Writing a critical review 2

1. Critical reviews / critiques - important aspect

of higher level learning.
2. Demonstrates our ability to analyse and
evaluate ideas, reports, projects, etc.
3. To critique something - we have to evaluate /
pass judgment on it
• Decide on its positive or/and negative
qualities.
• Based on our findings we then give an overall
judgment or evaluation.
 Fact vs Opinion

3. Useful in evaluating ideas / texts - to

distinguish between facts and opinions.
4. Writers compose a text – esp ‘argument’
texts – they are expressing an opinion about
something.
5. But the opinion / viewpoint is only as good /
convincing as the supporting evidence.
6. In analysing / evaluating something –
important to distinguish between fact and
opinion.
• ie. Understand the writer’s opinion about the
issue, and assess the evidence [what facts]
used to support the opinion.
Which is statement is fact and which is opinion?
- Computers are the most useful invention of
the 20th century.
- The climate of Fiji is more humid than Vanuatu
- Democracy is a flawed political system but it is
the best system we have.
- NCDs are now prevalent in the Pacific.
 What to critique

Features in the text to look at - decide if positive

or negative, if it strengthens or weakens the
article / text
• Author’s purpose – explicit or implied?
• Issue / subject – is it of current interest?
– national / global concern
– relevant to group(s) in society?
• Arguments / Ideas – convincing?
• Evidence – any supporting evidence?
– Are they relevant?
– What kind of evidence? [eg. stats, stories, pictures
• Sources of evidence - credible sources?
– type of sources [eg. academic vs popular press]
– relevant? sufficient? recent?
• Structure – how ideas / text is organised
– Introduction? Conclusion? [academic text]
– Argument framed in a story [newspaper article]
– Coherent flow of information?
– Consider length
• Writing style – formal vs informal; language
– Suitable for intended audience?
• Anything else?