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How to Write a Research Paper
Writing a research paper is a bit more difficult that a standard high school essay. You need to site sources, use academic data and show scientific examples. Before beginning, you’ll need guidelines for how to write a research paper.
Start the Research Process
Before you begin writing the research paper, you must do your research. It is important that you understand the subject matter, formulate the ideas of your paper, create your thesis statement and learn how to speak about your given topic in an authoritative manner. You’ll be looking through online databases, encyclopedias, almanacs, periodicals, books, newspapers, government publications, reports, guides and scholarly resources. Take notes as you discover new information about your given topic. Also keep track of the references you use so you can build your bibliography later and cite your resources.
Develop Your Thesis Statement
When organizing your research paper, the thesis statement is where you explain to your readers what they can expect, present your claims, answer any questions that you were asked or explain your interpretation of the subject matter you’re researching. Therefore, the thesis statement must be strong and easy to understand. Your thesis statement must also be precise. It should answer the question you were assigned, and there should be an opportunity for your position to be opposed or disputed. The body of your manuscript should support your thesis, and it should be more than a generic fact.
Create an Outline
Many professors require outlines during the research paper writing process. You’ll find that they want outlines set up with a title page, abstract, introduction, research paper body and reference section. The title page is typically made up of the student’s name, the name of the college, the name of the class and the date of the paper. The abstract is a summary of the paper. An introduction typically consists of one or two pages and comments on the subject matter of the research paper. In the body of the research paper, you’ll be breaking it down into materials and methods, results and discussions. Your references are in your bibliography. Use a research paper example to help you with your outline if necessary.
Organize Your Notes
When writing your first draft, you’re going to have to work on organizing your notes first. During this process, you’ll be deciding which references you’ll be putting in your bibliography and which will work best as in-text citations. You’ll be working on this more as you develop your working drafts and look at more white paper examples to help guide you through the process.
Write Your Final Draft
After you’ve written a first and second draft and received corrections from your professor, it’s time to write your final copy. By now, you should have seen an example of a research paper layout and know how to put your paper together. You’ll have your title page, abstract, introduction, thesis statement, in-text citations, footnotes and bibliography complete. Be sure to check with your professor to ensure if you’re writing in APA style, or if you’re using another style guide.
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8.1: What’s a Critique and Why Does it Matter?
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- Steven D. Krause
- Eastern Michigan University
Critiques evaluate and analyze a wide variety of things (texts, images, performances, etc.) based on reasons or criteria. Sometimes, people equate the notion of “critique” to “criticism,” which usually suggests a negative interpretation. These terms are easy to confuse, but I want to be clear that critique and criticize don’t mean the same thing. A negative critique might be said to be “criticism” in the way we often understand the term “to criticize,” but critiques can be positive too.
We’re all familiar with one of the most basic forms of critique: reviews (film reviews, music reviews, art reviews, book reviews, etc.). Critiques in the form of reviews tend to have a fairly simple and particular point: whether or not something is “good” or “bad.”
Academic critiques are similar to the reviews we see in popular sources in that critique writers are trying to make a particular point about whatever it is that they are critiquing. But there are some differences between the sorts of critiques we read in academic sources versus the ones we read in popular sources.
- The subjects of academic critiques tend to be other academic writings and they frequently appear in scholarly journals.
- Academic critiques frequently go further in making an argument beyond a simple assessment of the quality of a particular book, film, performance, or work of art. Academic critique writers will often compare and discuss several works that are similar to each other to make some larger point. In other words, instead of simply commenting on whether something was good or bad, academic critiques tend to explore issues and ideas in ways that are more complicated than merely “good” or “bad.”
The main focus of this chapter is the value of writing critiques as a part of the research writing process. Critiquing writing is important because in order to write a good critique you need to critically read : that is, you need to closely read and understand whatever it is you are critiquing, you need to apply appropriate criteria in order evaluate it, you need to summarize it, and to ultimately make some sort of point about the text you are critiquing.
These skills-- critically and closely reading, summarizing, creating and applying criteria, and then making an evaluation-- are key to The Process of Research Writing, and they should help you as you work through the process of research writing.
In this chapter, I’ve provided a “step-by-step” process for making a critique. I would encourage you to quickly read or skim through this chapter first, and then go back and work through the steps and exercises describe.
Selecting the right text to critique
The first step in writing a critique is selecting a text to critique. For the purposes of this writing exercise, you should check with your teacher for guidelines on what text to pick. If you are doing an annotated bibliography as part of your research project (see chapter 6, “The Annotated Bibliography Exercise”), then you are might find more materials that will work well for this project as you continuously research.
