- Types of Papers
- Article Review
- How To Write A Critique Paper
How to Write a Critique Paper
Critique papers summarize and judge the book, journal article, and artwork, among other sources. Basically, these papers include a critical evaluation of the item under reflection. In this case, learners must follow an academic writing style and include different sections, like the introduction, body, and conclusion. Moreover, creating a strong thesis statement in critique essays determine the focus of the entire work. In turn, the body section must summarize and evaluate the source objectively. Besides, one must avoid biased judgment during the assessment. The closing paragraph makes an informed summary of the main points and arguments. Hence, one may use recommend ways on how to write a critique paper to improve the work under evaluation.
General Rules on How to Write a Critique Paper
Critique essays contain summaries of the book, journal article , and artworks, among other sources. In particular, critiques use formal rules for academic writing . Students engage in a critical evaluation of the item under consideration. Then, compulsory sections include the introduction, body, and conclusion. In turn, a persuasive thesis statement at the beginning communicates the primary focus of the written work. Further on, the body section summarizes and appraises the source by considering how to write a critique paper. Avoiding biased judgment during the assessment improves the quality of the composition. As a result, the conclusion brings closure to work and connects to the central claim. However, one may restate the thesis and provide practical recommendations.
Definition of a Critique Paper
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 novels
Critiques use formal and academic writing styles . For instance, students follow a clear structure to present ideas. In practice, critique papers must have the introduction, body, and conclusion. Besides, the body paragraphs contain an evaluation that gauges the usefulness or impact of work under evaluation.
What is more for how to write a critique paper, these rules help to develop:
- covering knowledge of the subject or object under review;
- having a deeper understanding of related works;
- including an appreciation of work’s purposes under analysis;
- recognizing the intended audience and advancement of a central argument in critique essays ;
- considerating how the book, journal article, or artwork relates to the broader issue or context.
Criteria for Writing Critique Papers
There are several criteria on how to write a critique paper that learners can use, depending on primary objectives. Basically, one may use the following standards:
Students evaluate the appropriateness of an item to the audience. For instance, outstanding critique papers show the weaknesses and strengths of the article or the object under evaluation. Besides, they contain ways to improve the source and fit the readers’ needs discussed in critique essays.
Information
Critique essays examine the usefulness of the material under analysis. In particular, one considers if the information makes sense to the audience or contributes to existing knowledge. This process on how to write a critique paper helps to determine if the information expresses the intended meaning.
Learners examine if specific information makes sense to readers. Possible factors to consider may include conceivable jumps in logic, among other weaknesses. As a result, this criterion determines the overall quality of a piece of work under review.
Critique essays may focus on the balance between facts and fiction. Basically, the criterion applies where two sides of an argument exist. In this case, students determine the vagueness of the information presented when organizing critique papers.
7 Steps on How to Write Critique Papers
1. understanding the task.
Before starting the writing process, students must understand the work under discussion for writing critique papers. The following steps lead to better results:
- studying the work under consideration;
- making notes on relevant sections of the critique papers;
- appreciating the main argument and the purpose of the object or work;
- considering how the work relates to a broader issue or context.
2. Writing an Introduction
One must write a short introduction. In this case, the opening paragraph should be approximately 10% of the overall word length of a critique paper. Hence, the introductory part should:
- 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.
Students must summarize the main points objectively. In particular, the process includes stating how authors portray original messages using characters, ciphers, media, or styles, covering how to write a critique paper. In practice, summaries should be shorter than evaluation parts of critique essays.
4. Critical Evaluation
Critical evaluation gives a detailed appraisal of various elements of critique essays. In this case, students determine the inventor’s effectiveness in achieving the core purpose. As a result, the practical analysis must:
- deconstruct the work;
- identify the strengths and weaknesses;
- examine the success of the source in achieving the primary purpose.
5. Conclusion
The closing paragraphs contain a summary of the overall evaluation of the work. Basically, one should include:
- key reasons identified during the assessment process;
- purpose of the evaluation;
- recommendations for improving the whole work.
6. Reference list
The reference list in critique essays contains cited credible sources . In turn, students should confirm the required referencing style to meet the rules on how to write a critique paper.
7. Proofreading
Revising critique papers helps to identify major grammatical mistakes. In this case, taking adequate time to read through the work improves the quality and expected outcomes.
Additional Tips for Writing Critique Papers
This section of critique papers serves as the heart of the analysis. In particular, students should use compelling examples to support the main ideas and arguments. Moreover, the inquiry method used must align with the one mentioned in the thesis statement.
Closing Paragraph
One must seek advice from the instructor on how to close the paper for learning how to write a critique paper. For example, some instructors may require students to restate the thesis statement at the end of critique essays. Effective conclusions:
- link body paragraphs to the introduction;
- do not present new information.
