A Critique Paper is also known as a response paper.

It is a formal evaluation of a journal

article or another type of literary or scientific content. Your main goal is to show whether or not
the author provided reasonable arguments and facts for their main points.
Writing a critique on a work helps us to develop: knowledge of the works subject area or
related works. It gives us understanding of the works purpose, intended audience, development of
argument, and structure of evidence or creating style. It is also a recognition of the strengths and
weaknesses of one’s work.
The purpose for writing a critique is to evaluate somebody’s work (a book, an essay, a
movie, a painting… ) in order to increase the reader’s understanding of it.
The Three principles of review and critique writing are:
1. Be concise. Do not ramble nor veer off the subject.
2. Be honest and fair. State your opinion(s) about the subject, both positive and
negative.
3. Give examples and back your critique up. Don’t just say something like
‘Restaurant X is horrible’.

Purposes of Critique Paper Writing for an article, book and manuscript review are
the following:

1. To demonstrate your skills for close reading and analysis

2. To show that you understand key concepts in your field
3. To learn how to review a manuscript for your future professional work
4. To Describe the book’s content
5. To summarize the book’s strength and weaknesses
6. To provide a reliable recommendation
7. To provide the editor with an evaluation of the manuscript
8. To recommend the authors with constructive feedback and reasonable
suggestions for revision

Types of Critique Paper

1. Article Review – Article that has already been published. Purpose:

-to demonstrate your skills for close reading and analysis
-to show that you understand key concepts in your field
-to learn how to review a manuscript for your future professional work

2. Published Book Review- book that has already been published Purpose:
-to describe the book’s contents
-to summarize the book’s strengths and weaknesses
-to provide a reliable recommendation to read (or not read) the book

3. Manuscript Review- Manuscript that has been submitted but has not been
published yet
 Purpose:
-to provide the editor with an evaluation of the manuscript
-to recommend to the editor that the article be published, revised, or rejected -to
provide the authors with constructive feedback and reasonable suggestions – for
revision

4. Movie Review- is an article describing the movie, giving critics on it. It is

commonly based from the writer's opinion.
Purpose:
- It allows the viewer or anyone to know and understand the whole picture of the movie
- It helps the viewers so much to let them to know if it is really worth to watch that movie.

Critique Paper contains summaries of the book, journal article, and artworks, among other
sources.
Critique papers contain a summary and a critical analysis of a source or concept. Basically, these
papers lead to a careful analysis of a variety of works like:

• Research Papers – published journal articles, scientific reports, and general reviews
• Media – news reports and periodicals
• Creative Works – paintings, poems, songs, and novel

Source: “Writing Critiques” The Writing Center,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2020
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/esl/resources/writing-critiques/

Critique Paper use formal and academic writing styles. For instance, students follow a clear
structure to present ideas. In practice, Critique Papers must have the following:

1. Introduction
•identify the work under review, the date of formation and author or creator;
•explain the context of the work under evaluation – the required information may include
social or political context and place of work in an academic tradition;
•have a thesis statement that indicates the type of evaluation used.

2. Body
A. Summary- summarize the main points and objectively describe how the Creator
portrays these by using techniques, styles, characters or symbols. -should
not be the focus of the critique and is usually shorter than the critical
evaluation.

B. Critical Evaluation- should give a systematic and detailed assessment of

the different elements of the work, evaluating how well the creator was
able to achieve the purpose through these.
- it does not simply highlight negative impressions
- it should deconstruct the work and identify both strengths and weaknesses.
-it should examine the work and evaluate its success, in light of its purpose.
3. Conclusion
•key reasons identified during the assessment process;
•purpose of the evaluation;
•recommendations for improving the whole work.

How to Write a Critique Paper

1. Laying the Groundwork

A. Examine the prompt or assignment
B. Read the text
C. Do some research

2. Writing the Introductory Paragraph

A. Give the basic information about the work
B. Provide a context for the work
C. Summarize the creator’s goal or purpose in creating the work.
D. Summarize the main points of the work
E. Present your initial assessment

3. Writing the three Body Paragraphs

A. Organize your critical evaluations
B. Discuss the techniques or styles used in the work C. Explain what
types of evidence or argument are used.
D. Determine what the work adds to the understanding of its topic
E. Use examples for each point
4. Writing the Conclusion Paragraph and References
A. State your overall assessment of the work
B. Summarize your key reasons for this assessment.
C. Recommend any areas for improvement, if appropriate
D. Provide a list of references