science article review template

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 04 December 2020
• Correction 09 December 2020

How to write a superb literature review

Andy Tay is a freelance writer based in Singapore.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Credit: Getty

Literature reviews are important resources for scientists. They provide historical context for a field while offering opinions on its future trajectory. Creating them can provide inspiration for one’s own research, as well as some practice in writing. But few scientists are trained in how to write a review — or in what constitutes an excellent one. Even picking the appropriate software to use can be an involved decision (see ‘Tools and techniques’). So Nature asked editors and working scientists with well-cited reviews for their tips.

WENTING ZHAO: Be focused and avoid jargon

Assistant professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

When I was a research student, review writing improved my understanding of the history of my field. I also learnt about unmet challenges in the field that triggered ideas.

For example, while writing my first review 1 as a PhD student, I was frustrated by how poorly we understood how cells actively sense, interact with and adapt to nanoparticles used in drug delivery. This experience motivated me to study how the surface properties of nanoparticles can be modified to enhance biological sensing. When I transitioned to my postdoctoral research, this question led me to discover the role of cell-membrane curvature, which led to publications and my current research focus. I wouldn’t have started in this area without writing that review.

Collection: Careers toolkit

A common problem for students writing their first reviews is being overly ambitious. When I wrote mine, I imagined producing a comprehensive summary of every single type of nanomaterial used in biological applications. It ended up becoming a colossal piece of work, with too many papers discussed and without a clear way to categorize them. We published the work in the end, but decided to limit the discussion strictly to nanoparticles for biological sensing, rather than covering how different nanomaterials are used in biology.

My advice to students is to accept that a review is unlike a textbook: it should offer a more focused discussion, and it’s OK to skip some topics so that you do not distract your readers. Students should also consider editorial deadlines, especially for invited reviews: make sure that the review’s scope is not so extensive that it delays the writing.

A good review should also avoid jargon and explain the basic concepts for someone who is new to the field. Although I trained as an engineer, I’m interested in biology, and my research is about developing nanomaterials to manipulate proteins at the cell membrane and how this can affect ageing and cancer. As an ‘outsider’, the reviews that I find most useful for these biological topics are those that speak to me in accessible scientific language.

Bozhi Tian likes to get a variety of perspectives into a review. Credit: Aleksander Prominski

BOZHI TIAN: Have a process and develop your style

Associate professor of chemistry, University of Chicago, Illinois.

In my lab, we start by asking: what is the purpose of this review? My reasons for writing one can include the chance to contribute insights to the scientific community and identify opportunities for my research. I also see review writing as a way to train early-career researchers in soft skills such as project management and leadership. This is especially true for lead authors, because they will learn to work with their co-authors to integrate the various sections into a piece with smooth transitions and no overlaps.

After we have identified the need and purpose of a review article, I will form a team from the researchers in my lab. I try to include students with different areas of expertise, because it is useful to get a variety of perspectives. For example, in the review ‘An atlas of nano-enabled neural interfaces’ 2 , we had authors with backgrounds in biophysics, neuroengineering, neurobiology and materials sciences focusing on different sections of the review.

After this, I will discuss an outline with my team. We go through multiple iterations to make sure that we have scanned the literature sufficiently and do not repeat discussions that have appeared in other reviews. It is also important that the outline is not decided by me alone: students often have fresh ideas that they can bring to the table. Once this is done, we proceed with the writing.

I often remind my students to imagine themselves as ‘artists of science’ and encourage them to develop how they write and present information. Adding more words isn’t always the best way: for example, I enjoy using tables to summarize research progress and suggest future research trajectories. I’ve also considered including short videos in our review papers to highlight key aspects of the work. I think this can increase readership and accessibility because these videos can be easily shared on social-media platforms.

ANKITA ANIRBAN: Timeliness and figures make a huge difference

Editor, Nature Reviews Physics .

One of my roles as a journal editor is to evaluate proposals for reviews. The best proposals are timely and clearly explain why readers should pay attention to the proposed topic.

It is not enough for a review to be a summary of the latest growth in the literature: the most interesting reviews instead provide a discussion about disagreements in the field.

Careers Collection: Publishing

Scientists often centre the story of their primary research papers around their figures — but when it comes to reviews, figures often take a secondary role. In my opinion, review figures are more important than most people think. One of my favourite review-style articles 3 presents a plot bringing together data from multiple research papers (many of which directly contradict each other). This is then used to identify broad trends and suggest underlying mechanisms that could explain all of the different conclusions.

An important role of a review article is to introduce researchers to a field. For this, schematic figures can be useful to illustrate the science being discussed, in much the same way as the first slide of a talk should. That is why, at Nature Reviews, we have in-house illustrators to assist authors. However, simplicity is key, and even without support from professional illustrators, researchers can still make use of many free drawing tools to enhance the value of their review figures.

Yoojin Choi recommends that researchers be open to critiques when writing reviews. Credit: Yoojin Choi

YOOJIN CHOI: Stay updated and be open to suggestions

Research assistant professor, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon.

I started writing the review ‘Biosynthesis of inorganic nanomaterials using microbial cells and bacteriophages’ 4 as a PhD student in 2018. It took me one year to write the first draft because I was working on the review alongside my PhD research and mostly on my own, with support from my adviser. It took a further year to complete the processes of peer review, revision and publication. During this time, many new papers and even competing reviews were published. To provide the most up-to-date and original review, I had to stay abreast of the literature. In my case, I made use of Google Scholar, which I set to send me daily updates of relevant literature based on key words.

