CRITIQUE

ESSAY
 CRITIQUE
A critique evaluates a resource. It requires
both critical reading and analysis in order to
present the strengths and weaknesses of a
particular resource for readers. The critique
includes your opinion of the work. Because
of the analytics involved, a critique and a
summary are not the same.
 Critique vs. Summary
Critique vs. Summary
Critique Summary
Gives an overview of key concepts discussed in the work Yes Yes

Includes introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs Yes Sometime

s
Names the author and title of the work to be discussed Yes Yes

Provides your opinion of the work Yes No

Identifies gaps in the resource and/or research that the author missed Yes No

Requires close reading of a text Yes No

Requires you to analyze the text Yes No
May use supporting evidence from the text, such as quotes, to support Yes No
your interpretation
PREPARING TO WRITE A CRITIQUE
 Tips for Success:
First, and most importantly, make sure that
the item you have selected aligns with your
assignment.

Once you select your source, you'll want to

read through the entire resource at least
twice.
 Tips for Success:
If you've ever watched a movie or
read a book more than once, you
probably noticed things the
second, third, or even fourth time
through that you didn't pick up on
when you made the first pass
through it.
 Tips for Success:
Reading to write a critique requires
that same level of repeated
exposure to the work you're trying
to analyze so that you notice those
small details and have the
opportunity to reflect on them.
Read first for understanding.
You must have a broad
understanding of what the
resource is about before you
can evaluate its
effectiveness.
Read again for depth.
Make notes, and ask yourself
the key questions on this
guide to help further your
understanding.
Tips for Success:
Once you have made some
notes, take a break. It helps
when you can let the ideas
"breathe" so that you have time
to reflect. You'll write a stronger
critique if you give yourself
plenty of time.
QUESTIONS TO ASK
QUESTIONS TO ASK
As you read, consider the following questions:
• Do a bit of research on the author. What are the
author's credentials?
– What else have they written? Can you find other
articles written by them in library databases, or just
on the web at large?
– Are they qualified to offer expert opinions on the
topic? Do they have experience in the field?
– Can you locate information about what others in
the field say about the author?
QUESTIONS TO ASK
• What kind of research do they use
to support their claims?
–Are they providing and citing other
expert opinions?
–If they ran a study to support a claim,
is the method of research
appropriate to the information
provided?
QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Is there any evidence of bias or conflict
of interest, either in the resource itself or
in the author's personal background?
• Does the resource make general claims
without much evidence to support
them?
• How current is the publication? Are the
ideas presented there still relevant to
the field?
PARTS OF A CRITIQUE ESSAY
PARTS OF A CRITIQUE ESSAY
There are 4 distinct components to a
critique, and those are the:
• Introduction
• Summary
• Critique
• Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION
An effective introduction:
• Provides a quick snapshot of background
information readers may need in order to
follow along with the argument
• Defines key terminology as needed
• Ends with a strong argument (thesis)
 SUMMARY
A summary is a broad overview of what is discussed in a source. In a
critique essay, writers should always assume that those reading the
essay may be unfamiliar with the work being examined. For that
reason, the following should be included early in the paper:
• The name of the author(s) of the work
• The title of the work
• A quick overview of the
• Main ideas presented in the work
• Arguments presented in the work
• Any conclusions presented in the work
 CRITIQUE
The critique is your evaluation of the resource. A strong critique:
• Discusses the strengths of the resource
• Discusses the weaknesses of the resource
• Provides specific examples (direct quotes, with proper citation) as
needed to support your evaluation
• Discusses anything else pertinent to your evaluation, including
– The accuracy of the resource
– Any bias found within the resource
– The relevance of the resource
– The clarity of the resource
 CRITIQUE

A critique is your opinion of

the text, supported by
evidence from the text.
 CONCLUSION
A conclusion has three main functions in an
essay. A conclusion will:
• Summarize the main ideas presented in the
essay
• Remind readers of the thesis (argument)
• Draw the paper to a close