Short and simple newspaper articles, while useful as part of the research process, can be difficult to critique since they don’t have the sort of detail that easily allows for a critical reading. On the other hand, critiquing an entire book is probably a more ambitious task than you are likely to have time or energy for with this exercise. Instead, consider critiquing one of the more fully developed texts you’ve come across in your research: an in-depth examination from a news magazine, a chapter from a scholarly book, a report on a research study or experiment, or an analysis published in an academic journal. These more complex essays usually present more opportunities for issues to critique.
Depending on your teacher’s assignment, the “text” you critique might include something that isn’t in writing: a movie, a music CD, a multimedia presentation, a computer game, a painting, etc. As is the case with more traditional writings, you want to select a text that has enough substance to it so that it stands up to a critical reading.
Exercise 7.1
Pick out at least three different possibilities for texts that you could critique for this exercise. If you’ve already started work on your research and an annotated bibliography for your research topic, you should consider those pieces of research as possibilities. Working alone or in small groups, consider the potential of each text. Here are some questions to think about:
- Does the text provide in-depth information? How long is it? Does it include a “works cited” or bibliography section?
- What is the source of the text? Does it come from an academic, professional, or scholarly publication?
- Does the text advocate a particular position? What is it, and do you agree or disagree with the text?
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To critique a piece of writing is to do the following:
- describe: give the reader a sense of the writer’s overall purpose and intent
- analyze: examine how the structure and language of the text convey its meaning
- interpret: state the significance or importance of each part of the text
- assess: make a judgment of the work’s worth or value
FORMATTING A CRITIQUE
Here are two structures for critiques, one for nonfiction and one for fiction/literature.
The Critique Format for Nonfiction
Introduction
- name of author and work
- general overview of subject and summary of author's argument
- focusing (or thesis) sentence indicating how you will divide the whole work for discussion or the particular elements you will discuss
- objective description of a major point in the work
- detailed analysis of how the work conveys an idea or concept
- interpretation of the concept
- repetition of description, analysis, interpretation if more than one major concept is covered
- overall interpretation
- relationship of particular interpretations to subject as a whole
- critical assessment of the value, worth, or meaning of the work, both negative and positive
The Critique Format for Fiction/Literature
- brief summary/description of work as a whole
- focusing sentence indicating what element you plan to examine
- general indication of overall significance of work
- literal description of the first major element or portion of the work
- detailed analysis
- interpretation
- literal description of second major element
- interpretation (including, if necessary, the relationship to the first major point)
- overall interpretation of the elements studied
- consideration of those elements within the context of the work as a whole
- critical assessment of the value, worth, meaning, or significance of the work, both positive and negative
You may not be asked in every critique to assess a work, only to analyze and interpret it. If you are asked for a personal response, remember that your assessment should not be the expression of an unsupported personal opinion. Your interpretations and your conclusions must be based on evidence from the text and follow from the ideas you have dealt with in the paper.
Remember also that a critique may express a positive as well as a negative assessment. Don't confuse critique with criticize in the popular sense of the word, meaning “to point out faults.”
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What is the importance of writing a critique?

- Writing a critique on a work helps us to develop: A knowledge of the work's subject area or related works. An understanding of the work's purpose, intended audience, development of argument, structure of evidence or creative style. A recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the work.
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Online Guide to Writing and Research
Other frequently assigned papers, explore more of umgc.
- Online Guide to Writing
Reviews and Reaction Papers
Article and book reviews.
Some assignments may ask you to write a review of a book or journal article. Sometimes, students think a book report and a book review are the same. However, there are significant differences.
A book report summarizes the contents of the book, but a book review is a critical analysis of the book that describes, summarizes, and critiques the ideas in the book. A review is a means of going beyond the literal content of a source and is a tool for connecting ideas from a variety of academic sources. A review provides an objective analysis of ideas, support for opinions, and a way to evaluate your own opinions.
Why are book reviews beneficial to write?
Some instructors like to assign book reviews to help students broaden their view of the subject matter and to give students practice in critically evaluating ideas in the subject area. Instructors often require that students follow existing review formats modeled in the journals in their disciplines.
If you are asked to use such formats, remember that citations for books and journal articles differ from discipline to discipline. Find out which style guide is appropriate for the discipline in which you are writing. (Refer to the discussion of style manuals in chapter 5 of this guide for more information.)
Reviews let you relate to authors and agree or disagree with their ideas. A review allows you to examine your understanding of a subject area in light of the ideas presented in the reviewed book and interact with the author and his or her ideas. Also, a book review helps your instructor evaluate your understanding of the subject matter and your ability to think competently in your discipline.