Through my review-writing process, I also learnt to be more open to critiques to enhance the value and increase the readership of my work. Initially, my review was focused only on using microbial cells such as bacteria to produce nanomaterials, which was the subject of my PhD research. Bacteria such as these are known as biofactories: that is, organisms that produce biological material which can be modified to produce useful materials, such as magnetic nanoparticles for drug-delivery purposes.

Synchronized editing: the future of collaborative writing

However, when the first peer-review report came back, all three reviewers suggested expanding the review to cover another type of biofactory: bacteriophages. These are essentially viruses that infect bacteria, and they can also produce nanomaterials.

The feedback eventually led me to include a discussion of the differences between the various biofactories (bacteriophages, bacteria, fungi and microalgae) and their advantages and disadvantages. This turned out to be a great addition because it made the review more comprehensive.

Writing the review also led me to an idea about using nanomaterial-modified microorganisms to produce chemicals, which I’m still researching now.

PAULA MARTIN-GONZALEZ: Make good use of technology

PhD student, University of Cambridge, UK.

Just before the coronavirus lockdown, my PhD adviser and I decided to write a literature review discussing the integration of medical imaging with genomics to improve ovarian cancer management.

As I was researching the review, I noticed a trend in which some papers were consistently being cited by many other papers in the field. It was clear to me that those papers must be important, but as a new member of the field of integrated cancer biology, it was difficult to immediately find and read all of these ‘seminal papers’.

That was when I decided to code a small application to make my literature research more efficient. Using my code, users can enter a query, such as ‘ovarian cancer, computer tomography, radiomics’, and the application searches for all relevant literature archived in databases such as PubMed that feature these key words.

The code then identifies the relevant papers and creates a citation graph of all the references cited in the results of the search. The software highlights papers that have many citation relationships with other papers in the search, and could therefore be called seminal papers.

My code has substantially improved how I organize papers and has informed me of key publications and discoveries in my research field: something that would have taken more time and experience in the field otherwise. After I shared my code on GitHub, I received feedback that it can be daunting for researchers who are not used to coding. Consequently, I am hoping to build a more user-friendly interface in a form of a web page, akin to PubMed or Google Scholar, where users can simply input their queries to generate citation graphs.

Tools and techniques

Most reference managers on the market offer similar capabilities when it comes to providing a Microsoft Word plug-in and producing different citation styles. But depending on your working preferences, some might be more suitable than others.

Reference managers

Here is a comparison of the more popular collaborative writing tools, but there are other options, including Fidus Writer, Manuscript.io, Authorea and Stencila.

Collaborative writing tools

*Markdown and LaTex are code-based formatting languages favoured by physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists who code on a regular basis, and less popular in other disciplines such as biology and chemistry.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03422-x

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Updates & Corrections

Correction 09 December 2020 : An earlier version of the tables in this article included some incorrect details about the programs Zotero, Endnote and Manubot. These have now been corrected.

Hsing, I.-M., Xu, Y. & Zhao, W. Electroanalysis 19 , 755–768 (2007).

Article   Google Scholar  

Ledesma, H. A. et al. Nature Nanotechnol. 14 , 645–657 (2019).

Article   PubMed   Google Scholar  

Brahlek, M., Koirala, N., Bansal, N. & Oh, S. Solid State Commun. 215–216 , 54–62 (2015).

Choi, Y. & Lee, S. Y. Nature Rev. Chem . https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-020-00221-w (2020).

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Scientific Review Article

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Manisha Bahl, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Scientific Review Article, Journal of Breast Imaging , Volume 5, Issue 4, July/August 2023, Pages 480–485, https://doi.org/10.1093/jbi/wbad028

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Scientific review articles are comprehensive, focused reviews of the scientific literature written by subject matter experts. The task of writing a scientific review article can seem overwhelming; however, it can be managed by using an organized approach and devoting sufficient time to the process. The process involves selecting a topic about which the authors are knowledgeable and enthusiastic, conducting a literature search and critical analysis of the literature, and writing the article, which is composed of an abstract, introduction, body, and conclusion, with accompanying tables and figures. This article, which focuses on the narrative or traditional literature review, is intended to serve as a guide with practical steps for new writers. Tips for success are also discussed, including selecting a focused topic, maintaining objectivity and balance while writing, avoiding tedious data presentation in a laundry list format, moving from descriptions of the literature to critical analysis, avoiding simplistic conclusions, and budgeting time for the overall process.

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2 trump campaign staffers got into a scrap with an arlington cemetery official who didn’t want them filming near the graves of recently buried us troops: report, when a.i.’s output is a threat to a.i. itself, sources: emmanuel macron invited pavel durov to move telegram to paris in 2018; in 2017, a joint operation between french and uae spies hacked durov’s iphone (wall street journal), ask hn: who’s building an ai-free product, apple lays off about 100 services jobs across apple books, news, what is wi-fi calling, and should you use it, kamala harris may finally be the opponent that makes donald trump fully lose it, jack smith isn’t backing down, boosting your child’s confidence for a test: everything you need to know, how to write an article review (with sample reviews)  .

An article review is a critical evaluation of a scholarly or scientific piece, which aims to summarize its main ideas, assess its contributions, and provide constructive feedback. A well-written review not only benefits the author of the article under scrutiny but also serves as a valuable resource for fellow researchers and scholars. Follow these steps to create an effective and informative article review:

1. Understand the purpose: Before diving into the article, it is important to understand the intent of writing a review. This helps in focusing your thoughts, directing your analysis, and ensuring your review adds value to the academic community.

2. Read the article thoroughly: Carefully read the article multiple times to get a complete understanding of its content, arguments, and conclusions. As you read, take notes on key points, supporting evidence, and any areas that require further exploration or clarification.

3. Summarize the main ideas: In your review’s introduction, briefly outline the primary themes and arguments presented by the author(s). Keep it concise but sufficiently informative so that readers can quickly grasp the essence of the article.

4. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses: In subsequent paragraphs, assess the strengths and limitations of the article based on factors such as methodology, quality of evidence presented, coherence of arguments, and alignment with existing literature in the field. Be fair and objective while providing your critique.

5. Discuss any implications: Deliberate on how this particular piece contributes to or challenges existing knowledge in its discipline. You may also discuss potential improvements for future research or explore real-world applications stemming from this study.

6. Provide recommendations: Finally, offer suggestions for both the author(s) and readers regarding how they can further build on this work or apply its findings in practice.

7. Proofread and revise: Once your initial draft is complete, go through it carefully for clarity, accuracy, and coherence. Revise as necessary, ensuring your review is both informative and engaging for readers.

Sample Review:

A Critical Review of “The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health”

Introduction:

“The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health” is a timely article which investigates the relationship between social media usage and psychological well-being. The authors present compelling evidence to support their argument that excessive use of social media can result in decreased self-esteem, increased anxiety, and a negative impact on interpersonal relationships.

Strengths and weaknesses:

One of the strengths of this article lies in its well-structured methodology utilizing a variety of sources, including quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the topic, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of the effects of social media on mental health. However, it would have been beneficial if the authors included a larger sample size to increase the reliability of their conclusions. Additionally, exploring how different platforms may influence mental health differently could have added depth to the analysis.

Implications:

The findings in this article contribute significantly to ongoing debates surrounding the psychological implications of social media use. It highlights the potential dangers that excessive engagement with online platforms may pose to one’s mental well-being and encourages further research into interventions that could mitigate these risks. The study also offers an opportunity for educators and policy-makers to take note and develop strategies to foster healthier online behavior.

Recommendations:

Future researchers should consider investigating how specific social media platforms impact mental health outcomes, as this could lead to more targeted interventions. For practitioners, implementing educational programs aimed at promoting healthy online habits may be beneficial in mitigating the potential negative consequences associated with excessive social media use.

Conclusion:

Overall, “The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health” is an important and informative piece that raises awareness about a pressing issue in today’s digital age. Given its minor limitations, it provides valuable

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Free Download

Literature Review Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a strong literature review that lays a solid theoretical foundation and earns marks.

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

What It Covers

This literature review template is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format and structure  for formal academic research projects. It includes the following sections:

• Before you start – essential groundwork to ensure you’re ready
• The introduction section
• The core/body section
• The conclusion /summary
• Extra free resources

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements.  We’ve also included practical examples and links to free videos to help you understand what’s required in each section.

The template can be copied to your Google Drive 0r downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), adaptable to LaTeX.

download your copy now

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FAQs: Literature Review Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The literature review chapter template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of literature reviews can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard format for academic literature reviews, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of academic research projects (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the literature review chapter will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalize your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a literature review at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the literature review to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

Can I modify the template to suit my topic/area?

Absolutely. While the template provides a general structure, you should adapt it to fit the specific requirements and focus of your literature review.

What structural style does this literature review template use?

The template assumes a thematic structure (as opposed to a chronological or methodological structure), as this is the most common approach. However, this is only one dimension of the template, so it will still be useful if you are adopting a different structure.

Does this template include the Excel literature catalog?

No, that is a separate template, which you can download for free here . This template is for the write-up of the actual literature review chapter, whereas the catalog is for use during the literature sourcing and sorting phase.

How long should the literature review chapter be?

This depends on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, literature reviews for Masters-level projects are usually 2,000 – 3,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects can reach multiples of this.

Can I include literature that contradicts my hypothesis?

Yes, it’s important to acknowledge and discuss literature that presents different viewpoints or contradicts your hypothesis. So, don’t shy away from existing research that takes an opposing view to yours.

How do I avoid plagiarism in my literature review?

Always cite your sources correctly and paraphrase ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. You can always check our plagiarism score before submitting your work to help ease your mind. 

Do you have an example of a populated template?

We provide a walkthrough of the template and review an example of a high-quality literature research chapter here .

Can I share this literature review template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Do you have templates for the other dissertation/thesis chapters?

Yes, we do. You can find our full collection of templates here .

Can Grad Coach help me with my literature review?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services , where we can help you work through the literature review chapter (and any other chapters).

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a literature review, you’ll also want to check these out…

Literature Review Bootcamp

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The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

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How to write a good scientific review article

Affiliation.

• 1 The FEBS Journal Editorial Office, Cambridge, UK.
• PMID: 35792782
• DOI: 10.1111/febs.16565

Literature reviews are valuable resources for the scientific community. With research accelerating at an unprecedented speed in recent years and more and more original papers being published, review articles have become increasingly important as a means to keep up to date with developments in a particular area of research. A good review article provides readers with an in-depth understanding of a field and highlights key gaps and challenges to address with future research. Writing a review article also helps to expand the writer's knowledge of their specialist area and to develop their analytical and communication skills, amongst other benefits. Thus, the importance of building review-writing into a scientific career cannot be overstated. In this instalment of The FEBS Journal's Words of Advice series, I provide detailed guidance on planning and writing an informative and engaging literature review.

© 2022 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

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• Ketcham C, Crawford J. The impact of review articles. Lab Invest. 2007;87:1174-85. https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.3700688
• Muka T, Glisic M, Milic J, Verhoog S, Bohlius J, Bramer W, et al. A 24-step guide on how to design, conduct, and successfully publish a systematic review and meta-analysis in medical research. Eur J Epidemiol. 2020;35:49-60. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-019-00576-5
• Tawfik GM, Dila KAS, Mohamed MYF, Tam DNH, Kien ND, Ahmed AM, et al. A step by step guide for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis with simulation data. Trop Med Health. 2019;47:46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-019-0165-6
• Zimba O, Gasparyan AY. Scientific authorship: a primer for researchers. Reumatologia. 2020;58(6):345-9. https://doi.org/10.5114/reum.2020.101999
• Gasparyan AY, Yessirkepov M, Voronov AA, Maksaev AA, Kitas GD. Article-level metrics. J Korean Med Sci. 2021;36(11):e74.

