Key Difference – Critique vs Review

To most people a critique and review hold no difference as they are both types
of evaluations or assessments of a piece of work. This, however, is a misleading
idea because a critique and review are two different things that share certain
components. A critique refers to a critical assessment. On the other hand, a
review also refers to a form of assessment. The key difference between the
two is that a review can be compiled by anyone and consists of a
subjective opinion of a work, unlike a critique which is written by an
expert in the field with a technical comprehension.

What is a Critique?

A critique can simply be understood as a critical assessment. Unlike most

reviews, critiques are written by experts in a particular field. Hence, critiques
tend to be technical and objective. They do not provide an overall assessment
but focuses on specific parts of a piece of work. It emphasizes both the
positives as well as the negatives.

For instance, if it is a critique of a book, the individual critic would focus on the
various literary techniques used by the writer, the development of characters,
the setting, the plot, etc. So the critique tends to be much more in depth and
professional than a mere book review. Critiques can be very helpful to the
writer as it not only appreciates the efforts of the writer but also highlights
what he needs to improve.

What is a Review?

A review refers to a formal evaluation of a particular work. In magazines and

newspapers, you may have seen various reviews such as book reviews, film
reviews, restaurant reviews, music, etc. These are written by lay persons in the
form of an assessment of something. For an example, let us take a book review.
In a book review, the individual first reads the book, understands and assesses
it, then he compiles a review. In this review, the writer presents a holistic view
of the book. He does not analyze each and every segment separately but
presents an overall assessment. This can be either positive or negative.

Nowadays, we can find reviews even for various home appliances, technical
gadgets, phones, etc. These are known as user reviews. Other than this, there is
another category known as peer reviews in academia. This is another type of
reviews used by scholars to assess the works of their colleagues.

What is the difference between Critique and Review?

Definitions of Critique and Review:

Critique: A critique is a critical assessment.

Review: A review is a formal evaluation.

 Characteristics of Critique and Review:

Nature:

Critique: A critique tends to be objective.

Review: A review is more often than not subjective.

Technical Basis:

Critique: A critique usually has a sound technical basis.

Review: A review lacks a technical basis.

Writer:

Critique: A critique is written by someone who has a lot of experience and

expertise of a particular genre.

Review: A review can be written by anyone. Expertise in a field is not required

to write a review.

Source: differencebetween

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Bernadett Ladsz
Answered 12w ago

Writing the reaction paper/review/critique can be required at some point.

Such assignment is focused on creating a reaction or critique to your readings.
Those can be comments, some lectures, online course and so on. Reaction
writing can be both informal and formal, however, it is mainly analytical.

eaction, review or critique writing demands detailed reading of the original

text. For instance, reviews can go more than just the content of the text. It
means you do not need to be close to what has been said but actually convey
and understand the idea behind the author’s words. You can include your
subjective opinion and use the first person pronoun.

The reaction papers may not follows the ordering and structure of the original
text. They can even begin from the last point the author made.
7 Questions You Need to Answer in
Your Reaction Paper Writing
It may seem like an easy task to write a reaction paper when it is
assigned. Now, after you have put it off until the last minute, you
find out that even though it is based on your opinion, it is much
harder to complete than you originally thought. A reaction paper is
designed to express your response to a piece of writing. It is a tool for
analyzing the piece. You will need to show your reactions to a certain
article or book, the author’s focus, and how it was written.

When you have to go further than “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it”, the
paper gets a bit more challenging. You need to expand on your ideas
and create a paper that expresses the information in a logical and
well-organized manner.

The structure of a reaction paper needs to be much like a five

paragraph essay with an introduction that includes a thesis
statement, body paragraphs to back it up, and a conclusion that
works to wrap it up. One of the best ways to make sure that this
paper is a success is to answer these 7 key questions. If your paper
answers them, you can be sure that you have done everything the
right way.

1. What Are Your Feelings about What Was Said?

After you read the piece, jot down a few things about how it
made you feel. Did you feel annoyed, sad, happy, glad, or
indifferent? If you felt indifferent or the piece didn’t really
appeal to you, then jot that down. It can show how the author
failed to invoke your opinion or feeling on the subject.
2. Are You on the Same Page with the Author?
This is a yes or no question, however, don’t stop there. Explain
the reasons why you agreed or disagreed with what the author
had to say. Focus on thinking of at least three reasons to
support your claims.
3. Have You Experienced Anything That Can Be Applied to the
Main Ideas?
You have been through a lot in your lifetime and in order to
really get the most out of this paper, think about whether or
not you have had any life experiences that you can apply to the
piece. Have you experienced anything that gives you an
advantage over others who have read the article/book and
does this change your opinion on the topics being discussed?
 4. Do You Have Any Deep Knowledge Regarding the Discussed
Topic?
Now think about what you have learned over the years. Does
anything that you’ve learned relate to the topic that the
reader is discussing? If so, this information can help you write
this paper.
5. Did You Have a Different Opinion on the Topic before Reading
the Paper?
Before you read the paper, did you have a differing opinion
about the topic? How did it change your opinion? Why is this
significant? These are some questions that you will want to
consider as well.
6. Did the Author Strengthen Your Previous Opinion of the Topic?
Think about whether or not the paper firmed your opinion on
the subject and why it did. This will help you decide whether or
not the paper was persuasive and whether it had good
evidence.
7. Is the Main Point Supported by Evidence?
Did the paper support the main point? Did the author back up
the claims with evidence? This is a vital question that you need
to consider.

If your paper touches on these key points, it is a safe bet that your
writing is effective and relevant. When you are able to determine the
effect that the piece had on you and express it effectively, you are
sure to write a great reaction paper.