Critique how to write

How to write critiques: An easy A to Z

Learning how to write critiques is a valuable skill to master, whether you’re in a writing group or are an aspiring editor. But how do you write a useful, constructive critique of another writer, especially if you feel ‘unqualified’ (a concern less experienced members of our writing groups have shared in the past)? Here’s a simple A to Z to help:

Learning how to write critiques is a valuable skill to master, whether you’re in a writing group or are an aspiring editor. But how do you write a useful, constructive critique of another writer, especially if you feel ‘unqualified’ (a concern less experienced members of our writing groups have shared in the past)? Here’s a simple A to Z to help:

How to write critiques and evaluations: A to Z

To make sure your critique helps a writer and their story, remember to:

That’s A through O. Share your thoughts for what words ‘P’ through ‘Z’ should be in the comments, and we may add yours to the article, attributing it!

Let’s define these rules for how to write critiques further:

1. Make feedback actionable

What is actionable feedback?

Compare ‘I didn’t really like this’ to ‘I think readers might get bored with the long, meandering paragraphs of flashbacks. Maybe switch between shorter flashbacks and the presently unfolding story to keep each timeline suspenseful.’

The latter pinpoints specifically what the reader did not like and how to make the scene better. This specificity is vital for good fiction editing.

2. Claim your own bias

What if you simply don’t like a certain thing some writers do? It could be:

If you have a specific personal bias or preference, it may be worthwhile to state this so that the author has context for any future feedback point that may be coloured by this bias.

3. Keep it caring

Does this mean you must declare your undying love for the writer? No. It does mean maintaining a degree of empathy for the writer who has been courageous in sharing something they have created for others’ scrutiny.

For example, compare ‘I got really bored here. Whoa you’re bad!’ to ‘A reader could find this part less engaging because x. Perhaps add y or shorten z’.

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The second option is implying a passage is less interesting (to the reader) yet without being personal, accusatory, or judgmental. It uses hypotheticals (‘a reader could’) to imply possibility.

4. Err towards detail

Broad brushtrokes do not a good writing critique make.

Giving detail in your writing critique is much more useful than a sweeping statement such as ‘you don’t describe enough’.

When you state something about a piece in a writing critique, remember to ask:

For example, if you said ‘You should consider a little more description because your characters are a bit like disembodied heads floating in blank space’ this uses an analogy to show that there is not enough descriptive detail in the story’s setting, use of the characters’ physicality, and so forth.

5. Stay encouraging

Being encouraging is not the same as being dishonest.

In learning how to write critiques, it’s important to balance blunt observations with encouragement (and lean into the latter more). Writing coaches will attest to the fact that you win more (and establish trust) with sweetness than vinegar, as the saying goes.

If a writer asks for brutally honest feedback, this may be an invitation for the gloves to come off. It’s an indication they already have a thicker skin, and don’t care if you don’t hold back. Yet even when people say this, they don’t necessarily anticipate ‘finishing off’ barbs, so best err on the side of caution.

When in doubt, go for the mud sandwich: A positive, followed by a suggestion/criticism, followed by a positive.

End with encouraging words such as ‘keep going’, ‘you’ve got this’ or similar, regardless of the quality of the piece. It does not cancel out any criticisms or suggestions you’ve made. It is merely an invitation to persevere, whatever the amount of work this will take.

6. Strive to be fair

As you learn how to write a critique, strive to be fair.

What do you expect an author to know?

As an example, if you are critiquing a piece of writing by someone for whom English is not a first language, you may need to explain trickier English idioms along the way.

Tailor your feedback to where someone is at in their writing journey, not demanding more than they are capable of at this point. Recognise and give kudos for the work they’ve already put in so far.

7. Try to be generous

In writing groups, we may find it tempting to do the bare minimum in giving critiques. After all, we want to save energy for our own writing and submissions. So we gloss over details that we know could use work.