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How to write a review article?

In the medical sciences, the importance of review articles is rising. When clinicians want to update their knowledge and generate guidelines about a topic, they frequently use reviews as a starting point. The value of a review is associated with what has been done, what has been found and how these findings are presented. Before asking ‘how,’ the question of ‘why’ is more important when starting to write a review. The main and fundamental purpose of writing a review is to create a readable synthesis of the best resources available in the literature for an important research question or a current area of research. Although the idea of writing a review is attractive, it is important to spend time identifying the important questions. Good review methods are critical because they provide an unbiased point of view for the reader regarding the current literature. There is a consensus that a review should be written in a systematic fashion, a notion that is usually followed. In a systematic review with a focused question, the research methods must be clearly described. A ‘methodological filter’ is the best method for identifying the best working style for a research question, and this method reduces the workload when surveying the literature. An essential part of the review process is differentiating good research from bad and leaning on the results of the better studies. The ideal way to synthesize studies is to perform a meta-analysis. In conclusion, when writing a review, it is best to clearly focus on fixed ideas, to use a procedural and critical approach to the literature and to express your findings in an attractive way.

The importance of review articles in health sciences is increasing day by day. Clinicians frequently benefit from review articles to update their knowledge in their field of specialization, and use these articles as a starting point for formulating guidelines. [ 1 , 2 ] The institutions which provide financial support for further investigations resort to these reviews to reveal the need for these researches. [ 3 ] As is the case with all other researches, the value of a review article is related to what is achieved, what is found, and the way of communicating this information. A few studies have evaluated the quality of review articles. Murlow evaluated 50 review articles published in 1985, and 1986, and revealed that none of them had complied with clear-cut scientific criteria. [ 4 ] In 1996 an international group that analyzed articles, demonstrated the aspects of review articles, and meta-analyses that had not complied with scientific criteria, and elaborated QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analyses) statement which focused on meta-analyses of randomized controlled studies. [ 5 ] Later on this guideline was updated, and named as PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). [ 6 ]

Review articles are divided into 2 categories as narrative, and systematic reviews. Narrative reviews are written in an easily readable format, and allow consideration of the subject matter within a large spectrum. However in a systematic review, a very detailed, and comprehensive literature surveying is performed on the selected topic. [ 7 , 8 ] Since it is a result of a more detailed literature surveying with relatively lesser involvement of author’s bias, systematic reviews are considered as gold standard articles. Systematic reviews can be diivded into qualitative, and quantitative reviews. In both of them detailed literature surveying is performed. However in quantitative reviews, study data are collected, and statistically evaluated (ie. meta-analysis). [ 8 ]

Before inquring for the method of preparation of a review article, it is more logical to investigate the motivation behind writing the review article in question. The fundamental rationale of writing a review article is to make a readable synthesis of the best literature sources on an important research inquiry or a topic. This simple definition of a review article contains the following key elements:

• The question(s) to be dealt with
• Methods used to find out, and select the best quality researches so as to respond to these questions.
• To synthetize available, but quite different researches

For the specification of important questions to be answered, number of literature references to be consulted should be more or less determined. Discussions should be conducted with colleagues in the same area of interest, and time should be reserved for the solution of the problem(s). Though starting to write the review article promptly seems to be very alluring, the time you spend for the determination of important issues won’t be a waste of time. [ 9 ]

The PRISMA statement [ 6 ] elaborated to write a well-designed review articles contains a 27-item checklist ( Table 1 ). It will be reasonable to fulfill the requirements of these items during preparation of a review article or a meta-analysis. Thus preparation of a comprehensible article with a high-quality scientific content can be feasible.

PRISMA statement: A 27-item checklist

Contents and format

Important differences exist between systematic, and non-systematic reviews which especially arise from methodologies used in the description of the literature sources. A non-systematic review means use of articles collected for years with the recommendations of your colleagues, while systematic review is based on struggles to search for, and find the best possible researches which will respond to the questions predetermined at the start of the review.

Though a consensus has been reached about the systematic design of the review articles, studies revealed that most of them had not been written in a systematic format. McAlister et al. analyzed review articles in 6 medical journals, and disclosed that in less than one fourth of the review articles, methods of description, evaluation or synthesis of evidence had been provided, one third of them had focused on a clinical topic, and only half of them had provided quantitative data about the extend of the potential benefits. [ 10 ]

Use of proper methodologies in review articles is important in that readers assume an objective attitude towards updated information. We can confront two problems while we are using data from researches in order to answer certain questions. Firstly, we can be prejudiced during selection of research articles or these articles might be biased. To minimize this risk, methodologies used in our reviews should allow us to define, and use researches with minimal degree of bias. The second problem is that, most of the researches have been performed with small sample sizes. In statistical methods in meta-analyses, available researches are combined to increase the statistical power of the study. The problematic aspect of a non-systematic review is that our tendency to give biased responses to the questions, in other words we apt to select the studies with known or favourite results, rather than the best quality investigations among them.

As is the case with many research articles, general format of a systematic review on a single subject includes sections of Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion ( Table 2 ).

