Critique paper is 

an academic writing genre that summarizes and

gives a critical evaluation of a concept or work. Or, to put it simply,
it is no more than a summary and a critical analysis of a specific
issue. This type of writing aims to evaluate the impact of the given
work or concept in its field.Jul 12, 2022.
A critique paper is a particular academic writing genre that requires
you to carefully study, summarize, and critically analyze a study or
a concept. In other words, it is nothing more than a critical
analysis. That is all you are doing when writing a critical essay:
trying to understand the work and present an evaluation. Critical
essays can be either positive or negative, as the work deserves.

Writing a Critique
describe: give the reader a sense of the writer's overall purpose and
intent.
analyze: examine how the structure and language of the text convey
its meaning.
interpret: state the significance or importance of each part of the
text.
assess: make a judgment of the work's worth or value.

There are 4 distinct components to a critique, and those are the:

 Introduction
 Summary
 Critique
 Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
An effective introduction:
 Provides a quick snapshot of background information readers
may need in order to follow along with the argument
  Defines key terminology as needed
 Ends with a strong argument (thesis)

A summary is a broad overview of what is discussed in a source. In

a critique essay, writers should always assume that those reading
the essay may be unfamiliar with the work being examined. For
that reason, the following should be included early in the paper:

 The name of the author(s) of the work

 The title of the work
 A quick overview of the
 Main ideas presented in the work
 Arguments presented in the work
 Any conclusions presented in the work

Depending on the requirements of your particular assignment, the

summary may appear as part of the introduction, or it may be a
separate paragraph. The summary should always be included
before the analysis, as readers need a base-level familiarity of the
resource before you can effectively present an argument about what
the source does well and where improvements are needed.
CRITIQUE
The critique is your evaluation of the resource. A strong critique:

 Discusses the strengths of the resource

 Discusses the weaknesses of the resource
 Provides specific examples (direct quotes, with proper citation)
as needed to support your evaluation
 Discusses anything else pertinent to your evaluation,
including
 The accuracy of the resource
 Any bias found within the resource
 The relevance of the resource
 The clarity of the resource

A critique is your opinion of the text, supported by evidence from

the text.
If you need further guidance on how to evaluate your source, you
can also consult our 
CONCLUSION
A conclusion has three main functions in an essay. A conclusion
will:
 Summarize the main ideas presented in the essay
 Remind readers of the thesis (argument)
 Draw the paper to a close 

How to Write a Critique Essay: Main Steps

Starting critique essays is the most challenging part. You are
supposed to substantiate your opinion with quotes and
paraphrases, avoiding retelling the entire text. A critical analysis
aims to find out whether an article or another piece of writing is
compelling. First, you need to formulate the author’s thesis: what
was the literary work supposed to convey? Then, explore the text on
how this main idea was elaborated. Finally, draft your critique
according to the structure given below.

Step 1: Critical Reading

1.1. Attentively read the literary work. While reading, make
notes and underline the essentials.

 Try to come into the author’s world and think why they wrote
such a piece.
 Point out which literary devices are successful. Some research
in literary theory may be required.
 Find out what you dislike about the text, i.e., controversies,
gaps, inconsistency, or incompleteness.

1.2. Find or formulate the author’s thesis. 

 What is the principal argument? In an article, it can be found

in the first paragraph.
 In a literary work, formulate one of the principal themes, as
the thesis is not explicit.
 If you write a critique of painting, find out what feelings,
emotions, or ideas, the artist attempted to project.

1.3. Make a summary or synopsis of the analyzed text. 

 One paragraph will suffice. You can use it in your critique

essay, if necessary.
 The point is to explore the gist.

Step 2: Analyzing the Text

After the reading phase, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What was your emotional response to the text? Which

techniques, images, or ideas made you feel so?
2. Find out the author’s background. Which experiences made
them raise such a thesis? What other significant works have
 they written that demonstrate the general direction of thought
of this person?
3. Are the concepts used correctly in the text? Are the references
reliable, and do they sufficiently substantiate the author’s
opinion?

Step 3: Drafting the Essay

Finally, it is time to draft your essay. First of all, you’ll need to write
a brief overview of the text you’re analyzing. Then, formulate
a thesis statement – one sentence that will contain your opinion of
the work under scrutiny. After that, make a one-paragraph
summary of the text.

You can use this simple template for the draft version of your
analysis. Another thing that can help you at this step is a summary
creator to make the creative process more efficient.

Critique Paper Template

Example:

 Introduction. Paragraph 1.
o Start with an introductory phrase about the domain of

the work in question.

o Tell which work you are going to analyze, its author, and

year of publication.
o Specify the principal argument of the work under study.

o In the third sentence, clearly state your thesis.

