Eng 2110 – Shelton
Critique
ASSIGNMENT: Evaluate Shipler’s The Working Poor
LENGTH: Your critique should be 3 ½ to 4 full pages in length, and should include at
least 7 but no more than 8 paragraphs, as explained below.
FORMAT:
● This paper should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font.
● Put the standard heading of Name, Class/Section, instructor’s name, and Date
singled spaced at the top left-hand margin.
● Your critique must have a title, which will be centered one inch above the first
line of your essay.
● A Works Cited page, following correct MLA format, must be included.
● No contractions.
● No 1st or 2nd person.
● This paper must be submitted in a folder according to the guidelines on the
syllabus.
● This paper must be submitted to turnitin.com.
ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN FOR YOUR CRITIQUE
I. Introduction (one paragraph)
● introduce the author and text being evaluated
● include some background material to help reader understand the relevance or
appeal of the text
● state the author’s main argument (the author’s thesis) AND
● the points you intend to make about it (your thesis)
II. Summary (one paragraph)
● summarize the author’s main points and give his/her purpose for writing
● should be the shortest paragraph of your essay
III. Analysis of Author’s Technical Skill (three paragraphs)
● Choose three points for analysis from the following list:
o Purpose – What is the author’s purpose? Is it clear?
o Accuracy – Are the facts accurate?
o Definition of Terms – Has the author explained what he means by terms
that need defining? Ex: If he uses the term “creationist,” does he make it
clear just what this means?
o Development – Are the main points illustrated and supported with
evidence?
o Clarity – Can the reader understand an explanation?
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o Fairness – Has the author presented opposing viewpoints fairly? Has he
intentionally misrepresented the opposing viewpoint, or has he belittled
his opposition?
o Logic – Has the author adhered to the rules of logical thought?
o Evidence – Is the evidence presented relevant and reliable?
o Authority – Does the author refer to another authority? Is that authority
reliable?
o Interest – Does it hold the reader’s interest?
Devote one paragraph to each of the three points you plan to analyze.
Make sure that each paragraph has a topic sentence that states your overall
judgment of the technical skill under evaluation.
Devote the rest of the paragraph to illustrating how you came to this conclusion.
USE EXAMPLES FROM THE TEXT
IV. Response to the Writer’s Ideas (1-2 paragraphs)
● Your topic sentence(s) will state your overall agreement or disagreement with
the writer’s ideas/beliefs/proposals
● In the body of the paragraph(s), state each of the author’s ideas you will deal with,
then follow each with your reason(s) for agreement/disagreement (The Why’s).
● Try to “dig down” and discover the writer’s basic assumptions, and your own. Do
you agree or disagree?
V. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
● State your overall evaluation of the text
o the author’s success at achieving his/her purpose
o your reaction to his/her ideas
o remind reader of writer’s weaknesses and/or strengths
● Provide closure for your reader
Due: 02/24/2022