Structure of a systematic review

Preparation of the review article

Steps, and targets of constructing a good review article are listed in Table 3 . To write a good review article the items in Table 3 should be implemented step by step. [ 11 – 13 ]

Steps of a systematic review

The research question

It might be helpful to divide the research question into components. The most prevalently used format for questions related to the treatment is PICO (P - Patient, Problem or Population; I-Intervention; C-appropriate Comparisons, and O-Outcome measures) procedure. For example In female patients (P) with stress urinary incontinence, comparisons (C) between transobturator, and retropubic midurethral tension-free band surgery (I) as for patients’ satisfaction (O).

Finding Studies

In a systematic review on a focused question, methods of investigation used should be clearly specified.

Ideally, research methods, investigated databases, and key words should be described in the final report. Different databases are used dependent on the topic analyzed. In most of the clinical topics, Medline should be surveyed. However searching through Embase and CINAHL can be also appropriate.

While determining appropriate terms for surveying, PICO elements of the issue to be sought may guide the process. Since in general we are interested in more than one outcome, P, and I can be key elements. In this case we should think about synonyms of P, and I elements, and combine them with a conjunction AND.

One method which might alleviate the workload of surveying process is “methodological filter” which aims to find the best investigation method for each research question. A good example of this method can be found in PubMed interface of Medline. The Clinical Queries tool offers empirically developed filters for five different inquiries as guidelines for etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis or clinical prediction.

Evaluation of the Quality of the Study

As an indispensable component of the review process is to discriminate good, and bad quality researches from each other, and the outcomes should be based on better qualified researches, as far as possible. To achieve this goal you should know the best possible evidence for each type of question The first component of the quality is its general planning/design of the study. General planning/design of a cohort study, a case series or normal study demonstrates variations.

A hierarchy of evidence for different research questions is presented in Table 4 . However this hierarchy is only a first step. After you find good quality research articles, you won’t need to read all the rest of other articles which saves you tons of time. [ 14 ]

Determination of levels of evidence based on the type of the research question

Formulating a Synthesis

Rarely all researches arrive at the same conclusion. In this case a solution should be found. However it is risky to make a decision based on the votes of absolute majority. Indeed, a well-performed large scale study, and a weakly designed one are weighed on the same scale. Therefore, ideally a meta-analysis should be performed to solve apparent differences. Ideally, first of all, one should be focused on the largest, and higher quality study, then other studies should be compared with this basic study.

Conclusions

In conclusion, during writing process of a review article, the procedures to be achieved can be indicated as follows: 1) Get rid of fixed ideas, and obsessions from your head, and view the subject from a large perspective. 2) Research articles in the literature should be approached with a methodological, and critical attitude and 3) finally data should be explained in an attractive way.

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How to Write a Scientific Review Article

In the biosciences, review articles written by researchers are valuable tools for those looking for a synopsis of several research studies in one place without having to spend time finding the research and results themselves. A well-presented review paper provides the reader with unbiased information on studies within the discipline and presents why the results of some research studies are or are not valid. In addition, institutions that fund research tend to use review articles to help them decide whether further research is necessary; however, their value is only as good as the objectives achieved and how the results are communicated.

The objective of a review should be “to achieve an organization and synthesis of past work around the chosen theme in order to accelerate the accumulation and assimilation of recent knowledge into the existing body of knowledge.” Importantly, a review should present results clearly and accurately—good writing is essential and must follow a strict set of rules.

In 1996, Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses (QUOROM), which focused on meta-analyses of randomized controlled studies, was created during a conference involving a group of scientists, clinicians, and statisticians. The QUOROM statement, checklist, and flow diagram were introduced to researchers to help them better organize their reviews and ensure that specific criteria were followed. QUOROM was later updated and renamed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) with the same values and criteria.

Types of Review Articles

A review article is not an original study. It examines previous studies and compiles their data and evidence.

Based on their structure and formulation, literature reviews are broadly classified as-

• Narrative or Traditional Literature Reviews – This is the classic literature review that summarizes the collated literature relevant to the thesis body.
• Scoping Reviews – Scoping reviews involves systematic searching of all the material on the topic and replicate your searches. This enables the researcher to fill in any gaps that appear in results.
• Systematic Literature Reviews – It is a methodical approach to collate and synthesize all relevant data about a predefined research question.
• Cochrane Reviews – These are internationally recognized systematic reviews for human health care and policy.

Although narrative reviews can be useful, they are not in depth and do not necessarily analyze data or study-group sizes for determining whether results are valid. Systematic reviews , on the other hand, are more detailed and involve a more comprehensive literature search—they are the “gold standard” of review articles. A meta-analysis is a quantitative systematic review. It combines data from several studies to reach a conclusion that is statistically stronger than any in the single studies, mainly because of having more study subjects and more diversity among subjects.

A good review usually concentrates on a theme, such as different theories, information on the progress of developing a new medical device, or how past developments influence new discoveries. A review might also ask that more resources be used to continue research in that specific field.

There are  advantages and disadvantages to writing a review . In addition to having more available data, other advantages include confirmatory data analysis and that reviews are considered to be an evidence-based resource. Some of the disadvantages are they are more time consuming and not all studies will provide the requisite amount of data. In addition, statistical functions and interpretations are more complex and authors must ensure that the populations from each study and all studies combined are heterogeneous.

Literature Searches

Previous reviews on the chosen theme using Google Scholar can provide information on any new findings, and the following points should be considered when conducting searches:

• The author and any possible conflicting interests
• The purpose of the article
• The author’s hypothesis and whether it is supported
• How the literature will contribute to your topic
• Whether opinions expressed by the author(s) are correct

Once the inclusion and exclusion criteria have been identified based on these points, authors are ready to prepare their paper. Sources such as Popular Science and WebMD.com should be avoided. These sources, among others, are not allowed to be used as sources for review articles. Authors must ensure that the sources are legitimate research studies and that they are similar in nature (e.g., all randomized controlled trials).