Summing Up on How to Write a Critique Paper
Critique essays summarize books, academic articles , and artworks, among other sources. Basically, students engage in a critical evaluation of the item under consideration if they know how to write a critique paper. In this case, scholars cover an academic writing style and different sections, like the introduction, body, and conclusion. Moroever, a strong thesis statement in the opening chapters guides entire works. Then, the body section includes a summary and appraisal of sources. In turn, one must avoid biased judgment during assessments. Besides, the conclusion brings closure to work and connects to the central claim. Finally, a recommendation to improve the work under evaluation makes written compositions valid.
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How to Write a Critique Paper: Tips + Critique Essay Examples
A critique paper is an academic writing genre that summarizes and gives a critical evaluation of a concept or work. Or, to put it simply, it is no more than a summary and a critical analysis of a specific issue. This type of writing aims to evaluate the impact of the given work or concept in its field.
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- best tips on how to critique an article or a literary work,
- a critique paper example with introduction, body, and conclusion.
💁 What Is a Critique Paper?
- 👣 Critical Writing Steps
👀 Critical Essay Types
- 📑 Format & Structure
🔗 References
A critique is a particular academic writing genre that requires you to carefully study, summarize, and critically analyze a study or a concept. In other words, it is nothing more than a critical analysis. That is all you are doing when writing a critical essay: trying to understand the work and present an evaluation. Critical essays can be either positive or negative, as the work deserves.
👣 How to Write a Critique Essay: Main Steps
Starting critique essays is the most challenging part. You are supposed to substantiate your opinion with quotes and paraphrases, avoiding retelling the entire text. A critical analysis aims to find out whether an article or another piece of writing is compelling. First, you need to formulate the author’s thesis: what was the literary work supposed to convey? Then, explore the text on how this main idea was elaborated. Finally, draft your critique according to the structure given below.
Step 1: Critical Reading
1.1. Attentively read the literary work. While reading, make notes and underline the essentials.
- Try to come into the author’s world and think why they wrote such a piece.
- Point out which literary devices are successful. Some research in literary theory may be required.
- Find out what you dislike about the text, i.e., controversies, gaps, inconsistency, or incompleteness.
1.2. Find or formulate the author’s thesis.
- What is the principal argument? In an article, it can be found in the first paragraph.
- In a literary work, formulate one of the principal themes, as the thesis is not explicit.
- If you write a critique of painting, find out what feelings, emotions, or ideas, the artist attempted to project.
1.3. Make a summary or synopsis of the analyzed text.
- One paragraph will suffice. You can use it in your critique essay, if necessary.
- The point is to explore the gist.
Step 2: Analyzing the Text
After the reading phase, ask yourself the following questions :
- What was your emotional response to the text? Which techniques, images, or ideas made you feel so?
- Find out the author’s background. Which experiences made them raise such a thesis? What other significant works have they written that demonstrate the general direction of thought of this person?
- Are the concepts used correctly in the text? Are the references reliable, and do they sufficiently substantiate the author’s opinion?
Step 3: Drafting the Essay
Finally, it is time to draft your essay. First of all, you’ll need to write a brief overview of the text you’re analyzing. Then, formulate a thesis statement – one sentence that will contain your opinion of the work under scrutiny. After that, make a one-paragraph summary of the text.
You can use this simple template for the draft version of your analysis. Another thing that can help you at this step is a summary creator to make the creative process more efficient.
Critique Paper Template
- Start with an introductory phrase about the domain of the work in question.
- Tell which work you are going to analyze, its author, and year of publication.
- Specify the principal argument of the work under study.
- In the third sentence, clearly state your thesis.
- Here you can insert the summary you wrote before.
- This is the only place where you can use it. No summary can be written in the main body!
- Use one paragraph for every separate analyzed aspect of the text (style, organization, fairness/bias, etc.).
- Each paragraph should confirm your thesis (e.g., whether the text is effective or ineffective).
- Each paragraph shall start with a topic sentence, followed by evidence, and concluded with a statement referring to the thesis.
- Provide a final judgment on the effectiveness of the piece of writing.
- Summarize your main points and restate the thesis, indicating that everything you said above confirms it.
You can evaluate the chosen work or concept in several ways. Pick the one you feel more comfortable with from the following:
- Descriptive critical essays examine texts or other works. Their primary focus is usually on certain features of a work, and it is common to compare and contrast the subject of your analysis to a classic example of the genre to which it belongs.
- Evaluative critical essays provide an estimate of the value of the work. Was it as good as you expected based on the recommendations, or do you feel your time would have been better spent on something else?
