Topic: Critical Review
Order Description
Critical Review Instructions you have to read an article
i will provide the article that you do the Critical Review on
do NOT use outside article or sources ZERO sources
you have to read the article carefully then write the review
pls make sure the grammar is perfect because this is a english-business class they will evaluate
the review and the grammar
here is information helps you if you are working on the review
this is my Dr gave this explanation so pls read it so you can write the review
WRITING A CRITICAL REVIEW
What is a critical review?
A critical review is much more than a simple summary; it is an analysis and evaluation of a book,
article, or other medium. Writing a good critical review requires that you understand the material,
and that you know how to analyze and evaluate that material using appropriate criteria.
Steps to writing an effective critical review:
Reading
Skim the whole text to determine the overall thesis, structure and methodology. This will help you
better understand how the different elements fit together once you begin reading carefully.
Read critically. It is not enough to understand only what the author is saying; it is essential to
challenge it. Examine how the article is structured, the types of reasons or evidence used to
support the conclusions, and whether the author is reliant on underlying assumptions or theoretical
frameworks. Take copious notes that reflect what the text means AND what you think about it.
Analysis
Examine all elements. All aspects of the text—the structure, the methods, the reasons and evidence,
the conclusions, and, especially, the logical connections between all of these—should be
considered. The types of questions asked will vary depending on the discipline in which you are
writing, but the following samples will provide a good starting point:
Structure
What type of text is it? (For example: Is it a primary source or secondary source? Is it original
research or a comment on original research?) What are the different sections and how do they fit
together?
Is any of the sections particularly effective (or ineffective)?
Methodology
Is the research quantitative or qualitative? Theoretical or applied?
Does the methodology have any weaknesses?
How does the design of the study address the hypothesis?
Reasons or Evidence
What sources does the author use (interviews, peer-reviewed journals, government reports, journal
entries, newspaper accounts)?
What types of reasoning are employed?
What type of evidence is provided (empirical, statistical, logical)?
Are there any gaps in the evidence (or reasoning)?
Conclusions
Does the data adequately support the conclusion drawn by the researcher(s)?
Are other interpretations plausible?
Are the conclusions dependent on a particular theoretical formulation?
What does the work contribute to the field?
Logic
What assumptions does the author make?
Does the author account for all of the data, or are portions left out?
What alternative perspectives remain unconsidered?
Are there any logical flaws in the construction of the argument?
Writing
Formulate a thesis based on your overall evaluation. A strong thesis will acknowledge both
strengths and limitations.
Correct: While the article reports significant research supporting the view that certain types of
computer use can have a positive impact on a student’s GPA, the conclusion that game playing alone
can improve student achievement is based on a misinterpretation of the evidence.
Incorrect: This article misinterprets key evidence to support the conclusion that game playing can
improve GPA.
Ensure that your thesis answers the assignment. If you are asked to write a review of a single
text, with no outside sources, then your essay should focus strictly on the material in the text
and your analysis and evaluation of it. If you are asked to write about more than one work, or to
draw connections between an article or book and the course material, then your review should
address these concerns.
Choose a structure that will best allow you to support your thesis within the required page
constraints.
The first example below works well with shorter assignments, but the risk is that too much time
will be spent developing the overview, and too little time on the evaluation. The second example
works better for longer reviews because it combines a brief summary of paragraphs or a point from
the text with analysis and evaluation, allowing the reader to follow the argument easily.
Two common structures used for critical reviews, paragraph by paragraph:
Example 1
Introduction
Overview of the text
Evaluation of the text
_ Point 1
_ Point 2
_ Point 3
_ Point 4 …. (continue as necessary)
Conclusion
Example 2
Introduction (with thesis)
Point 1: Explanation and evaluation
Point 2: Explanation and evaluation
Point 3: Explanation and evaluation
(continue elaborating as many points as necessary) Conclusion
Important: Avoid presenting your points in a laundry-list style. Synthesize the information as much
as possible.
Contents of Paragraphs
Above the introduction, provide the APA or MLA reference for the article. Since this article is
your only source, a reference page is not required.
Introductory paragraph
Introduce the title, authors and date of the article as if the reference is not there. Next
introduce the article’s topic. Finally, offer your evaluation to serve as a thesis.
First paragraph of the body
Summarize the article, telling us what the researchers wanted to discover, how they went about
doing it and what they found out. Details appear in your analysis as you critique the article.
Body paragraphs (assuming a positive review)
Each paragraph should introduce a weakness, then explain why the criticism is incorrect or
unimportant. Only a two or three paragraphs are required.
Transition from the weaknesses to paragraphs arguing the article’s strengths. After introducing the
strength in the topic sentence, quickly present any weakness but use the rest of the paragraph to
provide evidence and argument to support the strength.
Concluding Paragraph
Remind us of your evaluation. Tell us the value of the article for researchers. Finally, tell us
who should read the article and why.
NOTE: If your assessment is negative, briefly explains strengths first, then move to weaknesses.