Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition
Boost your confidence in reviews with practical advice from the experts
With millions of scientific papers published annually, getting to grips with all the important studies in your field would be near impossible without review papers. By providing critical analysis and synthesis of the primary literature, review papers help researchers understand the challenges and opportunities in their area. In fact, they play such a critical role in the advancement of science that there are journals in some fields dedicated just to reviews.
"Review papers are so valuable to science. They filter and pull together information from lots of different sources and make it easy to understand and digestible."
Annette Fenner, Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Urology
Why write a review paper?
Writing a review paper can be a good idea for a number of reasons. If your review provides new insights (which it should), you’ll be making a valuable contribution to science. It can also help put you on the map as an expert in the area you’re reviewing, so you’ll be boosting your career prospects and opening up new networking opportunities.
Figure 1. A cartoon researcher holding a laptop and thinking about the potential benefits of writing a review paper.
“As an author it can raise your profile in your field. As a reader it can change the way you view your field and maybe even alter the way you take your career and your research.”
Giulia Pacchioni, Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Materials
Writing a strong review paper
The process involved in writing a review paper is not easy – it takes a lot of time and effort and might seem a daunting task for early career researchers. It’s also quite different to writing an experimental research paper, and much less discussed in the research community. That’s why Nature Masterclasses created a new online course designed to equip researchers with the necessary skills and techniques to write successful review papers. Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition guides you through the entire process, from defining the initial concept right up until publication. Building on the learnings of the 2016 course Writing and Publishing a Review Paper, this refined and updated version offers an improved learning experience and enriched content with extensive real-world examples.
“If you can write a really good review, you have a tool which can change how people see your research and see your field, and that’s a really valuable thing to be able to do.”
Annette Fenne
Hints and tips from the experts
Whatever stage in your research career you’re at, Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition will set you on the road to writing strong review papers. You may be starting out and need fundamental advice, or you may have more experience and want to improve your skills. Either way, the expert guidance of Nature Portfolio’s experienced editors will streamline the process and make the best use of your time and expertise.
“Learning how to write a review article can benefit every scientist no matter their career stage. A grad student or postdoc can benefit by knowing how review papers are constructed, a mid-career researcher can learn how to prepare a review, and even an experienced scientist can learn tips about involving junior members.”
Huan-Xiang Zhou, Professor of Chemistry and Physics, University of Illinois Chicago
Use this course to learn how to:
- Prepare the foundations for a strong review paper. Understand both the concept and value of a review paper, identify your motivation, and see what editors consider to be a great review paper.
- Plan thoroughly. Select, evaluate and synthesise primary literature efficiently, draft an outline, and choose an appropriate journal.
- Write effectively. Apply scientific writing principles to structure each section and engage your audience throughout.
- Add value. Identify and create display items that will enhance your paper.
- Publish your paper. Learn strategies for navigating the submission process, for both solicited and unsolicited reviews.
Figure 2. Illustrations indicating how the 17 lessons in "Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition" provide skills throughout the review process.
Flexible learning
Designed to allow participants to take charge of their own learning, Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition sits conveniently alongside researchers’ existing workload. This on-demand course contains 4 hours of study, consisting of 17 bite-sized lessons which participants can dip into as they wish.
Fig 3. Roadmap indicating the 17 lessons in "Writing and Publising a Review paper: 2nd Edition"
Nature Masterclasses’ complementary webinar, Strengthening your Reviews – In Conversation with Nature Portfolio Editors, builds on the course by addressing the key issues faced when planning and writing a review paper. Giulia Pacchioni, Chief Editor of Nature Reviews Materials, and Silvia Conti, Associate Editor, Nature Reviews Electrical Engineering, discuss challenges such as how to first get involved in reviews as an early-career researcher, refining a review’s scope to make sure it’s comprehensive but still impactful, and the extent to which you can voice opinion in a review paper.
Learn from the experts
Writing and Publishing a Review Paper: 2nd Edition was created and developed with the insights of an international panel of leading editors and researchers who are experts in writing effective review papers. Their knowledge and experience across different scientific disciplines ensures the lessons are relevant, practical and engaging:
- Annette Fenner, Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Urology
- Giulia Pacchioni, Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Materials
- Pep Pàmies, Chief Editor, Nature Biomedical Engineering
- Huan-Xiang Zhou, Professor of Chemistry and Physics, University of Illinois Chicago
Additional specialists provide their expertise in the form of video interviews, to complete and refine the range of experiences:
- Shabir Barzanjeh, Associate Professor in Quantum Physics, University of Calgary
- Olga Bubnova, Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Engineering
- Aamir Iqbal, Postdoctoral Researcher, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Supporting researchers throughout the research lifecycle
Completing this course equips researchers with the key tools and techniques, and the confidence, for writing and publishing a review paper. Nature Masterclasses on-demand offer a number of further companion courses to expand on researchers’ expertise, including Writing a Research Paper: 2nd Edition and Publishing a Research Paper: 2nd Edition.
Investing in the skills and training offered by Nature Masterclasses empowers researchers to gain maximum impact for their work in today’s highly competitive research environment.