- Interpretive essays provide your readers with answers that relate to the meaning of the work in question. To do this, you must select a method of determining the meaning, read/watch/observe your analysis subject using this method, and put forth an argument.
There are also different types of critiques. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, in the article “ Writing critiques ,” discusses them as well as the appropriate critique language.
📑 Critique Paper: Format & Structure
The main parts of good critical response essays are:
- Summary. This should be brief and to the point. Only the author’s/creator’s main ideas and arguments should be included.
- Analysis/interpretation. Discuss what the author’s/creator’s primary goal was and determine whether this goal was reached successfully. Use the evidence you have gathered to argue whether or not the author/creator achieved was adequately convincing (remember there should be no personal bias in this discussion).
- Evaluation/response. At this point, your readers are ready to learn your objective response to the work. It should be professional yet entertaining to read. Do not hesitate to use strong language. You can say that the work you analyzed was weak and poorly-structured if that is the case, but keep in mind that you have to have evidence to back up your claim.
Critique Paper Introduction
The introduction is setting the stage for your analysis. Here are some tips to follow when working on it:
- Provide the reader with a brief synopsis of the main points of the work you are critiquing .
- State your general opinion of the work , using it as your thesis statement. The ideal situation is that you identify and use a controversial thesis.
- Remember that you will uncover a lot of necessary information about the work you are critiquing. You mustn’t make use of all of it, providing the reader with information that is unnecessary in your critique. If you are writing about Shakespeare, you don’t have to waste your or your reader’s time going through all of his works.
Critique Paper Body
The body of the critique contains the supporting paragraphs. This is where you will provide the facts that prove your main idea and support your thesis. Follow the tips below when writing the body of your critique.
- Every paragraph must focus on a precise concept from the paper under your scrutiny , and your job is to include arguments to support or disprove that concept. Concrete evidence is required.
- A critical essay is written in the third-person and ensures the reader is presented with an objective analysis.
- Discuss whether the author was able to achieve their goals and adequately get their point across.
- It is important not to confuse facts and opinions . An opinion is a personal thought and requires confirmation, whereas a fact is supported by reliable data and requires no further proof. Do not back up one idea with another one.
- Remember that your purpose is to provide the reader with an understanding of a particular piece of literature or other work from your perspective. Be as specific as possible.
Critique Paper Conclusion
Finally, you will need to write a conclusion for your critique. The conclusion reasserts your overall general opinion of the ideas presented in the text and ensures there is no doubt in the reader’s mind about what you believe and why. Follow these tips when writing your conclusion:
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- Summarize the analysis you provided in the body of the critique.
- Summarize the primary reasons why you made your analysis .
- Where appropriate, provide recommendations on how the work you critiqued can be improved.
For more details on how to write a critique, check out the great critique analysis template provided by Thompson Rivers University.
If you want more information on essay writing in general, look at the Secrets of Essay Writing .
📚 Critique Essay Examples
With all of the information and tips provided above, your way will become clearer when you have a solid example of a critique essay.
Below is a critical response to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
When speaking of feminist literature that is prominent and manages to touch on incredibly controversial issues, The Yellow Wallpaper is the first book that comes to mind. Written from a first-person perspective, magnifying the effect of the narrative, the short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman introduces the reader to the problem of the physical and mental health of the women of the 19th century. However, the message that is intended to concern feminist ideas is rather subtle. Written in the form of several diary entries, the novel offers a mysterious plot, and at the same time, shockingly realistic details.
What really stands out about the novel is the fact that the reader is never really sure how much of the story takes place in reality and how much of it happens in the psychotic mind of the protagonist. In addition, the novel contains a plethora of description that contributes to the strain and enhances the correlation between the atmosphere and the protagonist’s fears: “The color is repellent, almost revolting; a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight” (Gilman).
Despite Gilman’s obvious intent to make the novel a feminist story with a dash of thriller thrown in, the result is instead a thriller with a dash of feminism, as Allen (2009) explains. However, there is no doubt that the novel is a renowned classic. Offering a perfect portrayal of the 19th-century stereotypes, it is a treasure that is certainly worth the read.
If you need another critique essay example, take a look at our sample on “ The Importance of Being Earnest ” by Oscar Wilde.
Just $13.00 $10.40/page , and you can get an custom-written academic paper according to your instructions
And here are some more critique paper examples for you check out:
- A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Critique Paper
- Critique on “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- “When the Five Rights Go Wrong” Article Critique
- Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey — Comparison & Critique
- “The TrueBlue Study”: Qualitative Article Critique
- Ethical Conflict Associated With Managed Care: Views of Nurse Practitioners’: Article Critique
- Benefits and Disadvantages of Prone Positioning in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress: Article Critique
- Reducing Stress in Student Nurses: Article Critique
- Management of Change and Professional Safety – Article Critique
- “Views of Young People Towards Physical Activity”: Article Critique
Seeing an example of a critique is so helpful. You can find many other examples of a critique paper at the University of Minnesota and John Hopkins University. Plus, you can check out this video for a great explanation of how to write a critique.
