Techniques of Book and Article Review

1. Techniques of Book and Article Review Dr. Akbar Ali

2. A book review is a description, critical analysis, and an evaluation on the quality, meaning, and significance of a book, not a retelling. In it a book is analyzed based on content, style, and merit. A book review can be a primary source opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. • It is a reaction document in which strengths and weaknesses of the material are analyzed. It should include a statement of what the author has tried to do, evaluates how well (in the opinion of the reviewer) the author has succeeded, and evaluator presents an evidence to support this evaluation. • Your goal should be to acquire a broad-based comprehension of related literature and you become familiar with the different sources of information related to the topic of your interest. Dr. Akbar Ali

3. The purpose of a book review is to provide readers with information so that they may make decisions on whether or not to read the book itself. It is the reviewer's job both to describe the main points of a book and to offer critical analyses of its strengths and weaknesses. A reviewer needs to provide an appropriate balance between the description and analysis. • A book review is not intended to replace the book, but to provide readers with a tool to use in making an informed decision about reading the book itself. • You will offer a useful tool if your book review is both fair and thoughtful, if you do a responsible and thorough job in describing the book, and if you state what you like and dislike about the book and why. Dr. Akbar Ali

4. A book review may address one particular book or a series of books devoted to topic. It is preferable to reduce the analytical and graphical content and concentrate on the discussion about the valuable information which can be derived from the book chapters. In case of a research monograph, where distinct chapters are written by different authors, elaborate on both the self-consistency and the overall writing style. • Generally the reviews have to provide forums for further discussions about the problem statements and not just summarize the peculiarities of each cited paper but rather transform the presented information into an inspirational material for future studies. Dr. Akbar Ali

5. Generally avoid the temptation to read other reviews of the book. It is easy to let other viewpoints color your impression, and as the book reviewer it is your impression that is important. Although, afterwards, you may wish to explore what other reviewers have written. • A book review's length may vary from a single paragraph to a substantial essay. A review may evaluate the book on the basis of personal taste. Reviewers may use the occasion of a book review for a display of learning or to promulgate their own ideas on the topic of the work. • Evaluate the book for interest, accuracy, objectivity, importance, thoroughness, and usefulness to its intended audience. Show whether the author's main arguments are true. Respond to the author's opinions. Dr. Akbar Ali

6. Illustrate whether or not any conclusions drawn are derived logically from the evidence. Explore issues the book raises. • What has the author omitted or what problems were left unsolved and specific points are not convincing, Compare it with other books on similar subjects or other books by the same as well as different authors. • Is it only a reworking of earlier books or newly uncovered sources justified new approach by the author. Comment on parts of particular interest, and point out anything that seems to give the book literary merit. Relate the book to larger issues. Dr. Akbar Ali

7. Following are the suggestions for a book reviewer: • Read the book (or an extensive journal article) carefully, taking notes on parts that have a special impact. It is often wise to read the book more than once. • Examine other book reviews to get a "feel" for this style of writing and describe the book in enough detail so that the reader is informed of all major points. Look for the author's writing style, organization, and purpose, and for the book's substance. Using quotations from the book will help support your points. • Address both the strengths and weaknesses when critiquing the book, offering both praise and criticism. • Conclude your review with an overall assessment of the book. By mentioning how well did this book has achieve its purpose and for whom would you recommend the book. Dr. Akbar Ali

8. Article review is an attempt to summarize the current state of understanding on a topic. It analyze or discuss research previously published by others, rather than reporting new experimental results. • An article review differs from a research article in that the review article examines the evidence presented in a • research article, rather than producing research itself. • Articles review, including meta-analyses, are critical evaluations of material that has already been published. By organizing, integrating, and evaluating previously published material, the author of a review article considers the progress of current research toward clarifying a problem. • The article review is based on the choice of a single publication on a particular topic and its fair evaluation. Dr. Akbar Ali

9. An article review is expected to provide a summary /or a synthesis of the findings of selected research contributions being published by other authors. The main purpose of a review article is to examine the current state of the relevant publications on a given topic and to initiate a discussion about the research methodologies and the findings related to the said topic. • It generally Defines and clarifies the problem. • Summarizes previous investigations in order to inform the reader of the state of current research • Identifies relations, contradictions, gaps and inconsistencies in the literature; and suggests the next step or steps in solving the problem. Dr. Akbar Ali

10. Article review of good quality are frequently needed in the presence of the growing number of research papers. • It is expected to provide a summary and/or a synthesis of the findings of selected research contributions being published by other authors. • The main purpose of it is to examine the current state of the relevant publications on a given topic and to initiate a discussion about the research methodologies and the findings related to the said topic. • Therefore, a article review should contain a comprehensive list of supporting references being thoroughly cited in the text. Dr. Akbar Ali

11. The reviews supposedly analyze the strengths, weaknesses, and open questions of a research paper after studying its problem statement and scientific content. So the reviews should properly describe, then analyze and finally discuss the research findings which would hopefully result in a better evaluation and a resultant constructive interpretation of the selected paper. • The critical reviews must be based on verifiable scientific facts, logic and reasoning but not on inconclusive arguments or personal interest. The technical criticism should be presented with a scholarly level of tolerance and understanding. Open-minded approach is recommended for the prevention of plain debunking Dr. Akbar Ali