 Summary. Paragraph 2.
o Here you can insert the summary you wrote before.

o This is the only place where you can use it. No summary

can be written in the main body!

  Main Body. Paragraph 3-5 (or more).
o Use one paragraph for every separate analyzed aspect of

the text (style, organization, fairness/bias, etc.).

o Each paragraph should confirm your thesis (e.g., whether

the text is effective or ineffective).

o Each paragraph shall start with a topic sentence,

followed by evidence, and concluded with a statement

referring to the thesis.
 Conclusion. The last paragraph.
o Provide a final judgment on the effectiveness of the piece

of writing.
o Summarize your main points and restate the thesis,
indicating that everything you said above confirms it.

Critical Essay Types

You can evaluate the chosen work or concept in several ways. Pick
the one you feel more comfortable with from the following:

 Descriptive critical essays examine texts or other works.

Their primary focus is usually on certain features of a work,
and it is common to compare and contrast the subject of your
analysis to a classic example of the genre to which it belongs.
 Evaluative critical essays provide an estimate of the value of
the work. Was it as good as you expected based on the
recommendations, or do you feel your time would have been
better spent on something else?
 Interpretive essays provide your readers with answers that
relate to the meaning of the work in question. To do this, you
must select a method of determining the meaning,
 read/watch/observe your analysis subject using this method,
and put forth an argument.

Critique Paper: Format & Structure

The main parts of good critical response essays are:
Summary. This should be brief and to the point. Only the
author’s/creator’s main ideas and arguments should be included.
Analysis/interpretation. Discuss what the author’s/creator’s
primary goal was and determine whether this goal was reached
successfully. Use the evidence you have gathered to argue whether
or not the author/creator achieved was adequately convincing
(remember there should be no personal bias in this discussion).
Evaluation/response. At this point, your readers are ready to learn
your objective response to the work. It should be professional yet
entertaining to read. Do not hesitate to use strong language. You
can say that the work you analyzed was weak and poorly-
structured if that is the case, but keep in mind that you have to
have evidence to back up your claim.

Critique Paper Introduction

The introduction is setting the stage for your analysis. Here are
some tips to follow when working on it:

1. Provide the reader with a brief synopsis of the main points

of the work you are critiquing.
2. State your general opinion of the work, using it as your
thesis statement. The ideal situation is that you identify and
use a controversial thesis.
3. Remember that you will uncover a lot of necessary information
about the work you are critiquing. You mustn’t make use of all
of it, providing the reader with information that is unnecessary
in your critique. If you are writing about Shakespeare,
you don’t have to waste your or your reader’s time going
through all of his works.
Critique Paper Body

The body of the critique contains the supporting paragraphs. This is

where you will provide the facts that prove your main idea and
support your thesis. Follow the tips below when writing the body of
your critique.

1. Every paragraph must focus on a precise concept from the

paper under your scrutiny, and your job is to include
arguments to support or disprove that concept. Concrete
evidence is required.
2. A critical essay is written in the third-person and ensures
the reader is presented with an objective analysis.
3. Discuss whether the author was able to achieve their
goals and adequately get their point across.
4. It is important not to confuse facts and opinions. An opinion
is a personal thought and requires confirmation, whereas a
fact is supported by reliable data and requires no further
proof. Do not back up one idea with another one.
5. Remember that your purpose is to provide the reader with
an understanding of a particular piece of literature or
other work from your perspective. Be as specific as possible.

Critique Paper Conclusion

Finally, you will need to write a conclusion for your critique. The
conclusion reasserts your overall general opinion of the ideas
presented in the text and ensures there is no doubt in the reader’s
mind about what you believe and why. Follow these tips when
writing your conclusion:

Critique Essay Examples

With all of the information and tips provided above, your way will
become clearer when you have a solid example of a critique essay.

Below is a critical response to The Yellow Wallpaper by

Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Example:

When speaking of feminist literature that is prominent and

manages to touch on incredibly controversial issues, The Yellow
Wallpaper is the first book that comes to mind. Written from a first-
person perspective, magnifying the effect of the narrative, the short
story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman introduces the reader to the
problem of the physical and mental health of the women of the 19th
century. However, the message that is intended to concern feminist
ideas is rather subtle. Written in the form of several diary entries,
the novel offers a mysterious plot, and at the same time, shockingly
realistic details.

What really stands out about the novel is the fact that the reader is
never really sure how much of the story takes place in reality and
how much of it happens in the psychotic mind of the protagonist. In
addition, the novel contains a plethora of description that
contributes to the strain and enhances the correlation between the
atmosphere and the protagonist’s fears: “The color is repellent,
almost revolting; a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by
the slow-turning sunlight” (Gilman).