Instead of glossing over, take your time. The more generous you are with your time and critiques, the more others will value your contribution.

This creates a reciprocal critique space where everyone has a desire to help every other member, whatever their own personal level of qualification.

8. Keep it honest

Writing critiques are most helpful when honest. If someone needs to go back to building blocks and learn the basics of spelling, punctuation and grammar, it’s better they know this now.

It is tempting to heap praise on others when they are trying and you are building rapport. But you can be frank without being cruel if you follow the tips in this A to Z of how to write critiques.

9. Identify patterns

One of the most helpful services you can provide another writer is to identify patterns they may be aware of.

One member of your writing group may tend towards detailed character psychology but pay no mind to setting.

Another might repeatedly make a specific grammar error such as a comma splice or a dangling modifier.

This is where you can be a great asset.

If you notice someone making the same mistake over and over, correct the error but also share a resource that explains how to avoid the same error in future. This is how we grow each other’s ability for good.

10. Justify critique suggestions

What’s more helpful than writing critique suggestions such as ‘think about the goal, motivation and conflict for your character in this chapter’? A justification for the suggestion.

When you suggest a writer makes a change, justify why the piece will benefit. Will cutting out those lines of redundant dialogue make the scene flow with better pace? Will focusing on what the main character wants help the reader understand the risks and the stakes?

Let your critique recipient know your reasoning.

11. Balance criticism with kindness

As discussed regarding the ethics of care, it’s important to balance criticism with kindness.

When you give a critique, it might be to a near-stranger. Yet think, ‘how would I say this to my best friend over a cup of tea or a glass of wine? Or to my most sensitive, touchy, dearest family member?’

12. Mention what you loved

Learning how to write critiques isn’t only about finding how to pinpoint precise, actionable suggestions and fixes.

You might assume that an author knows that their character is a hoot, that their world is deep and layered. But tell them anyway. List what you loved, what resonated.

Not only does this help writers know what to keep. It also lets them know what moves and interests you.

This gives context for your responses as a reader while also building rapport in your writing group.

13. Remember the intended message

In writing critique groups, we enjoy a benefit as writers we don’t always have when work is ‘out there’, in the wild. The ability to guide readers’ reception via explanations, sharing story concepts and the message we’re striving to convey.

If the author has specified the purpose of a scene (as members often do in critique submissions on Now Novel), keep this in mind. It’s a valuable clue to a precise objective you can make the topical focus of your feedback.

14. Only nitpick if necessary

Sometimes writing submitted to a critique group is so polished that you have to nitpick to provide utility.

At other times, an author may grow annoyed if you harp on minute errors.

If in doubt over what level of detail to go into, focus on any clues the author has given (such as whether this is a first draft or an MS that has been through many edits already).

This will give you an idea of whether to take out your fine comb or your hammer and chisel.

15. Stay open to other genres/ideas

In learning how to write critiques, it’s a valuable exercise to critique outside of your comfort zone.

Maybe you don’t know the ins and outs of sci-fi, romance or fantasy. Maybe the author has an anti-hero narrator who is not the moral or woke agent you want them to be.

Try to be open to other genres and ideas. You don’t have to necessarily agree with the exact politics or aesthetics of a piece of writing to work out and advise on how it could become a better version of itself.

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How to Critique an Article

This article was co-authored by Richard Perkins and by wikiHow staff writer, Christopher M. Osborne, PhD. Richard Perkins is a Writing Coach, Academic English Coordinator, and the Founder of PLC Learning Center. With over 24 years of education experience, he gives teachers tools to teach writing to students and works with elementary to university level students to become proficient, confident writers. Richard is a fellow at the National Writing Project. As a teacher leader and consultant at California State University Long Beach’s Global Education Project, Mr. Perkins creates and presents teacher workshops that integrate the U.N.’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the K-12 curriculum. He holds a BA in Communications and TV from The University of Southern California and an MEd from California State University Dominguez Hills.

