University Writing Center

A critique is a formalized, critical reading of a written work. It is also a personal response to that reading, but it is more than just saying you liked a book or thought an article was great. Your goal in writing a critique is to turn your critical reading into a systematic evaluation in order to deepen your reader’s understanding (and your own) of a work. You should determine what an author says, how well the points are made, what assumptions underlie the argument, what issues are overlooked, and what implications can be drawn from such an analysis. Critiques should include a fair and accurate summary of the passage; they also should include a statement of your own assumptions.

• Introduction: Introduce both the passage under analysis and the author. State the author’s main argument and the point(s) you intend to make about it. Provide background material to help your readers understand the relevance or appeal of the passage. This background material might include one or more of the following:
  • an explanation of why the subject is of current interest;
  • a reference to a possible controversy surrounding the subject of the passage or the passage itself;
  • biographical information about the author;
  • an account of the circumstances under which the passage was written;
  • or a reference to the intended audience of the passage.
• Summary: Summarize the author’s main points, making sure to state the author’s purpose for writing. (See handout “Writing a Summary.”)
• Analysis of the presentation: Evaluate the validity of the author’s presentation, as distinct from your points of agreement or disagreement. Comment on the author’s success in achieving his or her purpose by reviewing three or four specific points. It is important to remain objective and academic while criticizing the author. Avoid using words or phrases that sound like a personal attack. You might base your review on one (or more) of the following criteria:
  • Is the information accurate?
  • Is the information significant?
  • Has the author used and interpreted information fairly?
  • Has the author defined terms clearly?
  • Has the author argued logically?
• Your response to the presentation: Now it is your turn to respond to the author’s views. With which views do you agree? With which do you disagree? Discuss your reasons for agreement and disagreement; when possible, tie these reasons to assumptions—both the author’s and your own.
• Conclusion: State your conclusions about the overall validity of the piece—your assessment of the author’s success at achieving his or her aims and your reactions to the author’s views. Remind the reader of the weaknesses and strengths of the passage.

*Source: Behrens, Laurence, ed. Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. 73-74. Reprinted with permission of the Center for Effective Communication, Berea College, Berea, Kentucky.

Further Reading

• http://writingcenter.tamu.edu/content/view/34/76/ -This UWC handout gives a general overview of reviews and critques.
• http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/bkrev.html – A good overview of the book review/ article critique; provides links to London Review of Books and New York Review of Books as well.
• http://www.english.udel.edu/wc/student/handouts/critical_reviews.html – Notes the difference between a critical review and an abstract or a summary, and then gives an idea of how to go about getting started on a critical review.
• http://library.queensu.ca/research/guide/book-reviews/how-write – Gives a step-by-step procedure for first, getting a general idea about a book, and second, analyzing and evaluating a book.

• http://uwc.tamu.edu/handouts/writing/findlitcrit.html – Helpful for A&M students since it provides links to resources in our library.
• http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/guide.html – A criticism guide from the Internet Public Library.
• http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Lit/ – Excellent collection of literary resources maintained by Jack Lynch of Rutgers University.
• http://writingcenter.tamu.edu/content/view/5/76/ – A series of questions to guide you through writing about literature.
• http://uwc.tamu.edu/handouts/writing/lit.html – If you’re looking for a few quick questions to spur your thoughts and get you started with a literature analysis, the UWC handout on the subject may be helpful.
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_lit.html – This site begins with the question: “What makes for a good literature paper?” and then discusses how to write about literature in terms of argument, topic, research, and documentation.

  http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/literature.html –  Explains why writing about literature can seem like a “mystifying process” for some, and then offers a nine step process as a solution.

• http://www.brocku.ca/english/jlye/criticalreading.html – Begins with the title “Critical Reading: A Guide,” but don’t be deceived! This site is about much more. It includes insights into analyzing poetry, fiction, prose, and how to write an analytical essay.
• http://www.library.utoronto.ca/utel/glossary/headerindex.html provides a comprehensive glossary of literary theory terms.