Writing Critique

What is a critique?
 basically means studying and analyzing the
text in a critical way
 a systematic, yet personal response and
evaluation of what you read
 It is a systematic, yet personal response and
evaluation of what you read
 Critical Thinking
1. Critical thinking is necessary before you begin a
review or a critique. It normally requires developing
an argument about the work.
2. A critic must be honest but diplomatic, must be
specific by supporting comment with direct
quotations from the text and must be objective.
 A critic must be able to analyze the characters, plot,

imagery, and strengths and weaknesses of the writing.

 Describe: give the reader a sense of the writer's
overall purpose and meaning

 Analyze: show how it is put together by

dividing it into its main sections or aspects

 Interpret: define the significance (meaning and

importance) of each part

 Assess: make a judgement of the work's worth

or value
 Tips in writing a critique paper:

1.Go over the entire article to identify the

author’s main point.
2. Summarize the article
3. Know more about your author
4. Read and analyze the article
5. Write your critique paper.
 BEING A GOOD CRITIQUE GROUP
PARTNER
1. BE HONEST
Be gentle, but tell the truth

2. BE THICK-SKINNED
If some critiques are somewhat negative to your material,
it doesn't mean you're a bad writer

3. CONSIDER COMMENTS CAREFULLY

Not every comment a critique partner makes will apply to
your story. You are the final judge of what to change and
what to keep.
4. BE KIND
Word your critiques carefully, as you would have others critique
your work.

5. BE ENCOURAGING
Encourage one another to your best writing, and help one another
when you face a nasty case of writer's block or rejection

6. BE FRIENDLY
Get to know each other. The more you know about each other, the
more you'll be able to help.

7. BE PROMPT
 Book Reviews
 Critical evaluation of a book base on personal taste
 Provide brief summary and assessment of the
content
 You endorse the book whether the readers will like
it or not
 Is a form of literary criticism in which a book is
analyzed based on content, style, and merit.
 Its length may vary from a single paragraph to a
substantial essay.
 Schematic Description of the elements of a book review

 -Swales and Feak endorsed by Motta-Roth

(1998)
 GENERAL AIM: Specifically
Accomplishing the Aim
 INTRODUCING THE BOOK
 Establishing the topic
 Describing potential readership
 Providing information about the authors
 Making generalizations about the topic
 Establishing the place of the book in the field
 OUTLINING THE BOOK
 Highlighting the general organization of the
book
 Describing the content of each chapter
 HIGLIGHTING PARTS OF THE BOOK
 Providing focused evaluation
 PROVIDING FINAL COMMENTARY
 Commenting on price or production and
recommendations
 Specifying the scope
 Recommending the book
 Reaction or Response Paper
 Thoughts, feelings, and opinions subjectively
over assigned tasks.
 writers respond to either one or more texts they
have read or they have watched
 require you to synthesize the intellectual work
of others
 Needs to have Introduction, body and
conclusion
 Guide questions
 How do you feel about what you are reading?
 What do you agree or disagree with?
 Can you identify with the situation?
 What would be the best way to evaluate the
story?
  
Actions to Take
 Pay attention to the instructions your instructor provides for the assignment.

 Explain the key terms, main arguments, and assumptions of each text.

 characterize each text’s arguments fairly and accurately

 
 • Evaluate the evidence that each text presents: point out strengths and weaknesses
  
 • Explain how the texts relate to and “speak” to one another. Synthesize them if you can, and if you cannot,
explain what the barriers preventing such a synthesis are.

 • Consider both sides of issues at stake.

 • Include your own voice by weighing arguments, evaluating evidence, and raising critical questions.

 • Be careful to do all parts of the assignment.

 • Keep an eye out for authors’ omissions, and raise counterarguments when you detect authors’ arguments
are weak.
 Tips in writing reaction/response paper
 Highlight significant points
 Take down notes especially the significant
parts where you agree or disagree
 Reflect on its significance
 Review your notes carefully
 Choose the most important and interesting
ideas
 Introductory phrases you could use in
reaction paper
 I feel that

 I think that  For example

 In my opinion  Moreover

 It seems that  I see that

 Words you could use in writing a critique
 reasonable  flawed
 facts
 relevant
 expert opinions
 logical
 evidence
 accurate
 statistics
 References
 Hansen, S.(March 2000).Writing a critique and organization.
Retrieved Sept. 04, 2010 from
http://www.prm.nau.edu/prm346/writing_critique.htm
 Annieway. (n.d).How to write a good critique essay. Retrieved
Sept. 05, 2010 from http://www.ehow.com/how_5719888_write-
good-critique-essay.html
 Invention: Writing the Critique .(n.d). Hunter College
Reading/Writing Center the Writing Process. Retrieved Sept. 05,
2010 from http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/reading-writing/on-
line/critique.html
 Wiki. (19 August 2010). Book review. Retrieved 5 September
2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_review
 Literacy Education Online. (1999). Writing a reaction
or response essay. Retrieved September 5, 2010, from:
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/reaction.html
 Retrieved Sept 05, 2010 from
http://www.faithwriters.com/critique-circle-tips.html
 Adapted from Behrens and Rosen, Writing and
Reading Across the Curriculum,Little Brown, 1982.
Retrieved September 05, 2010 from
http://www.hws.edu/academics/ctl/pdf/critique.pdf