[Read] How to Review a Technical Paper

Why is a review necessary?

find deficiencies in:

• technical approach and analysis
• computation
• ignorance of related research

detect a second kind of problem:

• style and grammar that confuse the reader
• patent or legal issues

Types of reviews

"anonymous", "friendly", "internal"

What makes a good paper?

1. Abstract
   1. summarize the paper?
   2. include the conclusions as well as the statement of the original problem?
   3. Is the information not presented elsewhere in the paper
2. Introduction
   1. explain why the topic is important -> audience
   2. excessively broad?
3. Body of the Paper (techniques, results, discussion)
   1. If the approach and analysis are clearly described?
   2. Has the author integrated discussions of errors and uncertainties in his analysis at suitable points?
   3. Is the level of detail reasonable?
   4. Are too much data presented?
   5. Is the right amount of work for a paper?
   6. Is the paper premature?
4. Conclusions
   1. No new material is introduced!
5. References
6. Tables, Graphs, and was Figures
   1. Necessary?
   2. captioned and are referred to in the text