Criticism is generally written in response to a particular work, such as a novel, film, poem, or painting. In addition, criticism is also sometimes used in research articles and journalistic writing, such as news or feature articles. Criticism is slightly different from 5-paragraph writing, because 5-paragraph writing usually only focuses on the overall usefulness and creativity of a work, rather than making analytical arguments against the work. Even so, organizing critical writing in 5 paragraphs can help organize your thoughts.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Setting the First Step
Step 1. Know what your job is
Make sure you fully understand what is being asked of you. Writing assignments typically use the word “Criticism”, or phrases such as “Criticism Creation Assignment”, “Criticism Review”, or “Criticism Evaluation”. All of these writing assignments not only require you to make a digest, but also evaluate a work that will be discussed.
Step 2. Read the text
Memorize the questions and take notes as you read. All of this will help you form ideas later. Example:
- Did the creator of the work clearly state his main purpose? If not, why do you think it wasn't mentioned?
- In your opinion, who is the target audience for the creator's work? This is an important point to determine the success or failure of the work; for example, films for children may be enjoyed by children, but not by adults.
- What reaction did you get when you read or saw the work? Does it trigger a certain emotional response? Or you just don't understand and feel confused?
- What questions come to your mind when reviewing this work? Does the work give you the possibility of exploration or observation?
Step 3. Do some research
Usually, you don't have to do a lot of study, but in order to be able to discuss the work in a wider scope or context, you need to know where the work is referring to, in what context, and so on.
- For example, if you are criticizing a research article on a new flu treatment method, doing a little research on current flu treatment methods can help you put the work in its proper context.
- As another example, if you're writing about films, you might have to review a few of the other films the director directed, or some other films in the same genre (indie, action, drama, and so on).
- Your school or college library is a great place to start research, because the data available is valid and from reliable sources. Google Scholar can also be a good source of reference for your research.
Part 2 of 4: Writing the Opening Paragraph
Step 1. Provide basic information about the work
The first paragraph contains an explanation of the work you are going to review. The explanation includes the name of the author or creator, the title of the work, and the date of creation.
- For works of fiction, journalism, or studies, the basic information is usually available in the publications section, such as a special copyright page in a novel.
- For movies, you can refer to sources like IMDb for basic information about the movie. If you're criticizing a well-known work of art, an art encyclopedia can be a good resource for finding information about its creator, title, and important dates (the date the work was created, the date it was exhibited, and so on).
Step 2. Give context to the work
The type of context you can provide varies depending on what type of work you are reviewing. Your goal is to give the reader an understanding of the reasons behind the creation of the work. However, there is no need to tell a long complete history. Just give your readers enough information so they can understand your critique.
- For example, if you're reviewing a scientific research article, adding a brief summary of the topic from an academic discussion might help (e.g., "Professor X's research on fruit flies is part of a full study on blah blah blah").
- If you're evaluating a painting or drawing, it can be helpful to provide brief information about where it was first displayed, who it was made for, etc., can be helpful.
- If you are judging a novel, it is advisable to discuss the genre of the novel (examples: fantasy, high modernism, romance). You can also write detailed biographies of the author if they relate to your critique.
- For journalistic work such as news articles, consider the social and/or political context of the medium in which the article was published (eg Fox News, BBC, etc.) and the issue being covered (eg immigration, education, entertainment).
Step 3. Summarize the purpose of the creator in making his work
In this case, you should be able to examine what the work was made for. Sometimes, the purpose is clearly stated, as in a research article. For writing or other creative works, you must be able to formulate your opinion to guess the purpose of the creator in making the work.
- The author of a research article usually states clearly what the purpose of his research is in the abstract or opening paragraph, usually in a sentence like this: "In this article, the author provides a new framework for analyzing X and refutes the previous framework for reason A and reason B."
- For creative works, usually the creator does not clearly state his purpose in making the work, but you can draw conclusions from the context of the work. For example, if you were to rate the film “The Shining”, you could argue that the aim of Stanley Kubrick, the creator, was to raise public awareness of the mistreatment of Native Americans, because the theme of the film is Native Americans. You can write the reason in the body of the article.
Step 4. Summarize the main points of the work
Briefly describe how the key points were made. For example, you could review the characters or symbols in a particular work that represent society in general. For journal articles, you can present the research questions and hypotheses.
