrary, a research article is a primary source while an article review is a secondary source.

What are the Different Types of Article Reviews

Below are the main kinds of article reviews;

Journal Article Review

A journal article review, like a paper evaluation, assesses the publication's strengths and flaws. A competent author must offer the reader an analysis and evaluation of the piece that shows its significance.

Here is a sample journal article review example:

Journal Article Review Sample Pdf Apa

Research Article Review

It differs from a journal article evaluation in that it considers the study approach employed and keeps that information in review for analysis and criticism. When writing a journal article review, it is important to keep in mind its purpose.

Science Article Review

Scientific article review entails everything that has to do with science. Scientific papers frequently include material on the context surrounding the study that you may employ in your analysis.

Article Review Writing - The Pre-writing Process

Creating an article review for the first time might be overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to begin. To get started, follow these two simple steps:

1. Define the Best Organization for Your Evaluation

Knowing how your paper will be structured in the future will assist you in determining how to read it. Here are the actions you need to take:

• Summarize the article based on your research - identify the major points, ideas, claims, and basic information presented in it.
  
• Define the good aspects - point out the successful elements, ideas, and perceptive remarks the author has made.
  
• Look for gaps - see whether the author has any inconsistencies, gaps, or contradictions in the content, and assess whether he or she made effective use of arguments and facts to back up his or her claims.
  
• Identify the main and answered questions -  finally, determine if there are any unanswered questions after reading the piece.

2. Continue Reading to Learn How to Decipher the Article

Here's a quick and easy approach to help you get started:

• Examine the article's components: Look for the article's title, abstract portion, headings and subheadings, opening sentences in its paragraphs, and conclusion.
  
• Focus on the beginning and conclusion: Beginning and conclusion are where writers put all of their major ideas and claims. As a result, if you start with these sections, you'll have a good understanding of the author's key arguments and points.
  
• Read quickly: Finally, go through the article completely.

The prewriting process consists of these steps. You may now proceed to write your own review after you've completed them - and we'll walk you through the writing process as well.

Article Review Outline

Once you have formatted the review, it is time to create an outline based on it.

Below is a sample article review outline.

• Title Page - The Title page will be formulated as per the referencing style you are following. For example, when following an APA style, the title page will be according to it. The same goes for other styles.
• Title - Write the title of your article review.
• Your Name - Here, the writer will add their name.
• Date - The date of submission.
• Abstract - The abstract should contain a summary of the review question, the primary study reviewed, and conclusions. The abstract doesn't include any references. It should be 200 to 300 words long.
• Introduction - Write the article's topic that you will review, and it should show the readers what the article has. Create and present an outline in which the entire sub-topics will be presented. Add some background information also.
• Body - This section will include the sub-topics and sections that you will be discussing. The article's strengths and weaknesses, negative and positive aspects, and scope for future research, everything would come in this section.
• Conclusion - This will be the end of your article review and will restate the review's main points.
• References - Here, add the sources that you will use to back your claims and arguments.

A good and easy-to-follow outline is important for a smooth article review writing process. Make sure that you create the outline beforehand.

How to Write an Article Review in 9 Steps

Below are the steps involved in starting an article review.

Step 1: Read and Annotate the Article 

Start by engaging with the article closely and actively. You cannot review what you do not fully understand.

To break the article down effectively:

• Highlight key ideas, arguments, and conclusions
• Note the author’s tone, purpose, and target audience
• Underline evidence, examples, or statistics used
• Flag any unclear or questionable sections for later analysis

Step 2: Write the Title 

Craft a specific title that gives readers a clear idea of your review. A strong title sets expectations for your evaluation.

To write a clear and relevant title:

• Mention the article’s title or topic
• Reflect your overall impression or focus
• Keep it professional and specific

Step 3: Write the Abstract 

Summarize the entire review in a short paragraph of around 150 to 250 words. An abstract gives readers a quick preview of your summary analysis and conclusion.

