difference between article review and formal essay

Article vs Essay: Unraveling Commonly Confused Terms

Welcome to our article vs essay comparison. If you’re a student or a writer, you may have come across these two terms and wondered what the difference was. In this article, we will explore the definitions of both article and essay, and help you understand when to use each one.

First off, it’s important to note that both article and essay are proper words in the English language. However, they have different meanings and are used in different contexts. An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper, magazine, or online publication. It is typically written in a journalistic style and is meant to inform or entertain the reader. On the other hand, an essay is a piece of writing that is typically longer than an article and is meant to explore a topic in-depth. Essays are often used in academic settings and are meant to demonstrate a student’s understanding of a particular subject.

Now that we’ve established the definitions of article and essay, let’s dive into the differences between the two. While both are forms of writing, they have different purposes and structures. Articles are typically shorter and more concise, with a focus on delivering information quickly and efficiently. They are often written in a more informal tone and may include quotes from experts or other sources. Essays, on the other hand, are longer and more detailed. They often have a formal structure, with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Essays are meant to explore a topic in-depth and may require research and analysis.

So, when should you use an article vs an essay? The answer depends on the context. If you’re writing for a newspaper or magazine, an article is likely the appropriate format. If you’re writing a research paper or a thesis, an essay would be more appropriate. It’s important to consider your audience and the purpose of your writing when deciding which format to use.

In the rest of this article, we will explore the differences between articles and essays in more detail, including their structures, purposes, and examples of each. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of when to use an article vs an essay, and how to write each one effectively.

Define Article

An article is a piece of writing that is published in a newspaper, magazine, or online platform. It is usually written in a concise and informative manner and is intended to inform or entertain the reader. Articles can cover a wide range of topics, from news and current events to lifestyle and opinion pieces.

Articles are typically shorter than essays and are written in a more casual tone. They often include quotes or references to other sources to support the information presented. Articles can be written by journalists, bloggers, or freelance writers and are often commissioned by editors or publishers.

Define Essay

An essay is a formal piece of writing that presents an argument or explores a topic in depth. Essays are typically longer than articles and are written in a more formal tone. They require research and critical thinking to develop a clear and coherent argument.

Essays can take many forms, including persuasive, descriptive, and narrative. They are often used in academic settings, such as universities and colleges, to assess a student’s understanding of a particular topic. Essays typically have a clear structure, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

How To Properly Use The Words In A Sentence

Using the correct word in a sentence is crucial to convey the intended meaning. The words “article” and “essay” are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct differences. In this section, we will discuss how to properly use these words in a sentence.

How To Use “Article” In A Sentence

An article is a piece of writing that provides information on a specific topic. It is typically written for a publication, such as a newspaper or magazine, and can range in length from a few hundred words to several thousand. Here are some examples of how to use “article” in a sentence:

• The journalist wrote an article about the impact of social media on mental health.
• I read an interesting article in the New York Times about climate change.
• She submitted an article to the academic journal for peer review.

As you can see, “article” is used to refer to a specific piece of writing that is published in a newspaper, magazine, or journal.

How To Use “Essay” In A Sentence

An essay is a piece of writing that explores a specific topic or presents an argument. It is typically longer than an article and often requires research and analysis. Here are some examples of how to use “essay” in a sentence:

• The student wrote an essay on the causes of the American Revolution.
• The professor assigned a 10-page essay on the effects of globalization.
• She submitted her essay to the writing contest and won first prize.

As you can see, “essay” is used to refer to a longer piece of writing that explores a topic or presents an argument.

More Examples Of Article & Essay Used In Sentences

In order to fully understand the differences between an article and an essay, it’s important to see how they are used in context. Here are some examples of how the words “article” and “essay” can be used in sentences:

Examples Of Using “Article” In A Sentence

• The newspaper article discussed the latest political scandal.
• She wrote an article about the benefits of meditation.
• The journal article focused on the effects of climate change on marine life.
• The online article provided tips for improving your writing skills.
• He submitted an article about the history of jazz music to the magazine.
• The scientific article explained the results of the experiment.
• The blog article analyzed the latest trends in social media.
• Her article on the importance of education was widely shared on social media.
• The magazine article profiled a successful entrepreneur.
• The academic article explored the concept of cultural relativism.

Examples Of Using “Essay” In A Sentence

• She wrote an essay on the causes and effects of air pollution.
• The professor assigned a 10-page essay on the history of the Civil War.
• His essay on the meaning of life was thought-provoking and insightful.
• The scholarship application required a personal essay about your goals and aspirations.
• The literary essay analyzed the symbolism in the novel.
• The student submitted an essay arguing for the legalization of marijuana.
• The persuasive essay convinced the reader to support the author’s viewpoint.
• His essay on the ethics of animal testing sparked a heated debate in class.
• The college entrance essay showcased her writing skills and personality.
• The reflective essay allowed her to explore her personal growth and development.

As you can see, both “article” and “essay” are used in a variety of contexts and for different purposes. While articles are typically shorter and focus on providing information, essays are often longer and more focused on exploring a topic in-depth. Understanding the nuances between these two types of writing can help you choose the appropriate format for your own work.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When it comes to writing, it’s easy to confuse article and essay as interchangeable terms. However, this is not the case. Here are some common mistakes people make when using article and essay interchangeably, with explanations of why they are incorrect, and tips on how to avoid making these mistakes in the future.

Using “Article” Instead Of “Essay”

One common mistake is using “article” when you actually mean “essay.” While both terms refer to written pieces, they have different purposes and structures. An article is a written work that provides information on a topic, while an essay is a more formal piece of writing that presents an argument or point of view.

To avoid this mistake, make sure you understand the purpose of your writing. If you’re simply providing information, use the term “article.” If you’re presenting an argument or point of view, use the term “essay.”

Using “Essay” Instead Of “Article”

Another mistake is using “essay” when you actually mean “article.” This is especially common in academic writing, where the term “essay” is often used to refer to any written work. However, an essay has a specific structure and purpose that is different from an article.

To avoid this mistake, make sure you understand the structure and purpose of an essay. An essay typically has an introduction, body, and conclusion, and presents an argument or point of view. An article, on the other hand, may have a more flexible structure and simply provide information on a topic.

Confusing The Tone Of An Article And An Essay

Another mistake is confusing the tone of an article and an essay. While both types of writing can be informative, the tone of an essay is typically more formal and academic, while the tone of an article can be more conversational and informal.

To avoid this mistake, consider the audience and purpose of your writing. If you’re writing for a formal or academic audience, use a more formal tone and structure, as you would in an essay. If you’re writing for a more general audience, you can use a more conversational tone and structure, as you would in an article.

Context Matters

When it comes to writing, the choice between an article and an essay can depend heavily on the context in which they are used. While both forms of writing share similarities, they also have distinct differences that make them better suited for certain situations.

Examples Of Different Contexts

Here are some examples of different contexts in which the choice between article and essay might change:

Academic Writing

In academic writing, essays are often preferred over articles. This is because essays are more formal and structured, and are better suited for presenting arguments and analyzing research. Articles, on the other hand, are often used for more casual writing, such as blog posts or magazine articles.

In journalism, the choice between article and essay can depend on the type of story being written. Articles are often used for news stories, while essays might be better suited for feature stories or opinion pieces.

In marketing, articles are often used to promote products or services. They can be used to provide information about a product or service, or to highlight its benefits. Essays, on the other hand, might be used to provide more in-depth analysis or commentary on a particular topic.

Creative Writing

In creative writing, both articles and essays can be used. However, essays are often more personal and introspective, while articles are more focused on providing information or telling a story.

Ultimately, the choice between article and essay depends on the context in which they are used. Understanding the differences between the two forms of writing can help writers choose the right format for their particular needs.

Exceptions To The Rules

While there are general rules for using articles and essays in the English language, there are exceptions to these rules that must be considered. In some cases, the rules may not apply, and the use of articles and essays may be different than expected.

Exceptions For Articles

One exception to the rule of using “the” before a noun is when the noun is a proper noun. Proper nouns are specific names of people, places, or things, and they are always capitalized. For example, “the” would not be used before the proper noun “New York City.”

Another exception is when referring to a singular noun that represents a whole group or category. In this case, the article “the” is not used. For example, “I love cats” does not require the use of “the” before cats.

Exceptions For Essays

One exception to the rule of using “an” before a vowel sound is when the first letter of the word is a silent “h.” For example, “an hour” is correct, but “a historic event” is also correct because the “h” in historic is silent.

Another exception is when using an essay to describe a personal experience or opinion. In this case, the essay may be more informal and conversational in tone, and the rules for formal writing may not apply.

Practice Exercises

To help readers improve their understanding and use of article and essay in sentences, it is important to offer practice exercises. These exercises will not only help readers identify the differences between these two types of writing but also help them understand how to use them in different contexts.

Exercise 1: Identify The Type Of Writing

Read the following sentences and identify whether it is an article or an essay:

Exercise 2: Use The Correct Type Of Writing

Read the following prompts and write either an article or an essay:

• Prompt 1: Write about the benefits of reading
• Prompt 2: Write about the history of the Olympic Games
• Prompt 3: Write about the impact of social media on society

Answer Key:

Explanation:

Prompt 1 and 2 require an essay because they ask for an exploration of a topic. Prompt 3 requires an article because it asks for a straightforward presentation of information.

In summary, while both articles and essays are forms of writing that convey information, they differ in their purpose, structure, and tone. Articles are usually shorter and less formal, written for a general audience, and aim to inform or entertain readers. Essays, on the other hand, are longer and more structured, written for a specific audience, and aim to persuade or argue a point.

It is important to understand the differences between articles and essays, as well as the conventions of each, in order to write effectively in various contexts. Whether you are a student, a professional writer, or simply someone who wants to improve their writing skills, learning about grammar and language use is essential.

Key Takeaways

• Articles and essays are both forms of writing that convey information, but they differ in their purpose, structure, and tone.
• Articles are usually shorter, less formal, and aim to inform or entertain readers.
• Essays are longer, more structured, and aim to persuade or argue a point.
• Understanding the differences between articles and essays, as well as the conventions of each, is important for effective writing.