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 25 testimonials and 80% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

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A critique of an article is the objective analysis of a literary or scientific piece, with emphasis on whether or not the author supported the main points with reasonable and applicable arguments based on facts. It’s easy to get caught up in simply summarizing the points of an article without truly analyzing and challenging it. A good critique demonstrates your impressions of the article, while providing ample evidence to back up your impressions. As the critic, take time to read carefully and thoughtfully, prepare your arguments and evidence, and write clearly and cogently.

How to Critique an Article

What Is an Article Critique?

An article critique is an assignment that requires a student to critically read a research article and reflect upon it. The key task is to identify the strong and weak sides of the piece and assess how well the author interprets its sources. Simply put, a critique reflects upon the validity and effectiveness of the arguments the article’s author used in his or her work.

The key to success in writing this paper is critical thinking. The task of every author of a research article is to convince readers of the correctness of his or her viewpoint, even if it is skewed. Thus, the only ways to distinguish solid arguments from weak ones are to be a good researcher, have the right tools to pick out facts from fiction, and possess solid critical thinking skills.

How to write a critique paper – In this guide, we are going to take you through the process of writing this type of work step by step. Before we move on, it is worth noting that the main purpose of a good article critique is to bring up points that determine whether a reviewed article is either correct or incorrect—much like you would do while writing a persuasive essay. Although the purpose is similar, the structure of the article critique that we are going to address in this guide is slightly different from the standard 5-paragraph essay; however, both formats are suitable for convincing readers about the validity of your point of view.

How to Critique an Article: The Main Steps

This form of assignment is naturally challenging and rather confusing. It is no wonder why students may begin to feel overwhelmed with figuring out how to write an article critique.

To help you get your task done with ease, we have prepared a simple 3-step guide on how to summarize and critique an article:

Step 1: Reading the Article

First of all, to critique the article, you need to read it carefully. For a better outcome, it is recommended to read the piece several times—until you fully understand the information presented in it. Next, you need to address the following questions:

1. Why is the article’s author considered an expert in their field?
What makes a particular author’s opinion sound valid? Is the author knowledgeable about the topic? What do other field experts say about the author? Is the article’s author covered in academic praise or not taken seriously?

2. What is the author’s thesis/hypothesis?
What is the main message the author is trying to convey? Is this message clear? Or are there just plenty of general phrases without any specific details?

3. Who is the article’s target audience?
Is the article geared towards a general audience? Or does it appeal to a specific group of people and use language that is only understandable to that audience?

4. Are the arguments presented valid?
Are the sources used by the author from all over the place? Does it seem like some sources are taken from places that share a cult-like vocabulary?

5. What are the logical fallacies in the author’s viewpoint?
Are there any logical blindspots? How much do they affect the outcome?

6. Is the conclusion clear and logical?
Did the author arrive at a clear outcome in his or her work?

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Step 2: Collecting Proof

The first step will help you read and understand the piece, look at it from a critical point of view, and reflect upon it. Now, when you have an idea about which way you should be heading in your critique paper, it is the time to start gathering evidence. Here are the main steps you should undertake:

1. Define Whether the Author Is Following Formal Logic
One of the key things to look for when writing an article critique is the presence of any logical fallacies. Establishing that the author’s general idea follows logic is not easy, but it is an essential step to coping with the task.

Often, undereducated people have some common logical fallacies. An example of this is to accept certain information based on the feelings and/or emotions it evokes, rather than focusing on the supporting arguments.

Here is a list of some common examples of logical fallacies with brief explanations of each:

2. Search for Any Biased Opinions in the Article
Another step is to evaluate the piece based on the presence of biased opinions. The thing is that people often pick sides of an argument based on the outcomes rather than the evidence. If the outcome makes them feel bad in any way, they can search for any proof that would discredit it and, thus, make them feel better.