- Critical Analysis
- Writing an Article Critique
- The Critique Essay
- Critique Essay
- Writing a Critique
- Writing A Book Critique
- Media Critique
- Tips for an Effective Creative Writing Critique
- How to Write an Article Critique
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What is a critique paper?
Critique papers summarize and judge the book, journal article, and artwork, among other sources. Basically, these papers include a critical evaluation of the item under reflection. In this case, learners must follow an academic writing style and include different sections, like the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Explanation:
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- Writing well
How to write a critique
- Starting well
- How to write an annotated bibliography
- How to write a case study response
- How to write an empirical article
- How to write an essay
- How to write a literature review
- How to write a reflective task
- How to write a report
- Finishing well
Before you start writing, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the work that will be critiqued.
- Study the work under discussion.
- Make notes on key parts of the work.
- Develop an understanding of the main argument or purpose being expressed in the work.
- Consider how the work relates to a broader issue or context.
Example template
There are a variety of ways to structure a critique. You should always check your unit materials or Canvas site for guidance from your lecturer. The following template, which showcases the main features of a critique, is provided as one example.
Introduction
Typically, the introduction is short (less than 10% of the word length) and you should:
- name the work being reviewed as well as the date it was created and the name of the author/creator
- describe the main argument or purpose of the work
- explain the context in which the work was created - this could include the social or political context, the place of the work in a creative or academic tradition, or the relationship between the work and the creator’s life experience
- have a concluding sentence that signposts what your evaluation of the work will be - for instance, it may indicate whether it is a positive, negative, or mixed evaluation.
Briefly summarise the main points and objectively describe how the creator portrays these by using techniques, styles, media, characters or symbols. This summary should not be the focus of the critique and is usually shorter than the critical evaluation.
Critical evaluation
This section 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. For example: you would assess the plot structure, characterisation and setting of a novel; an assessment of a painting would look at composition, brush strokes, colour and light; a critique of a research project would look at subject selection, design of the experiment, analysis of data and conclusions.
A critical evaluation 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.
Examples of key critical questions that could help your assessment include:
- Who is the creator? Is the work presented objectively or subjectively?
- What are the aims of the work? Were the aims achieved?
- What techniques, styles, media were used in the work? Are they effective in portraying the purpose?
- What assumptions underlie the work? Do they affect its validity?
- What types of evidence or persuasion are used? Has evidence been interpreted fairly?
- How is the work structured? Does it favour a particular interpretation or point of view? Is it effective?
- Does the work enhance understanding of key ideas or theories? Does the work engage (or fail to engage) with key concepts or other works in its discipline?
This evaluation is written in formal academic style and logically presented. Group and order your ideas into paragraphs. Start with the broad impressions first and then move into the details of the technical elements. For shorter critiques, you may discuss the strengths of the works, and then the weaknesses. In longer critiques, you may wish to discuss the positive and negative of each key critical question in individual paragraphs.
To support the evaluation, provide evidence from the work itself, such as a quote or example, and you should also cite evidence from related sources. Explain how this evidence supports your evaluation of the work.
This is usually a very brief paragraph, which includes:
- a statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work
- a summary of the key reasons, identified during the critical evaluation, why this evaluation was formed
- in some circumstances, recommendations for improvement on the work may be appropriate.
Reference list
Include all resources cited in your critique. Check with your lecturer/tutor for which referencing style to use.
- Mentioned the name of the work, the date of its creation and the name of the creator?
- Accurately summarised the work being critiqued?
- Mainly focused on the critical evaluation of the work?
- Systematically outlined an evaluation of each element of the work to achieve the overall purpose?
- Used evidence, from the work itself as well as other sources, to back and illustrate my assessment of elements of the work?
- Formed an overall evaluation of the work, based on critical reading?
- Used a well structured introduction, body and conclusion?
- Used correct grammar, spelling and punctuation; clear presentation; and appropriate referencing style?
Further information
- University of New South Wales: Writing a Critical Review
- University of Toronto: The Book Review or Article Critique
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Home / Essay Writing Tutorials / How to Write a Critique (2022 Guide)
How to Write a Critique (2019 Guide)
- Published Date: April 1, 2019
This article will dispel many of the fears you may have about writing a critique: a type of academic paper that asks you to analyze a work of art, literature, music, science, or journalism in detail.
