Blog – Review a journal Entry

Blog – Review a journal Entry
How to Write a Critical Review of a Journal Article
What is a Critical Review of a Journal Article?
A critical review of a journal article evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of an article’s ideas and
content. It provides description, analysis and interpretation that allow readers to assess the
article’s value. It is not a summary.
Before You Read the Article
1. What does the title lead you to expect about the article?
2. Study any sub-headings to understand how the author organized the content.
3. Read the abstract (If there is one) for a summary of the author’s arguments.
4. Study the list of references (if there is one) to determine what research contributed to the
author’s arguments. Are the references recent? Do they represent important work in the field?
5. If possible, read about the author to learn what authority he or she has to write about the
subject.
Reading the Article: Answer the following Questions
Read the article carefully. Record your impressions and note sections suitable for quoting.
1. Who is the intended audience?
2. What is the author’s purpose? To survey and summarize research on a topic? To present an
argument that builds on past research? To refute another writer’s argument?
3. Does the author define important terms?
4. Is the information in the article fact or opinion? (Facts can be verified, while opinions arise
from interpretations of facts.) Does the information seem well-researched or is it unsupported?
5. What are the author’s central arguments or conclusions? Are they clearly stated? Are they
supported by evidence and analysis?
6. If the article reports on an experiment or study, does the author clearly outline methodology
and the expected result?
7. Is the article lacking information or argumentation that you expected to find?
8. Is the article organized logically and easy to follow?
9. Does the writer’s style suit the intended audience? Is the style stilted or unnecessarily
complicated?
10. Is the author’s language objective or charged with emotion and bias?
11. If illustrations or charts are used, are they effective in presenting information?
Prepare an Outline
Read over your notes. Choose a statement that expresses the central purpose or thesis of your review.
When thinking of a thesis, consider the author’s intentions and whether or not you think those
intentions were successfully realized. Eliminate all notes that do not relate to your thesis. Organize
your remaining points into separate groups such as points about structure, style, or argument. Devise a
logical sequence for presenting these ideas. Remember that all of your ideas must support your central
thesis.
Write the First Draft
The review should begin with a complete citation of the article. For example:
Platt, Kevin M. F. “History and Despotism, or: Hayden White vs. Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great.”
Rethinking History 3:3 (1999) : 247-269.
The first paragraph may contain:
• a statement of your thesis
• the author’s purpose in writing the article
• comments on how the article relates to other work on the same subject
• information about the author’s reputation or authority in the field
The body of the review should:
• state your arguments in support of your thesis
• follow the logical development of ideas that you mapped out in your outline
• include quotations from the article which illustrate your main ideas
The concluding paragraph may:
• summarize your review
• restate your thesis
Revise the First Draft
Ideally, you should leave your first draft for a day or two before revising. This allows you to gain a
more objective perspective on your ideas. Check for the following when revising:
• grammar and punctuation errors
• organization, logical development and solid support of your thesis
• errors in quotations or in references
You may make major revisions in the organization or content of your review during the revision process.
Revising can even lead to a radical change in your central thesis.
NOTE: Prepared by University of Toronto Mississauga Library, Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre.
Retrieved from http://library.queensu.ca/inforef/criticalreview.htm
Articles for Review – All available through the Algonquin Library
Hire knowledge: asking the right questions in a job interview can reveal whether a company is a good
place to work, or not
By: Barmak, Sarah. In: Maclean’s. Nov 18, 2013, Vol. 126 Issue 45, p63, 1 p.; Rogers Publishing Ltd.
Language: English, Database: Canada In Context
Subjects: Canada; Job hunting – Methods
The invisible in your office: in an era of relentless self-promotion, a new book argues, the crucial
work is done by the people who prefer the sidelines to the limelight
By: MacQueen, Ken. In: Maclean’s. June 23, 2014, Vol. 127 Issue 24, p46, 2 p.; Rogers Publishing Ltd.
Language: English, Database: Canada In Context
Subjects: Books — Book reviews; Invisibles: The Power of Anonymous Work in an Age of Relentless Self-
Promotion (Nonfiction work)
Open secrets: any employee with an internet connection now has the power to share confidential
information–and the law is catching up
By: McMahon, Tamsin. In: Maclean’s. March 17, 2014, Vol. 127 Issue 10, p38, 4 p.; Rogers Publishing
Ltd. Language: English, Database: Canada In Context
Subjects: Canada; Government regulation; Confidential communications — Laws, regulations and rules;
Disclosure of information — Laws, regulations and rules; Social media; Business enterprises
School-to-work transition: Mentor career support and student career planning, job search intentions,
and self-defeating job search behavior
By: Renn, Robert W.; Steinbauer, Robert; Taylor, Robert; Detwiler, Daniel. In: Journal of Vocational
Behavior. Dec 2014, Vol. 85 Issue 3, p422, 11 p.; Elsevier B.V. Language: English, Database: Academic
OneFile
Subjects: Career development — Analysis; Mentors — Analysis; Job hunting — Analysis
HOW TO ACE THE NEW JOB INTERVIEW.