Manuscript Preparation

Maximum length can vary depending on the author guidelines from the journal to which you are submitting, so authors must always check those guidelines before they begin. As a general rule, most journals ask that a specific font and size be used (e.g., Times New Roman, 12 point), that 1.0-inch margins be used on all four sides, and 1.5 line spacing be used.

The article structure should contain very specific sections, which might vary slightly according to different science disciplines. In scientific writing, the IMRAD structure (introduction, methods, results, and discussion)  is a standard format adopted by a majority of academic journals. Although specific author guidelines might vary, in most cases, the review paper should contain the following sections:

• Main title (possibly, short title)
• Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center suggests providing titles which are 8 to 12 words in length
• The title must contain key elements of the subject matter .
• Author names and affiliations should be included
• Corresponding author details should be mentioned
• Main points, or a synthesis , of the project should be outlined
• Subheadings should be included if required (e.g., objective, methods, results, and conclusions)
• The length of the abstract should be between 200 and 250 words
• No citations included within the abstract
• Acronyms and abbreviations should be included only if used more than once

Introduction

• Background information on the topic should be discussed
• Introduction must address the objective (research question)
• Text should be written in present tense

Materials and Methods

• Should be written in past tense
• Should provide information necessary to repeat the review
• Search strategies, inclusion and exclusion criteria, data sources and geographical information, characteristics of study subjects, and statistical analyses used should be included
• Authors must include all the results
• Their relevance to the objective should be mentioned
• Results must include heterogeneity of the study groups or samples
• Statistical significance should be mentioned
• Background information and objective can be reiterated
• Results and their relevance clearly and concisely discussed

Conclusions

• This section should discuss the objective discussed in the introduction This section should discuss the implications of the findings, interpretations, and identify unresolved questions

Study Limitations

• An assessment of whether the studies were adequate to reach a conclusion that can be applied to a much larger group, stating reasons
• Suggestions for future studies should be provided

Acknowledgements

• Authors may thank the people or institutions who have supported the work

  References

• Only those references cited in the text should be listed
• 50 to 100 references are allowed
• Internet sources are usually not allowed

Very informative and helped in me understanding the do and donts of writing a review…. A big motivational and knowledgeable article for those qho want to get motivation to begin the process of ones thought into practical work and take the first stwp in this regard

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Article review writing format, steps, examples and illustration PDF Compiled by Mohammed Yismaw

2021, Article review writing format, steps, examples and illustration PDF Compiled by Mohammed Yismaw

The purpose of this document is to help students and researchers understand how a review of an academic journal is conducted and reported in different fields of study. Review articles in academic journals that analyze or discuss researches previously published by others, rather than reporting new research results or findings. Summaries and critiques are two ways to write a review of a scientific journal article. Both types of writing ask you first to read and understand an article from the primary literature about your topic. The summary involves briefly but accurately stating the key points of the article for a reader who has not read the original article. The critique begins by summarizing the article and then analyzes and evaluates the author’s research. Summaries and critiques help you learn to synthesize information from different sources and are usually limited to two pages maximum.

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How To Write An Article Review Template - Best Ideas

By: Angelina Grin

An article review is a versatile tool that makes it much easier to deliver important news to your audience. As well this is the idea to acquaint with novelties in the literary world.

Article Review - What is It?

Journal article review, research article review, science article review, start with a header with citation, write a summary, body of the review, concluding the review, citation and revision, strong title for the review paper, cite the article just after the title, write an introduction before the opinions, form a thesis, main body: analyses, opinions, views, don’t forget about the reference section.

To understand for what purpose and for what audience the text writes, mentally put yourself in the reader's shoes. Then it becomes clear that the reader wants to receive systematized and maximally detailed information about a relevant scientific article or journal.

The purpose of the article review is to unobtrusively and clearly and concisely present all vital information, using comparative analysis, statistical data, and other information. In a word, everything that gives information for thought and pushes to make a decision.

The written article review consists of giving a general assessment of its semantic load, meaningfulness, and information content. Thanks to the report, you can learn about the creator's professionalism and evaluate his manner of presenting information and writing.

To you write a writing analysis, it is necessary to discard all subjective judgments about the document. It would help if you were guided only by specific criteria.

In the beginning, the document read to evaluate it based on the degree of correspondence of the writing. It also looks at the logic of the presented material, semantic load, relevant information, and the degree of disclosure of the set theme.

The language of the writing and stylistic features are essential in the analysis. The work should be a single whole within the meaning. The headings of writing attract attention, and the essence of the text itself does not correspond to the theme at all. In this regard, the critique deals with this issue in detail.

Each of the problems posed should describe in stages. Accordingly, at the end of the work, you need to draw brief conclusions on each mini-topic.

Types of Article Reviews

Types of Article reviews:

• Bibliographic critique - the thing of the review is the formal characteristics of the primary sources of information. For example, authors, aspects of the types of writing, the volume of stuffs, the presence of non-textual elements, the language of stuffs for example, for a scientific writing.
• Abstract critiques is the evaluation and analysis of information.
• Analytical critiques - the subject of the exploration is the essence of writing, but in contrast to abstract reports, a comprehensive analysis of the information given, for example, for a journal.
• Monographic critiques are mostly the same analytical critiques, but in addition to analyzing information, they provide a forecast of the development of the knowledge industry, for example, for research.

All data provided in the journal text must be accurate and reliable. A creative analysis of a document, which everyone will pay attention to, will come out if you analyze its artistic, linguistic qualities. You will have to focus on the means of expressiveness used in the document, such as comparisons, metaphors, epithets, and more.