Because a critique essay can be considered a relatively advanced exercise, by now you should have mastered many of the fundamental writing techniques. For example, you understand the need for the five-paragraph essay format and structure. You know what a thesis statement is and how to use one to your advantage to create impressive academic papers.
A critique builds on what you already know about good scholarly writing. This article will help you improve your English composition skills in ways that will benefit you for the rest of your life. You will learn how to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the object of your critique and communicate your thoughts to readers in a creative but logical way.
What is a Critique?
A critique involves thoroughly analyzing with the goal of pointing out its strengths and weaknesses or identifying its overall effectiveness. You may be asked to write a critique in almost any class you are taking.
In fact, critiques are one of the few essays you may be required to write in science classes in which you otherwise focus mainly on quantitative data analysis. The reason why critiques are important in all academic subjects and in all professional areas is that you need to be able to master the skill of analyzing work from your peers. Think of it this way: it is one thing to say “I don’t like that article,” and quite another to be able to explain why.
You will soon learn that it is a sign of maturity and professionalism to thoughtfully tell your colleagues (or classmates) exactly why you do or do not agree or why you do or do not find the work effective. A critique is therefore an essential step on your road to professional and personal development. Mastering the critique will help you become a better communicator.
Types of Critiques
A critique can be about anything. Consider the following examples:
- Critiquing a work of art such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night or a song like “Bohemian Rhapsody”
- Critiquing a theory or idea like Freud’s theory of psychosexual development or string theory.
- Critiquing a research article published in a peer-reviewed journal
- Critiquing an essay written by one of your peers
- Critiquing a website for design and credibility
- Critiquing a book (also known as a book review)
A critique of a journal article, especially on that was published in a peer-reviewed journal, is a common exercise in fields like psychology and other social sciences.
It is important to critique journal articles as part of the peer review process. In fact, the concept of “peer review” means that other people in the same area of expertise as the authors look closely at the article and determine whether the research was ethical, whether the results were reported fairly, or whether there were flaws in the methodology that render the results useless to the scientific community.
You might not be at the level yet where you are being asked to actually review research articles for an academic journal, but perhaps one day you will be and this is why you need to practice writing critiques of your own.
To write a critique of a journal article, you would of course first need to read the article and familiarize yourself with any terms or concepts you do not yet know. Armed with knowledge, you can then commence your critique by focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the researcher’s premises, methods, and conclusions.
Basic Tips for Writing a Critique
1. Always find both positive and negative things to say. Sometimes called “ hedging ,” using both positive and negative descriptors will make your critique stronger. There is no such thing as perfect. Everything you are asked to critique—even famous works or art and literature—have some flaws that are helpful to point out in a critique.
Likewise, you can always find something positive to say. If there is nothing you can say positive or negative about the object of the critique then at least be ready to defend your position and explain why you believe the item is either flawless or impossibly flawed.
2. Take into account the author/creator’s purpose and the historical context. Sometimes the author makes your job easier by stating outright the purpose of the study, which is common in peer-reviewed journal articles. Some journalistic pieces also have a clear purpose stated outright, but in many cases you will need to research more about the author or the context to understand it better.
When writing a critique, make sure that you take into account factors like the author’s biography or the situations that caused the author or artist to create the work. If you are critiquing a journal article, make sure you learn about the researcher’s background and read their stated purpose for carrying out the research. You need to know why the piece was created in order to provide constructive criticism.
3. Analyze your emotional reactions. Often, your first response to something will be emotional. You may react strongly but not have the ability to logically explain why you feel the way you do. This is especially true when you have been asked to critique a form of media like art or music.
Do not fret. The purpose of the critique is to get to the bottom of your emotions so you can explain why you feel the way you do. Therefore, do not censor your emotions. Welcome your visceral responses to whatever you are asked to critique, and write down what you are feeling. Later, you can do the hard work of analyzing the sources of your emotions and communicate them in a coherent essay.
4. Do outside research . Sometimes when writing a critique it helps to read what others have also said about that work. Even if you already have strong opinions about the object, read how others have analyzed it first to see if there is something you overlooked. Doing research ahead of time can be especially helpful when you are writing a critique but are confused and do not know where to begin, or if you do not fully understand the article or piece you are describing.
5. Know what to look for. This is one of the most important steps in writing a critique. If you do not know what to look for, it is almost impossible to write a good critique. Ask your instructor or writing tutor if you need help. Find out whether you are supposed to be critiquing an article for its research methods, or whether you are critiquing a work of literature in order to discuss the author’s views on gender. Your writing will be stronger if you know what to look for even before you encounter the object of the critique.
How to Write a Critique in 4 Easy Steps
This article will show you how to best go about planning and writing the best possible critiques. Whether you are writing a critique about a work or art or a journal article, the process is basically the same.
