Manuscript Review Template - Feel Free to Download

Abstract

When I was invited to review a manuscript by journal editors, I will try to use whatever online template given by them. However, there are situations whereby some journals do not provide any online template or any format to submit the review report. Hence, I'd developed this template & have been using it for a while.

This template is for manuscript or article reviewers to quickly input their comments after reviewing a manuscript / article. They can then submit this word doc to the journal editors or copy & paste the contents from the word doc into the journal online submission system.

This template is also useful for article or conference proceeding writers / authors to seek reference on what are criteria / check list that reviewers / editors will look for / follow in order to evaluate their papers.

Feel free to download, adapt to your needs and let me know if there is any improvement needed. Thanks.

Full text

Manuscript Review
Reviewer’s Information
E-Mail:
Title:
First Name:
Last Name:
Affiliation:
Country:
Specialization:
Manuscript Information
Journal Name:
Manuscript
Number:
Manuscript Title:
Date Received
from Journal:
Date to Send
Review Report:
Reviewer’s Blind Review Comments to Author
Kindly enter your comments based on the following sections. Also please include text excerpt or
row / page no. from the manuscript for ease of reference by the author.
1. Originality:
1. <<provide your comments on how original is the
research being conducted e.g. is it contributing to new
knowledge, reinvent the wheel etc.>>
2. Scientific Quality: 1. <<provide your comments on the manuscript’s quality
from the scientific viewpoints>>
3.
Relevance to the
Field(s) of
this Journal:
1. << provide your comments on how relevant this
manuscript is matching the field(s) covered by this
journal>>
4. General Comment: 1. <<provide the key observations / salient points that you
can discover from the manuscript>>

5. Abstract:
1. <<provide your comments which include: purpose,
design /methodology / approach, findings, limitations /
implications, originality / value & keywords of the
abstract>>
6. Introduction:
1. <<provide your comments which include: background
information, research problem, research objective(s),
research question(s)>>
7. Literature Review:
1. <<provide your comments on the adequacy of the
literature reviewed, the use of updated literature,
underpinning theory / theoretical frameworks etc.>>
8. Methodology:
1. <<provide your comments on how the research / study
is being conducted e.g. conceptual framework /
research model, operationalization of the constructs /
variables, research design / method, types of
instrument used, sampling, data collection approach,
proposed data analysis techniques / tools etc.>>
9. Results:
1. <<provide your comments on the empirical findings /
evidences which include accuracy, reliability, validity
etc.>>
10. Discussions: 1. <<provide your comments on the points discussed &
justified by the author>>
11. Conclusions:
1. <<provide your comments on the research limitations,
future research recommendation and conclusion of the
manuscript>>
12. References /
Bibliography:
1. <<provide your comments inclusive references /
bibliography are following the appropriate format e.g.
APA, MLA, Harvard etc., tally with & matching the
citations in the manuscript’s body text etc.>>
13. Figures:
1. <<provide your comments on how the figures are
meeting journal’s author guidelines e.g. in terms of
size, graphic resolution etc.>>

14. Tables:
1. <<provide your comments on how the tables are
meeting journal’s author guidelines e.g. in terms of
size, APA format etc.>>
15. Others: 1. <<provide other comments not belong to above
sections e.g. presentation etc.>>
16.
Reviewer’s
Decision
Comment:
1. <<provide overall evaluation on the manuscript>>
Please rate the following: (1 = Excellent) (2 = Good) (3 = Fair) (4 = Poor)
1. Originality
2. Scientific Quality
3. Relevance to the Field(s) of Journal
4. Depth Of Research
5. Abstract
6. Introduction
7. Literature Review
8. Methodology
9. Results
10. Discussions
11. Conclusions
12. References / Bibliography
13. Figures
14. Tables
15. Clarity Of Presentation
Total Score:

Reviewer’s Confidential Comments to Editor
<<define any section if
needed>> 1. <<please enter your comment here>>
Recommandation
Kindly mark with an X
Accept As Is:
Requires Minor Corrections:
Requires Moderate Revision:
Requires Major Revision:
Submit To Another Publication
Such As:
Rejection (Please provide
reasons)