This document provides instructions for how to write a critique. It explains that a critique evaluates a work to increase understanding and expresses an opinion. It should describe, analyze, interpret and assess the parts and value of the work. The steps include thoroughly reading the work multiple times, taking notes, researching context, investigating assumptions, organizing with an outline, and writing the critique.

2. What is the purpose of a
critique?
 It is to evaluate somebody's work (a book, an
essay, a movie, a painting...) in order to
increase the reader's understanding of it.
 it expresses the writer's opinion or evaluation of
a text
 a critical analysis is not merely to inform, but
also to evaluate the worth, utility, excellence,
distinction, truth, validity, beauty, or goodness of
something
 Analysis means to break down and study the
parts.
 Writing a critical paper requires two steps:
critical reading and critical writing.

3. To critique a piece of writing is to
do the following:
 1) describe: give the reader a sense of
the writer's overall purpose and meaning
 2) analyze: show how it is put together
by dividing it into its main sections or
aspects
 3) interpret: define the significance
(meaning and importance) of each part
(or missing parts)
 4) assess: make a judgment of the
work's worth or value

4. Step 1: Read
 Read
 Re-read
 Re-read
 And read again.
 It is important to familiarize yourself with
the document. There are multiple things
you need to look for you can’t possibly
find them all after the first read.

5. Step 2: Notes
 As you read, TAKE NOTES!!
 Circle, highlight, underline, and comment on your
article.
 Look for:
 the author’s purpose of the paper
○ (very important)
 Is the purpose to inform with factual material?
 Is the purpose to persuade with appeal to reason or
emotions?
 Is the purpose to entertain (to affect people's
emotions)?
 Also look for:
 Patterns
 Tone: funny, serious

6. Step 3: Gather your
resources
 Find out where the work was published
– does that help you figure out the
author’s purpose and audience?
 What are the author’s obvious strategies
in making his or her point?
 Are they successful?

7. Step 4: Investigate Further
 Look at underlying assumptions, both
yours and the writer’s.
 Look for places where the author has left
gaps
– are these deliberate?
 Do they need to be filled?
 Does the author play on your emotions? How?
 Is he or she using any images or ideas that play
on some abstract, for example patriotism?

8. Step 5: Organize
 I. Background information to help your readers
understand the nature of the work
 A. Information about the work
○ 1. Title
○ 2. Author
○ 3. Publication information
○ 4. Statement of topic and purpose
 B. Thesis statement indicating writer's main reaction to the
work
 II. Summary or description of the work
 III. Interpretation and/or evaluation
 A. Discussion of the work's organization
 B. Discussion of the work's style
 C. Effectiveness
 D. Discussion of the topic's treatment
 E. Discussion of appeal to a particular audience

9. Step 6: Write
 After you have created your outline, start
writing your critique.
 Remember that your critique does not
have to be negative.
 Refer to the author by his or her last
name.