1. Read, Research, Reflect.
The first step to writing a critique is reading the original article. In the case of art or music critiques, of course you will instead use your visual or audio senses instead. Regardless of the form of media, you first need to soak it all in and understand what it is you are critiquing.
Then, you need to research the context of the item or article. Understand why it is written and what the author’s purpose was. You may need to research what other scholars have said about this piece, the work of art, or the theory. Research will also help clarify any aspects of the piece you do not understand. For example, if you are critiquing Picasso’s painting “Guernica,” it helps to learn that it was painted as the artist’s response to the Spanish Civil War.
Also remember the importance of reflecting on the main reasons why you are writing the critique. Have you been asked to look for flaws in the research methodology? Or have you been asked instead to critique the author’s use of language? Reflect also on your own feelings and impressions before you begin actually writing. The more work you do at this early stage, the easier it will be to write your critique.
The main question you need to ask when writing a critique is: Is the article/work successful? Did the author/artist achieve the goal of the piece? Usually the answer will be both yes and no: the author was successful in some ways but not in other ways.
Remember, a good critique is one that displays both the strengths and the weaknesses of the article. An outline can help you organize your thoughts. If your critique is supposed to be very short—only a page or two—then you can outline your ideas in your head. A longer critique will usually flow better if you jot down your ideas.
Outline the main strengths and weaknesses of the article. This is why it helps to know what to look for: you want to know what would constitute a successful execution and why the author/artist did or did not live up to that expectation. Write about anything that is relevant.
For example, when critiquing a research article, you will discuss whether the researchers used valid methods. How did the researchers select their sample population? Did they use random assignment?
If you are critiquing a short story, you may write about whether the author developed a character successfully or whether the reader was left feeling empty after the story was finished.
When you are done writing down the main strengths and weaknesses of the piece, then you should consider a more formal outline that will help you to organize your thoughts and write a good critique.
3. Develop Your Thesis and Main Ideas
Although developing your thesis can be considered an extension of the outlining process, it is listed as a separate step because of how important it is for you to remain focused on a main idea when you write a critique.
A critique is a complex exercise, and you do not need to pigeonhole your ideas into a one-sentence thesis statement. However, you should be able to concisely state why something was effective and why it was not effective. Pretend you are in an elevator with your instructor and you only have thirty seconds to talk about the article or work of art. In the thirty seconds, you will have come up with your thesis statement.
For example, you might say “The researchers’ methods were reliable and valid, but the conclusions drawn from the results did not logically follow.”
Or, you might say, “The author used pathos effectively in his argument, but the essay completely lacked substantiation.”
After you know pretty much what your thesis statement will be to guide your critique, you should come up with a few main ideas to discuss. There are no rules to how many main ideas you need, but three is a good number because it keeps you within the format and structure of the five-paragraph essay.
With three main points, you can write an introduction, three body paragraphs or body sections, and a conclusion. You have just enough to talk about in your critique without losing focus on the main idea.
As with any other academic writing exercise, you will begin with a rough draft. Refusing to censor yourself at this stage allows you to get the juices flowing, writing without being impeded by thoughts of whether your grammar and spelling are perfect or whether you remained on topic. For now, just write according to the outline and main ideas you have developed.
As you write, it is essential that you refer continually to the source: the object of the critique. You need to back up everything that you say, and the only way to do so is to quote or directly refer to elements of the original material.
For critiques of any written material like books or articles in a journal or newspaper, quotes or paraphrases will do. When you critique a song, you could refer to the time stamp in the recording or to a movement in a classical piece. When critiquing a work of art, use descriptors your reader can follow such as “foreground” or the “base of the statue.”
After your first draft is done, it is time to polish the work. If you are not comfortable editing your own work, you can give it to a friend or a writing tutor for review. Sometimes it helps to have a second pair of eyes to point out mistakes such as poor flow in your writing or grammatical errors.
What is the Correct Format for a Critique?
There is no one correct format. The only correct format for a critique is the one your instructor provided to you, so be sure to follow the instructions you were given.
Having said that, most critique assignments will involve some fundamental features that govern almost all good academic writing. The format for a critique does not deviate much from any other five-paragraph essay style format. You will have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.
A critique will have certain elements that differentiate it from other types of academic writing as follows:
I. Introduction
Use the first sentence of the introduction to introduce the object of the critique. You do not need a “hook” or elaborate opening statement. In some cases, you may want to cite some interesting fact or statistic but usually with a critique it helps to immediately name the object of the critique in a clear and no-nonsense introductory statement such as:
In Berger & Jean’s (2018) research, the authors use mixed methods to explore attitudes towards social media among seniors.