To write a clear abstract:

• Mention the article title and author
• State the purpose and scope of the original article
• Briefly outline your main evaluation
• Summarize the key strengths and weaknesses you discussed
• Keep it objective and concise

Step 4: Write the Introduction 

Open your review by identifying the article and stating your evaluation. The introduction should present your main judgment clearly.

To construct an effective introduction:

• Name the article author and source
• Briefly describe the article’s topic or purpose
• End with a clear thesis that reflects your opinion

Step 5: Summarize the Article 

Present the article’s key ideas in your own words. The summary explains what the article says without adding opinion.

To summarize accurately:

• Identify the main argument or purpose
• Paraphrase key supporting points
• Avoid personal thoughts or critique
• Keep it short and clear

Step 6: Critically Evaluate the Article 

Analyze how well the article achieves its goals. Your evaluation shows the article’s strengths and weaknesses.

To structure your critique:

• Examine the clarity of the argument
• Assess the quality of the evidence
• Identify any bias or flawed assumptions
• Look at the organization's tone and structure
• Use examples from the article as support

Step 7: Write the Conclusion 

End your review with a strong summary and final judgment. The conclusion reinforces your evaluation and reflects on the article’s value.

To write an effective conclusion:

• Restate your thesis in fresh words
• Summarize the strengths and weaknesses
• Comment on the article’s usefulness or impact

Step 8: Create a Proper Citation

Before writing, ensure the article is cited in the correct style. A correct citation frames your review with credibility.

To format the citation correctly:

• Use the required style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago
• Include author name, title, source, publication date, and page numbers
• Place the citation according to the format rules you are following

Step 9: Proofread and Revise

Review your writing for clarity, accuracy, and tone. Careful proofreading ensures your review is polished and credible.

To finalize your review:

• Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Make sure ideas flow logically
• Confirm the tone is formal and objective
• Ensure all citations are correct and complete

Article Review Format 

An article review typically follows a structured format, allowing for a clear and organized presentation of your analysis. 

Here are the key points to include in your article review:

Introduction:

• Provide a brief overview of the article's topic and its importance.
  
• State the purpose of the review and your thesis statement.

Summary:

• Summarize the main points and arguments presented in the article.
  
• Include relevant supporting evidence and examples.

Analysis:

• Evaluate the article's strengths and weaknesses.
  
• Critically assess the author's methodology, research design, and data analysis.
  
• Discuss any biases or limitations that may impact the article's credibility.

Discussion:

• Engage in a broader discussion related to the article's topic.
  
• Connect the article's findings to existing literature or real-world implications.
  
• Offer your insights and interpretations.

Conclusion:

• Summarize your main points and overall evaluation of the article.
  
• Highlight its contributions to the field and suggest areas for further research

Once you get your answers, you start working on your article review. Below are the two most commonly used citation styles: APA and MLA style.

How to Use APA Format? 

Articles are usually submitted to academic journals, websites and newspapers. When formatting your review in APA format, follow the following format for different entries;

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

How to Use MLA Format? 

When using the MLA format, follow the following format for the sources;

• 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 Examples

Here are some examples to help you further.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Order Now

Article Review Topic Ideas

Are you looking some ideas to write an article review? Here are some topic ideas.

• Communication peculiarities between men and women.
• Importance of extracurricular activities for students.
• Negative effects of drugs and substance abuse.
• Cons of using drugs and steroids in sports.
• Obesity and its health consequences.
• Causes and affordable treatment methods for infectious diseases.
• Causes of illegal immigration in the USA
• Changing gender roles and their global consequences.
• Causes and effects of global warming.
• Rise of multicultural families and its causes.

All these ideas could be converted into interesting ideas and make way for a great article review.

To write a good article review, you need to have a thorough understanding of the content. You should be able to summarize it easily and concisely. While also engaging with the information in your own way that reflects how you as a writer feel about the material. 

After reading this blog you should have a basic understanding of what it takes to write an article review. 

If you want more information on how to do so or are unsure about writing your article review, please feel free to reach out to CollegeEssay.org.

We are an expert at providing writing help. Our AI writing tool provides you with any assistance needed. 

With our professional writing service, your essays will meet the highest standards, so don't hesitate to contact us!