By continuing to learn about grammar and language use, you can improve your writing skills and communicate more effectively with your audience.

Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.

• Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Article and Essay

An article is nothing but a piece of writing commonly found in newspapers or websites which contain fact-based information on a specific topic. It is published with the aim of making the reader aware of something and keeping them up to date.

An essay is a literary work, which often discusses ideas, experiences and concepts in a clear and coherent way. It reflects the author’s personal view, knowledge and research on a specific topic.

Content: Article Vs Essay

Comparison chart.

Definition of Article

An ‘article’ can be described as any form of written information which is produced either in a printed or electronic form, in newspaper, magazine, journal or website. It aims at spreading news, results of surveys, academic analysis or debates.

An article targets a large group of people, in order to fascinate the readers and engage them. Hence, it should be such that to retain the interest of the readers.

It discusses stories, reports and describes news, present balanced argument, express opinion, provides facts, offers advice, compares and contrast etc. in a formal or informal manner, depending upon the type of audience.

For writing an article one needs to perform a thorough research on the matter, so as to provide original and authentic information to the readers.

Components of Article

• Title : An article contains a noticeable title which should be intriguing and should not be very long and descriptive. However, it should be such that which suggests the theme or issue of the information provided.
• Introduction : The introduction part must clearly define the topic, by giving a brief overview of the situation or event.
• Body : An introduction is followed by the main body which presents the complete information or news, in an elaborative way, to let the reader know about the exact situation.
• Conclusion : The article ends with a conclusion, which sums up the entire topic with a recommendation or comment.

Definition of Essay

An essay is just a formal and comprehensive piece of literature, in which a particular topic is discussed thoroughly. It usually highlights the writer’s outlook, knowledge and experiences on that particular topic. It is a short literary work, which elucidates, argues and analyzes a specific topic.

The word essay is originated from the Latin term ‘exagium’ which means ‘presentation of a case’. Hence, writing an essay means to state the reasons or causes of something, or why something should be done or should be the case, which validates a particular viewpoint, analysis, experience, stories, facts or interpretation.

An essay is written with the intent to convince or inform the reader about something. Further, for writing an essay one needs to have good knowledge of the subject to explain the concept, thoroughly. If not so, the writer will end up repeating the same points again and again.

Components of the Essay

• Title : It should be a succinct statement of the proposition.
• Introduction : The introduction section of the essay, should be so interesting which instantly grabs the attention of the reader and makes them read the essay further. Hence, one can start with a quote to make it more thought-provoking.
• Body : In the main body of the essay, evidence or reasons in support of the writer’s ideas or arguments are provided. One should make sure that there is a sync in the paragraphs of the main body, as well as they,  should maintain a logical flow.
• Conclusion : In this part, the writer wraps up all the points in a summarized and simplified manner.

Key Differences Between Article and Essay

Upcoming points will discuss the difference between article and essay:

• An article refers to a written work, published in newspapers, journals, website, magazines etc, containing news or information, in a specific format. On the other hand, an essay is a continuous piece of writing, written with the aim of convincing the reader with the argument or merely informing the reader about the fact.
• An article is objective in the sense that it is based on facts and evidence, and simply describes the topic or narrate the event. As against, an essay is subjective, because it is based on fact or research-based opinion or outlook of a person on a specific topic. It analyses, argues and criticizes the topic.
• The tone used in an article is conversational, so as to make the article easy to understand and also keeping the interest of the reader intact. On the contrary, an essay uses educational and analytical tone.
• An article may contain headings, which makes it attractive and readable. In contrast, an essay does not have any headings, sections or bullet points, however, it is a coherent and organized form of writing.
• An article is always written with a definite objective, which is to inform or make the readers aware of something. Further, it is written to cater to a specific niche of audience. Conversely, an essay is written in response to a particular assertion or question. Moreover, it is not written with a specific group of readers in mind.
• An article is often supported by photographs, charts, statistics, graphs and tables. As opposed, an essay is not supported by any photographs, charts, or graphs.
• Citations and references are a must in case of an essay, whereas there is no such requirement in case of an article.

By and large, an article is meant to inform the reader about something, through news, featured stories, product descriptions, reports, etc. On the flip side, an essay offers an analysis of a particular topic, while reflecting a detailed account of a person’s view on it.

You Might Also Like:

Anna H. Smith says

November 15, 2020 at 6:21 pm

Great! Thank you for explaining the difference between an article and an academic essay so eloquently. Your information is so detailed and very helpful. it’s very educative, Thanks for sharing.

Sunita Singh says

December 12, 2020 at 7:11 am

Thank you! That’s quite helpful.

Saba Zia says

March 8, 2021 at 12:33 am

Great job!! Thank u for sharing this explanation and detailed difference between essay and article. It is really helpful.

Khushi Chaudhary says

February 7, 2021 at 2:38 pm

Thank you so much! It is really very easy to understand & helpful for my test.

Dury Frizza says

July 25, 2022 at 8:18 pm

Thanks a lot for sharing such a clear and easily understood explanation!!!!.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

How to write an article? | B2 First (FCE)

In the B2 First Writing Paper you could be asked to write an article about a variety of topics. However, it’s often something you’ve recently learned to do or know a lot about. For example, the question might be about a concert you’ve been to recently, you favourite hobby or your hometown.

The idea is to write in a way that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them interested until the very end.

Differences between articles and essays

• In an article, you need to constantly be telling the reader what  you think .
• The  article is informal,  the essay is formal and neutral.
• The essay has a clear organisation, whereas the article  might not .

B2 First (FCE) Article: Structure

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) article: writing guide.

Articles usually have a title. The title should be informative (give the reader an idea of the subject) and attractive ( make the reader want to read the article ).

• No need for a complete sentence

Title A: The Internet: A Great Invention

Title B: Keep It Healthy!

Introduction

The start of the article should be linked to the title, introduce the topic and engage the reader. Often, an article starts with a question that introduces the topic which will be discussed in the article.

• General statement about the topic.
• Start with a question, problem or quotation.

Introduction A: The Internet has changed the way we live. It started as something that we could access only through a computer, but nowadays it is everywhere, and I love it!

Introduction B:  Are you a busy college student? Do you struggle to keep fit and eat healthily? Don’t worry! I am going to tell you exactly what you should do. Keep on reading, you will thank me later!

Paragraphs 1-2

Each should be clearly defined, not too long and clearly linked.

• Describe issues in detail and use one paragraph per issue.
• Use linkers, sequencing and sophisticated vocabulary.

Paragraph A1: One of the cool things about the world wide web is that you can ….. Paragraph A2: However, the greatest thing about the Internet is how you can learn tons of things… Paragraph 1B: First of all, you must start moving your body. You could go to the gym if ….. Paragraph B2: Secondly, your diet is just as important. I suppose you live on a low budget

An ending can state an opinion, give the reader something to think about, summarise the article or even end with a quotation.

Conclusion A: If you follow all these tips, I’m sure you will keep fit easily! And if you already tried that, let me know how you feel now

Conclusion B: In conclusion, the Internet has a lot of great things. For me, the best are finding information and learning online. What about you? What are your favourite things about it?

  Let’s summarize! – How to write an Article?

• Try and engage the reader’s attention and interest. Ask questions at the beginning.
• There should be a link between the opening sentence and the title.
• Personalise the article using true stories or anecdotes.
• If you decide to take a light-hearted approach or a more serious one, maintain the same style throughout the article.
• Check your work for accuracy, punctuation and spelling.

Article could be light or serious (but should be consistent), depending on who the target reader is. May use some rhetorical questions e.g. Can you imagine a school where every student enjoys themselves?

More than Practice Tests

B2 first (fce) article: model answers, fce article example 1.

A local magazine has asked readers to write an article about their favourite things about the Internet. Write the article talking about the things you do with the Internet and recommend a website to other readers.

Write your article.

Student’s FCE Article Answer:

The Internet: A Great Invention

The Internet has changed the way we live. It started as something that we could access only through a computer, but nowadays it is everywhere, and I love it!

One of the cool things about the world wide web is that you can look up anything you want and nd out the answer straight away. Isn’t that fantastic? For example, imagine you are arguing with your friends about how to do something. Easy solution! Go online and find the answer.

However, the greatest thing about the Internet is how you can learn tons of things very cheaply or even for free! In fact, my favourite website is www.udemy.com,where people register to teach and learn about different things: music, website design, making apps, history, etc. So I totally recommend it to everyone!

In conclusion, the Internet has a lot of great things. For me, the best are finding information and learning online. What about you? What are your favourite things about it?

Get Your (FCE) Article Checked!

Fce article example 2.

Fitness bloggers wanted!

Our fitness magazine is looking for influencers to write an article on how to stay fit when you are a college student. So if you have any cool ideas, send us an article in which you:

• Explain the type of exercise you recommend • Recommend a healthy but cheap diet • Give other ideas you like

Write your article .

Keep It Healthy!

Are you a busy college student? Do you struggle to keep fit and eat healthily? Don’t worry! I am going to tell you exactly what you should do. Keep on reading, you will thank me later!

First of all, you must start moving your body. You could go to the gym if you have the time. But if you’re busy – you’re a student, you should be busy! – don’t sign up for a gym. Instead, start cycling to college and give up using elevators. You’ll see how your fitness improves quickly!

Secondly, your diet is just as important. I suppose you live on a low budget, so I suggest you don’t eat out much. Eating out can be unhealthy and expensive. Sogo to your local supermarket and buy healthy, inexpensive vegetables and fruit.

Finally, pay attention to how you sit when you are studying. Posture is super important to feel well, especially if you are a student or an office worker.

If you follow all these tips, I’m sure you will keep fit easily! And if you already tried that, let me know how you feel now

B2 First (FCE) Article: Example topics

Fce sample article topic 1.

You see this announcement in the Leisure and Entertainment  magazine.

Could you live without internet for a month? Write and tell us what difference this would make to your life. We will publish the best article.

FCE Sample Article Topic 2

You see this announcement in a magazine.

We invite you to write an article on ‘The City of the Future’. In what ways will Cities be different in the future? In what ways will they be the same? The writer of the best article will receive a prize.

FCE Sample Article Topic 3

You have seen this notice in an international magazine.