Simple and to the point is best, because the critique should ultimately be about the article or work of art and not about anything else unless it directly substantiates your impressions.
Also in the introduction, you will want to talk about the main points in your critique. You can mention, for example, that you are critiquing the article according to research reliability, validity, and ethics . Or, that you are critiquing a work of architecture according to form, function, and environmental footprint.
Traditionally, you end the introduction with your thesis statement.
The body of the critique is where you go into detail about the positive and negative points of the article or work of art. Remember to “hedge,” talking about where the work is successful as well as where it is not successful. Always remember to say why. Never say, “The author uses simplistic diction,” without given at least one example in the form of a quotation.
The key to a good critique is stating your opinion and offering evidence to support your claim. Do this for all the main points of your critique. You do not need to offer every single example of when the author did a good job, or when the artist failed to execute. However, give the best or most obvious examples that support your opinion.
III. Conclusion
Of course, you know that you do need to end your critique with a conclusion. Wrap up your critique by going over what you have said without any new details, reminding the reader of the main strengths and weaknesses of the piece. Perhaps mention what the author could have done better, or mention how effective the author was in achieving the stated goals of the article.
The difference between the conclusion in a critique and in other types of academic papers is that you can here offer some suggestions for how the author (or future researchers) might improve upon the work.
Example of a Critique
Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma presents cogent questions about the ethics and sustainability of contemporary factory farming practices. The book has gained notoriety in both mainstream and academic circles, which has surprisingly not detracted from its overall effectiveness in stimulating dialogue and bringing about a change in attitudes and consumer behavior. Pollan’s credibility and journalistic style make up for the fact that The Omnivore’s Dilemma cannot be considered a scholarly work.
One of the main strengths of Pollan’s book is that it tackles difficult subjects like the ethics of eating meat without becoming preachy or pedantic. In fact, the author allows his experiences visiting factory farms to speak for themselves as he offers readers rich descriptions of the abattoir. When the author states, “the most morally troubling thing about killing chickens is that after a while it is no longer morally troubling,” Pollan cuts to the chase of why many people can easily turn a blind eye to the suffering of animals (p. 233). Pollan does not need to say that killing animals is bad. In fact, Pollan shows how the ethical dilemma referred to in the title of the book cannot be easily resolved.
In addition to the author’s ability to handle moral ambiguity gracefully, Pollan’s book has journalistic credibility. The back of the book contains the endnotes that correspond to each chapter. Pollan has a respectable pedigree as a journalist and author. According to his website, Pollan has contributed to esteemed publications like The New York Times Magazine since 1987 and is also a professor at Harvard University. Therefore, Pollan does have a high degree of credibility. The experiences described in The Omnivore’s Dilemma are not only filtered through the author’s own worldview but also presented in the broader context of philosophy and ethics, as well as anthropology, psychology, and sociology.
What makes The Omnivore’s Dilemma ultimately effective is that the author blends classical journalism with populism. The author does not talk down to readers and uses strong language, without veering too much into the territory of scholarly jargon. Placing the sources as endnotes instead of as footnotes reduces clutter on the page and makes the book more approachable to mainstream or general audiences. Yet because of how well Pollan does research his claims and provides the means by which readers can investigate the primary sources, The Omnivore’s Dilemma can be considered a credible source of information.
The Omnivore’s Dilemma can be considered one of the most important books on the subject of food sustainability and the ethics of contemporary, post-industrial food production. Because the author writes for a general audience with scholarly or journalistic integrity, the book reaches a broad audience and has the potential to induce social change. The author also discusses factory farming sensitively but without demanding that readers convert to veganism. While a follow-up book might be warranted to see if Pollan’s work really has made a difference in America’s eating habits or in animal rights laws, The Omnivore’s Dilemma remains a classic.
The example of a critique offered in this guide should give you the basic elements of what you need to construct a similar essay when you are asked to write one. You could be asked to write a critique about almost anything. Now you are a little more prepared to write your critique confidently and competently.
Whether your critique is about music and art or about a peer-reviewed journal article in the hard sciences, the basic elements remain the same. Your job is to point out strengths and weaknesses to determine if the object was effective or if it achieved its goal. When you write a critique, you are offered the chance to prove that you can defend your opinions with facts, thereby making you a more effective and professional communicator.
“About Michael Pollan.” https://michaelpollan.com/about/
Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore’s Dilemma. New York: Bloomsbury.
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How to Write a Psychology Critique Paper
Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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Critique papers require students to conduct a critical analysis of another piece of writing, often a book, journal article, or essay. No matter what your major is, you will probably be expected to write a critique paper at some point.
