As we all know, academic papers are an important carrier for peer-to-peer academic achievement communication and identification of the priority attributes of achievement.Generally, we divide academic papers into two categories, one belongs to the achievement paper, which is the academic paper and the review (commentary) paper, and the other is the intelligence paper.There have also been translated papers published in newspapers and magazines.With the internationalization of scientific research in China, everyone can now read the original foreign language directly in their field of expertise, so those translated newspaper publications have basically disappeared or changed their name to Outcome Publications.For example, the geological translation cluster of our school and the related organizations of the former Ministry of Geology and Minerals sponsored by the physical and chemical exploration cluster, petroleum exploration and translation cluster.The original school-sponsored magazine "Geotechnology Information" was also renamed "Geotechnology Bulletin" to show that the magazine has changed from an intelligence-based attribute to a results-based publication.Therefore, the types of academic journals are mainly "outcome papers" and "review or commentary papers", which can be known from the column settings of most academic journals.
Recently, a junior in geophysics at Southern University of Science and Technology visited.As an elderly geophysicist, I am pleased with the fact that the student loved geophysics and chose geophysics as an undergraduate degree when he was free to choose his major after his freshman year.The "winter vacation homework" the teacher gave them was to write a "review paper" around the topic of geophysics, and the teacher had a preliminary conversation with him and gave him more than 10 relevant documents.However, the student WeChat complained to me that he had no clue about the concept and method of writing a review paper, and his mood and cognition were completely understandable.I think that as a junior, the writing of a review paper is naturally "confused", and it requires those of us who have worked hard in academia for decades to "transmit the scriptures and send treasure".Therefore, I would like to meet with him to discuss how to write a qualified and even high-quality professional "review paper", and strive to meet the basic requirements of the teacher, and hand in a good winter vacation homework.Obviously, students visit, first listen to my writing experience about the review (commentary) paper, and then we focus on some basic elements of the review paper writing.
I have published a number of review papers after accumulating in the scientific research process, two of which are related to two research directions in Chinese, published in the domestic important academic journal "Scientific Bulletin".Remember that in the early years of scientific communication there were only two columns: research briefs requiring 3,000 words of paper and 700 words of research newsletters.It is said that at the initiative of the famous biological scientist Mr. Zou Chenglu and others, the "Scientific Bulletin" copied the arrangement of Nature columns, and set up editorials, thematic reviews, research papers, research briefings, research newsletters and reviews.To this end, I published a "topic review" paper in the Scientific Bulletin in 1997 and 1998 respectively (figure).The basic content and structure of a review (commentary) paper are a little rough understanding.
In my opinion, a high-level review paper should be of important reference value to the scientific research of academic peers.Young scholars who are new to academia are often advised to pay attention to peer-reviewed or critical papers, because they contain a lot of information, especially for us to understand the history and development of a scientific research direction.Some high-level review (commentary) papers will also introduce the twists and turns in the discovery of some major scientific and technological problems in this research direction, which is of great significance to our scientific colleagues.To accomplish this, and to write a high-quality review (commentary) paper, I have a few specific writing suggestions:
1) Choose the topic carefully.Review (commentary) thesis topic selection must be based on their own scientific research cognition, do not follow the fashion, get involved in too unfamiliar fields or directions.In addition to novelty, there must be a certain degree of forward-lookingness, too old-fashioned choice of questions for peers without inspiration may have a negative impact on your academic reputation.Therefore, to choose a good review (commentary) thesis topic should be based on the author and his team's strong research foundation and innovation consciousness.The paradigm of the review (commentary) paper should pay attention to the difference from the "reading report".A book report is usually a "job" in the academic process of some beginner, such as graduate students, such as the "scientific methodology" book report of the school's 2023 equivalent Ph.D. graduate student.The "winter vacation homework" requirement for the geophysics students I spoke with this time is "summary paper", but it is also good if most students can hand in a qualified "book report".As for the difference between "reading report" and "reviewing (reviewing) papers" will be elaborated separately.
2, pay close attention to the progress of peer research, and around the logical relationship between the content of the selection of topics to sort out a number of topics in this direction as the first level of the title of the article.In my academic experience, if I see some of the latest scientific and technical literature in a review (review) paper citation, I will give the author a good "impression" of the academic quality of the peer.If his manuscripts or applications for scientific research projects were reviewed by me, I would at least rate his ability to track international scientific frontiers.In the article "How to Write a Quality National Natural Science Fund Application" and "Documents Are the Life of Scientific Research", I highlighted the importance of keeping abreast of peer research progress through scientific and technological literature and academic exchanges.
3. For scholars involved in the initial review (review) paper writing, they should carefully read the relevant peer literature and analyze the relationship between the research results of each peer, especially to find and read the representative important documents.
The key to a valuable review (commentary) paper that is welcomed by scientific peers is to summarize and raise several valuable questions that deserve in-depth study.For example, the "5 Recommendations for Further Study" of my 1998 "Thematic Review" paper "Research on the Magnetic Structure of the Continental Crust and Its Significance" published in the "Scientific Bulletin"."5 Problems in the Study of the Formation Mechanism of the Smoke-Hook Effect" in the Review Paper "Integrated Magnetics, Geochemistry and Mineralogy Principles Evaluation of the Formation Mechanism of the Smoke-Hook Effect" published in 1997 (attached).These "problems of further value" may serve as pragmatic references to peer scientific research.
These recommendations are not necessarily accurate and are for information purposes only.