Despite Gilman’s obvious intent to make the novel a feminist story

with a dash of thriller thrown in, the result is instead a thriller with
a dash of feminism, as Allen (2009) explains. However, there is no
doubt that the novel is a renowned classic. Offering a perfect
portrayal of the 19th-century stereotypes, it is a treasure that is
certainly worth the read.

If you need another critique essay example, take a look at

our sample on “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde.

Activity: Write a critique paper about the Philippine Literary History

starting from Pre-Colonial period up to the Present or Contemporary
Period. Write your written output in a yellow paper. Submission will
be on Thursday September 8. Place it in a long folder using a paper
fastener.

For the Performance task for Q1 Module 1 Week 1 you are going to
submit this on September 29, 2022.
In a reaction paper, just like in any other essay format, there is the
introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Besides the three main
parts, a reaction paper constitutes the citation list.
A reaction paper is typically a 2-5 page document in which the
writer responds to one or more texts. Reaction papers are often
used as tools in a class-setting to encourage students to think
critically about texts, and how those texts are in conversation with
each other, or with a wider field of discourse.
What is the main objective of a reaction paper?
A reaction paper is a written piece or assignment that your
academic professor or teacher may ask you to write. The purpose of
a response paper is to give your thoughts or opinions on an original
text or piece of work. Within a response paper, you can include a
brief summary of the original work.Jan 3, 2022

How do you write reaction paper?

Write an informative summary of the material. Condense the
content of the work by highlighting its main points and key
supporting points. Use direct quotations from the work to illustrate
important ideas. Summarize the material so that the reader gets a
general sense of all key aspects of the original work.

What are the steps in writing a reaction paper?

Write an informative summary of the material. Condense the
content of the work by highlighting its main points and key
supporting points. Use direct quotations from the work to illustrate
important ideas. Summarize the material so that the reader gets a
general sense of all key aspects of the original work.
A reaction paper consist of four main parts:
1. Introduction 2. Body 3. Conclusion 4. List of
Citations and sources
Introduction section is the face of your paper, so you need to pay
extra attention to this part to gain interest of the reader. Here you
should describe the author and the paper you are analyzing, the
main ideas and problems you are going to discuss. You should write
at least three-four sentences about the original text and close the
introduction section with your thesis, which will be discussed later
in the paper. Make sure your statement is brief and straight to the
point, because you will need to get back to it over and over again
throughout your paper.

The second part of the paper is where the real work begins. You need
to write down your thoughts on the main ideas of the paper, backed
with appropriate quotes and sources. Remember to stick to the
original article and always get back to it, while providing your
personal thoughts. However, you are free to add theoretical
information to support your ideas. This section is crucial and
should contain a thorough analysis of the obtained data.

Conclusions should be brief and contain information on your thesis

and main ideas, which were shaped throughout the work. You can
also refer to the target audience and the impact these conclusions
may have on the society. The list of citations should contain a brief
but structured information on the sources, used in your work.

Writing a reaction paper can be a real challenge, but at the same

time it will help you to improve your analytical skills and share your
opinion with the world!

PART 1: A SUMMARY OF THE WORK

To develop the first part of a report, do the following:

 Identify the author and title of the work and include in parentheses
the publisher and publication date. For magazines, give the date of
publication.
 Write an informative summary of the material.
 Condense the content of the work by highlighting its main points
and key supporting points.
 Use direct quotations from the work to illustrate important ideas.
 Summarize the material so that the reader gets a general sense of
all key aspects of the original work.
 Do not discuss in great detail any single aspect of the work, and do
not neglect to mention other equally important points.
 Also, keep the summary objective and factual. Do not include in
the first part of the paper your personal reaction to the work; your
subjective impression will form the basis of the second part of your
paper.

PART 2: YOUR REACTION TO THE WORK

To develop the second part of a report, do the following:

 Focus on any or all of the following questions. Check with your

instructor to see if s/he wants you to emphasize specific points.
 How is the assigned work related to ideas and concerns discussed
in the course for which you are preparing the paper? For example,
what points made in the course textbook, class discussions, or
lectures are treated more fully in the work?
 How is the work related to problems in our present-day world?
 How is the material related to your life, experiences, feelings and
ideas? For instance, what emotions did the work arouse in you?
 Did the work increase your understanding of a particular issue?
Did it change your perspective in any way?
 Evaluate the merit of the work: the importance of its points, its
accuracy, completeness, organization, and so on.
 You should also indicate here whether or not you would
recommend the work to others, and why.