Inventions have affected all our lives! Write us an article about one invention, explaining why you think it is important and saying how it has affected your own life.

The best article will be published in the magazine.

B2 First (FCE) Article: Writing Checklist

After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.

How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:

• Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
• Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
• Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?

Communicative Achievement

• Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
• Have I communicated a balance of straightforward and more complex ideas?
• Have I used a suitable style and register (formal or informal) for the task?

Organisation

• Have I used paragraphs appropriately to organise my ideas?
• Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre of the text (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
• Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words, pronouns, etc. to refer to different things within the text?)
• Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
• Have I used a wide range of vocabulary?
• Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
• Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures?
• Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
• Is my use of grammar accurate?
• Is my spelling accurate?

B2 First (FCE) Article: Tips

• PLAN your article.
• Give your article a title.
• Ask rhetorical questions to get your readers’ attention. Eg. What would the world be like without oil? What will life be like in 20 years time?
• Speak directly to your readers. Eg. Let’s just imagine some of the possibilities.
• Give examples where appropriate.
• Use humour where appropriate
• Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.
• Finally, give your opinion where appropriate.
• REVISE your article to correct mistakes

Would you pass B2 First (FCE)?

B2 first (fce) article: useful phrases & expressions.

We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is taking a shortcut, if you learn several expressions for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized text.

La farmacia viagra online ti dà i migliori prezzi per i farmaci generici. Breve tempo di elaborazione! Oltre mezzo milione di clienti! Pillole bonus gratuite per tutti gli ordini!

Rhetorical phrases:

Have you ever ……..?  What do you think about ……..?  Are you one of those people who thinks that ……? Are you one of those people who …….? What would life be like if ……? Will the future bring us ….. ?

Introducing your first point:

Firstly In the first place First of all   The first thing to consider is  One thing to consider is  To begin with

Introducing more points:

Secondly   Another consideration  Yet another consideration  Another thing to consider is Added to that  Apart from that  In addition to this

Introducing your final points:

In conclusion  To conclude  To sum up  So

Introducing your opinion:

I think   In my opinion  Personally, I believe that   In my view  If you ask me  To my mind  My personal opinion is

Difference between Article and Essay

An article and an essay are both forms of written communication, but they serve different purposes and follow distinct structures.

What is an Article?

An article is a piece of writing intended for a broad audience, published in newspapers, magazines, journals, or online platforms. It provides information, discusses a topic, or offers opinions, and is typically structured to engage and inform readers.

What is an Essay?

An essay is a piece of writing that presents an argument or a perspective on a particular topic. It is usually more formal and structured compared to articles and is often used in academic settings. Essays allow the writer to explore ideas, analyze concepts, and present their own interpretations.

Types of Articles:

News Articles: Provide factual information about recent events.

Feature Articles: Offer in-depth analysis or narratives on topics of interest.

Opinion Articles: Present the author’s viewpoints on various issues.

How-To Articles: Give step-by-step instructions on performing tasks or activities.

Review Articles: Critique books, movies, products, or services.

Types of Essays:

Expository Essays: Explain or describe a topic clearly and logically.

Argumentative Essays: Present a well-reasoned argument on a controversial issue, supported by evidence.

Descriptive Essays: Paint a picture of a person, place, object, or event using detailed observations and sensory details.

Narrative Essays: Tell a story or recount an event, often using personal experiences.

Analytical Essays: Break down a concept, text, or piece of art to examine its components and their relationships.

Both articles and essays are valuable forms of communication , but they differ significantly in purpose, structure, audience, and style. Understanding these differences can help in choosing the appropriate format for a specific writing task.

Download the Word of the day

Related Posts:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Download the Word coach App on your Android phone

Word Coach - IELTS and GRE Vocabulary Builder & word coach Quiz (10 Words a Day) application helps, you and your friends to improve English Vocabulary and help you become the smartest among your group.

• Essay Topic Generator
• Summary Generator
• Thesis Maker Academic
• Sentence Rephraser
• Read My Paper
• Hypothesis Generator
• Cover Page Generator
• Text Compactor
• Essay Scrambler
• Essay Plagiarism Checker
• Hook Generator
• AI Writing Checker
• Notes Maker
• Overnight Essay Writing
• Topic Ideas
• Writing Tips
• Essay Writing (by Genre)
• Essay Writing (by Topic)

How to Write a Review of an Article

An article review aims to critically assess the information presented in an academic or journalistic paper. The task is somewhat subjective as you can judge an article’s contents. While an article review shares similarities with a response paper, they have differences as well.

In this guide, our experts describe the main differences between the two and explain how to read, summarize, and evaluate an article for your review. We’ve included a template and an example to illustrate the process of crafting a skillful article review.

💭 Article Review Definition

• 👀 How to Write a Review

📐 Article Review Outline

• 📜 How to Cite an Article

🔗 References

First, let’s figure out the exact definition of an article review and highlight its differences from a response paper.

An article review is a formal and specialized analysis of a scholarly article that follows strict requirements. To write an article review, you must present an in-depth analysis of the source’s main arguments, constructively evaluate the literature in the related field, and critically reflect on the paper.

In contrast, a response or reaction paper is an informal and creative analysis of a popular article. Such a piece has fewer rules and a looser structure, offering a personal opinion on the given text. Both paper types commence with a summary of the source, but what follows diverges. An article review presents a critical evaluation , while a response paper offers a subjective reaction.

What Are Good Articles for a Review

Students are usually assigned to review a scientific article; we want to describe these types of articles comprehensively below. To make it more clear, we contrasted scholarly articles with popular ones. The latter are rarely a good idea for a scientific article review and are more appropriate for a reaction paper.

👀 How to Write a Review of an Article

The guide below applies to critical review or the analysis of a scholarly article only. If you are curious about other forms of literary analysis, check out the guide on writing book reviews and literary analysis .

Step 1: Carefully Read the Article

Before starting to write a review, it’s essential to read the article to understand the text fully.

Ask the following questions while reading the text:

• What’s the topic discussed?
• What is the type of the article?
• What are the author’s main ideas?
• How do they prove their ideas?

Step 2: Create a Summary of an Article

To summarize a text, first, it’s necessary to highlight its main ideas. It’s best to do it during the second reading while taking notes. Sectioning the text and paying attention to headings, thesis statement , conclusion, and keywords will be helpful.

What did the author want to say in each paragraph? Write your interpretation in short phrases to use them later. Then, summarize each section in one sentence and find the evidence that supports the main ideas. Try to express each section in one sentence.

Step 3: Reflect on the Article

How you evaluate the text depends on the topic and the type of article. Here are some of the questions that can help you with this task.

Purpose and Argument Assessment

• Is the article’s purpose clear from the thesis statement?
• Does the abstract summarize the key points and argument?
• Does the objective of the article introduce anything new to the field?
• Is the argument discussed throughout the main body?
• Is this discussion cohesive?

Presentation and Organization Assessment

• Is the title clear and appropriate?
• Does any place of the article require elaboration?
• Does any idea seem out of place?
• Are the author’s statements clear and reader-friendly?
• How does any ambiguity in the text affect its credibility?
• Does the author remain objective?
• Does the overall structure of the article fit its purpose?

Methods Assessment

• Are the methods and design appropriate for this study?
• Is the description of the technique sufficient?
• Have any critical aspects been left out?

Data Assessment

• Did the author use relevant and credible data ?
• Are there any things that could be improved in the calculations?
• Is any content duplicated without a good reason?
• Are there any factual or interpretation errors? (Compare the article with the references cited).
• Did the author use proper literature?

Step 4: Write a Review of the Article

An article review comprises several parts: introduction, summary, review, and conclusion. If you follow this simple structure, you’ll be safe. It’s also important to remember the rules of academic writing. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

We have already stated that it is essential to maintain an objective tone and academic language, but what about the components? Use this structured outline to create a comprehensive and well-organized article review.

• Briefly introduce the article, its title, author, publication date, and publication source.
• Overview the article’s main topic, thesis , and purpose.
• Include a thesis statement or the main point you will address in your review.
• Provide a comprehensive summary of the content.
• Summarize the main arguments, key findings, evidence, and the author’s methodology.
• Don’t express your opinion in this section; present the article’s content objectively .
• Introduce the author, their contributions, and expertise relevant to the topic.
• Explain why the author’s background makes them a credible source in the field.
• Assess the strength of the author’s arguments, evaluating their logic and persuasiveness.
• Discuss the quality of the evidence presented – whether it is relevant and reliable.
• Identify any logical fallacies or biases in the author’s reasoning.
• Discuss how the article fits within the broader scholarly discussion.
• Mention other works that have a similar or contrasting viewpoints.
• Evaluate how the article contributes to the existing literature.
• Analyze the research methods , data collection, and analysis techniques used in the article.
• Consider whether the methodology is appropriate in addressing the research questions.
• Express your opinion on the article’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Address issues like the clarity of the writing, organization, and structure.
• Highlight any limitations of the article or areas where further research is needed.
• Summarize your key points, reiterating your overall assessment of the article.
• Restate your thesis and discuss whether the article achieves its intended purpose.
• Offer recommendations for how the paper could be improved.
• Include a list of references and citations used in your review.

📜 How to Cite a Reviewed Article

To cite a reviewed article, students are typically asked to follow APA, MLA, or Chicago citing style. The exact citation style may vary depending on your academic institution’s requirements. Use these rules to cite a reviewed article:

For more details and instruction, refer to official guidelines on how to cite in different styles:

• APA | Style and Grammar Guidelines
• Citations by Format | MLA Style Center

📝 Article Review Samples

The best explanation is demonstration! Look at these article review examples that we’ve gathered for you. Pay attention to the structures, language choice, citations, and other elements required for this format.

📌 Citizen Perceptions of Local Government Responsiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa by Bratton: Article Evaluation

This is the review of the article “Citizen Perceptions of Local Government Responsiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa” by Michael Bratton, where he discusses the relationship between citizens and local government leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa. Exploring the concepts of governance, responsiveness, and performance, the author states that local government units in Sub-Saharan Africa were perceived as weak and unresponsive by citizens. The study highlights the significance of understanding the factors influencing local government performance. However, the reviewer marks particular issues, such as the lack of a clear research design, methodology, and sampling criteria. The author proposes to improve the research by incorporating these elements, comparing local governors’ performance based on their duration of operation, and outlining specific data analysis methods, like the Cronbach alpha coefficient, to enhance the study’s authority.

