critique paper outline example

How to Structure and Write an Effective Critique Paper

Critique papers are an essential part of academic writing, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences. They involve analyzing a piece of work and objectively evaluating its strengths and weaknesses. Writing a critique paper can be challenging, requiring careful reading, research, and analysis. Yet, it is possible to produce a high-quality essay with careful planning and attention to detail.

This article will teach you how to write an article critique by explaining the types of critique essays, their structure, and the steps involved in how to write a critique essay. The article also provides essay tips for producing a well-written and effective critique.

What is a Critique Paper?

A critique paper is an academic paper as a response to a body of work, such as a play, concept, scholarly article, poetry, book, or research paper. Its purpose is to objectively assess the work in question, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. But also to provide a detailed analysis of its content, structure, and methodology.

This kind of essay can be one of the trickiest assignments, and not everyone can produce a well-scrutinized, original piece of writing. That’s why many students reach for assistance from analytical essay writing services that guarantee to handle the job with the help of professional writers and experts. These services proved to be of high quality and effective support to many schoolers who chose to try them in a variety of different disciplines.

Knowing how to write an article critique requires careful reading, analysis, and an evaluative approach. A well-written critique paper example demonstrates the writer’s ability to analyze and evaluate works. It should also be organized logically, guiding the reader through the analysis. Additionally, writers should be aware of their biases and assumptions and strive to critique objectively. On a final note, it’s essential to review the guidelines and follow the required structure. This is to ensure that the article critique meets the assignment’s expectations.

Types of Critical Essays

There are several types of essays of this kind, each with its approach and focus. To follow we have a list of the most common ones.

Descriptive

A descriptive critical essay combines elements of descriptive writing with a thorough analysis. In this type of essay, the writer describes a particular work in detail and then evaluates it based on certain criteria. They can provide a deep and insightful understanding of the work using sensory details and descriptive language.

An evaluative essay consists of a personal judgment to evaluate the value or effectiveness of a particular work or idea. In this type of essay, the writer analyzes the work and expresses their opinion on its merits or shortcomings. At the same time, they must avoid personal bias and focus on facts rather than one’s opinions or feelings. However, it’s also essential to provide a personal perspective and interpretation of the work as long as it’s supported by evidence.

Interpretive

This type of essay involves analyzing and interpreting the meaning and significance of the work being evaluated. It delves deeper into the themes, symbolism, and underlying conveyed messages. When writing an interpretive essay, it’s important to be clear and concise. Avoid confusing the reader by using jargon or unnecessarily complex language.

Structure of Critique Paper

The structure of a typical critique essay example includes an introduction, a summary, an analysis, and a conclusion. The paper format is a crucial element. Just like when you write your research papers , a critique benefits from a clear one to guide the reader. Therefore, work on defining the critique essay outline before starting the writing process. One of the most common formatting styles to adopt is the APA format (APA: American Psychological Association), which has specific rules and guidelines. And keep in mind that some specific elements should be included in each section:

Introduction: The introduction’s function is to provide background relevant information. It should also include the thesis statement, which is the writer’s main argument or position on the topic. The thesis statement should be clear and specific and presented in a way that engages the reader.

Summary: The summary provides an overview of the text. It must be objective, unbiased, and accurately summarize the piece’s main points. The summary has to be brief and to the point and should only include the most important details of the work.

Analysis: The analysis is where the writer provides their evaluation of the text being critiqued. This section is the most detailed and extensive part of the paper, containing the facts that prove your main argument and support your thesis. The analysis should focus on the thesis statement and provide a clear and logical argument.

Conclusion: In the conclusion, the paper’s main points are summarized, and the thesis statement is restated to emphasize the writer’s main position. It should provide a final evaluation of the work and include recommendations for improvement.

Essential Steps to Write a Critique Essay

Critique writing requires a thoughtful and detailed approach. You can find below the essential steps to follow:

Read and observe the work:

Before beginning the essay, you should read and observe the work, taking notes on its relevant elements. It is crucial to pay attention to details and to identify both strengths and weaknesses.

Conduct research:

In addition to analyzing the work, you need to research the author, director, or artist and the work’s historical and cultural context. This step can be time and effort-consuming. That’s why as a student who’s probably stuck with many assignments, you can consider to pay for research paper , which will solve the problem most efficiently. The research can provide valuable insights into the work and help you develop a more informed critique.

Develop a thesis statement:

Based on the analysis of the work and any research conducted, you should develop a clear and specific thesis statement that accurately presents your main argument or evaluation of the piece.

Write your critique:

Once you have your thesis statement, you can begin writing your critique essay. Begin by providing some background information on the work in an introduction. In the body of your essay, provide evidence and analysis to support your evaluation. Use specific examples and quotes from the text to support your arguments. Consider including external sources to provide additional context or compare the work to similar works. Finally, end your essay with a conclusion summarizing your main points and restating your thesis statement.

Revise and edit:

After completing the first draft of your essay, you should revise and edit it carefully. Pay attention to your argument’s structure, clarity, and coherence. Also, ensure that your essay logically progresses from one concept to the next. It’s important to note that when you format an essay , considerations may vary depending on the assignment’s specific requirements. Some may require additional sections, such as a discussion of the author’s background or a comparison to other works.

How to start a critique paper?

Starting a critique paper requires careful consideration and preparation. It is important to read and understand the subject thoroughly, including its purpose, structure, and context. Once you have a clear understanding of the subject, you should identify specific criteria to use in your evaluation, such as style, structure, effectiveness, relevance, and accuracy. Taking notes on the subject’s strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement will help you organize your thoughts, and creating an outline that includes the introduction, analysis, and conclusion will ensure a well-structured paper. Finally, a strong thesis statement that clearly states your evaluation of the subject and the criteria you will use to evaluate it is crucial to the success of your critique paper.

How can I write a critique paper on a research article?

To write a critique paper on a research article, it is essential to consider key areas such as the research question and hypothesis, methodology, results, and overall evaluation. Firstly, determine whether the research question is clear, relevant, and testable. Secondly, evaluate the methodology used in the study to determine whether it’s appropriate for the research question. Thirdly, analyze the results presented in the research article to determine whether they are consistent with the research question and hypothesis. Lastly, evaluate the overall quality and contribution of the research article to the field. By considering these areas, you can provide a comprehensive critique of the research article.

What is the difference between summarizing and critiquing an article?

Many students struggle to distinguish between the two. They often summarize the work, neglecting to adopt a personal approach and use analytical skills. In such cases, custom essay writing service Edusson is the best option to handle the job for you. It also helps you improve your critical thinking and practical skills.

Related posts:

• 6 Step Process for Essay Writing
• How to Write a Diagnostic Essay (Without Fail)
• The Full Guide to Writing Comparison Essays with Point-by-Point Method
• Footnotes 101: A Guide to Proper Formatting

Improve your writing with our guides

How to Write a Scholarship Essay

Definition Essay: The Complete Guide with Essay Topics and Examples

Critical Essay: The Complete Guide. Essay Topics, Examples and Outlines

Get 15% off your first order with edusson.

Connect with a professional writer within minutes by placing your first order. No matter the subject, difficulty, academic level or document type, our writers have the skills to complete it.

100% privacy. No spam ever.

Writing a Critique Paper: Seven Easy Steps

Were you assigned or asked by your professor to write a critique paper? It’s easy to write one. Just follow the following four steps in writing a critique paper and three steps in presenting it, then you’re ready to go.

One of the students’ requirements I specified in the course module is a critique paper. Just so everyone benefits from the guide I prepared for that class, I share it here.

To standardize the format they use in writing a critique paper, I came up with the following steps to make their submissions worthwhile.

Since they are graduate students, more is expected of them. Hence, most of the verbs I use in writing the lesson’s objectives reside in the domain of higher thinking skills or HOTS. Developing the students’ critical thinking skills will help them analyze future problems and propose solutions that embody environmental principles thus resonate desirable outcomes aligned with the goal of sustainable development.

Table of Contents

Step-by-step procedure in writing a critique paper.

I quickly wrote this simple guide on writing a critique paper to help you evaluate any composition you want to write about. It could be a book, a scientific article, a gray paper, or whatever your professor assigns. I integrated the essence of the approach in this article.

The critique paper essentially comprises two major parts, namely the:

1) Procedure in Writing a Critique Paper, and the

2) Format of the Critique Paper.

First, you will need to know the procedure that will guide you in evaluating a paper. Second, the format of the critique paper refers to how you present it so that it becomes logical and scholarly in tone.

The Four Steps in Writing a Critique Paper

Here are the four steps in writing a critique paper:

To write a good critique paper, it pays to adhere to a smooth flow of thought in your evaluation of the piece. You will need to introduce the topic, analyze, interpret, then conclude it.

Introduce the Discussion Topic

Introduce the topic of the critique paper. To capture the author’s idea, you may apply the  5Ws and 1H approach  in writing your technical report.

That means, when you write your critique paper, you should be able to answer the Why , When , Where , What , Who , and How questions. Using this approach prevents missing out on the essential details. If you can write a critique paper that adheres to this approach, that would be excellent.

Here’s a simplified example to illustrate the technique:

The news article by John Doe was a narrative about a bank robbery. Accordingly, a masked man  (Who)  robbed a bank  (What)  the other day  (When)  next to a police station  (Where) . He did so in broad daylight  (How) . He used a bicycle to escape from the scene of the crime  (How) . In his haste, he bumped into a post. His mask fell off; thus, everyone saw his face, allowing witnesses to describe him. As a result, he had difficulty escaping the police, who eventually retrieved his loot and put him in jail because of his wrongdoing  (Why) .

Hence, you give details about the topic, in this case, a bank robbery. Briefly describe what you want to tell your audience. State the overall purpose of writing the piece and its intention.

Is the essay written to inform, entertain, educate, raise an issue for debate, and so on? Don’t parrot or repeat what the writer wrote in his paper. And write a paragraph or a few sentences as succinctly as you can.

Analyze means to break down the abstract ideas presented into manageable bits.

What are the main points of the composition? How was it structured? Did the view expressed by the author allow you, as the reader, to understand?

In the example given above, it’s easy to analyze the event as revealed by the chain of events. How do you examine the situation?

The following steps are helpful in the analysis of information:

• Ask yourself what your objective is in writing the critique paper. Come up with a guidepost in examining it. Are you looking at it with some goal or purpose in mind? Say you want to find out how thieves carry out bank robberies. Perhaps you can categorize those robberies as either planned or unplanned.
• Find out the source, or  basis, of the information that you need. Will you use the paper as your source of data, or do you have corroborating evidence?
• Remove  unnecessary information  from your data source. Your decision to do so depends on your objective. If there is irrelevant data, remove it from your critique.

We can use an analogy here to clearly explain the analysis portion.

If you want to split a log, what would you do? Do you use an ax, a chainsaw, or perhaps a knife? The last one is out of the question. It’s inappropriate.

Thus, it would be best if you defined the tools of your analysis. Tools facilitate understanding and allow you to make an incisive analysis.

Read More : 5 Tools in Writing the Analysis Section of the Critique Paper

Now, you are ready to interpret the article, book, or any composition once the requisites of analysis are in place.

Visualize the event in your mind and interpret the behavior of actors in the bank robbery incident. You have several actors in that bank heist: the robber, the police, and the witnesses of the crime.

While reading the story, it might have occurred to you that the robber is inexperienced. We can see some discrepancies in his actions.