By: Bortz, Daniel. Money. Oct2014, Vol. 43 Issue 9, p90-94. 5p. 2 Color Photographs. , Database:
Business Source Complete
Subjects: EMPLOYMENT interviewing; EMPLOYEE selection; JOB hunting; STRUCTURED employment interviews;
JOB skills; PERSONALITY assessment
A VIEW TO A SKILL.
By: SORENSEN, CHRIS. Maclean’s. 10/6/2014, Vol. 127 Issue 39, p40-42. 3p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Graph.
Subjects: EMPLOYMENT (Economic theory); JOB qualifications; EMPLOYEE training; EMPLOYMENT statistics;
OCCUPATIONAL training; CANADA; SOCIAL aspects; CANADA — Economic conditions
The end of the boss: companies are doing away with middle managers–but workers shouldn’t jump for joy
just yet
By: Hutchins, Aaron. In: Maclean’s. May 18, 2015, Vol. 128 Issue 19-20, p36, 2 p.; Rogers Publishing
Ltd. Language: English, Database: Canada In Context
Subjects: Canada; Market trend/market analysis; Middle managers — Supply and demand; Management —
Forecasts and trends; Organizational structure — Forecasts and trends
The daddywars
By: Gillis, Charlie. In: Maclean’s. May 18, 2015, Vol. 128 Issue 19-20, p42, 4 p.; Rogers Publishing
Ltd. Language: English, Database: Canada In Context
Subjects: Canada; Market trend/market analysis; Work-life balance — Demographic aspects; Work-life
balance — Forecasts and trends; Fatherhood — Social aspects; Child care — Social aspects; Work and
family
Hire that Facebook party animal.
By: Teitel, Emma. Maclean’s. 7/29/2013, Vol. 126 Issue 29, p1-1. 1p. 1 Color Photograph.
Subjects: EMPLOYEES — Dismissal of; ONLINE social networks; EMPLOYEE selection; SOCIAL media; FACEBOOK
(Web resource)
Busted.
By: KINGSTON, ANNE. Maclean’s. 12/29/2014, Vol. 127 Issue 51/52, p30-33. 4p. 2 Color Photographs, 3
Black and White Photographs.
Subjects: SEXUAL harassment; EMPLOYEES — Dismissal of; SEXUAL assault; CORPORATE culture; CANADIAN
Broadcasting Corp.; CANADA; LAWSUITS & claims; GHOMESHI, Jian
GREEN WHERE IT COUNTS.
By: LEE, ADRIAN. Maclean’s. 5/26/2014, Vol. 127 Issue 19/20, p48-50. 2p. 1 Color Photograph.
Subjects: SOCIAL responsibility of business; ENVIRONMENTAL responsibility; BUSINESS enterprises;
ORGANIZATIONAL behavior; CORPORATE culture; CORPORATIONS — Sociological aspects; EMPLOYEE retention;
Bond and income / dividend funds – Canadian; CANADA; SOCIAL aspects
The best employers: the best perks, new initiatives and other opportunities on offer at Canada’s 50
best employers
In: Maclean’s. Nov 17, 2014, Vol. 127 Issue 45, p46, 7 p.; Rogers Publishing Ltd. Language: English,
Database: Academic OneFile
Subjects: Canada; Company personnel management; International business enterprises — Rankings;
International business enterprises — Human resource management; Work-life balance — Rankings
BusinessEtiquette : 101 Ways to Conduct Business with Charm and Savvy
*eBook – Choose a chapter to review*
By: Sabath, Ann Marie. Edition: 3rd ed. Franklin Lakes, NJ : Career Press. 2010. eBook. , Database:
eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
Subjects: BUSINESS& ECONOMICS / BusinessEtiquette; Businessetiquette
BusinessEtiquette&Professionalism : Conduct Yourself with Confidence
*eBook – Choose a chapter to review*
By: DuPont, M. Kay. In: A Crisp Fifty-minute Series Book. Edition: 3rd ed. [Rochester, N.Y.] :Axzo
Press. 2009. eBook. , Database: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
Subjects: BUSINESS& ECONOMICS / BusinessEtiquette; Businessetiquette
5.
The Girls’ Guide to Power and Success
*eBook – Choose a chapter to review*
By: Solovic, Susan Wilson. New York : AMACOM. 2001. eBook. , Database: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
Subjects: REFERENCE / Personal & Practical Guides; Women–United States–Life skills guides; Women–
United States–Psychology; Women–United States–Conduct of life; Self-help techniques–United States;
Success–United States