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How To Write A Critique

This document provides instructions for writing a critique. It begins by defining a critique as a short paper that summarizes the author's work, critically assesses its strengths and weaknesses, and can be positive or negative. It explains that critiques are useful for improving writing and research skills. The document then outlines the steps for writing a critique, including reading the work thoroughly, understanding the main points and evidence, considering other viewpoints, and writing the critique in a standard essay format with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

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Precy M Agaton
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118 views

How To Write A Critique

This document provides instructions for writing a critique. It begins by defining a critique as a short paper that summarizes the author's work, critically assesses its strengths and weaknesses, and can be positive or negative. It explains that critiques are useful for improving writing and research skills. The document then outlines the steps for writing a critique, including reading the work thoroughly, understanding the main points and evidence, considering other viewpoints, and writing the critique in a standard essay format with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Uploaded by

Precy M Agaton
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Write a Critique

PRISCILLA M. AGATON
A Critique

A short paper
• gives a short summary of what the author has said
• looks at the work critically
• assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the
piece of writing/research
• can be positive as well as negative
Why write a critique?

• an exercise in judging the value of a piece of writing or


research
• a way of improving skills by looking at the way other
writers and researchers work
• valuable exercise in the careful reading of text that will
increase understanding of a particular subject
Getting Ready to Write a Critique

1. Read the whole book or article thoroughly – highlight text


that you think important or make notes as you go along.
2. Think carefully about what you have read and ask
yourself questions about the material. You should try and
establish:
a. The main points that the author is trying to make
b. How does the author back those points up? In other words: what
evidence is provided.
3. Re-read the material to make sure that you have understood the author's
ideas.

4. Try to summarize what you have read. You may wish to do this by way of
bullet-pointed notes, a spider diagram or mind-map. Use whichever technique
suits you.

5. Think about different points of view:


a. How do the author's ideas compare to other writers on the subject?
b. Do you agree or disagree with the author? You should say why. This might
mean backing up your own views with academic opinion, so you will need to
read around the subject area.
Steps to Writing a Critique
1. Analyze the text This should include some
or all of the following:
 set out the main purpose of the author’s book or article.
 identify the main point that the author is making
 discuss the arguments that are used to support the
main point and the evidence that supports them
 explain the conclusions reached by the author and how
they have been reached
2. Evaluate the text

• is the argument logical? • is there sufficient evidence for the


arguments?
• is the text well organized,
clear and easy to read? • does the text present and consider
opposing points of view?
• have important terms been
• does the material help you understand
clearly defined?
the subject?
• are the facts accurate? • what questions/observations does this
• do the arguments support the article suggest?
main point? • what does this text make you think
about ?
3. Write in standard essay form
a) Prepare an outline. State what the main points of your work will be and
the evidence that you will use to back them up.
b) Set out in your introduction HOW you will approach your task.
c) Consider ending your introduction with a THESIS STATEMENT. This is
a statement of your position on the issue you have chosen. It may be a
sentence or two, and should announce what you want to argue.
d) This is a brief summary of what your work will demonstrate (i.e. your
conclusion).
e) The main body of your essay should deal with the detailed analysis of the
subject matter.
f) Conclude by re-emphasizing your argument or point of
view and stating why you have reached a particular
conclusion. Avoid sweeping generalizations that you cannot
support with evidence. Do not at this stage introduce any
new material.
g) Don’t forget: proof read, revise, and edit your first draft.
How to Structure a Critique

Introduction
 Define the subject of your critique and your point
of view
 Background to Research - Article/Author
information - Summarize the author’s main points
and purpose (1 or 2 paragraphs)
Main body
 Begin with a brief summary describing the project. You might include:
--The aim of the research
--What was done (method)
--To whom was it done (subjects)
--Why was it done? What were the expected results (Hypothesis)
--What was found (actual results)
--What did the author say the results mean? (His/her conclusions) (1 paragraph)
 Discuss the strengths of the article
 Discuss the weaknesses of the article
Conclusion

• Re-emphasize your argument/point of view


• Make final suggestions and/or positive and
negative criticisms on the book or article you
critiqued
• What questions/observations does the article
suggest? (the final paragraph)
References and further reading

• Adapted from: Brock University Tips for student success:


how to write a critique. Available at:
http://brocku.ca/sdc/learning/studywrite/critique.html (no
date) (Accessed: 03 February 2004).
• Kenyon College Writing an article critique. Available at:
http://psychology.kenyon.edu/labs/405/critique.htm (no
date) (Accessed on: 03 February 2004).

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