📌 Culturally Tailored Education for African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes – Article by Carter et al.

In this review of the article “Culturally Tailored Education for African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes” by Berkley Carter and others, you will find a discussion about the significance of culturally relevant self-care plans for patients with type 2 diabetes. The authors emphasize the importance of considering the patients’ cultural backgrounds and social contexts in healthcare planning. However, the reviewer also focuses on specific challenges like dietary habits and safety concerns. In the end, the reader might discover the recommendations to involve the patient’s social network to enhance the effectiveness of self-care plans.

❓ Article Review FAQ

What’s the main purpose of an article review.

It depends on whether you do it as an assignment or as a new publication for a research journal. In the former case, you should demonstrate your understanding of the source material. In the second, your analytical skills are more critical. But in both cases, you should evaluate how the author addresses the topic.

What Makes a Good Article Review?

A good article review summarizes the main ideas of the source text and analyzes them, depending on the requirements. Despite subjectivity, it follows a logical structure and is grounded in the original source.

How Do You Write a Critical Review of a Journal Article?

Identify the parameters to be reviewed: purpose and argument, presentation and organization, methods, and data. Read the article, paying particular attention to the chosen parameters. Write a summary of the article. Outline your article review, listing the main drawbacks you spotted while reading. Start writing.

How to Create an Article Review in APA Format?

You should follow the basic APA requirements if you write an article in this format. Pay special attention to in-text citations and bibliography. You may also need to consult your teacher to learn if there are any special requirements.

• Thesis | Harvard College Writing Center
• Paragraph Structure: How to Write Strong Paragraphs | Grammarly
• Paragraphs: The Writing Center – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• General Format – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University
• Article Review – University of South Australia

• U.S. Locations
• UMGC Europe
• Learn Online
• Find Answers
• 855-655-8682
• Current Students

Online Guide to Writing and Research

Other frequently assigned papers, explore more of umgc.

• Online Guide to Writing

Reviews and Reaction Papers

Article and book reviews.

Some assignments may ask you to write a review of a book or journal article. Sometimes, students think a book report and a book review are the same. However, there are significant differences.

A  book report  summarizes the contents of the book, but a  book review  is a critical analysis of the book that describes, summarizes, and critiques the ideas in the book. A review is a means of going beyond the literal content of a source and is a tool for connecting ideas from a variety of academic sources. A review provides an objective analysis of ideas, support for opinions, and a way to evaluate your own opinions.

Why are book reviews beneficial to write?

Some instructors like to assign book reviews to help students broaden their view of the subject matter and to give students practice in critically evaluating ideas in the subject area. Instructors often require that students follow existing review formats modeled in the journals in their disciplines. 

If you are asked to use such formats, remember that citations for books and journal articles differ from discipline to discipline. Find out which style guide is appropriate for the discipline in which you are writing. (Refer to the discussion of style manuals in chapter 5 of this guide for more information.)

Reviews let you relate to authors and agree or disagree with their ideas. A review allows you to examine your understanding of a subject area in light of the ideas presented in the reviewed book and interact with the author and his or her ideas. Also, a book review helps your instructor evaluate your understanding of the subject matter and your ability to think competently in your discipline.

Here are some questions to keep in mind when you are writing a book review:

What exactly is the subject of the book? What are the author’s credentials to write about this subject? Is the title suggestive? Does the preface contain information about the author’s purpose?

What is the author’s thesis? Is it clearly stated, or do you have to dig it out of the facts and opinions? Does the author present the ideas in a balanced way? What are the author’s biases?

What organizational approach does the author use? Does the chosen organization support the author’s thesis effectively?

What conclusion or conclusions does the author draw? Does the conclusion agree with the thesis or stated purposes? How does the conclusion differ from or agree with your course textbook or other books you have read?

How has this book helped you understand the subject you are studying in the course? Would you recommend the book to your reader?

As you write your review, ask yourself these questions:

Have I represented the author and the ideas presented in the book in a fair and balanced way?

Does the ethical tone of my review prompt the reader to trust my judgment? (You may want to review the discussion on writing arguments in this chapter.)

Does my review reflect the interests of my readers and fulfill my reasons for writing the review?

Have I demonstrated my understanding of the content of the article or book I’m reviewing? Have I clearly addressed the major issues in the subject area?

Have I clearly stated my own biases as a reviewer?

Have I clearly expressed my position about how much or how little the author has contributed to my understanding of the subject in question? Have I recommended or not recommended the book to other prospective readers?

Have I checked my review for organizational, grammatical, and mechanical errors?

Key Takeaway

A book review or article review is a critical analysis of the material that describes, summarizes, and critiques the ideas presented. The purpose of a book or article review assignment is to broaden your knowledge base and understanding of a topic.

Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD 20783 This work is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . © 2022 UMGC. All links to external sites were verified at the time of publication. UMGC is not responsible for the validity or integrity of information located at external sites.

Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing

Chapter 1: College Writing

How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?

What Is College Writing?

Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?

Chapter 2: The Writing Process

Doing Exploratory Research

Getting from Notes to Your Draft

Introduction

Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition

Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience

Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started

Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment

Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic

Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy

Rewriting: Getting Feedback

Rewriting: The Final Draft

Techniques to Get Started - Outlining

Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques

Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting

Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas

Writing: Outlining What You Will Write

Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone

A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction

Critical Strategies and Writing

Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis

Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation

Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion

Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis

Developing a Paper Using Strategies

Kinds of Assignments You Will Write

Patterns for Presenting Information

Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques

Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data

Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern

Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts

Supporting with Research and Examples

Writing Essay Examinations

Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete

Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing

Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question

Chapter 4: The Research Process

Planning and Writing a Research Paper

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature

Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources

Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources

Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources

Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure

Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure

The Nature of Research

The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?

The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?

The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?

Chapter 5: Academic Integrity

Academic Integrity

Giving Credit to Sources

Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws

Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation

Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides

Integrating Sources

Practicing Academic Integrity

Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source

Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources

Types of Documentation

Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists

Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style

Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style

Types of Documentation: Note Citations

Chapter 6: Using Library Resources

Finding Library Resources

Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing

How Is Writing Graded?

How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool

The Draft Stage

The Draft Stage: The First Draft

The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft

The Draft Stage: Using Feedback

The Research Stage

Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing

Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews

Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers

Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure

Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument

Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition

Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion

Writing Arguments: Types of Argument

Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing

Dictionaries

General Style Manuals

Researching on the Internet

Special Style Manuals

Writing Handbooks

Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing

Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project

Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report

Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve

Collaborative Writing: Methodology

Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation

Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members

Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan

General Introduction

Peer Reviewing

Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan

Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades

Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule

Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule

Reviewing Your Plan with Others

By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our  Privacy Policy .

In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Home » Education » Difference Between Article and Essay

Difference Between Article and Essay

Main difference – article vs essay.

Articles and essays are two forms of academic writing. Though there are certain similarities between them, there are also distinct differences between them. These differences are based on the format, purpose and content. Before looking at the difference between article and essay, let us first look at the definitions of these two words. An essay is a piece of writing that describes, analyzes and evaluates a particular topic whereas an article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper or other publications. The main difference between article and essay is that an article is written to inform the readers about some concept whereas an essay is usually written in response to a question or proposition .

What is an Article

An article is a piece of writing that is included with others in a newspaper, magazine or other publication . It is a written composition that is nonfiction and prose. Articles can be found in magazines, encyclopedias, websites, newspapers or other publications; the content and the structure of an article may depend on the source. For example, an article can be an editorial, review, feature article, scholarly articles, etc.

What is an Essay

An essay is a piece of writing that describes, analyzes and evaluates a certain topic or an issue . It is a brief, concise form of writing that contains an introduction, a body that is comprised of few support paragraphs, and a conclusion. An essay may inform the reader, maintain an argument, analyse an issue or elaborate on a concept. An essay is a combination of statistics, facts and writer’s opinions and views.

Article is a piece of writing that is  included with others in a newspaper, magazine or other publication.

Essay is a short piece of writing on a particular subject.

Article is written to inform the readers about some concept.

Essay is generally written as a response to a question or proposition.

Articles follow heading and subheadings format.

Essays are not written under headings and subheadings.

Articles do not require citations or references.

Essays require citations and references.

Visual Effects

Articles are often accompanied by photographs, charts and graphs.

Essays do not require photographs.

Articles are objective as they merely describe a topic.

About the Author: admin

​you may also like these.

The Difference between an Essay and an Article

Imagine opening your favorite entertainment magazine or your local newspaper and finding a collection of essays. How long, in that case, would the money you spend on magazines and newspapers be considered part of your entertainment budget?

Articles can be informative and not all of them are entertaining. However, it's more likely to find articles in magazines that offer entertainment for readers than an essay.

The most notable difference between an essay and an article is the tone. Essays traditionally are subjective pieces of formal writing that offers an analysis of a specific topic. In other words, an essay writer studies, researches, and forms a factually-based opinion on the topic in order to inform others about their ideas.

An article is traditionally objective instead of subjective. Writing an article doesn't always require that an opinion to be formed and expressed, and there's no requirement that an analysis be offered about the information being presented.

Scroll through a copy of Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, and today's edition of your local newspaper, and you'll get a sense of how articles can be structured in numerous different ways. Some include headings and subheadings along with accompanying photos to paint a picture for the reader to form their own thoughts and opinions about the subject of an article.

Essays, however, have more strict guidelines on structure depending on which type of essay a writer has chosen. Traditionally, readers will see an introductory paragraph that presents a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic sentences that relate back to and flesh out the thesis, and a conclusion with the author's take on the information presented.

Entertainment Factor

While narrative essays can tell entertaining stories, it is articles that are most often included in magazines and newspapers to keep their subscribers informed and reading.

It's up to the writer of an article what message they want to convey. Sometimes that message is informative and sometimes it's humorous. For an essay writer, it's all about learning as much as possible about a topic, forming an opinion, and describing how they came to that opinion and why.