Imagine, his mode of escape is a bicycle. What got into him? Maybe he did not plan the robbery at all. Besides, there was no mention that the robber used a gun in the heist.

That fact confirms the first observation that he was not ready at all. Escaping the scene of the crime using a bicycle with nothing to defend himself once pursued? He’s insane. Unimaginable. He’s better off sleeping at home and waiting for food to land on his lap if food will come at all.

If we examine the police’s response, they were relatively quick. Right after the robber escaped the crime scene, they appeared to remedy the situation. The robber did not put up a fight.

What? With bare knuckles? It makes little sense.

If we look at the witnesses’ behavior, we can discern that perhaps they willingly informed the police of the bank robber’s details. They were not afraid. And that’s because the robber appears to be unarmed. But there was no specific mention of it.

Narrate the importance of each of the different sections or paragraphs. How does the write-up contribute to the overall picture of the issue or problem being studied?

Assess or Evaluate

Finally, judge whether the article was a worthwhile account after all. Did it meet expectations? Was it able to convey the information most efficiently? Or are there loopholes or flaws that should have been mentioned?

Format of Presenting the Critique Paper

The logical format in writing a critique paper comprises at least three sections: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. This approach is systematic and achieves a good flow that readers can follow.

Introduction

Include the title and name of the author in your introduction. Make a general description of the topic being discussed, including the author’s assumptions, inferences, or contentions. Find out the thesis or central argument , which will be the basis of your discussion.

The robbery example appears to be inappropriate to demonstrate this section, as it is so simple. So we level up to a scientific article.

In any scientific article, there is always a thesis that guides the write-up. A thesis is a statement that expresses what the author believes in and tries to test in his study. The investigation or research converges (ideally) to this central theme as the author’s argument.

You can find the thesis in the paper’s hypothesis section. That’s because a hypothesis is a tentative thesis. Hypo means “below or under,” meaning it is the author’s tentative explanation of whatever phenomenon he tackles.

If you need more information about this, please refer to my previous post titled “ How to Write a Thesis .”

How is the introduction of a critique paper structured? It follows the general guidelines of writing from a broad perspective to more specific concerns or details. See how it’s written here:  Writing a Thesis Introduction: from General to Specific .

You may include the process you adopted in writing the critique paper in this section.

The body of the paper includes details about the article being examined. It is here where you place all those musings of yours after applying the  analytical tools .

This section is similar to the results and discussion portion of a scientific paper. It describes the outcome of your analysis and interpretation.

In explaining or expressing your argument, substantiate it by citing references to make it believable. Make sure that those references are relevant as well as timely. Don’t cite references that are so far out in the past. These, perhaps, would not amount to a better understanding of the topic at hand. Find one that will help you understand the situation.

Besides, who wants to adopt the perspective of an author who has not even got hold of a mobile phone if your paper is about  using mobile phones to facilitate learning during the pandemic caused by COVID-19 ? Find a more recent one that will help you understand the situation.

Objectively examine the major points presented by the author by giving details about the work. How does the author present or express the idea or concept? Is he (or she) convincing the way he/she presents his/her paper’s thesis?

Well, I don’t want to be gender-biased, but I find the “he/she” term somewhat queer. I’ll get back to the “he” again, to represent both sexes.

I mention the gender issue because the literature says that there is a difference in how a person sees things based on gender. For example, Ragins & Sundstrom (1989) observed that it would be more difficult for women to obtain power in the organization than men. And there’s a paper on gender and emotions by Shields et al. (2006) , although I wouldn’t know the outcome of that study as it is behind a paywall. My point is just that there is a difference in perspective between men and women. Alright.

Therefore, always find evidence to support your position. Explain why you agree or disagree with the author. Point out the discrepancies or strengths of the paper.

Well, everything has an end. Write a critique paper that incorporates the  key takeaways  of the document examined. End the critique with an overall interpretation of the article, whatever that is.

Why do you think is the paper relevant in the course’s context that you are taking? How does it contribute to say, the study of human behavior (in reference to the bank robbery)? Are there areas that need to be considered by future researchers, investigators, or scientists? That will be the knowledge gap that the next generation of researchers will have to look into.

If you have read up to this point, then thank you for reading my musings. I hope that helped you clarify the steps in writing a critique paper. A well-written critique paper depends on your writing style.

Read More : How to Write an Article with AI: A Guide to Using AI for Article Creation and Refinement

Notice that my writing style changes based on the topic that I discuss. Hence, if your professor assigns you a serious, rigorous, incisive, and detailed analysis of a scientific article, then that is the way to go. Adopt a formal mode in your writing.

Final Tip : Find a paper that is easy for you to understand. In that way, you can clearly express your thoughts. Write a critique paper that rocks!

Related Reading

Master Content Analysis: An All-in-One Guide

Ragins, B. R., & Sundstrom, E. (1989). Gender and power in organizations: A longitudinal perspective. Psychological bulletin , 105 (1), 51.

Shields, S. A., Garner, D. N., Di Leone, B., & Hadley, A. M. (2006). Gender and emotion. In Handbook of the sociology of emotions (pp. 63-83). Springer, Boston, MA.

© 2020 November 20 P. A. Regoniel

Related Posts

Three Tips on How to Write a Good Statistical Question

Five tips for research paper presentation, how to write the conceptual framework in a research proposal, about the author, patrick regoniel.

Dr. Regoniel, a faculty member of the graduate school, served as consultant to various environmental research and development projects covering issues and concerns on climate change, coral reef resources and management, economic valuation of environmental and natural resources, mining, and waste management and pollution. He has extensive experience on applied statistics, systems modelling and analysis, an avid practitioner of LaTeX, and a multidisciplinary web developer. He leverages pioneering AI-powered content creation tools to produce unique and comprehensive articles in this website.

Thank you..for your idea ..it was indeed helpful

Glad it helped you Preezy.

This is extremely helpful. Thank you very much!

Thanks for sharing tips on how to write critique papers. This article is very informative and easy to understand.

Welcome. Thank you for your appreciation.

Writing a Critique

• About this Guide
• What Is a Critique?
• Getting Started
• Components of a Critique Essay

Further Reading

This article provides additional guidance for writing critiques:

Vance DE, Talley M, Azuero A, Pearce PF, & Christian BJ. (2013). Conducting an article critique for a quantitative research study: perspectives for doctoral students and other novice readers.  Nursing : Research and Reviews ,  2013 , 67–75.

Parts of a Critique Essay

There are 4 distinct components to a critique, and those are the:

Introduction

Each of these components is described in further detail in the boxes on this page of the guide.

An effective introduction:

• Provides a quick snapshot of background information readers may need in order to follow along with the argument
• Defines key terminology as needed
• Ends with a strong argument (thesis)

For additional guidance on writing introduction paragraphs, librarians recommend:

Need some extra help on thesis statements? Check out our Writing Effective Thesis Statements guide .

A summary is a broad overview of what is discussed in a source. In a critique essay, writers should always assume that those reading the essay may be unfamiliar with the work being examined. For that reason, the following should be included early in the paper:

• The name of the author(s) of the work
• The title of the work
• Main ideas presented in the work
• Arguments presented in the work
• Any conclusions presented in the work

Depending on the requirements of your particular assignment, the summary may appear as part of the introduction, or it may be a separate paragraph. The summary should always be included before the analysis, as readers need a base-level familiarity of the resource before you can effectively present an argument about what the source does well and where improvements are needed.

More information about summaries can be found on our Writing an Effective Summary guide .

The critique is your evaluation of the resource. A strong critique:

• Discusses the strengths of the resource
• Discusses the weaknesses of the resource
• Provides specific examples (direct quotes, with proper citation) as needed to support your evaluation
• The accuracy of the resource
• Any bias found within the resource
• The relevance of the resource
• The clarity of the resource

A critique is your opinion  of the text, supported by evidence from the text.

If you need further guidance on how to evaluate your source, you can also consult our Evaluating Your Sources guide .

Need help with citation?  

Compose papers in pre-formatted APA templates. Manage references in forms that help craft APA citations. Learn the rules of APA style through tutorials and practice quizzes.

Academic Writer will continue to use the 6th edition guidelines until August 2020. A preview of the 7th edition is available in the footer of the resource's site. Previously known as APA Style Central.

• APA Style Help Learn more about APA style through our research guide.

A conclusion has three main functions in an essay. A conclusion will:

• Summarize the main ideas presented in the essay
• Remind readers of the thesis (argument)
• Draw the paper to a close 

For additional guidance, the library recommends:

• << Previous: Getting Started
• Next: Examples >>
• Last Updated: May 22, 2023 10:46 AM
• URL: https://library.tiffin.edu/critique

IOE Writing Centre

• Writing a Critical Review

Writing a Critique

A critique (or critical review) is not to be mistaken for a literature review. A 'critical review', or 'critique', is a complete type of text (or genre), discussing one particular article or book in detail.  In some instances, you may be asked to write a critique of two or three articles (e.g. a comparative critical review). In contrast, a 'literature review', which also needs to be 'critical', is a part of a larger type of text, such as a chapter of your dissertation.

Most importantly: Read your article / book as many times as possible, as this will make the critical review much easier.

1. Read and take notes 2. Organising your writing 3. Summary 4. Evaluation 5. Linguistic features of a critical review 6. Summary language 7. Evaluation language 8. Conclusion language 9. Example extracts from a critical review 10. Further resources

Read and Take Notes

To improve your reading confidence and efficiency, visit our pages on reading.

Further reading: Read Confidently

After you are familiar with the text, make notes on some of the following questions. Choose the questions which seem suitable:

• What kind of article is it (for example does it present data or does it present purely theoretical arguments)?
• What is the main area under discussion?
• What are the main findings?
• What are the stated limitations?
• Where does the author's data and evidence come from? Are they appropriate / sufficient?
• What are the main issues raised by the author?
• What questions are raised?
• How well are these questions addressed?
• What are the major points/interpretations made by the author in terms of the issues raised?
• Is the text balanced? Is it fair / biased?
• Does the author contradict herself?
• How does all this relate to other literature on this topic?
• How does all this relate to your own experience, ideas and views?
• What else has this author written? Do these build / complement this text?
• (Optional) Has anyone else reviewed this article? What did they say? Do I agree with them?

^ Back to top

Organising your writing

You first need to summarise the text that you have read. One reason to summarise the text is that the reader may not have read the text. In your summary, you will

• focus on points within the article that you think are interesting
• summarise the author(s) main ideas or argument
• explain how these ideas / argument have been constructed. (For example, is the author basing her arguments on data that they have collected? Are the main ideas / argument purely theoretical?)

In your summary you might answer the following questions:     Why is this topic important?     Where can this text be located? For example, does it address policy studies?     What other prominent authors also write about this?

Evaluation is the most important part in a critical review.

Use the literature to support your views. You may also use your knowledge of conducting research, and your own experience. Evaluation can be explicit or implicit.

Explicit evaluation

Explicit evaluation involves stating directly (explicitly) how you intend to evaluate the text. e.g. "I will review this article by focusing on the following questions. First, I will examine the extent to which the authors contribute to current thought on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) pedagogy. After that, I will analyse whether the authors' propositions are feasible within overseas SLA classrooms."