The journals that have just been published and entered the library are of interest to many readers. In public libraries, critiques of new magazines are predominantly universal in essence and informational in purpose.

These critiques were carried out promptly and systematically. The report includes a relatively large number of printed texts, and the primary attention in the story paid to the novelty of the information in the magazines.

The main document requires careful reading. It is necessary to focus on how scientific theory presents itself. As a rule, at the beginning of the material, the creator gives a couple of logical expressions about facts. Then he discusses them, putting forward further arguments, starting from the results of his experiments, research, and observations.

In doing so, keep in touch with the original scientific publication. And also indicate the information that the author of the article carries to the readers. All data provided in the paper must be accurate and reliable.

The analysis of this aspect is based on the objectivity of the collection of information for documents. If the truth of the data revealed as a result of the research is proven, this can become the basis for the conclusions' scientific validity. The goal of the editor is to clarify how the creator of the document registered the events.

An article review of a scientific document is an objective assessment of a written document according to several parameters — its base on the practical significance of the research conducted by the creator. Studying works on different themes is an opportunity to improve the editor's knowledge base in several areas.

The main difficulty lies in working with papers of scientists with little experience. When analyzing the specified part of the document, the editor compiles the stuff in the mode of answers to the following questions:

• Does the information presented provide new knowledge to the reader?
• Where is it more rational to apply research results? What will change then?

In the conclusion of the work done, the objectivity of the creator's findings with the information presented in the scientific document determines. Subjective judgment is a significant barrier to producing high-quality analyzes.

Tips on Formatting

For a clear understanding of the document's essence, it is repeatedly re-read, and formatting is done. Then pay attention to the logic of constructing structural elements, information essence, completeness of the theme.

Analysis of the document begins with a brief description of the source data. The first point is the correspondence of the name to the essence of the document.

The next step is to work out the level of the information essence of the document. The presence in the document of the necessary scientific facts confirming the paper carried out by the creator increases the quality of the document, the level of its information essence.

The creator's observance of the logic of the interconnection of structural elements simplifies the analysis of the presented document. Jumping from theme to theme, the absence of a step-by-step presentation of the problem under study are gross mistakes.

Using the APA Format

Documents are intended for magazines, newspapers, websites. The APA format uses the "author-date" quotation method. This means that the creator's name and the year of the source's paper should appear in the document, and full information about the source should appear in the list of references used.

If you use the APA format in your article review, you need to make bibliographic records according to the following principle:

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

An article review should begin with a name, including citations from the source in question. Place the link at the top of the work. If an intention is mentioned from another text, then this is not a direct quotation of the stuff. Or if there is a link to an entire book, article. Or other assignments, only the creator and the year of the work should be indicated in the document, without page numbers.

Short quotations format according to the following principle: creator's name for the document, the name of the document, journal of the published document, volume and issue number, articles date, and page numbers for the document. If there is no creator, indicate the name and the year.

Quotes more extended than 40 words format as a separate block without quotation marks. Information about the creator, year of the card, the page should be formatted in the same way as in short quotes.

Ability to accurately summarize an article is a skill that you will probably need to develop at some point during your university or college studies. This is an essential part of the learning process and a way to show the professor that you understand the materials. How to write a summary of an article , and what is it for?

The first item should consist of a summary of the stuff. Depending on the size of the item, the essence should be limited to a few items. In these not long paragraphs, you should only discuss the most important details.

These include the intention of the creator, then what the document creates for. How the research carried out, how it affects the audience, and what results in the exploration brought. The abstract is one of the abbreviated forms of scientific document submission.

In other words, this is a miniature document. Unlike abstract, which answers the question "What to write a document," a resume in a concentrated form presents the reader with an accurate statement of the results. A well-written resume allows the reader to familiarize himself with the study quickly.

The creator's goal is not to turn the article reviews into a short bibliography but to objectively consider the degree of problem. You must provide a reasonable assessment of the published work of other researchers, drawing logical conclusions from the research done.

You should not give critical remarks, secondary facts, and information missing in the document, as well as repeat the name of the document and use references to sources and abbreviations. The estimated length is two to three paragraphs.

This is the most demanding creative stage, requiring knowledge of the theme, erudition, mastery of literary speech, and the ability to persuade and influence the audience. It is necessary to use a particular influence on readers - suggestion, persuasion.

The final part of the article reviews contains a summary of what has been said and whether to read the document to other people. The main goal of the evaluation is to interest the reader, push him to read magazines on this theme, or draw attention to new arrivals.

This form of the work does not fully disclose the essence of the article, but only introduces intrigue, raises many questions. The most difficult of the total, which the document critique method requires, is to conclude with the so-called "reading attitude": "when you read, try to answer the question ...".

In the end, write an overview of the main parameters, summarizing all the positive aspects described in the document. That is, make a bias on how it is useful to your information or promoted product? What knowledge will the user gain? And don't forget that completion is no more than 10% of the article review.

Quotations are often included in written texts. You understand that in this way you can give solidity to your work. The incorrect quotation may at least irritate the first reader of your work - the teacher. Perhaps, you should not test his nervous system for strength, but it is better to familiarize yourself with the approaches to the design of quotes in the ARA style.

It would help if you understood: in the document of the work itself, you write a minimum of information about the source and indicate the complete data in the list. After the statement that you quote in the document, the creator and the year of the card write in brackets. This is the most common method, although it can vary.

It happens that the creator of the magazine is not listed. Then only its name and year can be used. If a quote contains more than four dozen words, it takes out in a separate block; quotes are not put.

Using MLA Format

The MLA style is the most widely used format for documenting and citing sources in the humanities. In the MLA format, the link to the quotation's creator in the document itself is brief and precise so that the reader can easily find him in the bibliography.