You're not likely to find essays in entertainment magazines. A person seeking in-depth information on a subject is going to seek out an essay, while a person looking for an entertaining piece of writing that allows them to draw their own conclusions will be more likely to seek out an article.

• English Difference Between
• Difference Between Article And Essay

Difference between Article and Essay

Are an article and an essay the same? Is there something that makes one different from the other? Check out this article to find out.

What is an Article?

An article is a report or content published in a newspaper, magazine, journal or website, either in printed or electronic form. When it comes to articles, a sizable readership is considered. It might be supported by studies, research, data, and other necessary elements. Articles may be slightly brief or lengthy, with a maximum count of 1500 words. It educates the readers on various ideas/concepts and is prepared with a clear aim in mind.

Articles, which can be found in newspapers, journals, encyclopaedias, and now, most commonly, online, inform and keep readers informed about many topics.

What is an Essay?

An essay is a formal, in-depth work of literature that analyses and discusses a specific problem or subject. It refers to a brief piece of content on a specific topic. Students are frequently required to write essays in response to questions or propositions in their academic coursework. It doesn’t target any particular readers.

Through essays, the author or narrator offers unique ideas or opinions on a given subject or question while maintaining an analytical and formal tone.

Keep learning and stay tuned to get the latest update on GATE , GATE Preparation Books & GATE Answer Key , and more.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

How to Write an Article Review: Template & Examples

An article review is an academic assignment that invites you to study a piece of academic research closely. Then, you should present its summary and critically evaluate it using the knowledge you’ve gained in class and during your independent study. If you get such a task at college or university, you shouldn’t confuse it with a response paper, which is a distinct assignment with other purposes (we’ll talk about it in detail below).

In this article, prepared by Custom-Writing experts, you’ll find:

• the intricacies of article review writing;
• the difference between an article review and similar assignments;
• a step-by-step algorithm for review composition;
• a couple of samples to guide you throughout the writing process.

So, if you wish to study our article review example and discover helpful writing tips, keep reading.

❓ What Is an Article Review?

• ✍️ Writing Steps

📑 Article Review Format

🔗 references.

An article review is an academic paper that summarizes and critically evaluates the information presented in your selected article.

The first thing you should note when approaching the task of an article review is that not every article is suitable for this assignment. Let’s have a look at the variety of articles to understand what you can choose from.

Popular Vs. Scholarly Articles

In most cases, you’ll be required to review a scholarly, peer-reviewed article – one composed in compliance with rigorous academic standards. Yet, the Web is also full of popular articles that don’t present original scientific value and shouldn’t be selected for a review.

Not sure how to distinguish these two types? Here is a comparative table to help you out.

Article Review vs. Response Paper

Now, let’s consider the difference between an article review and a response paper:

• If you’re assigned to critique a scholarly article , you will need to compose an article review .
• If your subject of analysis is a popular article , you can respond to it with a well-crafted response paper .

The reason for such distinctions is the quality and structure of these two article types. Peer-reviewed, scholarly articles have clear-cut quality criteria, allowing you to conduct and present a structured assessment of the assigned material. Popular magazines have loose or non-existent quality criteria and don’t offer an opportunity for structured evaluation. So, they are only fit for a subjective response, in which you can summarize your reactions and emotions related to the reading material.

All in all, you can structure your response assignments as outlined in the tips below.

✍️ How to Write an Article Review: Step by Step

Here is a tried and tested algorithm for article review writing from our experts. We’ll consider only the critical review variety of this academic assignment. So, let’s get down to the stages you need to cover to get a stellar review.

Read the Article

As with any reviews, reports, and critiques, you must first familiarize yourself with the assigned material. It’s impossible to review something you haven’t read, so set some time for close, careful reading of the article to identify:

• The author’s main points and message.
• The arguments they use to prove their points.
• The methodology they use to approach the subject.

In terms of research type, your article will usually belong to one of three types explained below.

Summarize the Article

Now that you’ve read the text and have a general impression of the content, it’s time to summarize it for your readers. Look into the article’s text closely to determine:

• The thesis statement, or general message of the author.
• Research question, purpose, and context of research.
• Supporting points for the author’s assumptions and claims.
• Major findings and supporting evidence.

As you study the article thoroughly, make notes on the margins or write these elements out on a sheet of paper. You can also apply a different technique: read the text section by section and formulate its gist in one phrase or sentence. Once you’re done, you’ll have a summary skeleton in front of you.

Evaluate the Article

The next step of review is content evaluation. Keep in mind that various research types will require a different set of review questions. Here is a complete list of evaluation points you can include.

Write the Text

After completing the critical review stage, it’s time to compose your article review.

The format of this assignment is standard – you will have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The introduction should present your article and summarize its content. The body will contain a structured review according to all four dimensions covered in the previous section. The concluding part will typically recap all the main points you’ve identified during your assessment.

It is essential to note that an article review is, first of all, an academic assignment. Therefore, it should follow all rules and conventions of academic composition, such as:

• No contractions . Don’t use short forms, such as “don’t,” “can’t,” “I’ll,” etc. in academic writing. You need to spell out all those words.
• Formal language and style . Avoid conversational phrasing and words that you would naturally use in blog posts or informal communication. For example, don’t use words like “pretty,” “kind of,” and “like.”
• Third-person narrative . Academic reviews should be written from the third-person point of view, avoiding statements like “I think,” “in my opinion,” and so on.
• No conversational forms . You shouldn’t turn to your readers directly in the text by addressing them with the pronoun “you.” It’s vital to keep the narrative neutral and impersonal.
• Proper abbreviation use . Consult the list of correct abbreviations, like “e.g.” or “i.e.,” for use in your academic writing. If you use informal abbreviations like “FYA” or “f.i.,” your professor will reduce the grade.
• Complete sentences . Make sure your sentences contain the subject and the predicate; avoid shortened or sketch-form phrases suitable for a draft only.
• No conjunctions at the beginning of a sentence . Remember the FANBOYS rule – don’t start a sentence with words like “and” or “but.” They often seem the right way to build a coherent narrative, but academic writing rules disfavor such usage.
• No abbreviations or figures at the beginning of a sentence . Never start a sentence with a number — spell it out if you need to use it anyway. Besides, sentences should never begin with abbreviations like “e.g.”

Finally, a vital rule for an article review is properly formatting the citations. We’ll discuss the correct use of citation styles in the following section.

When composing an article review, keep these points in mind:

• Start with a full reference to the reviewed article so the reader can locate it quickly.
• Ensure correct formatting of in-text references.
• Provide a complete list of used external sources on the last page of the review – your bibliographical entries.

You’ll need to understand the rules of your chosen citation style to meet all these requirements. Below, we’ll discuss the two most common referencing styles – APA and MLA.

Article Review in APA

When you need to compose an article review in the APA format , here is the general bibliographical entry format you should use for journal articles on your reference page:

• Author’s last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Year of Publication). Name of the article. Name of the Journal, volume (number), pp. #-#. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

Horigian, V. E., Schmidt, R. D., & Feaster, D. J. (2021). Loneliness, mental health, and substance use among US young adults during COVID-19. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 53 (1), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1836435

Your in-text citations should follow the author-date format like this:

• If you paraphrase the source and mention the author in the text: According to Horigian et al. (2021), young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic.
• If you paraphrase the source and don’t mention the author in the text: Young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic (Horigian et al., 2021).
• If you quote the source: As Horigian et al. (2021) point out, there were “elevated levels of loneliness, depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use among young adults during COVID-19” (p. 6).

Note that your in-text citations should include “et al.,” as in the examples above, if your article has 3 or more authors. If you have one or two authors, your in-text citations would look like this:

• One author: “According to Smith (2020), depression is…” or “Depression is … (Smith, 2020).”
• Two authors: “According to Smith and Brown (2020), anxiety means…” or “Anxiety means (Smith & Brown, 2020).”

Finally, in case you have to review a book or a website article, here are the general formats for citing these source types on your APA reference list.

Article Review in MLA

If your assignment requires MLA-format referencing, here’s the general format you should use for citing journal articles on your Works Cited page:

• Author’s last name, First name. “Title of an Article.” Title of the Journal , vol. #, no. #, year, pp. #-#.

Horigian, Viviana E., et al. “Loneliness, Mental Health, and Substance Use Among US Young Adults During COVID-19.” Journal of Psychoactive Drugs , vol. 53, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1-9.

In-text citations in the MLA format follow the author-page citation format and look like this:

• According to Horigian et al., young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic (6).
• Young adults experienced increased levels of loneliness, depression, and anxiety during the pandemic (Horigian et al. 6).

Like in APA, the abbreviation “et al.” is only needed in MLA if your article has 3 or more authors.

If you need to cite a book or a website page, here are the general MLA formats for these types of sources.

✅ Article Review Template

Here is a handy, universal article review template to help you move on with any review assignment. We’ve tried to make it as generic as possible to guide you in the academic process.

📝 Article Review Examples

The theory is good, but practice is even better. Thus, we’ve created three brief examples to show you how to write an article review. You can study the full-text samples by following the links.

📃 Men, Women, & Money

This article review examines a famous piece, “Men, Women & Money – How the Sexes Differ with Their Finances,” published by Amy Livingston in 2020. The author of this article claims that men generally spend more money than women. She makes this conclusion from a close analysis of gender-specific expenditures across five main categories: food, clothing, cars, entertainment, and general spending patterns. Livingston also looks at men’s approach to saving to argue that counter to the common perception of women’s light-hearted attitude to money, men are those who spend more on average.

📃 When and Why Nationalism Beats Globalism

This is a review of Jonathan Heidt’s 2016 article titled “When and Why Nationalism Beats Globalism,” written as an advocacy of right-wing populism rising in many Western states. The author illustrates the case with the election of Donald Trump as the US President and the rise of right-wing rhetoric in many Western countries. These examples show how nationalist sentiment represents a reaction to global immigration and a failure of globalization.

📃 Sleep Deprivation

This is a review of the American Heart Association’s article titled “The Dangers of Sleep Deprivation.” It discusses how the national organization concerned with the American population’s cardiovascular health links the lack of high-quality sleep to far-reaching health consequences. The organization’s experts reveal how a consistent lack of sleep leads to Alzheimer’s disease development, obesity, type 2 diabetes, etc.

