Writing
Critiques
by
Susan Katz and Jennie Skerl, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
When college
professors ask you to write a critique of a text, they usually
expect you to analyze and evaluate, not just summarize.
A summary merely reports what the text said; that is, it
answers only the question, "What did the author say?"
A critique, on the other hand, analyzes, interprets, and
evaluates the text, answering the questions how? why? and
how well? A critique does not necessarily have to criticize
the piece in a negative sense. Your reaction to the text
may be largely positive, negative, or a combination of the
two. It is important to explain why you respond to the text
in a certain way.
Step 1. Analyze
the text
As you read the book or article you plan to critique, the
following questions will help you analyze the text:
-
What
is the author's main point?
-
What is the author's purpose?
-
Who is the author's intended audience?
-
What arguments does the author use to support the main
point?
-
What evidence does the author present to support the arguments?
-
What are the author's underlying assumptions or biases?
You may find it useful to make notes about the text based
on these questions as you read.
Step 2. Evaluate
the text
After you have read the text, you can begin to evaluate
the author's ideas. The following questions provide some
ideas to help you evaluate the text:
-
Is
the argument logical?
-
Is the text well-organized, clear, and easy to read?
-
Are the author's facts accurate?
-
Have important terms been clearly defined?
-
Is there sufficient evidence for the arguments?
-
Do the arguments support the main point?
-
Is the text appropriate for the intended audience?
-
Does the text present and refute opposing points of view?
-
Does the text help you understand the subject?
-
Are there any words or sentences that evoke a strong response
from you?
-
What
are those words or sentences? What is your reaction?
-
What is the origin of your reaction to this topic? When
or where did you first learn about it? Can you think of
people, articles, or discussions that have influenced
your views? How might these be compared or contrasted
to this text?
-
What questions or observations does this article suggest?
That is, what does the article make you think about?
Step 3. Plan
and write your critique
Write your critique in standard essay form. It is generally
best not to follow the author's organization when organizing
your analysis, since this approach lends itself to summary
rather than analysis. Begin with an introduction that defines
the subject of your critique and your point of view. Defend
your point of view by raising specific issues or aspects
of the argument. Conclude your critique by summarizing your
argument and re-emphasizing your opinion.
-
You
will first need to identify and explain the author's ideas.
Include specific passages that support your description
of the author's point of view.
-
Offer
your own opinion. Explain what you think about the argument.
-
Describe
several points with which you agree or disagree. For each
of the points you mention, include specific passages from
the text (you may summarize, quote, or paraphrase) that
provide evidence for your point of view.
-
Explain
how the passages support your opinion.
Source of information: Rosen, Leonard J. and Laurence Behrens,
eds. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook. 1994.
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