3. Pay Attention to the Way the Author Interprets Others’ Texts. Does He or She Look at Others’ Viewpoints through Inappropriate Political Lenses?
It takes a lot of experience and many years of research practice to learn to recognize the fingerprints of all of the political slants that are out there. To grasp the concept, let’s look at the subject of animal studies. To begin with, it’s worth noting that some people become involved in certain industries due to their emotional involvement in their related topics. For example, people who write a lot about animals are very likely those who genuinely love them. This can put their work at risk of being biased towards portraying animals in a way that gives their topic more importance than it deserves. This is a clear example of what you should be looking for.

When reading and re-reading the article, find and highlight cases in which the author overstates the importance of some things due to his or her own beliefs. To polish your mental research instruments, go back to point 1 of this list to review the list of logical fallacies you can look out for.

4. Check Cited Sources
Another big step to writing a perfect critique paper is to identify whether the author of the article cited untrustworthy sources of information. Doing this is not easy and requires certain experience.
For example, let’s look at the Breitbart news. How would you define whether it is an untrustworthy source or not? To rate trustworthiness, one should know about its long history of distorting facts to suit a far-right agenda. Learning this requires paying a lot of attention to local and international news.

5. Evaluate the Language Used in the Article
Language plays a vital role in every article, regardless of the field and topic. Therefore, while working on your critique, you should pay close attention to the language the article’s author uses.
Just to give you a clear example of what you should be looking for: some words have cultural meanings attached to them which can create a sort of confrontation in the article. Such words can place people, objects, or ideas into the “them” side in the “us vs. them” scenario.

For example, if someone conservative refers to an opponent using the word “leftist”, this can be considered a form of attacking the messenger and not the message. A similar concept applies to a case when someone progressive refers to an opponent using the word “bigot”.

The use of such language in an article is a clear sign of logical fallacies. Authors use it to discredit their opponents on the merit of who they are, rather than what they say. This is poor word choice because the debate does not get resolved.

6. Question the Research Methods in Scientific Articles
This may not be always mandatory, but if you are writing an article critique for a scientific piece, you are expected to question and evaluate how the author did their research.

To do this, ask the following questions:

Step 3: Formatting Your Paper

Just like any other written assignment, a critique paper should be formatted and structured properly. A standard article critique consists of four parts: an introduction, summary, critique, and conclusion. Below is a clear checklist to help you grasp the idea of how a good paper should be formatted:

The name of the author and title of the article.

The core idea of the author.

The main idea of the article.

The main arguments presented in the article.

Highlight the strong and weak sides of the article.

Summary of the key points of the article.

Finalization of your conclusion with your comments on the relevancy of the research.

If you claim the research is relevant, make a statement of why further study in this field can be useful.

How to Critique a Journal Article

So, you were assigned to write a critique paper for a journal article? If you are not sure where to start, here is a step-by-step guide on how to critique a journal article:

1. Collect basic information
Regardless of the subject of the article you are going to critique, your paper has to contain some basic information, including the:

2. Read the article once and re-read after
First, get an overview of it and grasp the general idea of it. A good critique should reflect your qualified and educated opinion regarding the article. To shape such an opinion, you have to read the piece again, this time critically, and highlight everything that can be useful for writing your paper.

3.Write your critique based on the evidence you have collected
Here are the main questions to address when writing a journal article critique:

How to Critique a Research Article

If you are wondering how to critique a research article in particular, below we’ve outlined the key steps to follow.

Before you start writing:

While reading:

Struggling to find the strong and weak points that can shape your critique? Here is a simple checklist to help you understand what to critique in a research article (separated by sections):

Introduction

1. Problem

2. Review of the Relevant Literature

3. Hypothesis

Method

1. Participants

2. Instruments

3. Design and Procedures

Results

Discussion, Conclusion, or Suggestions

Abstract or Summary

Overall Impression

As you go through all of these steps, you can transition to writing. When writing your critique paper, you should make a critical evaluation of the research article you have read and use the evidence collected from the piece. To help you structure your research article critique properly, here is a sample outline of a critique of research for the article The Effects of Early Education on Children’s Competence in Elementary School:

1. Bibliographic Information

2. Summary of the Article

3. Critique

History: Was not controlled as the comparison children may have not spent their entire lives in the same area as the treatment students.