✏️ Article Review FAQ

A high-quality article review should summarize the assigned article’s content and offer data-backed reactions and evaluations of its quality in terms of the article’s purpose, methodology, and data used to argue the main points. It should be detailed, comprehensive, objective, and evidence-based.

The purpose of writing a review is to allow students to reflect on research quality and showcase their critical thinking and evaluation skills. Students should exhibit their mastery of close reading of research publications and their unbiased assessment.

The content of your article review will be the same in any format, with the only difference in the assignment’s formatting before submission. Ensure you have a separate title page made according to APA standards and cite sources using the parenthetical author-date referencing format.

You need to take a closer look at various dimensions of an assigned article to compose a valuable review. Study the author’s object of analysis, the purpose of their research, the chosen method, data, and findings. Evaluate all these dimensions critically to see whether the author has achieved the initial goals. Finally, offer improvement recommendations to add a critique aspect to your paper.

• Scientific Article Review: Duke University
• Book and Article Reviews: William & Mary, Writing Resources Center
• Sample Format for Reviewing a Journal Article: Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Research Paper Review – Structure and Format Guidelines: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• Article Review: University of Waterloo
• Writing Help: The Article Review: Central Michigan University Libraries
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Short essays answer a specific question on the subject. They usually are anywhere between 250 words and 750 words long. A paper with less than 250 words isn’t considered a finished text, so it doesn’t fall under the category of a short essay. Essays of such format are required for...

High school and college students often face challenges when crafting a compare-and-contrast essay. A well-written paper of this kind needs to be structured appropriately to earn you good grades. Knowing how to organize your ideas allows you to present your ideas in a coherent and logical manner This article by...

If you’re a student, you’ve heard about a formal essay: a factual, research-based paper written in 3rd person. Most students have to produce dozens of them during their educational career.  Writing a formal essay may not be the easiest task. But fear not: our custom-writing team is here to guide...

Narrative essays are unlike anything you wrote throughout your academic career. Instead of writing a formal paper, you need to tell a story. Familiar elements such as evidence and arguments are replaced with exposition and character development. The importance of writing an outline for an essay like this is hard...

A précis is a brief synopsis of a written piece. It is used to summarize and analyze a text’s main points. If you need to write a précis for a research paper or the AP Lang exam, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide by Custom-Writing.org, you’ll...

A synthesis essay requires you to work with multiple sources. You combine the information gathered from them to present a well-rounded argument on a topic. Are you looking for the ultimate guide on synthesis essay writing? You’ve come to the right place! In this guide by our custom writing team,...

Do you know how to make your essay stand out? One of the easiest ways is to start your introduction with a catchy hook. A hook is a phrase or a sentence that helps to grab the reader’s attention. After reading this article by Custom-Writing.org, you will be able to...

A critical analysis essay is an academic paper that requires a thorough examination of theoretical concepts and ideas. It includes a comparison of facts, differentiation between evidence and argument, and identification of biases. Crafting a good paper can be a daunting experience, but it will be much easier if you...

Critical thinking is the process of evaluating and analyzing information. People who use it in everyday life are open to different opinions. They rely on reason and logic when making conclusions about certain issues. A critical thinking essay shows how your thoughts change as you research your topic. This type...

Process analysis is an explanation of how something works or happens. Want to know more? Read the following article prepared by our custom writing specialists and learn about: So, let’s start digging deeper into this topic! ♻️ What Is Process Analysis? A process analysis describes and explains the succession of...

A visual analysis essay is an academic paper type that history and art students often deal with. It consists of a detailed description of an image or object. It can also include an interpretation or an argument that is supported by visual evidence. In this article, our custom writing experts...

Want to know how to write a reflection paper for college or school? To do that, you need to connect your personal experiences with theoretical knowledge. Usually, students are asked to reflect on a documentary, a text, or their experience. Sometimes one needs to write a paper about a lesson...

The Difference Between an Article and an Essay

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In composition studies , an article is a short work of nonfiction that typically appears in a magazine or newspaper or on a website. Unlike essays , which often highlight the subjective impressions of the author (or narrator ), articles are commonly written from an objective point of view . Articles include news items, feature stories, reports , profiles , instructions, product descriptions, and other informative pieces of writing.

What Sets Articles Apart From Essays

Though both articles and essays are types of nonfiction writing, they differ in many ways. Here are some features and qualities of articles that differentiate them from essays.

Subject and Theme in Articles

"A useful exercise is to look at some good articles and name the broader subject and the particular aspect each treats. You will find that the subject always deals with a partial aspect examined from some viewpoint; it is never a crammed condensation of the whole.

"...Observe that there are two essential elements of an article: subject and theme . The subject is what the article is about: the issue, event, or person it deals with. (Again, an article must cover only an aspect of a whole.) The theme is what the author wants to say about the subject—what he brings to the subject." (Ayn Rand, The Art of Nonfiction: A Guide for Writers and Readers , ed. by Robert Mayhew. Plume, 2001)

"An article is not everything that's true. It's every important thing that's true." (Gary Provost, Beyond Style: Mastering the Finer Points of Writing . Writer's Digest Books, 1988)

Article Structure

"There are five ways to structure your article . They are:

- The inverted pyramid - The double helix - The chronological double-helix - The chronological report - The storytelling model

Think about how you read a newspaper: you scan the captions and then read the first paragraph or two to get the gist of the article and then read further if you want to know more of the details. That's the inverted pyramid style of writing used by journalists, in which what's important comes first. The double-helix also presents facts in order of importance but it alternates between two separate sets of information. For example, suppose you are writing an article about the two national political conventions. You'll first present Fact 1 about the Democratic convention, then Fact 2 about the Republicans, then Fact 2 about the Democrats, Fact 2 about the Republicans, and so on. The chronological double-helix begins like the double helix but once the important facts from each set of information have been presented, it then goes off to relay the events in chronological order...

"The chronological report is the most straightforward structure to follow since it is written in the order in which the events occurred. The final structure is the storytelling model, which utilizes some of the techniques of fiction writing, so you would want to bring the reader into the story right away even if it means beginning in the middle or even near the end and then filling in the facts as the story unfolds." (Richard D. Bank, The Everything Guide to Writing Nonfiction . Adams Media, 2010)

Opening Sentence of an Article

"The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn't induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead. And if the second sentence doesn't induce him to continue to the third sentence, it's equally dead. Of such a progression of sentences, each tugging the reader forward until he is hooked, a writer constructs that fateful unit, the ' lead .'" (William Zinsser, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction , 7th ed. HarperCollins, 2006)

Articles and Media

"More and more, article content written for printed media is also appearing on digital devices (often as an edited version of a longer article) for readers who have short attention spans due to time constraints or their device's small screen. As a result, digital publishers are seeking audio versions of content that is significantly condensed and written in conversational style. Often, content writers must now submit their articles with the understanding they will appear in several media formats." (Roger W. Nielsen, Writing Content: Mastering Magazine and Online Writing . R.W. Nielsen, 2009)

Writer's Voice in Articles and Essays

"Given the confusion of genre minglings and overlaps, what finally distinguishes an essay from an article may just be the author's gumption, the extent to which personal voice , vision, and style are the prime movers and shapers, even though the authorial 'I' may be only a remote energy, nowhere visible but everywhere present. ('We commonly do not remember,' Thoreau wrote in the opening paragraphs of Walden , 'that it is, after all, always the first person that is speaking.')" (Justin Kaplan, quoted by Robert Atwan in The Best American Essays, College Edition , 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin, 1998)

• How to Write a Good Descriptive Paragraph
• What Is the Inverted Pyramid Method of Organization?
• How to Write a News Article That's Effective
• What Are the Different Types and Characteristics of Essays?
• Periodical Essay Definition and Examples
• What Is Expository Writing?
• Definition and Examples of Paragraphing in Essays
• Constructing News Stories with the Inverted Pyramid
• What Is a Synopsis and How Do You Write One?
• How To Write an Essay
• Writing News Stories for the Web
• An Introduction to Literary Nonfiction
• Paragraph Length in Compositions and Reports
• What Is Literary Journalism?
• Learn to Write News Stories
• John McPhee: His Life and Work

Article Review Essays

An article review is a critical, constructive evaluation of literature in a particular field through summary, classification, analysis, and comparison. This form of writing is prevalent in academic circles, as it helps scholars and students engage with current research, broaden their understanding of the subject, and develop critical thinking skills. Writing an article review requires a deep understanding of the article’s content, context, and contribution to the field, as well as the ability to articulate this understanding in a structured and coherent manner.

What Is Article Review

An article review is a comprehensive analysis that offers a detailed examination of an article’s strengths, weaknesses, validity, and applicability. It involves summarizing the article’s main points, critiquing its methods and arguments, and discussing its overall impact on the field. This type of review serves not only to familiarize the reader with the article’s content but also to provide an informed evaluation of its significance and relevance to ongoing research or practice within the discipline.

How to Start an Article Review

Starting an article review effectively requires a few preliminary steps:

• Understand the Assignment: Ensure you are clear on the review’s requirements, including length, format, and any specific criteria for evaluation.
• Choose the Right Article: Select an article that is relevant to your field of interest and current research trends. It should be sufficiently complex to warrant a detailed review.
• Read the Article Thoroughly: Read the article several times to grasp its objectives, methodology, results, and conclusions fully. Pay attention to its main arguments, evidence, and theoretical framework.
• Preliminary Notes: Take detailed notes on the article’s key points, strengths, and limitations. Identify any questions or areas that require further investigation.

Why Does the Thesis Statement Matter?

The thesis statement in an article review is crucial because it:

• Defines Your Stance: It succinctly states your evaluation of the article’s contribution to the field, providing a clear stance that guides your review.
• Focuses Your Analysis: A well-crafted thesis statement helps organize your thoughts and ensures that your review critically engages with the article’s content rather than merely summarizing it.
• Communicates Your Perspective: It offers readers insight into your perspective and the critical lens through which you are examining the article, setting the stage for your analysis and arguments.