Implicit evaluation

Implicit evaluation is less direct. The following section on Linguistic Features of Writing a Critical Review contains language that evaluates the text. A difficult part of evaluation of a published text (and a professional author) is how to do this as a student. There is nothing wrong with making your position as a student explicit and incorporating it into your evaluation. Examples of how you might do this can be found in the section on Linguistic Features of Writing a Critical Review. You need to remember to locate and analyse the author's argument when you are writing your critical review. For example, you need to locate the authors' view of classroom pedagogy as presented in the book / article and not present a critique of views of classroom pedagogy in general.

Linguistic features of a critical review

The following examples come from published critical reviews. Some of them have been adapted for student use.

Summary language

•     This article / book is divided into two / three parts. First...
•     While the title might suggest...
•     The tone appears to be...
•     Title is the first / second volume in the series Title, edited by...The books / articles in this series address...
•     The second / third claim is based on...
•     The author challenges the notion that...
•     The author tries to find a more middle ground / make more modest claims...
•     The article / book begins with a short historical overview of...
•     Numerous authors have recently suggested that...(see Author, Year; Author, Year). Author would also be once such author. With his / her argument that...
•     To refer to title as a...is not to say that it is...
•     This book / article is aimed at... This intended readership...
•     The author's book / article examines the...To do this, the author first...
•     The author develops / suggests a theoretical / pedagogical model to…
•     This book / article positions itself firmly within the field of...
•     The author in a series of subtle arguments, indicates that he / she...
•     The argument is therefore...
•     The author asks "..."
•     With a purely critical / postmodern take on...
•     Topic, as the author points out, can be viewed as...
•     In this recent contribution to the field of...this British author...
•     As a leading author in the field of...
•     This book / article nicely contributes to the field of...and complements other work by this author...
•     The second / third part of...provides / questions / asks the reader...
•     Title is intended to encourage students / researchers to...
•     The approach taken by the author provides the opportunity to examine...in a qualitative / quantitative research framework that nicely complements...
•     The author notes / claims that state support / a focus on pedagogy / the adoption of...remains vital if...
•     According to Author (Year) teaching towards examinations is not as effective as it is in other areas of the curriculum. This is because, as Author (Year) claims that examinations have undue status within the curriculum.
•     According to Author (Year)…is not as effective in some areas of the curriculum / syllabus as others. Therefore the author believes that this is a reason for some school's…

Evaluation language

•     This argument is not entirely convincing, as...furthermore it commodifies / rationalises the...
•     Over the last five / ten years the view of...has increasingly been viewed as 'complicated' (see Author, Year; Author, Year).
•     However, through trying to integrate...with...the author...
•     There are difficulties with such a position.
•     Inevitably, several crucial questions are left unanswered / glossed over by this insightful / timely / interesting / stimulating book / article. Why should...
•     It might have been more relevant for the author to have written this book / article as...
•     This article / book is not without disappointment from those who would view...as...
•     This chosen framework enlightens / clouds...
•     This analysis intends to be...but falls a little short as...
•     The authors rightly conclude that if...
•     A detailed, well-written and rigorous account of...
•     As a Korean student I feel that this article / book very clearly illustrates...
•     The beginning of...provides an informative overview into...
•     The tables / figures do little to help / greatly help the reader...
•     The reaction by scholars who take a...approach might not be so favourable (e.g. Author, Year).
•     This explanation has a few weaknesses that other researchers have pointed out (see Author, Year; Author, Year). The first is...
•     On the other hand, the author wisely suggests / proposes that...By combining these two dimensions...
•     The author's brief introduction to...may leave the intended reader confused as it fails to properly...
•     Despite my inability to...I was greatly interested in...
•     Even where this reader / I disagree(s), the author's effort to...
•     The author thus combines...with...to argue...which seems quite improbable for a number of reasons. First...
•     Perhaps this aversion to...would explain the author's reluctance to...
•     As a second language student from ...I find it slightly ironic that such an anglo-centric view is...
•     The reader is rewarded with...
•     Less convincing is the broad-sweeping generalisation that...
•     There is no denying the author's subject knowledge nor his / her...
•     The author's prose is dense and littered with unnecessary jargon...
•     The author's critique of...might seem harsh but is well supported within the literature (see Author, Year; Author, Year; Author, Year). Aligning herself with the author, Author (Year) states that...
•     As it stands, the central focus of Title is well / poorly supported by its empirical findings...
•     Given the hesitation to generalise to...the limitation of...does not seem problematic...
•     For instance, the term...is never properly defined and the reader left to guess as to whether...
•     Furthermore, to label...as...inadvertently misguides...
•     In addition, this research proves to be timely / especially significant to... as recent government policy / proposals has / have been enacted to...
•     On this well researched / documented basis the author emphasises / proposes that...
•     Nonetheless, other research / scholarship / data tend to counter / contradict this possible trend / assumption...(see Author, Year; Author, Year).
•     Without entering into detail of the..., it should be stated that Title should be read by...others will see little value in...
•     As experimental conditions were not used in the study the word 'significant' misleads the reader.
•     The article / book becomes repetitious in its assertion that...
•     The thread of the author's argument becomes lost in an overuse of empirical data...
•     Almost every argument presented in the final section is largely derivative, providing little to say about...
•     She / he does not seem to take into consideration; however, that there are fundamental differences in the conditions of…
•     As Author (Year) points out, however, it seems to be necessary to look at…
•     This suggest that having low…does not necessarily indicate that…is ineffective.
•     Therefore, the suggestion made by Author (Year)…is difficult to support.
•     When considering all the data presented…it is not clear that the low scores of some students, indeed, reflects…

Conclusion language

•     Overall this article / book is an analytical look at...which within the field of...is often overlooked.
•     Despite its problems, Title offers valuable theoretical insights / interesting examples / a contribution to pedagogy and a starting point for students / researchers of...with an interest in...
•     This detailed and rigorously argued...
•     This first / second volume / book / article by...with an interest in...is highly informative...

Example extracts from a critical review

Writing critically.

If you have been told your writing is not critical enough, it probably means that your writing treats the knowledge claims as if they are true, well supported, and applicable in the context you are writing about. This may not always be the case.

In these two examples, the extracts refer to the same section of text. In each example, the section that refers to a source has been highlighted in bold. The note below the example then explains how the writer has used the source material.    

There is a strong positive effect on students, both educationally and emotionally, when the instructors try to learn to say students' names without making pronunciation errors (Kiang, 2004).

Use of source material in example a: 

This is a simple paraphrase with no critical comment. It looks like the writer agrees with Kiang. (This is not a good example for critical writing, as the writer has not made any critical comment).        

Kiang (2004) gives various examples to support his claim that "the positive emotional and educational impact on students is clear" (p.210) when instructors try to pronounce students' names in the correct way. He quotes one student, Nguyet, as saying that he "felt surprised and happy" (p.211) when the tutor said his name clearly . The emotional effect claimed by Kiang is illustrated in quotes such as these, although the educational impact is supported more indirectly through the chapter. Overall, he provides more examples of students being negatively affected by incorrect pronunciation, and it is difficult to find examples within the text of a positive educational impact as such.

Use of source material in example b: 

The writer describes Kiang's (2004) claim and the examples which he uses to try to support it. The writer then comments that the examples do not seem balanced and may not be enough to support the claims fully. This is a better example of writing which expresses criticality.

^Back to top

Further resources

You may also be interested in our page on criticality, which covers criticality in general, and includes more critical reading questions.

Further reading: Read and Write Critically

We recommend that you do not search for other university guidelines on critical reviews. This is because the expectations may be different at other institutions. Ask your tutor for more guidance or examples if you have further questions.

IOE Writing Centre Online

Self-access resources from the Academic Writing Centre at the UCL Institute of Education.

Anonymous Suggestions Box

Information for Staff

Academic Writing Centre

Academic Writing Centre, UCL Institute of Education [email protected] Twitter:   @AWC_IOE Skype:   awc.ioe

• Writing well

How to write a critique

• Starting well
• How to write an annotated bibliography
• How to write a case study response
• How to write an empirical article
• How to write an essay
• How to write a literature review
• How to write a reflective task
• How to write a report
• Finishing well

Before you start writing, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the work that will be critiqued.

• Study the work under discussion.
• Make notes on key parts of the work.
• Develop an understanding of the main argument or purpose being expressed in the work.
• Consider how the work relates to a broader issue or context.

Example template

There are a variety of ways to structure a critique. You should always check your unit materials or Canvas site for guidance from your lecturer. The following template, which showcases the main features of a critique, is provided as one example.

Introduction

Typically, the introduction is short (less than 10% of the word length) and you should:

• name the work being reviewed as well as the date it was created and the name of the author/creator
• describe the main argument or purpose of the work
• explain the context in which the work was created - this could include the social or political context, the place of the work in a creative or academic tradition, or the relationship between the work and the creator’s life experience
• have a concluding sentence that signposts what your evaluation of the work will be - for instance, it may indicate whether it is a positive, negative, or mixed evaluation.

Briefly summarise the main points and objectively describe how the creator portrays these by using techniques, styles, media, characters or symbols. This summary should not be the focus of the critique and is usually shorter than the critical evaluation.

Critical evaluation

This section should give a systematic and detailed assessment of the different elements of the work, evaluating how well the creator was able to achieve the purpose through these. For example: you would assess the plot structure, characterisation and setting of a novel; an assessment of a painting would look at composition, brush strokes, colour and light; a critique of a research project would look at subject selection, design of the experiment, analysis of data and conclusions.

A critical evaluation does not simply highlight negative impressions. It should deconstruct the work and identify both strengths and weaknesses. It should examine the work and evaluate its success, in light of its purpose.

Examples of key critical questions that could help your assessment include:

• Who is the creator? Is the work presented objectively or subjectively?
• What are the aims of the work? Were the aims achieved?
• What techniques, styles, media were used in the work? Are they effective in portraying the purpose?
• What assumptions underlie the work? Do they affect its validity?
• What types of evidence or persuasion are used? Has evidence been interpreted fairly?
• How is the work structured? Does it favour a particular interpretation or point of view? Is it effective?
• Does the work enhance understanding of key ideas or theories? Does the work engage (or fail to engage) with key concepts or other works in its discipline?

This evaluation is written in formal academic style and logically presented. Group and order your ideas into paragraphs. Start with the broad impressions first and then move into the details of the technical elements. For shorter critiques, you may discuss the strengths of the works, and then the weaknesses. In longer critiques, you may wish to discuss the positive and negative of each key critical question in individual paragraphs.

To support the evaluation, provide evidence from the work itself, such as a quote or example, and you should also cite evidence from related sources. Explain how this evidence supports your evaluation of the work.

This is usually a very brief paragraph, which includes:

• a statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work
• a summary of the key reasons, identified during the critical evaluation, why this evaluation was formed
• in some circumstances, recommendations for improvement on the work may be appropriate.

Reference list

Include all resources cited in your critique. Check with your lecturer/tutor for which referencing style to use.

• Mentioned the name of the work, the date of its creation and the name of the creator?
• Accurately summarised the work being critiqued?
• Mainly focused on the critical evaluation of the work?
• Systematically outlined an evaluation of each element of the work to achieve the overall purpose?
• Used evidence, from the work itself as well as other sources, to back and illustrate my assessment of elements of the work?
• Formed an overall evaluation of the work, based on critical reading?
• Used a well structured introduction, body and conclusion?
• Used correct grammar, spelling and punctuation; clear presentation; and appropriate referencing style?