POINTS OF CONSIDERATION WHEN WRITING THE REPORT

Here are some important elements to consider as you prepare a
report:
 Apply the four basic standards of effective writing (unity, support,
coherence, and clear, error-free sentences) when writing the report.
 Make sure each major paragraph presents and then develops a
single main point. For example, in the sample report that follows,
the first paragraph summarizes the book, and the three
paragraphs that follow detail three separate reactions of the
student writer to the book. The student then closes the report with
a short concluding paragraph.
 Support any general points you make or attitudes you express with
specific reasons and details. Statements such as "I agree with
many ideas in this article" or "I found the book very interesting" are
meaningless without specific evidence that shows why you feel as
you do. Look at the sample report closely to see how the main point
or topic sentence of each paragraph is developed by specific
supporting evidence.
 Organize your material. Follow the basic plan of organization
explained above: a summary of one or more paragraphs, a reaction
of two or more paragraphs, and a conclusion. Also, use transitions
to make the relationships among ideas in the paper clear.
 Edit the paper carefully for errors in grammar, mechanics,
punctuation, word use, and spelling.
 Cite paraphrased or quoted material from the book or article you
are writing about, or from any other works, by using the
appropriate documentation style. If you are unsure what
documentation style is required or recommended, ask you
instructor.
 You may use quotations in the summary and reaction parts of the
paper, but do not rely on them too much. Use them only to
emphasize key ideas.
 Publishing information can be incorporated parenthetically or at
the bottom of the page in a footnote. Consult with your instructor
to determine what publishing information is necessary and where
it should be placed
What is the structure of a critique or reaction paper?
In practice, critique papers must have the introduction, body, and
conclusion. Besides, the body paragraphs contain an evaluation
that gauges the usefulness or impact of work under evaluation.Jan
26, 2020

Reaction Paper Example: Analysis of the Sample Format and

Tips

Table of Contents

1. Reaction Paper Structure and Example

2. Introduction
3. Body
1. Simple Body Structure
4. Conclusion
5. List of Citations for Reaction Paper

To create a high-quality response paper, you need to understand

what elements the article consists of and what factors should be
considered before starting the essay writing process. Let's find out
what reaction paper means.

A reaction paper is a kind of academic writing in which you need to

evaluate something, express your perspective on the topic, add
arguments and draw conclusions. Paper allows you to develop
writing skills. For example, you will learn to think creatively,
analyze information better, highlight important points, and freely
express a personal opinion.

In the reaction paper, you should be guided by your own thoughts

and accurately set out the problems mentioned in the original work.
From the title of the paper, you can see the purpose of the article.
The essay requires that you create a chain of reactions that you
experienced when familiarizing yourself with the assessment
subject.

Reaction Paper Structure and Example

Planning ahead of time helps to create a good paper. This way, you
will be able to structure all parts of the essay and not miss key
points. The reaction paper volume does not exceed 1-2 pages.

Introduction

The introduction should contain the essential details about the

subject being assessed and information about the author. The
introduction will set the tone for the entire text. Therefore, you
should understand what is attractive to your target audience and
fill the text with relevant information.

The introduction should interest the reader. If the first paragraph

contains unbelievable data, statistics, or quotes, you are on the
right track. Briefly state under what circumstances the author
created the work and what inspired him. Also, inform the reader
about what main problem you want to talk about.

At the end of the introduction, you should write the thesis

statement - this is the idea for which you created the article. The
thesis statement consists of 1-2 sentences. Let's consider a reaction
paper example:

J.K. Rowling has written a perfect piece for children of all ages,
taking a particular focus on adolescents. The franchise is ranked #
1 on the most profitable film series with $ 7.7 billion in worldwide
profit. "Harry Potter" is a living confirmation of the idea that the
success of a film does not depend on the director's fame, but on the
attitude to the case, to what he creates.

To determine if your introduction was successful, match it against

two criteria.

Hook Availability

In the introduction, you must show the reader that you have the
excellent intellectual ability. Do not write an introduction as if you
favor the reader and retell a brief summary of the work. Express
your own opinions on the topic. Find interesting and little-known
facts about the work, then you will be able to show the reader that
you have done good research and worked on your essay. Perhaps
the information will be strange, but you should not be afraid of it, it
will add interest in reading.

Argumentative Statement

The thesis statement has a significant impact on the structuring of

text and content. The thesis statement must be strong. However, it
would help if you did not scatter throw-around phrases that you
cannot argue. You have to get the reader to agree with your opinion.
Quotes from influential people or personal experiences can help.
Therefore, prepare the arguments in advance so that your article
looks believable.