Maturation: Controlled. Students were matched by gender and grade.

Testing: The observers recorded students’ behaviors within 3-to-6 week periods. This fact may have influenced their behaviors.

Instrumentation: The tool used may have been a subject to bias from the observers’ perspective.

Selection bias: All selected students volunteered to participate in the study. Thus, the findings could be affected by self-selection.

Experimental mortality: Students who left the area were still tracked as a part of the treatment group, though they should have been evaluated separately.

Unique features of the program: The program was available both for community residents and non-residents.

Experimental arrangements: Brooklin is an affluent community, unlike many others.

4. Conclusion

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Critique how to write

At some stage in the writing process, most writers want feedback on their work. But not all kinds of feedback are productive.

Here are some tips on how to organize a helpful critique and how to get the most out of feedback on your work.

How to Write a Critique: The Critiquer’s Role

As a critiquer, your job is to understand the writer’s goals and help the writer achieve them.

Every writer has a different voice and approach. It is sometimes tempting to change someone else’s piece to make it more like something YOU would have written. Instead, help the writer produce the best possible version of what THAT WRITER is trying to write. Consider the piece on its own terms and help it fulfill its potential.

How to Write a Critique: Before the Critique

Before preparing a critique, we suggest reading the piece several times, taking notes on each reading. Each reading will give you different insights that can benefit the author.

With each reading, you will have a better perspective on the piece’s structure, but you will be in a worse position to judge the unfolding of information and to identify points of confusion.

How to Write a Critique: Suggested Critique Format

Below is a format that we have found to work well for giving critiques.

How to Write a Critique: Do’s and Don’ts

How to Write a Critique: The Author’s Role

We suggest that the author try not to talk at all during an oral critique except to ask clarifying questions at the end (if the author didn’t hear or understand something, he or she can ask the critiquer to repeat or expand on it).

There is a natural tendency for authors to try to explain their work, particularly if they see that the critiquer has not understood it the way they intended. But the author’s responses can influence the direction of the critique. The critiquer can end up commenting on the author’s explanation of the work, rather than what the author has actually written. The critique can even turn into a debate.

How to Write a Critique: Advice on Receiving a Critique

If you’re on the receiving end of a critique, focus on listening and understanding the feedback you receive. You don’t have to agree with it. You won’t have to follow any of the suggestions you’re given.

In fact, some of the suggestions you get are likely to be not-so-useful. You will have to sort them out from the useful ones and make your own decisions. But save this sorting-out for later. Otherwise, the sorting-out process will interfere with your ability to listen. And you’ll probably do a better job of sorting out the good advice from the bad if you take some time first to digest everything.

Take careful notes on ALL the feedback and ask questions if there’s something you don’t understand. Don’t argue with the critiquer or defend your piece. Don’t even try to explain it.

After the critique, we suggest taking a break before you try to sort the feedback out. Getting a critique can be hard. Relax a little afterwards. Go out with some friends; watch TV; get a good night’s sleep. It will improve your perspective.

Which suggestions do you agree with? Which ones do you want to ignore? If you’re not sure about a suggestion, do some experimental rewriting. Try it out. There’s no risk. If you don’t like the result of the revision, you can always trash it and go back to the original version.

Remember: you’re the author. You’re the one in charge here.

How to Write a Critique: Next Steps

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How to Write a Critique Paper: Tips + Critique Essay Examples

A critique paper is an academic writing genre that summarizes and gives a critical evaluation of a concept or work. Or, to put it simply, it is no more than a summary and a critical analysis of a specific issue. This type of writing aims to evaluate the impact of the given work or concept in its field.