For psychology students, critiquing a professional paper is a great way to learn more about psychology articles, writing, and the research process itself. Students will analyze how researchers conduct experiments, interpret results, and discuss the impact of the results.
Steps for Writing an Effective Critique Paper
While these tips are designed to help students writing a psychology critique paper, many of the same principles apply to writing critiques in other subject areas as well.
Your first step should always be a thorough read-through of the material you will be analyzing and critiquing. It needs to be more than just a casual skim read—think in-depth with an eye toward key elements.
The following guideline can help you assess what you are reading and make better sense of the material.
- In addition to answering these basic questions, note other information provided in the introduction and any questions that you have.
- Remember to jot down questions and thoughts that come to mind as you are reading. Once you have finished reading the paper, you can then refer back to your initial questions and see which ones remain unanswered.
- Make note of any questions you have or any information that does not seem to make sense. You can refer back to these questions later as you are writing your final critique.
- If you agree with the researcher's conclusions, explain why. If you feel that the researchers are incorrect or off-base, point out problems with the conclusions and suggest alternative explanations.
- Another alternative is to point out questions that the researchers failed to answer in the discussion section.
Begin Writing Your Own Critique of the Paper
Once you have read the article, compile your notes and develop an outline that you can follow as you write your psychology critique paper. Here's a guide that will walk you through how to structure your critique paper.
Introduction
Begin your paper by describing the journal article and authors you are critiquing. Provide the main hypothesis (or thesis) of the paper. Explain why you think the information is relevant.
Thesis Statement
The final part of your introduction should include your thesis statement. Your thesis statement is the main idea of your critique. Your thesis should briefly sum up the main points of your critique.
Article Summary
Provide a brief summary of the article. Outline the main points, results, and discussion.
When describing the study or paper, experts suggest that you include a summary of the questions being addressed, study participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design.
Don't get bogged down by your summary. This section should highlight the main points of the article you are critiquing. Don't feel obligated to summarize each little detail of the main paper. Focus on giving the reader an overall idea of the content of the article.
Your Analysis
In this section, you will provide your critique of the article. Describe any problems you had with the author's premise, methods, or conclusions. You might focus your critique on problems with the author's argument, presentation, information, and alternatives that have been overlooked.
When evaluating a study, summarize the main findings—including the strength of evidence for each main outcome—and consider their relevance to key demographic groups.
Organize your paper carefully. Be careful not to jump around from one argument to the next. Arguing one point at a time ensures that your paper flows well and is easy to read.
Your critique paper should end with an overview of the article's argument, your conclusions, and your reactions.
More Tips When Writing a Psychology Critique Paper
- As you are editing your paper, utilize a style guide published by the American Psychological Association, such as the official Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association .
- Reading scientific articles can be difficult. You might want to read up on how to read (and understand) psychology journal articles .
- Take a rough draft of your paper to your school's writing lab for additional feedback and make use of your university library's resources.
Pautasso M. Ten simple rules for writing a literature review . PLoS Comput Biol . 2013;9(7):e1003149. doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003149
Gülpınar Ö, Güçlü AG. How to write a review article? Turk J Urol . 2013;39(Suppl 1):44–48. doi:10.5152/tud.2013.054
By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology.
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A research paper should contain the title, the abstract, methods and results, in addition to a discussion section, literature review and citation of sources. The basic characteristics of a research paper are the same regardless of academic ...
Paper is used to make books, magazines and newspapers as well as paper money and photographic paper. It’s used to make writing paper, toys, boxes, wrapping paper, glassine, paper napkins, toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue and paper ...
A “discussion paper” is a quantitative depiction of a specified topic, including but not limited to, a summary of applicable objections and appropriate conclusions drawn from the project.
Critique papers contain a summary and a critical analysis of a source or concept. Basically, these papers lead to a careful analysis of a
A critique paper is an academic writing genre that summarizes and gives a critical evaluation of a concept or work. Or, to put it simply
Critique papers summarize and judge the book, journal article, and artwork, among other sources. Basically, these papers include a critical evaluation of
A critique paper is a way for students to improve their writing and communication skills. It is essential to use adequate vocabulary, grammar and spelling.
Study the work under discussion. · Make notes on key parts of the work. · Develop an understanding of the main argument or purpose being expressed
In the article “Student anxiety: Effects of a new graduate student orientation program,” Megan. Hullinger and Dr. R. Lance Hogan (2014) examined the impact of
Read the research article or report in its ... presents results mainly in words.
This article will dispel many of the fears you may have about writing a critique: a type of academic paper that asks you to analyze a work
In this video you will learn how to critique a research paper and how to write a critique paper on a research article.
Critique papers require students to conduct a critical analysis of another piece of writing, often a book, journal article, or essay.
and opinion of the paper followed by the main points.