“ANALYTICAL WRITING ASSESSMENT”

 What is an argument critique?

A critique is an analysis and an evaluation of a text. To “critique” a text does not mean to

analyse in a negative way. A critique of a text can evaluate both the negative and the positive

aspects of the text. A critique is not merely a summary. While a short summary is important,

most of a critique should be analysing and evaluating.

OR

A critique is an evaluation. A critique or critical essay evaluates what someone has said. Some critiques
are analyses of writing, as when one critiques a novel, poem or arguments/ opinions etc in articles or
editorials.

Why do we write critiques?

Writing a critique on a work helps us to develop:

 A knowledge of the work’s subject area or related works.

 An understanding of the work’s purpose, intended audience, development of argument,
structure of evidence or creative style.
 A recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the work.

How do you analyse and evaluate a text?

Your analysis will help you and your readers gain an understanding of the text. To analyze the text,
you should ask yourself several questions:

· What is the main point the author is making?

· Why is he/she making this point?
· What audience is the author writing for?
· How does the author argue his/her point?
· How does the author support his/her argument?

To evaluate a text, judge how well the author makes his/her argument. This is the part that
comments on the strengths and usefulness of the text, as well as its weaknesses or omissions. As
you evaluate, you might ask yourself the following questions:

· Does the author’s argument make sense?

· Is the text easy to understand or is it confusing?
 · Does the author back up his/her point with
evidence?
· Does the author take opposing viewpoints into
account?
· Is the author reliable? Does he/she use reliable
sources?
 How do you actually write the critique?
When you write your critique, you might structure your paper as follows:

INTRODUCTION
Introduce the text you are critiquing and provide a short summary of that text. Your summary can
be as short as a few sentences and is usually no longer than a paragraph. Conclude your
introduction with your thesis statement, which should state your main point(s).

BODY
In the main body of your paper you should address your main points of critique, pointing to specific
examples from the text. This is where you can show how well you have analyzed and evaluated the
text. The answers to the questions you asked yourself during your analysis and evaluation of the
text could be good points to guide your discussion.

When you make your main points of criticism (positive or negative) you have the opportunity to
discuss your own opinions and reaction to the text. However, you must remember to support your
points with evidence from the text. When critiquing the text, avoid using the first and second person
(I, we, you) unless your professor says otherwise.

CONCLUSION
You can conclude your critique by restating your main points and discussing their significance. Do
not bring up any new points or information in your conclusion.

TIPS FOR WRITING YOUR CRITIQUE

1. Make a loose outline or list of the main points you want to discuss before you begin
writing.
 2. Remember that your critique of the text is more important than the summary.
3. Double check that ou have fulfilled the requirements well.

Before we start writing critique of an argument, study and take apart their argument for their position.
You are looking for the parts of their argument.

An argument consists of three things:

 Assumptions
 Premises
 Conclusions

(Premises are reasons they give to prove that they're correct. Conclusions are anything they give reasons
to believe. Some of these conclusions are likely to be used as premises for later conclusions. Assumptions
are undefended beliefs they hold in order for the argument to make sense.)

 Be fair! Be accurate in summarizing the arguments you critique.

 Be thorough. Deal with all of the arguments!
Obviously, most arguers will give several different reasons in support of their conclusion. A
critique usually begins with the strongest of them, and proceeds to examine each of them, one at
a time. It is wrong to focus only on the weaker arguments when several are given, for this is to
misrepresent the strength of the opponent's position by committing the fallacy of straw man.
 If there are a lot of arguments to deal with, the best strategy is to focus directly on the conclusion
you want to dispute, and concentrate on showing it is false or questionable.
 Stay on task. Do not get personal! Do not shift attention to the person who wrote the argument.
The person who gives the argument is not the issue.

Analysis of Argument:

Requirement: Write your own critique of the argument.

Directions
In this question, you are asked to write a critique of the argument presented. You are NOT being asked to
present your own views on the subject.

Question
The following appeared in the editorial section of a monthly news magazine:

This is a contentious and much debated topic amongst the academia and other social circles. Be it in
Pakistan, or around the world, this idea has been discussed multiple times and on different forums. However,
I feel that university students should definitely wear uniforms, and here are a few reasons why:

Saving money

Less time consuming

Physical fitness

No room for excuses

A symbol of being a student

Difference between students and teachers

Benefits to the uniform industry

Appropriate dressing

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyse the line of
reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what
questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples
might weaken the conclusion.

You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the
argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its
conclusion.
.