Friday, May 21, 2010

How to Write a Formal Review


Asked to write a formal review of a piece of written work? While it's not the easiest thing in the world, it isn't worth sweating over either - especially with a writing correction software ready to assist you. Most of the time, you will get a template for organizing formal reviews, although the following tips should help you accomplish them in a more thoughtful and complete manner, regardless of the prescribed structure.


1. What are the claims of the source material? The claims are usually obvious, unless the original writer is deliberately trying to be ambiguous. Look for key phrases that prepare the reader for the "major" ideas of the piece.


2. How are the claims supported? Are the arguments supported by statistically-significant findings or are they mere conceptual reasoning. Most papers will strike a balance between the two, so your job is not quite that clear-cut. Tough luck.


3. How useful are the ideas it promotes? A claim is just a statement a paper argues for. Whether anyone cares beyond its confines is a matter for the readers to decide. Even the most poignant, solidly-argued ideas will sound underwhelming if they're absolutely useless in the real world.


4. Is the paper up-to-date with developments in the field? Do they use current ideas or are they stuck in a simpler universe? The more in tune it is with the realities of today's industry (or society, whichever the case might be), the more meaningful it probably is.


5. Is it complete? Does it cover the subject adequately or is it lacking in parts? Will someone reading it need further materials to brush up on or can it stand on its own?

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