The introduction should accomplish at least three things. One is to identify some basic information, such as: the title of the paper under review, the author’s name and agency , the date of the paper, and the date of your review. The second element in the introduction is to state the purpose of your paper: Who is the reader? What will the reader gain from your paper? Why should they read it? Finally, briefly list how your paper is organized.
The second section is to clearly identify the main point(s) of the original paper. One way to do this is to quote it. However, some writers do not present their main point very clearly. Do you have to hunt for it? Since you are reviewing a Policy Paper, the main point should be the recommendation. Is it stated clearly? Does it make sense? Is it realistic?
Next, you need to describe and evaluate the paper’s evidence. This section is the most important and extensive part of your paper. In your review, consider the following questions: What evidence did the author present in support of the recommendation? Are the sources legitimate, scholarly books and journals ? Or are they advocacy web sites and blogs? Were viable alternative courses of action considered? Were logical criteria applied systematically to the alternative options? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence? What is missing?
Fourth, evaluate the writing in the paper. Consider the following: Is the paper well organized? Are the