Further information

• University of New South Wales: Writing a Critical Review
• University of Toronto: The Book Review or Article Critique

Global links and information

• Referencing and using sources
• Background and development
• Changes to QUT cite|write
• Need more help?
• Current students
• Current staff
• TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12079 (Australian University)
• CRICOS No. 00213J
• ABN 83 791 724 622
• Last modified: 07-Mar-2023
• Accessibility
• Right to Information
• Feedback and suggestions

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

QUT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where QUT now stands.

Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Masterlinks

• About Hunter
• One Stop for Students
• Make a Gift
• Access the Student Guide
• Apply to Become a Peer Tutor
• Access the Faculty Guide
• Request a Classroom Visit
• Refer a Student to the Center
• Request a Classroom Workshop
• The Writing Process
• The Documented Essay/Research Paper
• Writing for English Courses
• Writing Across the Curriculum
• Grammar and Mechanics
• Business and Professional Writing
• CUNY TESTING
• | Workshops
• Research Information and Resources
• Evaluating Information Sources
• Writing Tools and References
• Reading Room
• Literary Resources
• ESL Resources for Students
• ESL Resources for Faculty
• Teaching and Learning
• | Contact Us

To critique a piece of writing is to do the following:

• describe: give the reader a sense of the writer’s overall purpose and intent
• analyze: examine how the structure and language of the text convey its meaning
• interpret: state the significance or importance of each part of the text
• assess: make a judgment of the work’s worth or value

FORMATTING A CRITIQUE

Here are two structures for critiques, one for nonfiction and one for fiction/literature.

The Critique Format for Nonfiction

Introduction

• name of author and work
• general overview of subject and summary of author's argument
• focusing (or thesis) sentence indicating how you will divide the whole work for discussion or the particular elements you will discuss
• objective description of a major point in the work
• detailed analysis of how the work conveys an idea or concept
• interpretation of the concept
• repetition of description, analysis, interpretation if more than one major concept is covered
• overall interpretation
• relationship of particular interpretations to subject as a whole
• critical assessment of the value, worth, or meaning of the work, both negative and positive

The Critique Format for Fiction/Literature

• brief summary/description of work as a whole
• focusing sentence indicating what element you plan to examine
• general indication of overall significance of work
• literal description of the first major element or portion of the work
• detailed analysis
• interpretation
• literal description of second major element
• interpretation (including, if necessary, the relationship to the first major point)
• overall interpretation of the elements studied
• consideration of those elements within the context of the work as a whole
• critical assessment of the value, worth, meaning, or significance of the work, both positive and negative

You may not be asked in every critique to assess a work, only to analyze and interpret it. If you are asked for a personal response, remember that your assessment should not be the expression of an unsupported personal opinion. Your interpretations and your conclusions must be based on evidence from the text and follow from the ideas you have dealt with in the paper.

Remember also that a critique may express a positive as well as a negative assessment. Don't confuse critique with criticize in the popular sense of the word, meaning “to point out faults.”

Document Actions

• Public Safety
• Website Feedback
• Privacy Policy
• CUNY Tobacco Policy

• Dissertation
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Book Report/Review
• Research Proposal
• Math Problems
• Proofreading
• Movie Review
• Cover Letter Writing
• Personal Statement
• Nursing Paper
• Argumentative Essay
• Research Paper

Critique Essay: Your Comprehensive Guide to Writing A+ Critique Essays

Table of Contents

Just like a concept essay , a critique essay is an essential assignment that examines another author’s work to analyze and interpret it. This task is common in college, and it’s also called an analytical essay . 

But how do you handle this task and score excellent grades? This guide delves into all the details of composing an A+ critical paper. Read to learn more. 

What Is a Critique Essay? 

Let’s set the ball rolling by defining a critique essay . It is an academic assignment that summarizes a text and critically evaluates its validity. It aims to evaluate a given text’s impact in a specific discipline and shows whether the evaluated text achieved its intended goal or didn’t.

This assignment needs careful study of the texts before summarizing and critically analyzing them. Your main task is to understand the piece and present your critical assessment. Your final verdict can be negative or positive, depending on the work’s quality and analysis. We can summarize this paper in the following four terms. 

• A description that gives readers a sense of the writer’s overall goal with their publications.
• An analysis that examines how the text’s structure and language convey its meaning.
• An interpretation that states each of the work’s parts’ significance.
• An assessment that judges the piece’s overall worth or value.

Types of Critique Essays

Critique essays come in three main forms, as discussed below. 

• Descriptive 

This essay examines a text or other works. It primarily focuses on a work’s specific features. Comparing and contrasting your analysis subject to a classic example of its genre is also possible.

• Evaluative 

This analytical essay estimates a work’s value. It shows if it’s as good as you expected based on the recommendations or if you feel it wasted your time.

• Interpretive 

Interpretive essays give your readers answers relating to a work’s meaning. To achieve this goal, you must choose a technique for establishing that meaning. For instance, you may read, watch, or observe your analysis subject before floating arguments.

Critique Essay Outline

Writing an excellent critique essay is difficult without an outline. An outline is the only way to save writing time and organize your ideas where they should fit. This step requires you to determine the evidence and arguments you will evaluate. These arguments support and validate your thesis statement. 

Additionally, your paper’s outline shows you how your essay will look. After creating the wireframe, you may adjust it or add more details to make your writing more effective. Your skeleton takes the traditional five-paragraph essay format. 

Introduction

Your work needs an introduction paragraph. This section opens with an introductory phrase about the work you are analyzing. It tells the reader what you will critique, who the author is, and provide its publication date. The intro specifies the work’s core argument. Its third sentence contains your thesis statement. 

Your work requires a summary paragraph to show the reader what you discussed in the body paragraphs. This section follows your introduction and leads to a detailed discussion. 

Your main body comprises three to five paragraphs or more if necessary. Each section addresses a given text dimension, like bias, tone, style, or organization. Moreover, every paragraph confirms your thesis statement regarding the piece’s effectiveness. Each body paragraph opens with a topic sentence summarizing the subsection. Next, you introduce your evidence and close the chapter by referring to the thesis.  

Your conclusion gives your final verdict on a given piece’s effectiveness. This strong conclusion paragraph summarizes your main ideas and paraphrases your thesis statement to confirm that everything you discussed confirmed it.

How to Start a Critique Essay

Starting your critique essay is easy if you follow the correct process. This discussion explores how to commence this assignment. 

Critical Reading

• Read the Literary Piece Carefully  

Your journey starts by reading the piece you have to critique to understand it. Your careful reading should immerse you into the author’s world and imagine why they drafted their work. Also, take note and underscore essential facts. Your assignment must also highlight which literary tools succeeded in achieving the material’s goal. Lastly, determine what you dislike about the piece, such as incompleteness, gaps, or inconsistencies. 

• Formulate the Author’s Thesis 

Use the text you read to formulate the author’s thesis or primary arguments. You can find this argument in the paper’s introduction. If you are handling literary work, create one of the key themes because the thesis isn’t clear. 

• Summarize the Analyzed Text 

You need one paragraph to summarize your paper’s content and give the reader a gist of what you covered. It should come between the introduction and the three body paragraphs.

Analyze the Text

Analyze your text before composing your assignment. Your analysis should lead you to the following critical questions: 

• How did your emotions respond to the text, and which methods, images, or ideas made you feel so?
• Based on the author’s background, which experiences made them formulate such a thesis?
• What other significant works has the author produced to demonstrate their general thought direction?
• Have you used the concepts correctly in the text? 
• Are your references reliable, and do they adequately prove the author’s judgment?

Write Your Critical Essay

Lastly, draft your critique essay by writing a brief overview of the text you are examining. Next, formulate your thesis statement reflecting your stand on the work you are critiquing. Afterward, write a summary paragraph that captures the paper’s essence. Below are essential questions to ask and answer to ensure you did the correct thing:

• Who created the piece you are critiquing? 
• Did you present your work objectively or subjectively?
• What is your work’s aim, and were they attained?
• What methods, styles, and media did the author use, and did they achieve their goal?
• What assumptions underlie the work, and how do they influence its validity?
• What forms of evidence or persuasion did you use, and is your evidence interpreted fairly?
• How is the material structured? 
• Does the work favor a specific interpretation or viewpoint, and how effective is it?
• Does the work promote an understanding of vital ideas or theories? 
• How does the piece resonate or fail to resonate with primary concepts or other works in its discipline?

Example of Critique Essay On Articles

An article-related critique essay is a paper that evaluates an article to determine its effectiveness in attaining a goal. An article could comprise opinions, personal experiences, and external research. This essay entertains, informs, persuades, or educates readers. An article critique differs from a summary because a summary doesn’t offer a critical analysis. A critique, in its turn, resembles a review because it evaluates the author’s ability to fulfill its stated purpose. Your article critique must back its claims regarding an issue through evidence in the text and other external sources. 

A Sample Article Critique Paper

Nothing teaches better than an excellent model of what you are learning. Here’s a sample article critique paper.

The Education Sector Cannot Solve Problems It Doesn’t Acknowledge (David and Nelson, 2021). New York, a state in the United States of America, fully understands this problem and has formulated initiatives and policies to improve equity in public schools at all levels. Education policymakers have implemented an All-Inclusive Response Strategy(ARS) to achieve this noble goal. The practical goal of this strategy is to ensure that all New York children enjoy inclusive education. This approach seeks to eliminate biases, barriers, or power dynamics that discourage students’ learning potential. Acknowledging educational challenges and committing to developing solutions is the most critical step school administrators can take to support the education system. However, these principal players should formulate proper thought, research, and policy guidelines to ensure their policies and strategies include all the potential issues and leave enough room for improvement. 

The procedures also proposed religious tolerance and accommodation, anti-discrimination, and all forms of harassment. This inclusive policy must have sound techniques for how other stakeholders will implement, review, and monitor it henceforth. Fortunately, New York has succeeded on this front. This article evaluates how well this equity program was executed in the state as it endeavors to promote equity and inclusivity in its public schools…

Do you still have questions regarding a critique essay ? This section answers some of the most frequently asked questions in this essay. 

What are the five parts of a critique essay ?

A perfect critique paper comprises five sections, namely: the introduction, the summary paragraph, the first paragraph, the second paragraph, the third paragraph, and the conclusion. 

What is an example of a critique?

A critique essay example should meet all assignment requirements. It also comprises all the essential components, as mentioned in question one. 

What are the four rules of critique?

The four rules governing a good critique essay are as follows:

• An effective introduction that provides a quick background review, defines the necessary terminology, and ends with a thesis. 
• A summary that gives a broad overview of what the source discusses. 
• A critique that shows your personal opinion, supported by evidence. 

A conclusion that summarizes your main ideas, reminds your readers of your thesis, and concludes the paper.

The Difficulties of Writing a Euthanasia Essay

How to Use a Quote in an Essay

How do you spell check the essay.

• Spartanburg Community College Library
• SCC Research Guides
• Writing a Critique
• Parts of a Critique

Depending on the source you are critiquing, your critique may not follow this exact format below. However, in general, critiques will be formatted in a similar way.

