Critique Writing: Objectives & Analysis

• A critique is a systematic, yet personal, evaluation and response to what you read through careful analysis of an argument.
• The goal is to determine what is said, how well the points are made, the assumptions, the overlooked issues, and the implications.

Primary Objectives in Writing a Critique Paper

• Critique papers should evaluate the appropriateness of an item to the audience, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the article or object being evaluated.
• Critique essays should examine the usefulness of the material under analysis by considering if the information makes sense to the audience or contributes to existing knowledge.
• Learners must examine if specific information makes sense to readers, and consider conceivable jumps in logic.
• Critique essays may focus on the balance between facts and fiction specifically where two sides of an argument exist, with the focus being on the vagueness of the information presented, when organizing these papers.

How to Write a Critique

• Start the critique by making sure to study the work under discussion.
• Then make notes on the key parts of the work.
• Develop an understanding of the main argument or purpose being expressed.
• Then consider how the work relates to a broader issue or context.

Make Your Introduction

• The introduction should be short, and less than 10% of the word length.
• Name the work being reviewed, its creation date, 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, including the social, political, creative/academic tradition, or the creator's experience.
• Include a concluding sentence indicating whether your evaluation will be positive, negative, or mixed.

Make a Summary

• Briefly summarize the main points.
• Objectively describe how the writer portrays these points using techniques, styles, media, characters, or symbols.
• The summary is not the focus of the critique and should be shorter than the critical evaluation.

Develop a Critical Evaluation

• Give a systematic and detailed assessment of the different elements of the text.
• Evaluate how well the writer achieved their purpose through these elements.
• Deconstruct the work, and consider the types of evidence or persuasion used, and if evidence has been interpreted fairly.
• Consider how the work is structured and if it favors a particular interpretation or point of view, and if it is effective.
• Identify what literary devices and techniques were used.
• Evaluate whether they were effective in conveying the writer's message.
• Reflect on your response to the piece, whether you liked it, if it appealed to you, or if you could identify with it.
• Determine if you agreed with the main ideas, if you found errors in reasoning, and if there were gaps in the discussion.
• Consider if the text's tone and language are appropriate.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses.
• Examine the success of the source in achieving its primary purpose.

Make a Conclusion

• The closing paragraphs should summarize the work's overall evaluation.
• This should include the key reasons identified during the assessment process.
• Give the purpose of the evaluation.
• Provide recommendations for improving the whole work.

The Analysis

• The analysis section is the heart of critique papers.
• Use compelling examples to support the main ideas and arguments.
• Ensure the inquiry method aligns with the thesis statement.

Closing Paragraph

• Seek advice from your instructor on how to close the paper.
• Some instructors may require restating the thesis statement at the end of critique essays.

Effective Conclusions

• Link the body paragraphs to the introduction.
• Avoid presenting new information.