What is a critical review?
It is a writing task that asks you
to summarize and evaluate a text.
It requires you to question the
information and opinions in a text
and present your evaluation or
judgment of the text.

What is meant by evaluation or
judgment?
 You must determine the strengths
and weaknesses of a text. This is
based on specific criteria.
 You must also have an understanding
of the text’s purpose, the intended
audience and why it is structured the
way it is.

What is meant by analysis?
 You must first separate the content
and the concepts of a text into their
main components.
 Once separated, you must then
understand how these interrelate,
connect and possibly influence each
other.

How is it structured?
 An introductory paragraph that:
 Includes a few opening sentences that
announce the author and title and briefly
explain the topic of the text
 Includes the aim of the text
 Includes a brief statement of your
evaluation (this can be positive or
negative, or a mix)

 A summary paragraph that
 Includes a synopsis of the key points
 May include the author’s purpose or
intentions
 May include how the text is organized

 Critique paragraphs that
 Present a balanced discussion and
evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses
and notable features of the text
 Are based on specific criteria
 May include other sources to support

How is the critique to be
sequenced?
 Most important to least important
conclusions about the text
 If your critique is more positive than
negative, then present the negative
points first and the positive last
 If your critique is more negative than
positive, then present the positive
points first and the negative last

How is it concluded?
 Write a concluding paragraph that
 Restates your overall opinion of the text
(i.e. your thesis)
 Briefly recap the main points raised in
the review
 Briefly present recommendations or
suggestions
 Consider the importance of the
discussion

How do I decide what is worthy of
comment and critique?
 Theoretical questions:
How does the author understand the
situation? What is his/her
background? How would this
influence their view of the situation?

 Definitional questions:
Are all of the concepts in the text
clear?
Does the author define a concept
adequately/ vaguely?

 Evidence questions:
Does the author’s evidence support their
argument? Do they have enough specific
evidence?
Does the author underemphasize or ignore
evidence that is contrary to their
argument?
Is the evidence credible? Is their a bias?

Key points to remember
 You need to prove that you have read
and understood the text– use the
text: quote, paraphrase, summarize
(CITE)
 Your review should stand on its own.
The reader should be able to get a
reasonably full understanding of the
text without having read it

 It is okay to be critical…be specific
and support your statements
 It is okay to be identify areas that
have merit… be specific and support
your statements