Introduction

• The name of the source or event
• What kind of source it is (book, film, lecture, etc.)
• The name of the author or the speaker
• The author or speaker's experience/expertise on the topic
• The main argument in the source (or the thesis statement of the source)
• The intended (target) audience for the source or event
• The purpose of the source or the event
• Did the author/speaker well-support their thesis statement?
• Did the author use any interest supports (stories, humor, examples, interactions, personal experience, etc.). Were they effective?
• What kind of evidence did the author/speaker use in the source (statistics, facts, quotations, surveys, studies, interviews, expert opinions). Are these resources credible/reliable? Did the evidence add to or contradict the author/speaker's argument?
• Did the source have quality content (avoiding fillers, presented newsworthy information, kept audiences interested)?
• Did the source use any visual aids (PowerPoint, images, artwork, etc.). Did the visual aids match or enhance what the author/speaker was discussing? Were the visual aids clearly organized, spell-checked, and included citations?
• Did the speaker move well through different topics?
• If the source was a live event or a recording, was the speaker energetic? Did they talk to the crowd or did they look at their notes too much? Were you able to hear and understand the speaker?
• If you're critiquing a film, were the film techniques used effective?

Conclusion/Recommendation

• What was your overall impression of the source?
• Would you recommend this source to others? Why or why not?
• What are your final thoughts about the source?

Helpful Handouts

• Sample Critique Paper Check out a sample critique essay of an event a student attended.
• How to Critique for a Live Performance (WOW) This worksheet will provide an outline of how to write a critique for the Wonders of Writing (WOW) event at SCC.
• How to Critique a Live/Zoom Presentation (Informational Presentation) This worksheet will show the outline for writing a critique for a live or a Zoom informational presentation.
• << Previous: Writing a Critique
• Next: Recommended Videos >>
• Recommended Videos
• Recommended Websites

Questions? Ask a Librarian

• Last Updated: Jan 17, 2024 10:29 AM
• URL: https://libguides.sccsc.edu/writingacritique

Giles Campus | 864.592.4764 | Toll Free 866.542.2779 | Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Spartanburg Community College. All rights reserved.

Info for Library Staff | Guide Search

Return to SCC Website

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game New
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• English Grammar
• Writing Paragraphs

How to Write a Critique in Five Paragraphs

Last Updated: January 20, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Diane Stubbs . Diane Stubbs is a Secondary English Teacher with over 22 years of experience teaching all high school grade levels and AP courses. She specializes in secondary education, classroom management, and educational technology. Diane earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education from Wesley College. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 972,123 times.

A critique is usually written in response to a creative work, such as a novel, a film, poetry, or a painting. However, critiques are also sometimes assigned for research articles and media items, such as news articles or features. A critique is slightly different than a traditional 5-paragraph theme, as it is usually focused on the overall effectiveness and usefulness of the work it is critiquing, rather than making a strictly analytical argument about it. Organizing your critique into 5 paragraphs can help you structure your thoughts.

Laying the Groundwork

• Does the creator clearly state her/his main point or goal? If not, why do you think that is?
• Who do you think is the creator’s intended audience? This can be crucial to determining the success of a work; for example, a movie intended for young children might work well for its intended audience but not for adult viewers.
• What reactions do you have when reading or viewing this work? Does it provoke emotional responses? Do you feel confused?
• What questions does the work make you think of? Does it suggest other avenues of exploration or observation to you?

• For example, if you're critiquing a research article about a new treatment for the flu, a little research about other flu treatments currently available could be helpful to you when situating the work in context.
• As another example, if you're writing about a movie, you might want to briefly discuss the director's other films, or other important movies in this particular genre (indie, action, drama, etc.).
• Your school or university library is usually a good place to start when conducting research, as their databases provide verified, expert sources. Google Scholar can also be a good source for research.

Writing the Introductory Paragraph

• For a work of fiction or a published work of journalism or research, this information is usually available in the publication itself, such as on the copyright page for a novel.
• For a film, you may wish to refer to a source such as IMDb to get the information you need. If you're critiquing a famous artwork, an encyclopedia of art would be a good place to find information on the creator, the title, and important dates (date of creation, date of exhibition, etc.).

• For example, if you’re assessing a research article in the sciences, a quick overview of its place in the academic discussion could be useful (e.g., “Professor X’s work on fruit flies is part of a long research tradition on Blah Blah Blah.”)
• If you are evaluating a painting, giving some brief information on where it was first displayed, for whom it was painted, etc., would be useful.
• If you are assessing a novel, it could be good to talk about what genre or literary tradition the novel is written within (e.g., fantasy, High Modernism, romance). You may also want to include details about the author’s biography that seem particularly relevant to your critique.
• For a media item, such as a news article, consider the social and/or political context of the media outlet the item came from (e.g., Fox News, BBC, etc.) and of the issue it is dealing with (e.g., immigration, education, entertainment).

• The authors of research articles will often state very clearly in the abstract and in the introduction to their work what they are investigating, often with sentences that say something like this: "In this article we provide a new framework for analyzing X and argue that it is superior to previous methods because of reason A and reason B."
• For creative works, you may not have an explicit statement from the author or creator about their purpose, but you can often infer one from the context the work occupies. For example, if you were examining the movie The Shining, you might argue that the filmmaker Stanley Kubrick's goal is to call attention to the poor treatment of Native Americans because of the strong Native American themes present in the movie. You could then present the reasons why you think that in the rest of the essay.

• For example, if you were writing about The Shining, you could summarize the main points this way: "Stanley Kubrick uses strong symbolism, such as the placement of the movie's hotel on an Indian burial ground, the naming of the hotel "Overlook," and the constant presence of Native American artwork and representation, to call viewers' attention to America's treatment of Native Americans in history."

• For a research article, you will probably want to focus your thesis on whether the research and discussion supported the authors' claims. You may also wish to critique the research methodology, if there are obvious flaws present.
• For creative works, consider what you believe the author or creator's goal was in making the work, and then present your assessment of whether or not they achieved that goal.

Writing the 3 Body Paragraphs

• If you have three clear points about your work, you can organize each paragraph by point. For example, if you are analyzing a painting, you might critique the painter’s use of color, light, and composition, devoting a paragraph to each topic.
• If you have more than three points about your work, you can organize each paragraph thematically. For example, if you are critiquing a movie and want to talk about its treatment of women, its screenwriting, its pacing, its use of color and framing, and its acting, you might think about the broader categories that these points fall into, such as “production” (pacing, color and framing, screenwriting), “social commentary” (treatment of women), and “performance” (acting).
• Alternatively, you could organize your critique by “strengths” and “weaknesses.” The aim of a critique is not merely to criticize, but to point out what the creator or author has done well and what s/he has not.

• For example, if you are critiquing a song, you could consider how the beat or tone of the music supports or detracts from the lyrics.
• For a research article or a media item, you may want to consider questions such as how the data was gathered in an experiment, or what method a journalist used to discover information.

• Does the author use primary sources (e.g., historical documents, interviews, etc.)? Secondary sources? Quantitative data? Qualitative data? Are these sources appropriate for the argument?
• Has evidence been presented fairly, without distortion or selectivity?
• Does the argument proceed logically from the evidence used?

• If the work is a creative work, consider whether it presents its ideas in an original or interesting way. You can also consider whether it engages with key concepts or ideas in popular culture or society.
• If the work is a research article, you can consider whether the work enhances your understanding of a particular theory or idea in its discipline. Research articles often include a section on “further research” where they discuss the contributions their research has made and what future contributions they hope to make.

Writing the Conclusion Paragraph and References

Sample Critiques

Community Q&A

• Before you begin writing, take notes while you are watching or reading the subject of your critique. Keep to mind certain aspects such as how it made you feel. What was your first impression? With deeper examination, what is your overall opinion? How did you come to this opinion? Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• While the 5-paragraph form can work very well to help you organize your ideas, some instructors do not allow this type of essay. Be sure that you understand the assignment. If you’re not sure whether a 5-paragraph format is acceptable to your teacher, ask! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Avoid using first and second person pronouns such as, “you”, “your”, “I”, “my”, or “mine.” State your opinion objectively for a more credible approach. Thanks Helpful 39 Not Helpful 14

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-critique
• ↑ https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/writing-article-critique
• ↑ https://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/write/writing-well/critique.html
• ↑ http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/specific-types-of-writing/book-review
• ↑ https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process-1/invention/Writing-a-Critique
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/esl/resources/writing-critiques/

About This Article

To write a 5-paragraph critique, provide the basic information about the work you're critiquing in the first paragraph, including the author, when it was published, and what its key themes are. Then, conclude this paragraph with a statement of your opinion of the work. Next, identify 3 central positive or negative issues in the work and write a paragraph about each one. For example, you could focus on the color, light, and composition of a painting. In the final paragraph, state your overall assessment of the work, and give reasons to back it up. For tips on how to take notes on the piece your critiquing, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Lura Norton

Feb 7, 2017

Did this article help you?

Ahmed Misry

Sep 30, 2017

Celia Seecharan

Feb 11, 2017

Sep 23, 2017

Lusady Taylor

Jul 28, 2016

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

• Other Guides
• How to Write a Book Critique: Step-By-Step Guide & Examples
• Speech Topics
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Essay Topics
• Other Essays
• Main Academic Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Essay Guides
• Research Paper Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

How to Write a Book Critique: Step-By-Step Guide & Examples

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

A book critique is a written evaluation of a book that provides an objective assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. Its purpose is to help readers understand the book's content and provide a thoughtful analysis of its quality.

Preparing book critique entails reading a piece of writing and describing the author's overall purpose and intent to the reader. You can also pose a question to readers, who might look through the novel, to spark their curiosity.

Drafting a good book critique is not easy, as you should take into account different aspects of writing. In this article, we will give you a breakdown of how to write a book critique from beginning to end. Additionally, you will find some proper book critique examples that may help you write a piece that genuinely reflects your personal opinion on any author's works. Need professional assistance? Consider hiring a proficient book report writer who will tackle your assignment according to the highest academic standards.

What Is a Book Critique?

A book critique is a critical analysis of ideas expressed by an author in a publication. It is an assessment of the novel's strengths and weaknesses, its style, structure, the author's use of language, and effectiveness of its major themes and ideas. Book critiques can be written by a professional book reviewer or an ordinary reader who just wants to share their opinion. It usually includes a book summary, an evaluation of its content, and a discussion of its significance.  Writing a book critique may also be used as an academic assignment for students. In this case, they will be expected to demonstrate their ability to analyze and evaluate a novel using critical thinking skills and providing evidence to support their arguments.

Purpose of a Book Critique

The primary purpose of a book critique is to allow the audience to interact with the author's text and analyze it carefully. It can be used to offer feedback to writers on the quality of their work or to contribute to literary criticism and analysis. A book critique is aimed at helping readers decide whether or not to read a particular publication. Instructors also use it to evaluate their students' critical thinking skills more precisely.

Book Critique Outline

An outline of a book critique is a summary of your write-up's content in a less detailed manner. It helps you logically organize and structure your text. The importance of an outline lies in its ability to help writers clarify what needs to be included in their essays, along with things that should be left out. This is one aspect you need to get right when learning to critique a book or, basically, when writing any complex, lengthy work. Generally, outlines are used by authors to organize their thinking patterns for a paper at the very beginning of essay writing process. Here is an example of a book critique template outline.

• Brief introduction of the novel and its author
• State the genre or novel's purpose
• Summarize the author's key points
• Thesis statement
• Give a summary of the publication
• Provide arguments that support your statement of purpose
• Support your logic with evidence from the novel
• Give your objective opinion
• Summarize your arguments
• Restate thesis statement
• Give your recommendations

Follow the tips from a book report writing service outlined below to nail your task. 