Body

The body is your central part of the essay, which you should give
the most attention to. It would help if you described how you
conducted the research, what assessment criteria you were guided
by, and what conclusion you came to.

We know a few secrets that will simplify the body writing process.

 First, start each body paragraph with a topic sentence and

develop your thoughts further. This will remind the reader
what your article is about if he is thinking about something
else.
 Second, select sources, quotes, real-life examples and divide
these arguments into three paragraphs. If you are using
quotes from the original text you are evaluating, be careful to
make sure the phrases are accurate. Otherwise, you will be
accused of plagiarism. Comment on examples from the
personal reaction text.

You can also fill the central part with theoretical information. For
example, briefly retell the plot, describe the characters, and tell us
why you agree or disagree with this position. As we mentioned in
the main body, there should be a topic sentence of each paragraph.
However, remember that one section should only contain one idea.
Many ideas can confuse the reader. Use transitory words to let the
reader know that you have finished thinking about the idea. Let's
consider a reaction paper example:

Chris Columbus is precisely the director who truly believes in it and

shoots on this principle. None of the films I watched disappointed
me. Harry Potter is one of his best works. Columbus treated the
book with due diligence and adequately transferred the images of all
the main characters and antagonists to the screen. Based on the
book, he made a perfect film for the whole family to watch. Besides,
he supplemented the movie with good music. The soundtrack is
almost everything for the film. The impression is made not only by
the look and background but also by the music. The sound effects
in Harry Potter are perfectly combined.

The characters inspire respect, Voldemort is the actual embodiment

of evil, Dumbledore is a good teacher and an excellent mentor.
Professor McGonnuckle - it was not for nothing that she received
the name Minerva. In mythology, she is the goddess of wisdom, and
in this film. McGonnuckle is surprisingly wise and insightful but
too formal.

Acting makes me endlessly happy. I will note the main trinity:

Radcliffe, Grint, Watson. Fifteen years ago, they were only at the
beginning of their long journey, and their acting fates are
significantly different. Still, it is worth recognizing for their age.
They then did everything in their power to play their roles
adequately. From an older generation, I will celebrate Maggie Smith
in the role of Minerva. It was from this image that I discovered this
actress for myself. Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid turned out to
be an excellent and good-natured giant.

Simple Body Structure

If you have not yet decided how to fill out the central part correctly,
we offer you a simple scheme:

1. Key idea.
2. Evidence.
3. Analysis.
4. Transition.
Key Idea

If your topic is broad, you can write several paragraphs to share

ideas on the topic. The section should contain only those sentences
that are relevant to the topic. The main body should include two
components - labels and arguments. Labels at the beginning of a
paragraph will signalize to the reader that you have not finished
discussing the topic yet. Arguments are facts, examples, quotes,
statistics that reinforce the thesis. Only evidence can make your
essay serious.

Evidence

You can include different types of evidence in a response paper:

1. Direct proof consists of direct deduction from the basis

according to specific inference rules of a given thesis's truth or
falsity.
2. Indirect proof consists of substantiating the falsity or truth of
a position in a particular relationship with the thesis. From
this, the truth of the thesis is indirectly established or,
conversely, its falsity.

Analysis

When you bring up the evidence, explain why it is powerful. Make

sure the evidence supports the main idea of the paragraph. Discuss
what evidence means to you.

Transition

Bundles are logical bridges between paragraphs. The beginning of

each section should contain such a word. For example, it means,
without any doubt, in this case, after all, finally, in the end,
eventually, in general, on the whole, etc.

Conclusion

A conclusion is the last paragraph of your paper. In conclusion, you

can reformulate the thesis and remind the reader what you were
trying to prove or disprove. Then point in the evidence, which you
managed to collect. Do not write in the conclusion of new
information, as the introduction will look incomplete. Advise the
reader whether to pay attention to the subject that you were
evaluating. Share what kind of aftertaste a book, movie, or painting
for you. You can ask a rhetorical question at the end that will make
the reader ponder over your words. You can also thank the reader
for paying attention to the article. Let's consider an example:

Harry Potter dragged us on for a whole decade, and it will be

reviewed by more than one generation of children many, many
times because they believed and found a hero for their entire
childhood. I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the book
and the movie to get incredible pleasure.

List of Citations for Reaction Paper

The section "List of sources used" contains a list of citations to

which the author refers in work. According to the usual scheme,
you can list the sources used in alphabetical order. Information
about the sources can be numbered with Arabic figures. However, if
your paper is formatted according to a single style, then the list of
quotes should correspond to it. Also, consider the requirements of
the educational institution.