WRITING A CRITICAL REVIEW
A critical review is an opportunity for you to analyze the content and presentation of a book or an article objectively. By doing so, you determine whether it is an effective discussion of the subject, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the piece. A critical review is not a summary. It is also not simply your opinion about the book. In order to review something effectively, you have to ask yourself many questions. ere are some e!amples"
#hat is the thesis of the work$ #as it clear$ #hy or why not$ %oes the author make an argument$ Is it valid$ #hy or why not$ #hat kinds of evidence does the author use to back up his or her argument$ Is it effective$ #hy or why not$ &If appropriate' %oes the author use both primary and secondary sources$ %oes he or she use them effectively$ #hy or why not$ #hat is the overall organization of the piece$ Is the structure effective$ #hy or why not$ %oes the article or book contribute to the scholarly discussion, or to topics in your course$ #hy or why not$ %oes the author set out plans for future discussion$ #hat are they$ %oes the author have a bias$ Is it problematic or e!plicable$ #hy or why not$ #hat are the credentials of the author$
(ou will notice that, while asking questions is important, backing up your responses by answering the question why is equally important. #hen you address the reasons behind your observations you are being analytical.
READING
ow do you start a critical review$ )ook over the article or book. )ook at the chapter or section divisions. )ook at subheadings and sections. *heck the inde!. *heck for pictures. #hat do you think the book or article will be about$ Are there any clues as to the direction or thesis$ +ake a list of questions. (ou can write them down or simply keep them in the back of your mind. But do start with a list of questions. ,ead and take notes, always referring to your questions. #ith a book, take your notes while focusing on the point to each chapter. -or articles, think about organization and how the points relate to the central point of the article. #hat is the significance of each section or chapter$ Answer the questions above, as well as any other ones that you come up with while you are reading.
Revised Winter 2008
WRITING THE REVIEW:
.ssentially, your job is to indicate whether the article or book is effective at what it sets out to do. (ou have to be able to justify your response by showing why the work in question is or is not effective. ere is a basic format for doing a critical review. owever, always check with your professor to make sure that this is a format that he or she accepts. %ifferent fields will have different criteria for reviews.
Introduction:
(our introduction needs to establish your thesis / was the work effective or not$ It should introduce the specific work you have reviewed, and indicate something about the subject matter. 0his is where people often go wrong. 0he summary section of a critical review should be very short. It is usually between a paragraph and a page, depending on the length of the book or article. 0he purpose of the summary is not to provide every single detail of the work, but rather to provide the reader with an overview of the thesis, main arguments, and structure. ere is the section where you answer the questions you have set yourself. 0his section involves some decision making on your part. 1ot all of the questions posed earlier are relevant to the discussion. #hat are the most important points you need to make about the strengths and weaknesses of the article or book$ About the scholarship$ About the organization$ ,emember" this is not the place for summary2 In this section you may be asked to draw on material from other sources. -or e!ample, if you want to indicate that someone has used sources incorrectly, you may want to cite an e!ample from an author who has used them correctly. If you disagree with the thesis, but agree with that put forward by another author, you might want to e!plain how the second writer makes a better argument. 1ever forget, however, that your points are all about the book or article you are reviewing, not the subject matter.
Summary:
Analysis:
Conclusions:
3um up the most important points you want to make about the work in question. ,estate your overall assessment of the book. #ould you recommend it to others$ #hy$ %oes it relate to your course$ #hy$ #hy not$
-inal 0hought" Always remember to find out from your professor if there are any specific formatting rules you should follow, as well as which citation system he or she prefers.
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