Book Critique Introduction

Writing a book critique introduction is important in providing readers with an overview of the publication you will be critiquing. The introduction should preview what readers can expect from your critique and give some context for the publication itself. To write a book critique preface that accurately serves its purpose, consider following steps:

• Start by providing a title and a brief overview of the book's plot, characters, and setting.
• Give some background information about the author, historical period in which the novel is set, or any cultural or literary influences that may have inspired the writer.
• State your thesis. It should be the last element of an introduction.

Book Critique Thesis Statement

The thesis statement for a book critique aims to provide readers with a clear summary of the arguments you will address further. Thesis is usually developed after you read the novel and understand its contents. It should be clear and concise and touch on the main idea you want to get across. It consists of one or two sentences and is normally placed at the end of your introduction. Understanding what constitutes a strong thesis is vital for writers since it is an integral part of every single write-up. As you will see in most book critiques upon doing your research, thesis statement guides your work's structure and lays out a plan for readers to follow.

Body of a Book Critique

The body of your book critique is the meat and flesh of your essay because the most valuable content is located here. Generally, it should contain several paragraphs. Each section should address a specific point you’ve laid out in the outline. As a writer, such structure will allow you to delve deeper into a particular point without any limitations and help to write your book critique much faster. Remember, each paragraph should focus on one main idea, highlight the argument, and support it with an explanation or evidence. However, if a paragraph is too long, you can split it into two for easier reading.

Book Critique Conclusion

This is the final part of book critique writing. One of the easiest ways to prepare it is by going through your work from beginning to end. It helps you highlight the essay's overall point and ensures that nothing important is left out. To prepare a proper book critique conclusion, summarize your main ideas, restate your thesis statement, and give recommendations. You may also include whether or not you agree with the author's presentation of ideas. When writing a conclusion, you should also remember to provide your overall impression of the novel and, optionally, mention it if you want other readers to try it.

How to Write a Book Critique?

To write a book critique that is really useful and outstanding, first and foremost, make sure to actually read the novel; no matter how funny it sounds, this is the only core component. Reread as many times as possible to ensure you understand the author's points. That way, you will be able to formulate strong arguments. In some cases, you may find that you do not understand the writer's position or ideas, which may call for some research. Research the author, his personal life, and his experiences. This will help you comprehend his approach and make analysis and evaluation easier. Formulate your thesis statement and have an outline in place. If the process still proves challenging, do not hesitate to ask your peers or tutors for advice or borrow inspiration from numerous online materials on how to write a book critique for college. Further in the section, the critique process will be expounded on in nitty-gritty details.

1. Choose and Read the Book

Before starting your analysis, you need to identify the piece you are going to read. It would be better if you read the novel at least once or twice to internalize its contents. Remember to highlight main points and reasoning behind them when reading. This will help you formulate arguments to include in your book critique. It is also crucial to take notes while reading, as it will help you avoid forgetting key points and tightly grasp chronological order of events. Furthermore, it will aid you in creating an outline, which is vital in book critique writing.

2. Do Research on Author's Background

Researching the author's background is necessary before writing book critique. It can help you understand their point of view. For example, we all know the environment one grows up in influences so much of their behavior. You may, for instance, find that writers raised in the countryside and those from urban areas have different interpretations of the same things in life. Understanding the author's views and hypothesis is key as it will inform your arguments. You can also check their credentials, competencies, and corpus (bibliography). Knowing this will help you better formulate the book's summary in introduction and body paragraphs. After doing preliminary research, you will be equipped with all the necessary information to actually critique a book using fundamental assessment "tools" - analysis and evaluation.

3. Analyze and Evaluate the Book

Analysis and evaluation will majorly inform how your critique flows. Evaluation involves an in-depth study of all points in a particular piece. Consider how the characters are developed and ways in which they contribute to a story. While assessing the plot, note whether there are any twists to the narrative. Evaluate whether the story is original and engaging to readers. Just like in a literary analysis , you need to examine its general impact, if it achieves its intended purpose, its thoroughness, objectivity, accuracy, and timeliness. Finally, develop your arguments, forming the foundation for writing a book critique. Remember to be fair and objective in your assessment.

4. Build a Book Critique Outline

Creating a book critique outline can help you organize your thoughts and write clear and comprehensive text. This is where you use notes you gathered earlier while researching and evaluating. These notes will guide you in penning down your thoughts chronologically, starting from introduction to conclusion. Your outline need not be too detailed but should include the primary info you intend to use in your essay. However, do not limit yourself too much as well. While drafting outline for a book critique, ensure it is wide-ranging to avoid missing any parts. Above, you can find an example of an outline to use as a template for creating your own.

Read more: How to Write an Outline for an Essay ?

5. Introduce a Book and Details of an Author

This section is rather straightforward. You need to provide readers with brief background information. In your book critique introduction, discuss the publication, any recurring themes presented, and the purpose it intends to serve. You can also highlight similar titles the author has written, but not too many to not get side-tracked here. In the introduction for a book critique, include clear reasoning behind why the author engages with specific topics in the first place. For example, it could be a result of their own experiences or just stories from other people. You can also consider how the authors attempt to differentiate themselves in the genre without alienating or missing their intended audience.

Book Critique Introduction Example

The introduction paragraph should set pace for the rest of your paper. It should grab the reader's attention and encourage them to read your essay. It is important to note that this is not a summary of your paper but rather just a preview. Here is an example of a book critique introduction.

In literature, you may come across many novels that leave you with lasting impressions, either good or bad. Such is the case with "Romeo and Juliet", a play by William Shakespeare written in the years 1591 and 1595 that is considered one of his most popular and frequently performed plays. This blockbuster of a tragedy has been met with mixed reviews, with some readers finding it a masterpiece while others deeming it a disappointment. In this critique, I will delve into the author's writing style, plot, characters, and themes, ultimately providing a comprehensive evaluation of "Romeo and Juliet". I will also determine whether it is still worth reading in the 21st century.

Read more: How to Start an Essay ?

6. Create a Thesis Statement

Creating a strong thesis statement is vital when you want to critique a book as it provides readers with a clear overview of your position or arguments. Proper thesis statement, in this case, should capture your overall evaluation of the author's work. Here are some general tips to help you write a good thesis statement for a book critique.

• Identify the text's main components, including the author's writing style, plot, characters, and themes.
• Determine your stance on the author's work. Is it good or bad, and what specifically makes it so?
• Using information from the publication, write a sentence summarizing your evaluation.

Thesis Statement Sample

A thesis statement can comprise one or two sentences. You must ensure that it is clear, concise, and arguable. It should be delivered in the form of an idea that provokes opposition, instead of being a factual statement. Here is an example of a book critique thesis statement.

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare offers an intricate exploration of love and nature of human choices, masterfully brought to life through rich, well-developed characters and compelling narrative.

7. Write a Book Summary

When prewriting critique of a book, a summary will be one of the key components in your outline. It is important because your critique might be read by people who have never heard about the publication, so a properly detailed summary will initially introduce the novel to your audience and explain what it is generally about. Most common way to write a book critique summary is by giving a brief overview of the themes, characters, and main ideas. It requires careful reading, analysis, and the ability to articulate one's opinions about the author's work in a clear and concise manner.

8. Write Your Book Critique

The main part of your book critique is the body. This is the longest part of your essay as well. The goal here is to take the reader through your arguments and evidence supporting your thesis statement. Here are some steps to guide you through book critique writing.

• Provide arguments that support your statement of purpose This entails determining the publication’s strongest and weakest points, analyzing the author's success in formulating ideas and developing themes. Use textual proof to support your views.
• Evaluate the author's purpose in writing the novel What message were they trying to convey? Is the publication intended to entertain, inform, persuade, or educate? Does the writer achieve their purpose? In addition, assess the author's writing style, book's plot, narrative, flow and make a character analysis.
• State your overall opinion of the book Do you think the novel is well-written and engaging? Would you recommend it to others? Be sure to back up your opinion with evidence from the book.

Book Critique Body Example

Below is a book critique body sample for a fictional novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett , The Secret Garden.

“The Secret Garden” is a beautifully written classic that explores the power of nature, friendship, and self-discovery. The story is set in a grand estate in England and follows the journey of Mary Lennox, a young girl who is sent to live with her uncle after parent's death. Its setting is described in rich detail, painting a vivid picture of the estate. Descriptions of the natural world are enchanting and bring the story to life in a magical way. Characters in “The Secret Garden” are well-developed, making it easy for readers to connect with them on an emotional level. Mary, the main character, is a determined young girl who learns to face her fears and find joy through her experiences in the garden. Supporting characters, such as Colin and Dickon, are equally compelling and add depth to the story. Writing style is poetic, with an intense mood that makes readers feel like they are right there with Mary. Themes, such as power of nature and importance of friendship, are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making them both subtle and well-pronounced. In conclusion, the book's deliberate pace allows readers to fully immerse themselves in the secret garden world. Its climax is satisfying, bringing the story's themes to a fitting end.

9. Give Your Opinion and Recommendations

Consider different aspects of the text when giving your opinion, including its plot, theme, setting, and purpose. For example, you can look at whether the author addressed the main idea as per themes and whether his content meets its central purpose. Do not fear to give an opinion as any reader is entitled to have one, and this is, basically, what writing a book critique is majorly intended for. After all, you may even find that many other readers agree with your views! Once you learn how to give an objective opinion, it will be safe to say that you know how to critique a book.

Book Critique Recommendations Example

When writing a book critique for college or university, you must always have a conclusion in your essay. This is where you give your final thoughts on the piece, whether it was good or bad. It will be best if you also provide reasoning for your opinion to make it convincing. Here is a book critique conclusion example.

Overall, "Romeo and Juliet" is a thrilling and enjoyable read that will appeal to fans of tragedy and love story novels. The author's skillful use of language and well-constructed plot make this a must-read for anyone. It highlights human flaws present in our societies and consequences of our choices. One must be keen not to idealize the purity of main characters' love but also look at external forces such as anger and hate that play a big role in their story. Whether you are a fan of tragedy novels or enjoy well-written love stories, this is a text you will surely not want to miss.

10. Proofread Your Critique of a Book

Proofreading is an important step in the writing process. Good book critiques should be clear, accurate, and free of errors. This helps you make a strong impression on your audience and effectively communicate your ideas. By taking the time to go through your critique, you demonstrate that you take your writing seriously and value reader's experience. Here are some useful editing tips.

• Look for spelling and grammar errors Use a spell-check tool and carefully read your book critique to eliminate any possible mistakes.
• Check for consistency Ensure your tone is consistent throughout your essay.
• Verify facts Ensure any facts or quotes you include in your critique are accurate and properly cited. Check our guide on how to cite a quote from a book , in case you need any help.

Book Critique Examples

Before you begin working on your assignment, it is advisable to look through a few book critique samples to understand better how it may be done. This will help you write an excellent paper. Look for a book critique example online to borrow ideas on arranging your work. You should be keen on appropriate articles and narrow your search until you get an example of a good book critique that will be worth your time. Example of a book critique 1

Book critique sample 2

Book critique example 3

Book Critique Format

When writing a book critique, the content of your work must be orderly. Quality of presentation is largely informed by how you arrange your paper. Different formats are used for literary works, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago. Depending on your educational institution, your teacher will guide you on what book critique format to use. Upon knowing the structure, follow it to the letter to ensure that your work has a consistent style. In most cases, by looking at the format for a book critique, you can tell whether you are about to read a good piece.