Here are some questions to keep in mind when you are writing a book review:
What exactly is the subject of the book? What are the author’s credentials to write about this subject? Is the title suggestive? Does the preface contain information about the author’s purpose?
What is the author’s thesis? Is it clearly stated, or do you have to dig it out of the facts and opinions? Does the author present the ideas in a balanced way? What are the author’s biases?
What organizational approach does the author use? Does the chosen organization support the author’s thesis effectively?
What conclusion or conclusions does the author draw? Does the conclusion agree with the thesis or stated purposes? How does the conclusion differ from or agree with your course textbook or other books you have read?
How has this book helped you understand the subject you are studying in the course? Would you recommend the book to your reader?
As you write your review, ask yourself these questions:
Have I represented the author and the ideas presented in the book in a fair and balanced way?
Does the ethical tone of my review prompt the reader to trust my judgment? (You may want to review the discussion on writing arguments in this chapter.)
Does my review reflect the interests of my readers and fulfill my reasons for writing the review?
Have I demonstrated my understanding of the content of the article or book I’m reviewing? Have I clearly addressed the major issues in the subject area?
Have I clearly stated my own biases as a reviewer?
Have I clearly expressed my position about how much or how little the author has contributed to my understanding of the subject in question? Have I recommended or not recommended the book to other prospective readers?
Have I checked my review for organizational, grammatical, and mechanical errors?
Key Takeaway
A book review or article review is a critical analysis of the material that describes, summarizes, and critiques the ideas presented. The purpose of a book or article review assignment is to broaden your knowledge base and understanding of a topic.
Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD 20783 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . © 2022 UMGC. All links to external sites were verified at the time of publication. UMGC is not responsible for the validity or integrity of information located at external sites.
Table of Contents: Online Guide to Writing
Chapter 1: College Writing
How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?
What Is College Writing?
Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?
Chapter 2: The Writing Process
Doing Exploratory Research
Getting from Notes to Your Draft
Introduction
Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition
Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience
Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started
Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment
Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic
Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy
Rewriting: Getting Feedback
Rewriting: The Final Draft
Techniques to Get Started - Outlining
Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques
Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas
Writing: Outlining What You Will Write
Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies
A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone
A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction
Critical Strategies and Writing
Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis
Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation
Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion
Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis
Developing a Paper Using Strategies
Kinds of Assignments You Will Write
Patterns for Presenting Information
Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques
Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data
Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern
Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern
Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern
Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts
Supporting with Research and Examples
Writing Essay Examinations
Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete
Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing
Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question
Chapter 4: The Research Process
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources
Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources
Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure
Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure
The Nature of Research
The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?
The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?
The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?
Chapter 5: Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Giving Credit to Sources
Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws
Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation
Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides
Integrating Sources
Practicing Academic Integrity
Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources
Types of Documentation
Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists
Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style
Types of Documentation: Note Citations
Chapter 6: Using Library Resources
Finding Library Resources
Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing
How Is Writing Graded?
How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool
The Draft Stage
The Draft Stage: The First Draft
The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft
The Draft Stage: Using Feedback
The Research Stage
Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing
Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers
Writing Arguments
Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure
Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument
Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion
Writing Arguments: Types of Argument
Appendix A: Books to Help Improve Your Writing
Dictionaries
General Style Manuals
Researching on the Internet
Special Style Manuals
Writing Handbooks
Appendix B: Collaborative Writing and Peer Reviewing
Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project
Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report
Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve
Collaborative Writing: Methodology
Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation
Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members
Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan
General Introduction
Peer Reviewing
Appendix C: Developing an Improvement Plan
Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades
Appendix D: Writing Plan and Project Schedule
Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule
Reviewing Your Plan with Others
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What is the importance of a reaction paper?
What are the importance of reaction critique and review paper in education, what are the important parts of reaction paper, why is reaction paper necessary in academic writing and professional purposes, why does a reaction paper need to have a good conclusion, how to write a reaction paper.
What is the importance of a critique paper?
What is the definition of a reaction paper and review paper, what is the purpose of review paper, what is a reaction paper, what is the importance of a literature review write a short paragraph to explain your answer, what is the importance of review of related literature, what does a reaction paper require, what makes a good and balanced reaction paper, what can you use to help you analyze a reaction paper, what is the most important element in writing a critique paper, what is the importance of writing an objective and balanced critique, what benefits do critiquing or reviewing do to a writer, how would you make your reaction paper critical and logical.
- Step One: Read Attentively and Take Notes. ...
- Step Two: Limit the Quantity of the Words. ...
- Step Three: Write a Summary of the Text. ...
- Step Four: Analyze the Key Points. ...
- Step Five: Write a Good Concluding Part.
How do you introduce a reaction paper?
