Guidelines for Review Paper

Guidelines for Review Paper

BIOL 4398 Current Topics

Guidelines for Review Paper

A review paper is a synthesis the current knowledge focused on a particular topic. It leads to an understanding of the chosen topic by providing a synthesis of the findings of recent research papers. It’s not just a summary; it should provide a coherent overall idea and discussion of the topic. Reviews often evaluate the quality of the research on the topic, the current state of the topic (are there controversial areas?) and the future directions of research in this area. After reading your articles, you should be able to identify 3 or 4 salient features to discuss in your review paper. When writing a review paper, you must keep the scope of the paper narrow enough to thoroughly discuss the topic.

  1. Format
  2. The length of your paper should be 5-7 typed, double-spaced pages with one-inch margins on all sides.
  3. You must use Times New Roman font (size 12) throughout the entire paper.
  4. All pages should be numbered except for page 1.
  5. Do not use a separate title page. On the first page, include a title at the top followed by your name, an abstract and body of text. (I request no title page in order to conserve paper.)
  6. Must use good grammar and spelling. Logical progression of topic with smooth transitions. See below for further information.
  7. Your review paper must contain each of the elements provided below.
  1. Elements of a Review Paper
  2. Title
  3. The title should becentered at the top of the first page of the paper, with your name and the due date underneath.
  • Be specific and informative. If your title is vague or too general, it will suggest that you lack a firm sense of your paper’s aims and scope.
  • Your title should be concise; cut any words that do not serve an important function in describing the paper’s contents.
  • Consider the following examples:

Vague:Studies on Seed Coats

Improved:The Role of Seed Coats in Seed Viability

Wordy:Strategies of Seed Dispersal by Plants Inhabiting Desert Environments

Improved:Seed Dispersal Strategies in Desert Plants

  1. Abstract
  2. The abstract should summarize the paper, providing the basic background, topic, main points and conclusions.
  • Write the abstract last.
  1. Introductory paragraph
  • The introductory paragraph should provide enough background information so readers can easily understand the nature of your topic.
  • State your idea (thesis).
  • Make it brief (~1/5 of the paper’s total length).
  • Grab the reader’s interest while introducing the topic.
  • Explain the “big picture” relevance.
  1. Main body
  • The main body of your paper should synthesize previous work, not simply summarize it, by incorporating your own analysis of ideas presented in the literature.
  • Describe important results from recent primary literature and explain how those results shape current understanding of the topic.
  • Mention the types of experiments done and their corresponding data, but do not repeat the experimental procedure step for step.
  • Point out and address any controversies in the field.
  • Use figures and/or tables to present your own synthesis of the original data or to show key data taken directly from the original papers.
  • Relate the evidence to the thesis.
  1. Closing paragraph
  2. The last paragraph of your review paper should not only summarize the connections between your main points, but also cast your paper in a broader context.
  • Succinctly summarize your major points.
  • Points to major data supporting the thesis, and explains the significance of these results.
  • Suggest future research questions.
  1. Literature cited
  • Includeall the papers, and only the papers, that are cited in the text your paper.
  • Follow the format in this section using the journal Ecology and the guidelines for the bibliography.
  • Citations in the narrative must identify an author and year of publication. Refer to the CSE style (see Bibliography Guidelines) and follow the format exactly.
  • For a single author:
  • Habitat homogenization can reduce biodiversity by eliminating the niches of native species or facilitating colonization by invasive species (Rahel 2002).
  • For two authors:
  • Feeding behavior exposes animals to predation (Clark and Levy 1988).
  • For more than 2 authors:
  • A phylogenetic tree of the yucca moth family indicates the important role of host-plant association in the evolution of this group (Brown et al. 1994).
  • For using author names in a sentence:
  • Brown and colleagues (1994) used phylogenetic analysis to illustrate the important role of host-plant association in the evolution of the yucca moth family.
  1. Basics
  2. General
  • Scientific writing differs from creative writing. Scientific writing aims to objectively communicate a topic clearly. A good scientific review paper is specific and detailed, presenting all aspects of the topic. Controversies in the literature are clearly communicated and evaluated.
  • Start by making an outline and list the key ideas to be covered under each heading.
  • Do not turn in a first draft. Most first drafts are terrible. Good writing takes many rewrites. Make a serious effort to edit, rewrite and fine-tune your paper.
  1. Organism names
  • First time writing an organism’s name, use the common name with the scientific name following in parentheses.
  • Common names should be in lower case unless a proper noun (i.e. American coot).
  • Follow the rules of using scientific names (we covered this in lecture).
  1. Grammar
  • Paragraphs should be will organized with a topic sentence, followed by supporting sentences. A topic sentence clearly sets the stage for what will follow. Supporting sentences should be in a logical order, each relating to the idea set in the topic sentence. Each paragraph should consist of a minimum of three sentences.
  • Avoid long, involved sentences and overuse of polysyllabic words. Long, run-on sentences often obscure your meaning, and frequent use of cumbersome words reduces the readability of the paper. Check for excessive use of commas and conjunctions (“and,” “but,” “or”). These often connect clauses that can be more clearly separated into two or more sentences.
  • Avoid grammatical errors, typos, misspellings, slang, contractions.
  • Appropriate use of hypothesis and theory.
  • Do not speak to the reader (i.e. “You can see…”).
  • Avoid the use of quotes. Paraphrase other’s ideas, results and conclusions in your own words.
  • Define abbreviations and acronyms the first time they appear in the paper. After that, the acronym alone can be used.
  • Browse owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ for grammar basics, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.
  • Visit TSU Writing Center in O.A. Grant 210.
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