For example, if you were writing about “The Shining”, you might summarize the main points like this: “Stanley Kubrick used a strong symbol, such as the construction of a hotel over a Native American cemetery, and the hotel was called “Overlook”. The presence of Native Americans in almost every scene in this film is symbolic; a call for audiences to start paying attention to America's treatment of its own natives in history
Step 5. Show your initial assessment
This will serve as your thesis statement; Also write down whether you think the work is generally effective and useful or not. Determine whether your evaluation is positive, negative, or mixed.
- For a research article, you may want to focus on your thesis, whether the research and discussion supports the data and the author's claims. You can also criticize the research methodology, whether there are flaws or not.
- For creative work, consider what you think the author's or creator's goal was, and then rate whether he or she achieved that goal.
Part 3 of 4: Writing 3 Body Paragraphs
Step 1. Compose your assessment evaluation
The assessment must form a critique structure of at least 3 paragraphs. You may decide to structure your critique in another way, depending on how you approach it. However, each paragraph should have a main topic. Use the steps in the following sections to develop each paragraph.
- If you have three important points in your critique, arrange each point in a paragraph. For example, if you are analyzing an image, you can criticize the painter's use of color, light, and composition; one paragraph one discussion.
- If you have more than three points to cover, structure each paragraph thematically. For example, if you're criticizing a film and want to address its message in the treatment of women, the writing, speed, use of color and framing in film technique, and the acting of the actors, you'll need to include a few points of detail into a broader category, such as “production.” (speed, use of color and framing, and script writing), “social issues” (treatment of women), and “performance” (actors).
- Or, you can structure your critique based on “strengths” and “weaknesses”. The purpose of criticism is not merely to criticize, but to show which ones have been done well by the creator, and which ones have not.
Step 2. Discuss the technique or style used in the work
This is important, especially in evaluating creative works, such as literary works, works of art, and music. Write in your evaluation the use of the creator's technique and style in conveying their intent and purpose in the work they create.
- For example, if you're criticizing a song, you can discuss the rhythm and tone of the music, whether or not it fits the lyrics.
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Step 3. Explain the evidence or arguments used
This is especially helpful in criticism of journalistic writing or article writing. Discuss how the authors used other sources, their own evidence, and logic in their arguments.
- Did the author use primary sources (such as historical documents, questions and answers, etc.)? Support sources? Quantitative data? Qualitative data? Do all these sources match the argument?
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Step 4. Determine what the author contributed to the existing theory
There are several ways to review this. Your goal in this section is to assess the whole of his work, whether it is useful or not.
- If it is a creative work, write down whether the creator expressed his idea in an original and interesting way or not. You can also review whether the work fits the concepts and ideas in popular culture or society in general or not.
- If it's a research article, you can review whether the work improves your understanding of a particular theory or idea in the field of science being presented. Research articles usually include a “further research” section where the author discusses the contributions he has made to his research and the writer's hopes for the future.
Write a Critique in Five Paragraphs Step 13 Step 5. Use examples in each point
Reinforce the point you discussed with evidence from the text or work that supports your argument. For example, if you criticize a novel and say that the writing style is boring, you can add quotes from the book that you find boring and explain why that style doesn't appeal to you.
Part 4 of 4: Writing Conclusions and References
Write a Critique in Five Paragraphs Step 14 Step 1. State your overall rating of the work you are reviewing
This assessment can be a statement about the success of the work. Have you achieved the original purpose of the creator? If so, how did the work become successful? If not, what's wrong?
Write a Critique in Five Paragraphs Step 15 Step 2. Summarize your bullet points
If you have written data to support your opinion in the body of the previous paragraph, restate the opinion in a more concise sentence. This restatement can be in the form of one sentence that says, "Because the author is very detailed and careful in processing the data, this article presents a useful discussion on topic X."
Write a Critique in Five Paragraphs Step 16 Step 3. Make suggestions for improving research in other areas of study, if necessary
In the evaluation you make, it is usually said whether adding a suggestion is appropriate or not for a critique. This element is commonly found in writing criticism of research articles or creative works.
Write a Critique in Five Paragraphs Step 17 Step 4. Include a list of references
How you write this all depends on what you are assigned and the method you choose (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) Whichever method you choose, don't forget to include all the sources you used in writing criticism.
Tips
- Before you start writing, take notes as you watch or read the subject you are going to critique. Remember certain aspects like how you felt when you enjoyed the work? What's your first impression? Upon further review, what is your overall opinion of the work? How can you think so?
- While the 5-paragraph form of writing can be useful to help you organize your ideas, some teachers don't allow this type of essay. Make sure you understand the assignment given. If you are not sure whether 5-paragraph writing is allowed or not, ask!
