Criticism is an objective analysis of a literary or scientific work, which emphasizes whether or not the author succeeds in supporting his ideas with appropriate reasons and arguments based on facts. Criticism easily falls into just a summary of the points of an article without really analyzing and questioning it. A good critique shows your view of the article while providing enough evidence to support your view. As a critic, read carefully and thoroughly, prepare arguments and evidence, and write clearly and convincingly.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Become an Active Reader
Step 1. Read the article once to get the main idea
When you first read the article, try to understand the author's argument as a whole. Look at the author's thesis.
Step 2. Mark the text as you reread it one more time
You can use a red ballpoint pen to mark it so it's easier to see. Ask questions like the one below when you read a second time:
- What is the author's thesis/argument?
- What is the author's purpose in writing this thesis?
- Who is the target reader? Is this article able to reach the target audience effectively?
- Did the author provide sufficient and valid evidence?
- Is there a logical flaw in the author's argument?
- Did the author misinterpret the evidence or add bias to the evidence?
- Did the author reach any particular conclusion?
Step 3. Create a custom mark
Make special marks to distinguish passages in the text that may be confusing, important, or inconsistent.
- For example, you can underline certain sections, circle confusing sections, and asterisk areas that are inconsistent.
- Make special marks with certain symbols that can make it easier for you to quickly mark an article. While it may take you some time to recognize the symbols you have created yourself, over time they will come to mind and you will be able to browse the text faster.
Step 4. Make longer notes on the next reading
In addition to giving special marks, notes can also help develop your own mind while reading. For example, if you notice that the author's claim can be refuted with a scientific work you just read earlier, make notes at the margins, or on a piece of paper, or on a computer so you can recall it.
- Don't be fooled into thinking you can recall all of your ideas when you started writing critiques.
- Take time to write down your observations as you read. You will find it helpful to take notes when you include your observations in writing.
Step 5. Develop an initial draft of your critique
Make a general view of the writing. Evaluate the author's overall opinion after you've read the article two or three times. Write down your initial views on the writing.
Make a bibliography of materials that can support your critique. Write down any literature you've read or documentaries you've seen that might help evaluate this essay
Method 2 of 3: Gathering Evidence
Step 1. Ask if the author's overall message is logical
Test the hypothesis and compare it with some other similar examples.
- Although the author has done research and cites trusted experts, the analysis of the message he conveys is based on practicality and its application in the real world.
- Examine the author's introduction and conclusion to see if they are sufficiently convincing and complementary.
Step 2. Check whether the article contains bias, whether intentional or not
If the author has a vested interest in the conclusions the writing shows, there is a possibility that the writing is biased.
- Bias can take the form of ignoring contradictory evidence, using inappropriate evidence to arrive at different conclusions, and using personal opinions that are not based on writing. Opinions with reliable sources can be used, but opinions that have no academic basis should be observed more closely.
- Bias can also come from prejudice. Watch for biases related to race, ethnicity, gender, social class, or politics.
Step 3. Consider the author's interpretation of other writings
If the author makes a claim about another article, read the original article and state your opinion about it. Usually we would not agree one hundred percent; but consider whether the author's interpretation is defensible.
- Note any inconsistencies between your interpretation and the author's interpretation of the same text. Distinctions like these can come in handy when you're writing a critique.
- Find out what other experts think. If several experts from different backgrounds share the same opinion about a particular article, that opinion can be more trusted than other writings that are less supported.
Step 4. Notice if the author cites unreliable sources
Is the author citing a fifty year old article that is no longer relevant in the discipline? If the author cites a less trusted source, the article will lose credibility.
Step 5. Don't neglect the overall writing style
The content of a piece of writing is perhaps the most important aspect of a literary critique, but don't overlook the form and/or style of language the author may have used. Notice the unusual choice of words and the author's emphasis in his writing. This is especially important in non-scientific writing related to literary aspects, for example.
- This aspect can reveal more fundamental issues in broad opinion. For example, if a piece of writing is written in an overly harsh tone, it may ignore or refuse to provide evidence that contradicts its analysis.
- Always check the definitions of unfamiliar words. The definition of a word can change the meaning of a sentence as a whole, especially if the word has several definitions. Ask why the author chose certain words over others. The choice might explain something about the author's opinion.
Step 6. Question the research methods used in scientific writing
If an article contains a particular scientific theory, make sure you check the research methods behind the experiment. Ask questions as below:
- Did the author explain the details of the method?
