Compiled by Asrat M. (PhD) 1
How to Write a Critical Review of a Research Article
What is a Critical Review of a Research Article?
A critical review of a research article evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of an article's ideas and content. It
provides description, analysis and interpretation that allow readers to assess the article's value. 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.
Before You Read the Article “Skim it”
Read first for the “big picture.”
What does the title lead you to expect about the article?
Study any sub-headings to understand how the author organized the content.
Read the abstract for a summary of the author's arguments.
Study the list of references to determine what research contributed to the author's arguments. Are the
references recent? Do they represent important work in the field?
If possible, read about the author to learn what authority he or she has to write about the subject.
Consult Web of Science to see if other writers have cited the author's work. (Please see 'How to use E-
Indexes'.) Has the author made an important contribution to the field of study?
Reading the Article very critically: Points to Consider
Read the article carefully. Record your impressions and note sections suitable for quoting.
Who is the intended audience?
What is the author's purpose? To survey and summarize research on a topic? To present an argument that
builds on past research? To refute another writer's argument?
Does the author define important terms?
Is the information in the article fact or opinion? (Facts can be verified, while opinions arise from
interpretations of facts.) Does the information seem well-researched or is it unsupported?
What are the author's central arguments or conclusions? Are they clearly stated? Are they supported by
evidence and analysis?
If the article reports on an experiment or study, does the author clearly outline methodology and the
expected result?
Is the article lacking information or argumentation that you expected to find?
Is the article organized logically and easy to follow?
Does the writer's style suit the intended audience? Is the style stilted or unnecessarily complicated?
Is the author's language objective or charged with emotion and bias?
If illustrations or charts are used, are they effective in presenting information?
Prepare an Outline
Read over your notes. Choose a statement that expresses the central purpose or thesis of your review. When thinking
of a thesis, consider the author's intentions and whether or not you think those intentions were successfully realized.
Eliminate all notes that do not relate to your thesis. Organize your remaining points into separate groups such as
points about structure, style, or argument. Devise a logical sequence for presenting these ideas. Remember that all of
your ideas must support your central thesis.
Write the First Draft
The review should begin with a complete citation of the article. For example:
Asrat Mulatu, J. Casademont Serra, and Yalemzewd Negash, “Availability and Capacity of Wi-Fi
APs in Addis Ababa,” KICS- 2016 Korea Ethiop. ICT Int. Conf., pp. 113-119, May 2016.
