CRITIQUE ESSAY
CRITIQUE ESSAY
When your professors ask you to write a critique of a text, they usually expect you to analyze and evaluate, not just summarize. In addition to SUMMARIZING what the text said, you should also ANALYZE the author(s) argument(s), and EVALUATE the effectiveness of the text, answering the questions how? why? and how well do(es) the author(s) support the major claims of the text?
A critique does not have to be negative. What is important is that you EXPLAIN your reaction and give SPECIFIC EXAMPLES to support your critique.
Step 1. SUMMARY
As you read the book or article you plan to critique, the following questions will help you analyze the text:
- What is the author’s main point?
- What is the author’s purpose?
- Who is the author’s intended audience?
- What arguments does the author use to support the main point?
- What evidence does the author present to support the arguments?
- What are the author’s underlying assumptions or biases?
Step 2. ANALYSIS/EVALUATION
After you have read the text, you can begin to evaluate the author’s ideas. The following questions provide some ideas to help you evaluate the text. A GOOD CRITICAL ANALYSIS ANSWERS ALL OF THESE
Form Questions:
- Is the author’s thesis presented logically?
- Is the text well-organized, clear, and easy to read?
- Is the text appropriate for the intended audience? (Remember to consider the AUTHOR(S)’ primary audience as well as YOUR primary audience)
- Do(es) the author(s) define specific terms?
Content Questions:
- Do(es) the author(s) make strong ARGUMENTS in support of his/her/their thesis?
- Is there sufficient EVIDENCE to support the arguments?
- Are the author’s facts accurate to the best of your knowledge?
- Does the text present and refute opposing points of view? (ARE NAYSAYERS CONSIDERED?)
- Does the text help you understand the subject?
- Can you think of other sources of information (personal experience, people, articles, or discussions, etc.) that can these be compared or contrasted to this text?
- What questions or observations does this article suggest? That is, what does the article make you think about?
Step 3. COMPOSITION
AUDIENCE: Who is your intended audience? Consider what they might know or not know about this topic. Be sure to aim your critique at this audience. Keep them in mind at all times!
PURPOSE: What is your purpose in writing this critique? Again, keep this purpose in mind as you write!
FORM: Write your critique in standard essay form. Begin with an introduction that defines the subject of your critique, explains why this subject is important (SO WHAT?), and provides your point of view on the article. SUMMARIZE the author’s main points and sub points. Use the “They say/I say” model as you CRITIQUE their argument. Defend your point of view by raising SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from the essay. CONCLUDE your critique by re-emphasizing your opinion and giving your audience YOUR RECOMMENDATION about the article.
CONTENT: You will first need to identify and explain the author’s ideas. Include specific passages that support your description of the author’s point of view. Offer your own opinion. Explain what you think about the argument. Describe several points with which you agree or disagree. For each of the points you mention, include specific passages from the text (you may summarize, quote, or paraphrase) that provide evidence for your point of view. Explain how the passages support your opinion.
Source of information: Rosen, Leonard J. and Laurence Behrens, eds. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook. 1994.
