writing in the disciplines

scientific review

A scientific review paper, or literature review, presents a critical evaluation of the research on a particular topic. In writing reviews, biologists present both summaries of the published information and critical evaluation of the source material.

Biologists write such reviews for many purposes: to present the most up-to-date information on a topic, to present the history of a topic, or to compare and contrast research on a particular topic. While the purposes of such reviews may vary, the audience is generally students and researchers in the biological sciences.

Depending on purpose, a literature review may be broken up in different ways. Standard formats generally include an introduction to the topic, a body labeled with headings and subheadings, a conclusion with recommendations for further research, and a lengthy literature cited or reference section. Some publications may require abstracts as well.

Formats for published review papers can vary by journal, so it is often helpful to read a couple of review articles from a variety of journals before beginning your own review. Reading reviews written by other biologists may also help you identify your own purpose in writing a review.

additional resources

Literature Reviews
This page from the Writing Center at the University of North Carolina provides extensive advice on conceiving of and constructing a review paper.

Scientific Review Papers
MIT's Online Writing and Communication Center lists helpful questions to address while writing a review paper.