How to Write a Structure for Article Review

A structured approach is essential for writing an insightful and coherent article review. Here’s a suggested framework:

• Introduction: Begin with a brief overview of the article, including its title, author(s), and the main purpose or research question. Introduce your thesis statement, outlining your evaluation of the article’s contribution.
• Summary of the Article: Provide a concise summary of the article, highlighting its main points, methodology, findings, and conclusions. This section should offer readers a clear understanding of the article’s content without going into excessive detail.
• Critical Analysis: Evaluate the article’s strengths and weaknesses. Discuss the validity of its research methods, the significance of its findings, and its relevance to the field. Compare it with other studies and point out any gaps or areas for further research. This section should reflect a balanced perspective, acknowledging the article’s contributions while critiquing its limitations.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in the context of your analysis. Offer final thoughts on the article’s impact on the field and suggest directions for future research or implications for practice.

Writing an article review is a valuable exercise that enhances your understanding of scholarly research and improves your critical thinking and writing skills. By carefully selecting an article, thoroughly understanding its content, and articulately presenting a structured evaluation, you can contribute meaningfully to the academic discourse in your field. Remember, a successful article review not only summarizes the article’s content but also provides a critical analysis that highlights its significance and implications for further research.

Supply of Mental Health Insurance Coverage

Introduction Affordable medical care provisions offers the best services for mental health, this is after the introduction of the Affordable Care Act. The act requires that all individuals and employers subscribe to the insurance benefit plan. Purity in mental health acts like a rectifier of unfairness in the health insurance. However due to the increasing mental problems the total spending has increased, based on results from the health insurance companies (Schroeder, 2012). Another evidence has suggested and found it prudent […]

The Power of Context by Malcolm Gladwells Argument

A pivotal aspect that makes patterns soar into mass popularity is the thing that Gradwell expresses as the power of context. His essay particularly revolves on massive the decline in crime rates in the New york city between 1980 and 1990. Despite the fact that Gradwell recognizes that a wide assortment of complex factors assumed a key part in sparking the decline in clime, he contends convincingly that it was a couple of little yet persuasive changes in nature inside […]

Working People in a Coffee Shop

In the present quick evolving economy, promoting has obtained another measurement. With quick jumps in the utilization of online networking from one viewpoint and an economy that is unsteady and testing on alternate, brands need to change in accordance with another scene and receive another system to be viable. The initial step is to glance around and acknowledge the current test and after that make advertising intends to develop the business. Here are a couple of difficulties organizations look as […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Four Components of Developing Successful Reading Skills

Oral language Oral language is an important medium of communication among a child. It is crucial means through which a kid can be able to evaluate and be able to describe and control her practice. Many children oral language is the main intermediary of culture. In schools, the oral language at the basic level is about communicating with other people. According to Kirkland and Patterson journal "developing oral language in a primary classroom" states that oral language is one way […]

Should Politicians be Allowed to Accept Campaign Contributions from Corporate Lobbyists?

Corporate lobbyists are organizations that influence the outcomes of an event by communicating the demands of the groups to the government. Lobbying enables the government to understand the issues raised by the citizens. The understanding is enhanced by giving the members a chance to air their opinions and concerns they are facing. The corporate lobbying groups act to defend material gains from the government. The corporate lobbying groups usually offer financial assistance to institutions or people that require the assistance. […]

Stereotyping and Discrimination

Introduction The movie starts with all the animals living together and happily in the big city. Their peaceful lives are then disturbed by ferocious predators. The case goes to the swindler fox and a bunny cop, those who unintentionally solve many problems related to hidden cases of interspecies.Rhetorical Strategies Few of the negative observers interpret that movie does not openly or directly express the racism. Additionally, the writer named as Nico Lang also asserts that movie does not score much […]

Aging Females Suffering Side Effects

INTRODUCTION Studies clearly indicate that many aging women are characterized of suffering from a number of major depressive disorders (MDD) or rather a number of clinical disorders. It is clear that women who have never at any given time diagnosed with depression might realize the experience and the symptoms at the time they are approaching their menopause or the symptoms can in other cases be related to non-normative and normative normal life stressors. This research was mainly conducted to determine […]

Transmission Electron Microscopy Techniques

In this study, the researchers cultured 42GPA9 and HeLa cells on the cover slide for one day and transfected with Cx43-GFP. The researchers applied high-resolution microscopy to study the cells. Also, they used computer software to study the cells. The JEM-2100 Transmission Electron Microscope is a machine that provides the solution for a broad are of problems in the area of biological sciences, materials, and Nano electronics. The JEM-2100 is precisely very simple to use as it has a system […]

Courage Caring and Teambuilding

The first indication of the lack of courage in this article was in Carrie herself. After having trained for three months with Kathy and Beth and two months of working independently Carrie was still scared. She had not got used to the unpredictability of the workflow. The other indication of lack of courage was among the night shift nurses. Despite the fact that Carrie was new to the practice and many of the seasoned nurses were harsh to her, none […]

Ethics, Sustainability and CSR

The article by Julia Wolf on stakeholder pressure explores the relationship between supply chain management and sustainable corporate performance, taking a critical look at the Nestle campaign in relation to these factors. The article examines supply chain management and the influence of external forces. It also discusses the relationship between supply chain control and stakeholders' perceptions of an organization. It highlights how stakeholder pressure and supply chain management contribute towards achieving sustainable performance (Wolf, 2013). The paper covers several theories, […]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between an article review and a formal essay.

An article review critiques another's work, focusing on analysis and evaluation, while a formal essay presents the author's argument or analysis on a topic.

How To Write A 5 Paragraph Essay About A Review On A Article?

Introduction with thesis, three body paragraphs each covering a key point or critique, and a conclusion summarizing the evaluation.

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

What are the differences between these kinds of articles: original, review, letter, and short communication?

I am interested in knowing, what are the differences between Original Paper, Review Paper, Letter and Short/ Rapid/ Brief Communication paper?

Thanks to everyone for reading and taking the time for the great responses.

• publications
• terminology
• review-articles

• 2 Bear in mind that this will vary heavily between specific journals. –  Andrew is gone Commented Nov 29, 2015 at 13:20
• 2 Most respected journals have specific authors instructions which guide you in defining these types of manuscripts. In clinical medicine there are also explicit reporting guidelines: equator-network.org –  Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai Commented Feb 2, 2017 at 13:35

5 Answers 5

This will vary pretty heavily depending on the journal in question. But generally speaking, in broad strokes:

• "Original Paper" - This is a generic term for a full-length, original research finding paper that doesn't fall into another specialized category.
• "Review Paper" - This is a paper summarizing the state of research on a topic. These can often be somewhat long, are often but not always by invitation only, and this category can include meta-analysis, but doesn't have to. This may also be the umbrella that commentaries fall under, but again, not always.
• "Short/Rapid/Brief Communication" - A shorter version of "Original Paper", whose methods, findings, etc. don't justify a full length paper. They still contain original findings, but are general much more straightforward.
• Letters - Possibly even shorter original findings, field reports, single observations, etc. This can also include arguments about previously published papers, which involve either opinion pieces or snippets of contradictory or supporting research.

• 1 Note that for Nature, a Brief Communication Arising is not a research paper but usually critical comments on a Nature paper, typically accompanied by a response from the authors of the criticized paper. This is in contrast to a Letter , which is simply a short research paper. –  Bitwise Commented Feb 2, 2017 at 14:15

"Original paper" is any research paper not falling into below categories. "Review paper" is that reporting a critical overview of recent articles in the field, can be very long, say, 30-40 journal pages. "Letter" is a short research paper, ca. 4 journal pages. "Communication" is essentially the same as "Letter", sporadically can contain comments (there is a specific genre called "Comments" as well) on some recently published paper in this journal.

Original research articles are detailed studies reporting original research conducted by the author. They include hypothesis, background study, methods, results, interpretation of findings, and a discussion of possible implications.

Review articles give an overview of existing literature in a field, often identifying specific problems or issues and analysing information from available published work on the topic with a balanced perspective. Review articles can be of three types, broadly speaking: literature reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

Short communications are usually a concise format used to report significant improvements to existing methods, a new practical application, or a new tool or resource. These need to be reported quickly as the need to communicate such findings is very high.

Letters are usually short and flexible articles that express readers' opinion on previously published articles, or provide evidence to support/oppose an existing viewpoint.

• Downvoter: why? –  Andrew Commented May 29, 2018 at 18:30

Original papers are extracted from researches that are innovative enough and have new and important achievements. All of d etails are given in these papers. They also have high scientific value.

Original artical is under good headings ,all headings that must be present in every original paper but review sometime have some heading missed like materials and methods but not always happen this ,the main difference is that study is rational , different areas result collecting together .The size of review artical is longer than original one.the short communication have not headings properly but all aspects are clear properly it is much comprehensive.

• 1 I recommend you to expand your answer and provide some references... typically authors instructions of journals provide clear guidance on this issue. –  Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai Commented Feb 2, 2017 at 13:34

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged publications terminology review-articles ..

• Featured on Meta
• Upcoming sign-up experiments related to tags

Hot Network Questions

• What was Jessica and the Bene Gesserit's game plan if Paul failed the test?
• Can my grant pay for a conference marginally related to award?
• How can I permute pair of elements in a list?
• Passkeys: MFA or not?
• What is the minimum number of avoids for Dota 2 never ever have a match?
• Is the work I do on the object always equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to the work the object does on me?
• Is it correct to call a room with a bath a "toilet"?
• Could a Google Chrome extension read my password?
• Finding the real roots of an octic polynomial (degree eight).
• Ideal test/p-value calculation for difference in means with small sample size and right skewed data?
• Transforming sentences with perfect infintive
• Why does the NIV add "also" to Micah 6:4?
• Why did this proof succeed without function extensionality?
• Create 3D Cylinder in ArcGIS Pro
• "Stop __________ and hurry up!"
• What will happen if we keep bringing two protons closer and closer to each other, starting from a large distance?
• Question regarding validity of argument
• Is there a name for books in which the narrator isn't the protagonist but someone who know them well?
• Blend a list of colors with hues from 0 to 1 in increments of 0.1
• Recommendations Modifying/increasing a bicycles Max Weight limits
• Alternatives to raising a mains-fed shower?
• How to avoid init methods when 2 objects need the reference of each other?
• select() / poll() timeout stretches on Linux
• (THEORY) Do Tree models output probabilities?

