How to write a review paper

Review paper

A review paper differs from a research paper in that no new results are being presented for the first time. For this reason, there is no Materials and Methods section in a review paper. The 2

paper will have an Abstract, and it may have a section called Introduction. However, the rest of the paper will be an overview of the topic, perhaps organized historically, perhaps organized by different treatments of the problems connected with the topic. The contribution of a review paper is the manner in which it synthesizes and presents important material in a field. The author may also point out needs for further research or development.

Your review paper should have the following sections:

1. Title: As for a research paper, this should be short and inform your reader of the major ideas that will be discussed.
2. Abstract: Again this should be written last and should summarize the major points made within the body of your paper.
3. Introduction: Your introduction should be short and concise (ca. 1page) and is not given a separate heading from the body of the paper. The purpose of the introduction is to introduce your reader to the ideas that you will be addressing in the body of your paper. In your introduction you should be trying to bring readers from different backgrounds up to speed with the “thesis” or objective of your paper and explain to them why it is that this issue is important. It is not a review of the field… that is what the body of the paper is for! It is generally written after the body of the paper is completed (so that you know where you’ve “gone” intellectually in the paper and thus can effectively communicate to your reader what to expect).
4. Body: In this portion of your paper you will outline the background for your idea and begin to synthesize ideas from the papers you’ve read in order to build a coherent “thesis”. Before you write this section, figure out what your perspective is going to be (what are you trying to show?). Having done this, try to present your ideas in such a way that they build your discussion logically towards your goal. Outlines will be a big help to you at this stage. Frequently using headings (e.g. History of the idea, Specific conflicts etc.) can help you to systematically address each important point that you wish to make, as well as helping your reader to follow your arguments. Once you’ve developed your headings you can then go back and place topic sentences for each paragraphs of information you wish to convey under the appropriate heading. Each paragraph should have clear, well thought out points, and should contain only the information needed to make or support that point. Fill in each paragraph with more details until you have a coherent argument building towards your final, concluding statement.
5. Conclusion: Like the introduction, the conclusion section is not usually separated from the body of the paper, although it can be if it is really long. In this section you should restate the objective(s) of your paper and point out how you have satisfied these goals. It should also reiterate what the major conclusions (ideas) of your study are.
6. Literature Cited. Should follow the standard format outlined by the journal in which you will publish.