WRITING A CRITIQUE

SUMMARY = reports what the text says

“What did the author say?”

CRITIQUE = analyzes the text + responds to it

“how” “why” “how well”

A "critique" is a formalized, critical assessment of a text. It

is also a personal response.

‘detached evaluation’ - you weigh the coherence of the

reading, the completeness of its data, etc. before you
accept or reject it.
Your task in writing a critique:

to turn your critical examination of a text

into a systematic evaluation in order to
deepen your reader's & your own
understanding of it.

Positives…..
Negatives…..
Combination….
• Among other things, you are interested in
determining:

what an author says,

how well the points are made,
what assumptions underlie the argument,
what issues are overlooked,
what implications can be drawn from such
an analysis
how do you react to the text
While Reading & Thinking Critically:

Q.1: What is the author trying to accomplish in this

passage? How is he doing it? How successful
has the effort been?

Q.2: Do you agree with the author? What do you

think about his message?
Step 1: Analyze the text (analyze, interpret & evaluate)

Always keep these 3 in mind while analyzing:

Purpose Audience Context

• Idea organization (structure)

• Arguments used to support the main claim (type, appropriacy,
sufficiency, reliability etc)
• Evidence used to support the arguments (concrete details,
logos, ethos, pathos, appropriacy, sufficiency, reliability etc)
• Accuracy of facts
• Assumptions & biases
• Logic
• Definition of terms & background information provided
• Language & words
• Tone
Step 2: Respond to the text  

Response = reaction to the subject matter / topic / main

idea / theme
 
• How do you react to the text on a personal level?
• Respond to the author's views ….. Agree / Disagree
• You may also consider the value of the text, its
contribution to the subject matter & field of study
• You may also discuss how the original author’s ideas
compare to the ideas of other experts.
Step 3. Plan and write your critique

• Write your critique in standard essay form.

• Do not follow the author's organization

• Begin with an introduction that defines the subject of

your critique and discusses the importance of the
rhetorical situation before giving your point of view.

• Develop your arguments using concrete details &

addressing the “so what” at every step.

• Conclude your critique by summarizing your argument

and re-emphasizing your opinion.
 The Structure of the Critique
5 sections:

Introduction
Summary (very brief – just 2-3 sentences)
Critique (analysis + response)
Conclusion

(refer to page 350)

DO NOT WRITE IN THE FIRST PERSON
…. NO USING “I”

CRITIQUES ARE ALWAYS WRITTEN IN

THE THIRD PERSON. 
• Always introduce the work. Do not assume that because
your reader knows what you are writing about, you do
not need to mention the work's title.

• Other questions to consider: Is there a controversy

surrounding either the passage or the subject which it
concerns?

• What about the subject matter is of current interest?

• Remember that the purpose of a critical analysis is not

merely to inform, but also to evaluate the worth, utility,
excellence, distinction, truth, validity, beauty, or
goodness of something.
Sample Thesis Statements….

The following thesis statements are by no

means “perfect”……… however, they may be
used as samples of effective thesis statements
formulated by student writers of SS 100.

It is a good idea to evaluate them in terms of

what you have been taught about thesis
statements, thereby identifying errors &
analyzing ways of fixing these errors.
• ……“A Modest Proposal” is a classic example of
sustained ironic writing which is coherent and well
structured but the argument made by Swift lacks
sufficient support which makes the readers question the
validity of his claim.

• …….the text had far reaching consequences because

King alluded from valid sources and used strong
emotional appeal which strengthened his logical
progression of ideas. His effective writing style involved
the frequent use of anaphora and metaphors, and
complimented his overall figurative & passionate tone.
• ….Conning an unwavering loyalty to his perverted
scheme and drenching every word in reasonableness,
Swifts demonstrates his mastery in satire and effectively
shocks, captivates and entertains the readers. If his
support were not lacking in credibility (or his scheme in
practicability), his tactful, persuasive style would leave
few readers unconvinced.

• Rabiner presents her argument effectively using a

coherent progression of ideas, simple vocabulary,
appropriate literary devices and a sarcastic tone.
However, her limited self analysis and contradictory
support for the main argument ultimately fails to
convince the reader of the credibility of her case.
• Rabiner while arguing tends to make assumptions which leave
some readers lost. In addition, she provides fallacious support
which undermines her claim. Moreover, overlooking the
opposition and making sweeping generalizations weaken rather
than strengthen her argument. However, Rabiner’s ingenuity in
the organization of her arguments and the selection of an
effective tone assist her in achieving her goal. She succeeds in
presenting a cohesive piece of writing which is invigorated and
animated by the use of expressive and easy to understand
language.

This thesis statement is flawed in its structure – it is too detailed

& can easily be rewritten in a concise manner.. HOWEVER… it
shows that the writer made a huge effort to read & analyze “in-
depth” …. he/she understands the level of analysis,
interpretation, & evaluation that is required when attempting a
critique.
These guidelines are not a rigid formula for
writing a critique.

However, until you are more confident &

practiced in writing critiques, we suggest you
follow these guidelines.

They are not meant to restrict you, but to provide

you with a workable method of writing a critical
analysis that incorporates a logical sequence of
development.
 Reading

Writing a Critique
347-354