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Comparing and contrasting in an essay | Tips & examples

Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on August 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

Comparing and contrasting is an important skill in academic writing . It involves taking two or more subjects and analyzing the differences and similarities between them.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When should i compare and contrast, making effective comparisons, comparing and contrasting as a brainstorming tool, structuring your comparisons, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about comparing and contrasting.

Many assignments will invite you to make comparisons quite explicitly, as in these prompts.

• Compare the treatment of the theme of beauty in the poetry of William Wordsworth and John Keats.
• Compare and contrast in-class and distance learning. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Some other prompts may not directly ask you to compare and contrast, but present you with a topic where comparing and contrasting could be a good approach.

One way to approach this essay might be to contrast the situation before the Great Depression with the situation during it, to highlight how large a difference it made.

Comparing and contrasting is also used in all kinds of academic contexts where it’s not explicitly prompted. For example, a literature review involves comparing and contrasting different studies on your topic, and an argumentative essay may involve weighing up the pros and cons of different arguments.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

As the name suggests, comparing and contrasting is about identifying both similarities and differences. You might focus on contrasting quite different subjects or comparing subjects with a lot in common—but there must be some grounds for comparison in the first place.

For example, you might contrast French society before and after the French Revolution; you’d likely find many differences, but there would be a valid basis for comparison. However, if you contrasted pre-revolutionary France with Han-dynasty China, your reader might wonder why you chose to compare these two societies.

This is why it’s important to clarify the point of your comparisons by writing a focused thesis statement . Every element of an essay should serve your central argument in some way. Consider what you’re trying to accomplish with any comparisons you make, and be sure to make this clear to the reader.

Comparing and contrasting can be a useful tool to help organize your thoughts before you begin writing any type of academic text. You might use it to compare different theories and approaches you’ve encountered in your preliminary research, for example.

Let’s say your research involves the competing psychological approaches of behaviorism and cognitive psychology. You might make a table to summarize the key differences between them.

Or say you’re writing about the major global conflicts of the twentieth century. You might visualize the key similarities and differences in a Venn diagram.

These visualizations wouldn’t make it into your actual writing, so they don’t have to be very formal in terms of phrasing or presentation. The point of comparing and contrasting at this stage is to help you organize and shape your ideas to aid you in structuring your arguments.

When comparing and contrasting in an essay, there are two main ways to structure your comparisons: the alternating method and the block method.

The alternating method

In the alternating method, you structure your text according to what aspect you’re comparing. You cover both your subjects side by side in terms of a specific point of comparison. Your text is structured like this:

Mouse over the example paragraph below to see how this approach works.

One challenge teachers face is identifying and assisting students who are struggling without disrupting the rest of the class. In a traditional classroom environment, the teacher can easily identify when a student is struggling based on their demeanor in class or simply by regularly checking on students during exercises. They can then offer assistance quietly during the exercise or discuss it further after class. Meanwhile, in a Zoom-based class, the lack of physical presence makes it more difficult to pay attention to individual students’ responses and notice frustrations, and there is less flexibility to speak with students privately to offer assistance. In this case, therefore, the traditional classroom environment holds the advantage, although it appears likely that aiding students in a virtual classroom environment will become easier as the technology, and teachers’ familiarity with it, improves.

The block method

In the block method, you cover each of the overall subjects you’re comparing in a block. You say everything you have to say about your first subject, then discuss your second subject, making comparisons and contrasts back to the things you’ve already said about the first. Your text is structured like this:

• Point of comparison A
• Point of comparison B

The most commonly cited advantage of distance learning is the flexibility and accessibility it offers. Rather than being required to travel to a specific location every week (and to live near enough to feasibly do so), students can participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This allows not only for a wider geographical spread of students but for the possibility of studying while travelling. However, distance learning presents its own accessibility challenges; not all students have a stable internet connection and a computer or other device with which to participate in online classes, and less technologically literate students and teachers may struggle with the technical aspects of class participation. Furthermore, discomfort and distractions can hinder an individual student’s ability to engage with the class from home, creating divergent learning experiences for different students. Distance learning, then, seems to improve accessibility in some ways while representing a step backwards in others.

Note that these two methods can be combined; these two example paragraphs could both be part of the same essay, but it’s wise to use an essay outline to plan out which approach you’re taking in each paragraph.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

Some essay prompts include the keywords “compare” and/or “contrast.” In these cases, an essay structured around comparing and contrasting is the appropriate response.

Comparing and contrasting is also a useful approach in all kinds of academic writing : You might compare different studies in a literature review , weigh up different arguments in an argumentative essay , or consider different theoretical approaches in a theoretical framework .

Your subjects might be very different or quite similar, but it’s important that there be meaningful grounds for comparison . You can probably describe many differences between a cat and a bicycle, but there isn’t really any connection between them to justify the comparison.

You’ll have to write a thesis statement explaining the central point you want to make in your essay , so be sure to know in advance what connects your subjects and makes them worth comparing.

Comparisons in essays are generally structured in one of two ways:

• The alternating method, where you compare your subjects side by side according to one specific aspect at a time.
• The block method, where you cover each subject separately in its entirety.

It’s also possible to combine both methods, for example by writing a full paragraph on each of your topics and then a final paragraph contrasting the two according to a specific metric.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay | Tips & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved June 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/compare-and-contrast/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write an expository essay, how to write an argumentative essay | examples & tips, academic paragraph structure | step-by-step guide & examples, what is your plagiarism score.

Extended Essay: Formal vs. Informal Writing

• Extended Essay- The Basics
• Step 1. Choose a Subject
• Step 2. Educate yourself!
• Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
• Identify Keywords
• Do Background Reading
• Define Your Topic
• Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
• Step 5. Draft a Research Question
• Step 6. Create a Timeline
• Find Articles
• Find Primary Sources
• Get Help from Experts
• Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
• Databases and Websites by Subject Area
• Create an Annotated Bibliography
• Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
• Chicago Citation Syle
• MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
• Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
• Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
• Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
• Conducting Secondary Research
• Conducting Primary Research
• Formal vs. Informal Writing
• Presentation Requirements
• Evaluating Your Work

Differences Between Informal and Formal Essays

When writing your extended essay you should use language that is formal and academic in tone.  The chart below gives you some idea of the differences between informal and formal essays. See the box below for examples of the differences in tone in informal and formal essays written on identical topics. A PDF of this chart, and the examples below, is in the box to the right , along with a list of tips for avoiding colloquial writing.

Examples of Informal and Formal Tone in Essay Writing

The following examples highlight the differences between formal and informal tone.

Language B - English

• Formal vs. Informal Writing A chart giving the differences between informal and formal essays in seven areas (author's viewpoint; subject/content (sources of evidence); tone; structure; location of the research question; vocabulary; and purpose. Also included are examples comparing informal and formal writing for essays in English, biology, and psychology.
• How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing While it may be acceptable in friendly e-mails and chat rooms, excessive colloquialism is a major pitfall that lowers the quality of formal written text. Here are some steps/tips that you can follow to help improve your overall writing.
• << Previous: Plagiarism
• Next: Presentation Requirements >>
• Last Updated: May 8, 2024 3:48 PM
• URL: https://libguides.westsoundacademy.org/ee

• School Guide
• English Grammar Free Course
• English Grammar Tutorial
• Parts of Speech
• Figure of Speech
• Tenses Chart
• Essay Writing
• Email Writing
• NCERT English Solutions
• English Difference Between
• SSC CGL English Syllabus
• SBI PO English Syllabus
• SBI Clerk English Syllabus
• IBPS PO English Syllabus
• IBPS CLERK English Syllabus

Difference Between Article and Essay

• Difference Between Elements and Atoms
• Difference Between Antigen and Antibody
• Difference between Paper and Article for Scientific Writings
• Difference between Vascular and Avascular Tissue
• Difference Between Memoir and Autobiography
• Difference Between Piece and Peace
• Difference between Website and Blog
• Difference between Blog and Vlog
• Difference between Article and Blog
• Difference between REST API and SOAP API
• Difference between Paragrah and Essay
• Difference between Process and Thread
• Difference between IAAS, PAAS and SAAS
• Difference between <article> tag and <section> tag
• Difference between IGRP and EIGRP
• Difference between URL and Link
• Difference between WordPad and NotePad
• Difference between ICMP and IGMP
• Difference Between Tissues and Organs

Articles and essays are both common forms of written communication that are utilized in a variety of sectors of study and vocations. Their goal, organization, and writing style, however, differ.

Articles are pieces of text that are published in a newspaper, magazine, journal, or website, either in print or electronically. It is intended for a big audience. It is founded on surveys, research, data, and analysis, among other things. Articles can be short or somewhat more than 1500 words. It is written with a certain goal in mind and teaches the readers about an idea.

Articles inform readers and keep them up to date by appearing in newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, and, increasingly, websites. Let us use an example to better understand what an article is. Assume that in a research center, a scientist discovered any new notions and published a brief essay in a popular magazine, so that individuals in the same area found it useful and were also informed about a new thing.

Examples of articles include news articles, feature articles, and opinion pieces.

An essay is a formal and comprehensive piece of literature that describes a particular issue or topic analyzed and discussed. It refers to a short piece of writing on a particular subject. Mainly students in their academics are asked to write essays on some topics as a response to a question or proposition. It does not have a specific readership in mind.

Through essays, the writer or narrator expresses his or her personal views or opinion on a particular topic or a question and it is based on an educational and analytical tone. Let’s take an example and understand what is essay clearly suppose a school student has an exam and in the question paper he has been asked to write something explaining about Floods in India which is an example of an essay.

Examples of essays include academic essays, personal essays, and argumentative essays.

Tabular Differences between Article and Essay:

Conclusion:

In summary, articles and essays are two different forms of written communication that serve different purposes. Articles are used to provide information about a particular topic, while essays are used to express personal opinions or persuade the reader to take a certain course of action. Understanding the differences between the two can help you choose the appropriate format for your writing task.

Please Login to comment...

Similar reads.

• English-difference-between
• SSC/Banking

Improve your Coding Skills with Practice

What kind of Experience do you want to share?