Writing A Critique (Six Paragraph Essay)
When you write a critique, your goal is to make a formal analysis of and response to a piece of writing,
whether a selected passage, an entire essay or an entire novel. Your purpose encompasses both
explaining and evaluating. In general, a critique includes these components:
1.
2.
3.
4.
An Introduction
An objective, concise summary of the work or passage
An objective analysis of the authors presentation of the material
A subjective response detailing your opinion of how the author handled his subject, whether
or not he achieved his purpose and how his style and structure connected with his purposes
5. A conclusion
A critique differs from a summary, which is an objective restatement in your own words of the original
material. When you summarize, you leave out your personal, or subjective, viewpoint. In a critique you
begin objectively but then add your own subjective response.
A Note on Verb Tense:
Whenever you write about or refer to another person’s work, use the present these; for example,
“Truman Capote suggests…” or “Capote argues that…” Use the past tense only to refer to something
that happened before the time span of the work. “Capote’s work is then a result of what first began as a
magazine article.”
1. Introduction
The first paragraph of your essay should name the author and title of the work you are critiquing. Then,
give a very brief overview of the piece in two to four sentences. Your intent is not to summarize but to
tell readers its purpose. Generally, you should state the thesis or central idea of the piece along with a
highlight or two and/or its major conclusion(s). Finally, your introduction should state your own thesis.
In one or two sentences indicate your assessment of the work which should be worded to reveal your
position to the reader before he or she begins reading your paper.
2. Summary
The first section in the body of your critique should offer an objective summary of the work. This
summary states the author’s original purpose and includes key ideas and major points. Where
appropriate include direct quotations that are particularly important to the development of the work.
Do not write anything evaluative or subjective at this point. Your purpose here is to give a fair and
accurate summary of the intent and main points of the work you are analyzing.
3. Analysis
Once you have summarized the work by stating its purpose and key points begin to analyze. Your goal is
to examine how well the author has achieved his purpose and to consider the validity or significance of
the author’s information. Do not try to look at every point the author makes; rather limit your focus to
several important aspects. Remain as objective as possible in this section, saving your personal opinion
of the author’s success or lack of success for the personal response section. Different purposes for
writing-- persuasive, expository and expressive-- require application of different criteria to judge a
writer’s success in achieving his intended purpose. In general however, certain considerations help in
the assessment of any piece of writing. Questions about validity accuracy, significance and fairness help
you to evaluate any author’s success or failure.
Assessing Persuasive Writing
In assessing the success of another writer’s argument, you should gauge how well that writer has used
the standard rhetorical strategies (Appeals: ethos, pathos, logos). Pay attention to the writer’s use of
language (diction, syntax, and selection of detail, etc). Finally, assess the validity of the argument by
examining the evidence the writer presents to support his positions and the logic of his conclusions.
Examining a Writer’s Language
In particular, make sure that the writer defines any words or terms that may be unclear, abstract or
ambiguous. Ask yourself if the writer’s language seems intended to intimate or confuse the reader, or if
the writer attempts to manipulate the reader by relying on emotionally loaded words. Does the writer
make sarcastic remarks or personal attacks (none of this mean that the writer is in error necessarily)?
Ultimately, examine a writer’s evidence. Good writers don’t rely exclusively on loaded language or
manipulative language to make their case.
Examine a Writer’s Evidence
A writer should support any generalizations or claims with ample, relevant evidence. As a critical reader,
consider the value or significance of that evidence. Evidence may be supplied in the form of statistics,
facts, examples, or appeals to authority. Keep in mind that statistics may be manipulated to conform to
the writer’s needs. Look closely at statements of fact; they should give accurate, complete and
trustworthy information. Examples are specific instances or illustrations that reveal a while type and
they should give believable, reliable and representative support for an author’s thesis. Finally,
authorities are people who have the training or experience necessary to make trustworthy observations
on matters relating to their expertise.
4. Judging a Writer’s Logic
Argumentative or persuasive writing must present a logical, reasonable and accurate process. Here you
can consult the logical fallacies to evaluate a writer’s logic.
5. Conclusion
Do not repeat your thesis in your conclusion, but enhance your conclusion by further expressing your
admiration or disappointment in the work.