9 (1) Language Arts
Mrs. Kirk
PERIODICAL CRITICISM FORMAT
A periodical is a magazine or newspaper (The Philadelphia Inquirer, The New York Times, The Wall
Street Journal, The New Yorker, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, Time, Newsweek). Articles
used for periodical criticisms should be non-fiction feature articles (a page or more in length). The
articles can be about health, science, current events, sports, culture, politics, or human interest
stories. Your job is to read and critique your selected article using the following format:
MLA Citation: Last, First. “Title of Article.” Title of Paper/Magazine. Date of
Issue (day month year): Section/page.
Paragraph one: SUMMARY— (5 points)

Summarize the article’s contents (be sure to name author and “article title” and periodical title
and publication date in this paragraph)
Paragraph two: THESIS— (10 points)


What is the author’s thesis? Where it stated? Give a quote that states it if possible AND/OR
explain it in your own words.
Does the author restate/reemphasize his thesis? Where? Quote it.
Paragraph three: SUPPORT— (10 points)


HOW does the author support his thesis? Does he use examples, facts, statistics, expert
testimony, other’s opinion, analogies, comparison/contrast, appeals to emotion…?
Give a few quotes from the article that show the type of support.
Paragraph four: VOCABULARY— (10 points)


Define two or more new, challenging, or unfamiliar words by describing their context in the
article.
EX: The author calls the new Good Samaritan law unprecedented, meaning that it is the “first of
its kind.” Never before has Congress passed a law requiring citizens to help one another in
dangerous situations. (notice the word is underlined and the definition is in quotation marks)
Paragraph five: YOUR OPINION-- (The “I” paragraph) (5 points)

Give your opinion on the article. This could include a variety of topics: do you think the topic is
important, did the author present his point well, do you agree/disagree, can you connect to this
with your own experience or observation…
Periodical criticisms must … (10 points)
 Be carefully proofread
 Include a citation for the article (See above)
 Demonstrate your ability to “embed” quotes into your writing—quotes should not
be thrown in alone, but included into the syntax of your sentence. EX: In paragraph
three Mr. Smith states that “the candidates have resorted to mudslinging rather than
debating important national issues” (12).
 Be typed and double-spaced with standard font and margins
 Include the appropriate class heading and a title (Periodical Criticism #1 )
 Include a copy of article stapled to the back of your criticism (unless I’ve assigned the
article)