The source of information indicates in parentheses in the "author-page" format. This means that only the creator's name and the page number from which the quotation take should give in the document. Full information on the source must be provided on the page "Used literature."

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

Article Review Template Ideas by Experts

It is best to analyze the material by printing it or in a document editor. So it is convenient to take notes in the margins and highlight individual sections of the document. Before starting a work, make sure that the page numbering in the original and the copy matches are necessary to refer to the text when analyzing it correctly.

After an introductory reading, you need to analyze the document in more detail to highlight the main theses, the main arguments on which the creator insists. During the analysis, you will have to return to them to assess how convincingly he proves his idea.

We have prepared a template for visual viewing. It includes everything from the headline to the link. Although the name and subheadings change depending on the type of document, the necessary information and structure do not change. If you are looking for a business plan template , we recommend browsing our intentions for inspiration.

The heading should leave a mark in memory. 80% of search users will limit themselves to just viewing your name. For the name, you can separate several words that have no negative and positive connotations.

Positive words: excellent, opportunity, result, active development. Negative words: no need, don't know, complicated, never, hard to imagine. A 6-word title is considered optimal.

Users quickly scan not only document content, but also heading lists. The gaze can cover the first three and last three words - the great place for a catchy phrase and main intention.

The name of the document must correspond to its essence. It is hardly necessary to explain in more detail the need for this. Nevertheless, when the document is ready, be sure to check if the name correctly reflects the material's essence.

Under the heading, quote one of the sentences in the document that you want to share your impressions about. This way, people will see the original version and then read your story. All readers will appreciate such a smart solution. Don't forget to look at the citation method, and it should display one format.

For example, for a book report format , you can use either the APA or MLA style. Also, keep this formatting manner in the rest of the academic paper. If you quote from the work of another creator, then the quote must be put in quotation marks and after it put a link to the source.

You can form a quote in another way, indicating the creators' names, the year of the work, and page numbers in brackets after the quote. However, do not forget to include the full reference to the work in the bibliography at the end of the work.

For example, to cite a case study, you can use Chicago, Harvard, and Oxford. What is a case study , and how to analyze it? The case study provides an opportunity to explore the problem more in-depth and find a solution. The main document should be as objective and meaningful as possible.

Direct immersion in judgments and impressions can confuse the reader. You must act gradually. Writers think that it is enough to rephrase the original magazine document, which will be enough, but this is not so.

The introduction will justify the relevance and significance of the topic, the formulation of the thing of the article review, its purpose, and objectives. In the first sentence, it is necessary to reflect the information situation that has developed in the industry and society as a whole around a particular thing of article review.

Compositionally, the first sentence of the critique consists of two structural components: the beginning and the description of the study's subject. The third part of the presentation is the end-transition to the analytical part of the critique. These parts should outline the most critical, challenging, and promising questions and particular topics.

The introduction gradually moves to the central part, so the gradual transmission of thought is an essential component. At the end of the introduction paragraph, write a strong thesis.

Now you need to know what is the essence of the position of the article review. At the same time, the article review is a combination of the most exciting part of the document and a lack.

Please stick to the uniqueness of the words; it should not be like a hundred other theses. But at the same time, it must be understandable for others and readable.

Remember that the abstract is an abbreviated presentation of the report; try to formulate it briefly. A position is the main or one of the primary thoughts of the creator.

The thesis is a summary of the main points of any project or written work. It is in demand when it is necessary to formulate the main provisions of your work for the public as compactly as possible to highlight the paper's results and prospects.

Next, most often are the main characteristics of magazines. From this, the central part consists. Imagine your audience in your mind, try to explain the essence of the issue to them in simple language.

We pay attention to both the advantages of the proposed document and disadvantages. But at the same time, we give a reasoned assessment: according to critiques, characteristics.

Naturally, the most competent and complete information will be collected if you have studied the magazine. Of course, in this case, we will talk about a somewhat subjective personal opinion. At the same time, it is essential to be able to express this opinion tactfully and authoritatively.

The reader should not get the impression that you are forcing him to do something or discouraging him. Any reader based on your article review should add his opinion and make a decision.

The writing critique of your document should end with a proper reference section. This section is needed if, in addition to your thoughts, other people's expressions were present. This means that you used quotes from authoritative people to prove and support your ideas.

Use one citation style for all documents. APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and Oxford are the primary manners of quotation. The general list of used literature and sources must include at least five names. The list consists of only those works that directly utilize the writing.

They cite a reference or a starting point for the author's concept indicated in the first sentence. You can not add to the list read, but not used in the magazine's work, the names of which are copied from library catalogs or taken from the bibliography in other magazines.

Need help? Our custom article review writing service will help you with your assignments!

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I hold a PhD degree but have not been doing any academic research. Now, I want to start publishing in academic journals and I have really found your blog very helpful. Thank you

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Thank you very much. It's a good idea to transfer methods in a review paper.

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Article Templates

Article templates in jscimed central publishes.

The Word templates shown below can be used for many of our journals. Please download the appropriate template and use it to format your research paper. The templates will give you an idea of the article's length and layout, because each item is carefully edited and typeset in accordance with our in-house style, the final article will differ from the template.

Download Sample Templates

Case-report, clinical-image, original-research, short-communication, submit manuscript.

Articles should be submitted using our online submission link (OR) you can also email your manuscript as an attachment at [email protected]

Open Access Journals

• Cardiology --> Cardiology
• Case Reports and Images --> Case Reports and Images
• Clinical and Medical --> Clinical and Medical
• Life Sciences --> Life Sciences
• Medical Science --> Medical Science
• Neurology --> Neurology
• Oncology --> Oncology
• Pharma and Chemistry --> Pharma and Chemistry