- Was there a fatal flaw in the research design?
- Is there a problem with the sample size?
- Is there a control group for comparison?
- Are all the statistical calculations correct?
- Is there another group that can duplicate the experiment?
- Is the experiment important enough for the field of science?
Step 7. Dig deep
Use all your knowledge, reliable opinions, and any research to support or refute the author's opinion in the article. Present empirical arguments to support your opinion.
- While the more evidence the better, there are times when too much evidence can actually make your opinion repetitive. Make sure each source is unique in your critique.
- In addition, don't allow citations to drown out your personal opinions and views.
Step 8. Remember that a critique doesn't have to be entirely positive or negative
In general, the most interesting writing critiques do not completely disagree with the author but complement or develop the author's opinion with other evidence.
- If you completely agree with the author, develop the author's opinion by providing additional evidence or adding specific ideas.
- You can provide evidence against a particular opinion while maintaining the truth of that opinion.
- Don't "pity" the writer out of a false sense of empathy; don't hate too much to prove the truth of your critique. Show unequivocally how to defend your opinion whether you agree or disagree.
Method 3 of 3: Developing a Critique Framework
Step 1. Start with an introduction that outlines your opinion
The introduction should be no longer than two paragraphs and should describe the basic outline of your critique. Start by pointing out where the greatest success or failure of the writing you are criticizing is.
- Be sure to include the author's name, title of the article, journal or publication containing the article, date of publication, and a statement about the focus and/or thesis of the article in the introductory paragraph.
- The introduction is not the place to present evidence for your opinion. The evidence can be written in the body paragraph in the critique.
- Dare to convey the purpose in the introduction directly. Do not go round and round or less serious because it will reduce the credibility of your writing.
Step 2. Provide evidence for your opinion in the body of the critique paragraph
Each paragraph should explain a new idea or develop an opinion in a new direction.
- Begin each paragraph's body with a theme sentence that summarizes the entire paragraph in it. However, don't insist on summarizing entire paragraphs in one theme sentence. This sentence only serves as a transition from one idea to another.
- End each body paragraph with an intermediate sentence that indicates, although not explicitly, where the next paragraph is headed. For example, you might write something like, "While Polan says that child obesity rates in the United States are increasing rapidly, there is evidence that obesity rates are decreasing in several American cities." The next paragraphs will give some specific examples of anomalies in some of the cities you just mentioned.
Step 3. Complicate your opinion at the end of the critique
No matter how strong your opinion is, there's always a way to make your writing more interesting by adding a finishing touch or taking it a step further and pointing out the possible implications. Do this in this last paragraph before you conclude to leave a deep final impression on your readers.
You could, for example, provide an anticipated rebuttal as a counter-critic to your critique to reaffirm your position. Use phrases such as "Undeniable", "Must admit", "Maybe someone will object" to write a rebuttal. Then, answer the possible objections and reinforce your opinion with "but", "however", or "even so"
Step 4. Present your opinion in a logical and objective tone
Avoid writing that is too harsh and criticizing; this can dissuade many readers. Demonstrate your passion for conducting thorough research and effective opinion delivery.
While the phrase "This is rubbish writing that is an insult to all historians" may get people to pay attention, the phrase "This article does not meet the academic standards in a historical study" is more likely to be taken seriously by the reader
Step 5. Conclude your critique by summarizing your entire opinion and providing suggestions
In addition to summarizing your opinion at the end, you also need to convey to all readers the importance of your critique for the field of science as a whole.
- Are there far-reaching implications for the field of science under discussion, or is your critique simply refuting another expert's chaotic work?
- Write a final sentence that leaves a deep mark on your readers by using bold sentences that show the importance of your writing: "Challenging the opinion of such a well-known expert is not easy or fun, but it is something we must do for our generation and for the next."
Warning
- Avoid criticizing styles that include comments such as "I liked this post" or "This post is bad." Stay focused on the content of the writing.
- Avoid summarizing for any reason. It is better to make a short critique than to fill a blank page with boring summaries.
Tips
- Write criticism from a third-person point of view, unless the writing style requires something else. Always read the writing guidelines before starting to write.
- Write confidently and decisively.
- Always reread your writing at least twice before submitting it to your professor, supervisor, or sending it to a publisher.
- If you like writing articles, look for writing jobs that are widely spread on the internet, so that your hobby can make money at the same time. One of the websites that recruit article writers is Contentesia.