Book Critique Writing Tips

Here are some extra tips on how to critique a book.

• Know your audience Consider who you are writing the book critique for and what they are interested in reading. For example, if you are composing a review for a literary magazine, you will want to focus more on the novel's stylistic elements.
• Be objective While a book critique writing assignment is a chance to investigate and express your opinions, staying accurate and avoiding overly personal attacks on the author or text is also essential.
• Use credible evidence to support your opinions Whenever you make a statement about the text, back it up with examples. Reliable proof refers to information that majority of readers would deem authentic.
• Maintain an organized structure Good book critiques are well-organized and have a good flow that is easy for an audience to follow.
• Avoid spoilers While including key details in your summary is essential, avoid giving away the ending or plot twists.

If you're a book lover, you might also wonder how to write a book review .  But what if you're also interested in learning how to critique an article ? Check out our blog, which provides tips and strategies for analyzing and evaluating all types of works.

Bottom Line on Book Critique Writing

When writing a book critique, you are not merely describing the book's contents but also critically examining it. After briefly introducing the book and summarizing its contents, proceed to comprehensively review its advantages and disadvantages. This can involve analyzing the author's style of writing, the persuasiveness of their arguments or narrative, and the book's influence on readers. If necessary, use examples from the text and outside sources on how to do a book critique to bolster your analysis. Furthermore, consider that book critiques are subjective, and your viewpoint counts. In your assessment, be forthright and truthful, but also refrain from disparaging the writer or their work in any other way. Best of luck!

Try our expert academic writing service for high-quality work and top-notch grades. Receive quick book review help and achieve success worry-free. 

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

You may also like

Critical Essay Writing

Critical Essay Outline

Critical Essay Outline - Writing Guide With Examples

People also read

Critical Essay - A Step by Step Guide & Examples

A Comprehensive List of 260+ Inspiring Critical Essay Topics

Writing a critical analysis essay can be a daunting task for many students. It requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and the ability to critically evaluate it.

But here's the challenge: without a well-structured outline, the task becomes even more overwhelming. You might find yourself lost in a sea of information, struggling to organize your thoughts, and not knowing where to begin.

In this blog, we will provide you with a solution to this problem. We'll walk you through the process of creating a comprehensive critical analysis essay outline that will not only make your writing process smoother but also increase your chances of producing a top-notch essay.

By the end of this guide, you'll be well-equipped to tackle critical analysis essays with confidence and finesse. 

Let's get started!

• 1. How to Write a Critical Essay Outline?
• 2. Critical Essay Outline Examples
• 3. Tips for Writing an Effective Critical Essay Outline

How to Write a Critical Essay Outline?

Writing an outline is an essential part of drafting an effective critical essay . It provides a sensible structure to the content through which a reader easily keeps track of the writer’s ideas and explanations. 

Here’s a sample outline for critical essay:

Critical Essay Introduction

The introduction of your essay serves as the gateway, enticing readers to delve into your analysis. Follow these guidelines to craft an engaging and effective introduction:

• Opening Hook: Begin with a captivating hook that sparks curiosity or addresses the relevance of your topic. This could be a thought-provoking quote, a startling statistic, or a compelling anecdote.
• Contextualize the Topic: Provide background information to ensure readers understand the context of your critical analysis. Briefly introduce the work or topic you are critiquing, highlighting its significance.
• Thesis Statement:  Clearly state your thesis statement and the main argument or perspective you will be exploring in your critical essay. This concise declaration sets the stage for the reader, outlining the focus and purpose of your analysis.
• Preview of Key Points: Offer a brief overview of the key points or arguments you will be addressing in the body paragraphs. This roadmap prepares readers for the critical insights they can expect in the following sections.
• Transition to Body: Smoothly transition from the introduction to the body of your essay. Ensure a logical flow that keeps readers engaged and eager to explore your critical analysis further.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Critical Essay Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your critical essay are the heart of your analysis, where you dissect and examine the chosen work or topic. Here's how to structure and develop these crucial sections:

• Topic Sentence : Begin each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence that encapsulates the main point or argument of that specific section.
• Introduction of Evidence : Introduce evidence to support your analysis. This may include quotes, examples, or data that reinforce your critical perspective. 
• Critical Analysis : Dive into a detailed analysis of the evidence you've presented. Explain how it relates to your thesis and critically evaluate its significance. 
• Transition to the Next Point : Provide a smooth transition to the next paragraph by summarizing the key points. Explain how they connect to the overall argument of your critical essay.
• Consistency and Coherence : Maintain consistency and coherence throughout the body paragraphs. Each section should contribute logically to the development of your thesis, creating a cohesive narrative.

Critical Essay Conclusion

The conclusion of your critical essay is your final opportunity to leave a lasting impression. Follow these steps to create a powerful and memorable conclusion:

• Restate the Thesis: Begin by restating your thesis in a slightly different way. Summarize the main argument or perspective you've presented in your critical essay.
• Review Key Points: Briefly review the key points or arguments discussed in the body paragraphs. Reiterate their significance in supporting your overall thesis.
• Broader Implications: Explore the broader implications of your analysis. Discuss how your critical insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the work or topic, and consider any broader implications for the field.
• Concluding Thoughts: Offer some final thoughts or reflections on the significance of your critical analysis. Consider the larger context and encourage readers to think further about the themes you've explored.
• Closing Statement: End with a strong and memorable closing statement. This could be a thought-provoking question, a call to action, or a reflection on the enduring relevance of your critical examination.

Critical Essay Outline Examples

When writing a critical essay outline, even the slightest error can jeopardize both your grades and reputation.

Examining an example allows you to determine the appropriate tone and structure for your critical paper. For that the examples given below serve as a valuable starting point, providing clarity and guidance as you begin your writing process without uncertainty.

Critical Essay Outline Example

Critical Analysis Essay Outline Example

Critical Response Essay Outline Example

Critical Essay Sample

Critical Essay Outline Template

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Tips for Writing an Effective Critical Essay Outline

Crafting a robust critical essay structure is essential for a successful writing process. Here are valuable tips to guide you through the outline creation:

• Start with a Strong Thesis Statement

Begin your outline by clearly articulating your thesis statement. This should succinctly convey the main argument or perspective you will be exploring in your critical essay.

• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses

As you outline, consider the strengths and weaknesses of your argument. Acknowledge potential counterarguments and ensure your outline addresses them, strengthening your overall analysis.

• Support Your Thesis Statement

Each section of your outline should contribute to supporting your thesis. Ensure that your key points and evidence align cohesively to strengthen the central argument of your critical essay.

• Consider Writing Style

Pay attention to your writing style within the outline. Maintain a formal and analytical tone appropriate for a critical essay. Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively.

• Choose a Relevant Essay Topic

Select an essay topic that aligns with your interests and allows for in-depth analysis. The relevance of your topic will contribute to a more engaging and compelling critical essay.

• Analyze and Evaluate Key Points

For each section of your outline, go beyond surface-level analysis. Dive deep into the material, analyzing and evaluating key points to provide a nuanced and comprehensive critical assessment.

• Pay Attention to Detail

Detail matters. Pay attention to the specifics of your outline, ensuring a logical flow of ideas and a well-organized structure. Clarity at this stage sets the foundation for a polished final essay.

• Start Writing Early

Once your outline is complete, don't procrastinate. Start writing early to allow ample time for revisions and refinements. A well-thought-out outline expedites the writing process.

In conclusion , crafting a critical essay requires careful planning and consideration. By following a well-constructed outline, you lay the groundwork for a compelling essay that showcases your analytical prowess. 

Remember to start with a strong thesis statement, identify strengths and weaknesses, and support your argument with well-researched evidence.

If you think your writing and analyzing skills are not up to the mark, you can always take help from an expert essay writer.

MyPerfectWords.com is an essay writing service that provides guidance and assistance to all students. No matter what field or level you belong to, MyPerfectWords.com provides academic writing services for everyone. Moreover, if you are looking for free essay samples and original content, MyPerfectWords.com is the right place. 

Hire our essay writer to write a critical analysis essay by placing an order today at an extremely affordable price.

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Cathy has been been working as an author on our platform for over five years now. She has a Masters degree in mass communication and is well-versed in the art of writing. Cathy is a professional who takes her work seriously and is widely appreciated by clients for her excellent writing skills.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

How to Critique a Movie: Tips + Film Critique Example

How to write a film critique essay? To answer this question, you should clearly understand what a movie critique is. It can be easily confused with a movie review. Both paper types can become your school or college assignments. However, they are different. A movie review reveals a personal impression of the viewer. A movie critique, in its turn, aims to discuss the means of film production and give advice on what could be changed to make the film better.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Sounds challenging?

No worries, we are here to help!

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains useful tips on how to critique a movie and a great film critique example. Read on to learn more!

• 🎬 How to Begin
• ⚙️ Key Elements of Any Film
• 💡 Useful Phrases

🎬 How to Critique a Movie: the Basics

Writing a movie critique means offering your insight and opinion on what was good and not that good with the movie and what made it intriguing to watch. There’s always something you like about the film and something you don’t. You may consider that the plot was good, but the special effects were horrible. Think of all the possible film production stages and try to look at them critically.

How to Critique a Movie: General Guidelines

• Choose a movie
• Specify the issues you are going to discuss and analyze in your paper
• Watch the movie several times: first to get a general idea of the film; second – to pay attention to the points that come into your sphere of interest
• Take notes while watching
• During your second watch, note the details you weren’t able to notice the first time
• Be specific
• Be objective

Criticizing does not mean expressing negative emotions. Too much pessimism will kill the reader’s desire to get closely acquainted with your writing. Even though the movie could be a real failure, try to present a sophisticated evaluation.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

⚙️ Movie Critique: Key Elements of Any Film

Any film features several elements that you need to mention when you write your movie critique paper. Below in this section, you’ll find these elements’ descriptions and useful tips on analyzing them in your paper.

How to Critique a Film’s Plot

The plot is the flow of events and actions that consequently develop in a story. To discuss the film’s plot in your movie critique, you need to do the following:

• Decide whether the plot is predictable.
• Define whether some actions were unpredictable.
• If they were, express your views considering an unexpected turn of events that shocked you.
• See if the story corresponds to the characters’ motivations.

How to Critique a Film’s Structure

The movie’s structure is how the parts relate to each other or how the plot is built. Remember that the structure encompasses the following parts:

• Exposition (introducing the key characters and their circumstances)
• Rising action (mounting tension that leads to the story’s climax)
• Falling action
• Denouement (a resolution that brings the story to an end)

How to Critique the Movie’s Characters

Characterization is the description of the characters’ personalities, beliefs, motivations, etc. To discuss the film’s characterization in your movie critique, you need to do the following:

• Concentrate on specific movie characters.
• Set your priorities: some movie characters do not need any serious analysis.
• See if the characters’ dress, talk, act, or look corresponds with the impression they should create.
• Remember that the better the characters are developed, the more character-driven the story is.
• Consider that the right motivation of the characters makes the audience believe the story.

How to Criticize the Movie’s Dialogues

A dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters. To analyze the dialogues in your movie critique, do the following:

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 20% off your first order!

• Remember that good dialogues should not be protracted as they are to sound natural.
• See if there is a logical development of the conversation.
• Watch the body language of the actors and decide whether their gestures correspond to their words or not.