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Want to learn more? Continue reading this article written by Custom-writing experts! It contains:

💁 What Is a Critique Paper?

A critique is a particular academic writing genre that requires you to carefully study, summarize, and critically analyze a study or a concept. In other words, it is nothing more than a critical analysis. That is all you are doing when writing a critical essay: trying to understand the work and present an evaluation. Critical essays can be either positive or negative, as the work deserves.

👣 How to Write a Critique Essay: Main Steps

Starting critique essays is the most challenging part. You are supposed to substantiate your opinion with quotes and paraphrases, avoiding retelling the entire text. A critical analysis aims to find out whether an article or another piece of writing is compelling. First, you need to formulate the author’s thesis: what was the literary work supposed to convey? Then, explore the text on how this main idea was elaborated. Finally, draft your critique according to the structure given below.

Step 1: Critical Reading

1.1. Attentively read the literary work. While reading, make notes and underline the essentials.

1.2. Find or formulate the author’s thesis.

1.3. Make a summary or synopsis of the analyzed text.

Step 2: Analyzing the Text

After the reading phase, ask yourself the following questions:

Step 3: Drafting the Essay

Finally, it is time to draft your essay. First of all, you’ll need to write a brief overview of the text you’re analyzing. Then, formulate a thesis statement – one sentence that will contain your opinion of the work under scrutiny. After that, make a one-paragraph summary of the text.

You can use this simple template for the draft version of your analysis. Another thing that can help you at this step is a summary creator to make the creative process more efficient.

Critique Paper Template

👀 Critical Essay Types

You can evaluate the chosen work or concept in several ways. Pick the one you feel more comfortable with from the following:

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There are also different types of critiques. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, in the article “Writing critiques,” discusses them as well as the appropriate critique language.

📑 Critique Paper: Format & Structure

The main parts of good critical response essays are:

Critique Paper Introduction

The introduction is setting the stage for your analysis. Here are some tips to follow when working on it:

Critique Paper Body

The body of the critique contains the supporting paragraphs. This is where you will provide the facts that prove your main idea and support your thesis. Follow the tips below when writing the body of your critique.

Critique Paper Conclusion

Finally, you will need to write a conclusion for your critique. The conclusion reasserts your overall general opinion of the ideas presented in the text and ensures there is no doubt in the reader’s mind about what you believe and why. Follow these tips when writing your conclusion:

For more details on how to write a critique, check out the great critique analysis template provided by Thompson Rivers University.

If you want more information on essay writing in general, look at the Secrets of Essay Writing.

📚 Critique Essay Examples

With all of the information and tips provided above, your way will become clearer when you have a solid example of a critique essay.

Below is a critical response to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

When speaking of feminist literature that is prominent and manages to touch on incredibly controversial issues, The Yellow Wallpaper is the first book that comes to mind. Written from a first-person perspective, magnifying the effect of the narrative, the short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman introduces the reader to the problem of the physical and mental health of the women of the 19th century. However, the message that is intended to concern feminist ideas is rather subtle. Written in the form of several diary entries, the novel offers a mysterious plot, and at the same time, shockingly realistic details.

What really stands out about the novel is the fact that the reader is never really sure how much of the story takes place in reality and how much of it happens in the psychotic mind of the protagonist. In addition, the novel contains a plethora of description that contributes to the strain and enhances the correlation between the atmosphere and the protagonist’s fears: “The color is repellent, almost revolting; a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight” (Gilman).

Despite Gilman’s obvious intent to make the novel a feminist story with a dash of thriller thrown in, the result is instead a thriller with a dash of feminism, as Allen (2009) explains. However, there is no doubt that the novel is a renowned classic. Offering a perfect portrayal of the 19th-century stereotypes, it is a treasure that is certainly worth the read.

If you need another critique essay example, take a look at our sample on “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde.

And here are some more critique paper examples for you check out: