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How to Write a Review Article. Step One: Choose a Good Topic. Experienced Chemists would likely choose an area of research they are actively working in In Senior Seminar, you find a Chemical Reviews article from 5-10 years ago that you are interested in
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Step One: Choose a Good Topic • Experienced Chemists would likely choose an area of research they are actively working in • In Senior Seminar, you find a Chemical Reviews article from 5-10 years ago that you are interested in • You will review a similar literature area as your Chemical Reviews article, but you will update the advances in the area since the article was written
Step Two: Literature Searching • In class, we will learn about all of the literature databases available through the SWOSU Library. Of particular utility are: • ISI Web of Science (Science Citation Index) • SciFinder (American Chemical Society) • Once your topic is chosen, you will look for “new” articles (20-50 should be enough) based on • Topic searches on keywords from your Chem. Rev. article • Author searches from key references from Chem. Rev. • “Times Cited” of key articles will lead you to “new” ones
Step Three: Annotated Bibliography • Once you collect sufficient (20-50) new articles on your topic you need to read them • You will make notes and summarize key points • We will learn how to read scientific papers in class • We will prepare a 10-paper Annotated Bibliography • We will prepare 5 article summaries similar to how discussion of the article would appear in our finished review for one of the deadlines
Step 4: Choose and Organize the Articles You Will Include in Your Review • A minimum of 20 “new” articles go in your review • Not all of the articles you found will be included • Group the articles in topic groups. Each topic group might make up a sub-heading in the review. • Articles by the same author are often on a similar subject, which could be part of a “sub-heading” • A good review might have 3-5 “sub-heading” groups of articles related to the overall topic • Organize the sub-headings in a logical order: chronological, simple to complex, method 1, 2, 3…
Step 5: Write the Introduction • The introduction specifies what smaller area of the literature your review will cover • It begins broadly and then focuses down to the specific area you will discuss • It uses concepts from your Chem. Rev. article, plus ideas from “old references” found in your Chem Rev. article to frame what comes next
Step 6: Write the Body of the Review • Write a sub-heading title • Discuss each paper under the sub-heading in turn • Describe the new development, method, or result • Include a figure or table (90% of the time) • Use transition sentences as you move from one article to the next • Move to the next sub-heading area • Include a transition paragraph at the end of the last sub-heading or the beginning of this on • Repeat until all papers have been discussed • A good review adds the author’s thoughts, insights, and perspective to the accumulating narrative
Step 7: Edit, Conclude, References • Don’t turn in the paper until you know it is good • Go to the Writing Center for help • Read over it and improve grammar, usage, etc… • Add a conclusion of summary that ties it together • What did you learn of importance? • What do you want your readers to get out of this? • Make sure references are in ACS Format • 20 “new references” are required (can be more) • Separate references by “old” and “new” • YOU ARE DONE