How to Criticize the Movie’s Scenes

A scene is a self-contained episode within a larger work. To discuss the scenes in your movie critique, you should do the following:

• Determine whether the scenes were well-played by the actors and well-shot by the operator.
• Mind that they are to develop smoothly as a part of a larger dramatic unit.
• Remember that scenes should build a chain that makes up the story.
• Examine if they contain some conflict and how the characters typically react to it.
• Try to follow through each scene to make sure that it properly transitioned into the next one.

🧱 Movie Critique Outline

The general structure of a movie critique resembles the structure of an essay .

• Start with an introduction . There you are to provide necessary information about the film, make a summary of the plot, state your thesis, and give readers a clue on what your critique will be about.
• Divide the main body into several paragraphs . Explain your thesis there and examine each point separately. Do not forget to provide examples.
• End writing your movie critique with a conclusion . It should summarize everything and give answers to the questions raised in the paper.

Go over your paper to eliminate factual and spelling/grammar/punctuation mistakes. A good structure is a basis and a necessary condition of a successful paper.

💡 Top Phrases to Use while Writing a Film Critique

Now that you know all the essential elements of a movie critique structure, it’s high time to consider how to present your information in the most digestible and impressive way. A list of common phrases and set expressions in your movie critique writing will make your content more engaging, diverse, and easy to read.

Give your opinion on the topic and analyze the movie rather than just summarizing the content. Make use of persuasive words that would be helpful and appropriate to your readers.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Movie Genre

• Crime and Gangster
• Epics/Historical

Producer, Director

• Produced by…
• Directed by…
• The movie is expertly directed by…
• This movie is based on a book…

Actors, Characters

• Warm-hearted, appealing, fascinating
• The characters were very convincing because…
• Exceptional performance
• Fervently performed
• The performance of… in… is excellent

Film’s Plot

• Well-directed, amusing, exciting, boring, clichéd, confusing, entertaining, exciting, melodramatic, thrilling, unbelievable, surprising, full of tension
• The plot reaches a climax when…
• Develop a story
• Non-linear/fragmented narrative
• Full of unexpected plot twists
• One of the most unbelievable/entertaining moments in the film occurs when…

Assessment, Evaluation

• A must-see/worth seeing/not to be missed/a smash hit/an impressive debut
• An emotional movie/it brought tears to my eyes
• A truly great/skillful piece of filmmaking
• I would definitely recommend this film to anyone who likes…
• On a scale from zero to five, I’d give this film a four because…
• I strongly/highly recommend watching this film because…
• If you like…, you shouldn’t miss this movie.
• I certainly wouldn’t recommend the film, and here’s why…
• Unfortunately, this movie is a complete waste of time because…
• I was impressed/surprised by…

👀 Film Critique Examples

Below you’ll find a downloadable movie critique example. Other samples can be found here:

• Selma: Historical Drama Film by Ava DuVernay
• Christian Symbolism and Imagery in “The Matrix” Film
• “The Morning Guy” Film Analysis
• “Night of the Living Dead” a Film by George Romero
• “Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” by George Lucas

Movie Critique Example: Hitchcock’s North by Northwest

North by Northwest , directed by Alfred Hitchcock, is considered one of the most prominent films in cinematography. This spy thriller combines darkness and light typical for Hitchcock movies: witty humor, love story, suspense, and mortal danger harmoniously merge in this thriller (Longacre 75). Starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, North by Northwest contains memorable acting performances, accentuating the director’s dexterity in creating suspense. North by Northwest is representative of Hitchcock’s entertaining talent, as it allows readers to escape into a world of international espionage thriving during the Cold War Era.

Movie Critique Essay Topics

• Review of the film The Corporation . 
• Philosophical questions in Through a Glass Darkly by Ingmar Bergman. 
• Discuss the symbolism in the film Hacksaw Ridge . 
• Analyze the impersonation of Elizabeth Bennet by Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice (2005) . 
• Evaluate the meaning of the setting in the movie Mean Girls by Mark Walters .  
• Explore the similarities and differences of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies. 
• Describe the characters of Duke Bill’s Not Easily Broken . 
• Analyze the rhetoric of the film Salt by Phillip Noyce . 
• The importance of the teacher’s role in the movie Freedom Writers.  
• Analyze the characters of the film The Green Mile .  
• Social mobility and racial biases in Paul Haggis’s film Crash .  
• Compare the semantic message of the movies West Side Story (1961) and Romeo + Juliet (1996).  
• The role of sound and costume choice in the film Inception by Christopher Nolan . 
• Examine the depiction of disproportionate female objectification in the documentary Miss Representation .  
• Discuss the techniques Fellini uses to depict the paradoxes and contradictions of the real world in his film La Dolce Vita .  
• The problem of selfhood and identity in the movie The Boy in The Striped Pajamas by Mark Herman.  
• The core theme of Werner Fassbinder’s The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant . 
• Analyze the film Erin Brockovich.  
• The serious messages in the comedies Educating Rita and Small-Time Crooks . 
• Describe the characters of The Wizard of Oz (1939).  
• Discuss the similarities and differences of the events in the film The Crucible and the real history of Salem.  
• Analyze the depiction of ethical dilemmas and emotional conflicts in the movie Juno . 
• The peculiarities of Martin Scorsese’s film The Aviator .  
• Allegory in Robert Redford’s film Lions for Lambs . 
• Critique of the film Secret Window .  
• The sociological significance of the Lone Survivor by Peter Berg . 
• Describe the filmmaking techniques used in the documentary film The Interrupters .  
• Analyze the significance of the opening scene of the Citizen Kane .  
• Examine the main woman character of David Fincher’s film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo . 
• Discuss the setting of Sleepy Hollow by Tim Burton . 
• The main concepts of Christopher Nolan’s film Interstellar .  
• Analytical critique of the movie Signs .  
• Discuss the theme of the film Love, Simon by Greg Berlanti .  
• Explore the major theme and objectives of Blood Diamond by Edward Zwick.  
• The problem of choice in Gone Baby Gone by Ben Affleck .  
• Describe the filmmaking techniques used to portray a historical period in The Patriot .  
• Analyze the rhetorical strategies in Laurence Olivier’s film Henry V .  
• Discuss the philosophy of the film Les Intouchables .  
• The leading theme of Catch Me If You Can by Steven Spielberg . 
• Analyze the movie Rear Window . 
• Analyze the message of the film Home by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. 
• The role of visuals in the movie My Family/ Mi Familia . 
• Examine the rhetorical techniques used in Jordan Peele’s horror film Us . 
• Split : movie critique.  
• The importance of geography and landscapes in The Sound of Music by Robert Wise . 

Now you can confidently claim that you know how to write a movie critique and even have a whole list of helpful vocabulary you can include. We hope that these tips were helpful and that your next critical paper about a movie will be a success. Be sure to check out our blog for more useful articles!

✏️ Movie Critique FAQ

A film critique is an extended opinion about a movie. It is typically made in the form of a paper, article, or essay. Such papers are usually highly rated when written by respected professionals in the field.

If you are writing any paper, it is always a good idea to begin with an outline. If you are writing an essay for college, make sure that you have a clear structure. A typical structure includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

When criticizing any visual artwork, follow these 4 steps:

• Description,
• Interpretation,

Identify a few aspects you want to focus on. It could be actors, music and sound, visual effects, plot peculiarities, etc.). Then, describe each point according to the four steps.

If you are focusing on an actor’s performance in a particular film, make sure that your judgments are based not on the appearance or personal prejudice. Try to make a relatively objective assessment.

🔗 References

• Merriam-Webster “Critique” Definition
• Structuring a Premise for Stronger Stories
• Merriam-Webster “Original” Definition
• Merriam-Webster “Motif” Definition
• Duke Writing Studio’s Film Review Guide
• Tips for Writing a Film Review
• How to Analyze a Movie: A Step-by-Step Guide
• Tips for Writing a Review
• Summary: Using it Wisely
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Are you getting ready to write your Language Proficiency Index Exam essay? Well, your mission is rather difficult, and you will have to work hard. One of the main secrets of successful LPI essays is perfect writing skills. So, if you practice writing, you have a chance to get the...

Dengue fever is a quite dangerous febrile disease that can even cause death. Nowadays, this disease can be found in the tropics and Africa. Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, and India are also vulnerable to this disease.

For high school or college students, essays are unavoidable – worst of all, the essay types and essay writing topics assigned change throughout your academic career. As soon as you’ve mastered one of the many types of academic papers, you’re on to the next one. This article by Custom Writing...

Even though a personal essay seems like something you might need to write only for your college application, people who graduated a while ago are asked to write it. Therefore, if you are a student, you might even want to save this article for later!

If you wish a skill that would be helpful not just for middle school or high school, but also for college and university, it would be the skill of a five-paragraph essay. Despite its simple format, many students struggle with such assignments.

Reading books is pleasurable and entertaining; writing about those books isn’t. Reading books is pleasurable, easy, and entertaining; writing about those books isn’t. However, learning how to write a book report is something that is commonly required in university. Fortunately, it isn’t as difficult as you might think. You’ll only...

A descriptive essay is an academic paper that challenges a school or college student to describe something. It can be a person, a place, an object, a situation—anything an individual can depict in writing. The task is to show your abilities to communicate an experience in an essay format using...

An analysis / analytical essay is a standard assignment in college or university. You might be asked to conduct an in-depth analysis of a research paper, a report, a movie, a company, a book, or an event. In this article, you’ll find out how to write an analysis paper introduction,...

A film analysis essay might be the most exciting assignment you have ever had! After all, who doesn’t love watching movies? You have your favorite movies, maybe something you watched years ago, perhaps a classic, or a documentary. Or your professor might assign a film for you to make a...

What is a creative essay, if not the way to express yourself? Crafting such a paper is a task that allows you to communicate your opinion and tell a story. However, even using your imagination to a great extent doesn’t free you from following academic writing rules. Don’t even get...

A compare and contrast essay — what is it? In this type of paper, you compare two different things or ideas, highlighting what is similar between the two, and you also contrast them, highlighting what is different. The two things might be events, people, books, points of view, lifestyles, or...

What is an expository essay? This type of writing aims to inform the reader about the subject clearly, concisely, and objectively. The keyword here is “inform”. You are not trying to persuade your reader to think a certain way or let your own opinions and emotions cloud your work. Just stick to the...

Really thought I should take out time to post this thanking you guys for this, been really really helpful.

Thank you so much for your kind words, Kay. It means so much for us!

This is great!! Many thanks.

Thanks for your feedback, Jules! Much appreciated.

The website іѕ really good, I love it!

Thanks for your kind words! We look forward to seeing you again!

Thank you, now I have an idea on how to start my college film critique essay on a silent film.

We are so glad to hear that! Thank you for your feedback, Leilani!

Thank you for this! Because now I have an idea of how to create a movie critic.

Glad to help, Alyssa!

Thank you for this! It’s very useful! Keep up the good work!

This is a greatt piece. It is well analysed and really helpful. Thank you.

Thank you for your kind words, Tomas 🙂

This was really helpful. Thanks for making the work much easier with your explanations on this write up.

I’m happy the article was useful for you, Lilian!

Thank you very much for this marvelous tips that surely will be a great help for me in making my own Movie Critique as an assignment. God Bless everyone.

Thank you for your kind words, Junabel! Glad you found the article helpful.