- 1 Introduce the event. Introduce the event in the first sentence of your introduction. ...
- 2 Write a small bit. Write a small bit about the event itself, in a description. ...
- 3 Explain be in your reaction paper. Explain what will be in your reaction paper.
What are the three things that the content and structure of a reaction paper critique must be?
What is the difference between reflection and reaction paper, what is the importance of the literature, why is the topic of this literature review important and or what should be the next step of this study, what is the importance of identifying the exact source and specific format of related literature, why is writing an outline of topics important before writing the review of related literature.
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:
- best tips on how to critique an article or a literary work,
- a critique paper example with introduction, body, and conclusion.
💁 What Is a Critique Paper?
- 👣 Critical Writing Steps
👀 Critical Essay Types
- 📑 Format & Structure
🔗 References
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.
- Try to come into the author’s world and think why they wrote such a piece.
- Point out which literary devices are successful. Some research in literary theory may be required.
- Find out what you dislike about the text, i.e., controversies, gaps, inconsistency, or incompleteness.
1.2. Find or formulate the author’s thesis.
- What is the principal argument? In an article, it can be found in the first paragraph.
- In a literary work, formulate one of the principal themes, as the thesis is not explicit.
- If you write a critique of painting, find out what feelings, emotions, or ideas, the artist attempted to project.
1.3. Make a summary or synopsis of the analyzed text.
- One paragraph will suffice. You can use it in your critique essay, if necessary.
- The point is to explore the gist.
Step 2: Analyzing the Text
After the reading phase, ask yourself the following questions :
- What was your emotional response to the text? Which techniques, images, or ideas made you feel so?
- Find out the author’s background. Which experiences made them raise such a thesis? What other significant works have they written that demonstrate the general direction of thought of this person?
- Are the concepts used correctly in the text? Are the references reliable, and do they sufficiently substantiate the author’s opinion?
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
- Start with an introductory phrase about the domain of the work in question.
- Tell which work you are going to analyze, its author, and year of publication.
- Specify the principal argument of the work under study.
- In the third sentence, clearly state your thesis.
- Here you can insert the summary you wrote before.
- This is the only place where you can use it. No summary can be written in the main body!
- Use one paragraph for every separate analyzed aspect of the text (style, organization, fairness/bias, etc.).
- Each paragraph should confirm your thesis (e.g., whether the text is effective or ineffective).
- Each paragraph shall start with a topic sentence, followed by evidence, and concluded with a statement referring to the thesis.
- Provide a final judgment on the effectiveness of the piece of writing.
- Summarize your main points and restate the thesis, indicating that everything you said above confirms it.
You can evaluate the chosen work or concept in several ways. Pick the one you feel more comfortable with from the following:
- Descriptive critical essays examine texts or other works. Their primary focus is usually on certain features of a work, and it is common to compare and contrast the subject of your analysis to a classic example of the genre to which it belongs.
- Evaluative critical essays provide an estimate of the value of the work. Was it as good as you expected based on the recommendations, or do you feel your time would have been better spent on something else?
- Interpretive essays provide your readers with answers that relate to the meaning of the work in question. To do this, you must select a method of determining the meaning, read/watch/observe your analysis subject using this method, and put forth an argument.
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:
- Summary. This should be brief and to the point. Only the author’s/creator’s main ideas and arguments should be included.
- Analysis/interpretation. Discuss what the author’s/creator’s primary goal was and determine whether this goal was reached successfully. Use the evidence you have gathered to argue whether or not the author/creator achieved was adequately convincing (remember there should be no personal bias in this discussion).
- Evaluation/response. At this point, your readers are ready to learn your objective response to the work. It should be professional yet entertaining to read. Do not hesitate to use strong language. You can say that the work you analyzed was weak and poorly-structured if that is the case, but keep in mind that you have to have evidence to back up your claim.
Critique Paper Introduction
The introduction is setting the stage for your analysis. Here are some tips to follow when working on it:
- Provide the reader with a brief synopsis of the main points of the work you are critiquing .
- State your general opinion of the work , using it as your thesis statement. The ideal situation is that you identify and use a controversial thesis.
- Remember that you will uncover a lot of necessary information about the work you are critiquing. You mustn’t make use of all of it, providing the reader with information that is unnecessary in your critique. If you are writing about Shakespeare, you don’t have to waste your or your reader’s time going through all of his works.
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.
- Every paragraph must focus on a precise concept from the paper under your scrutiny , and your job is to include arguments to support or disprove that concept. Concrete evidence is required.
- A critical essay is written in the third-person and ensures the reader is presented with an objective analysis.
- Discuss whether the author was able to achieve their goals and adequately get their point across.
- It is important not to confuse facts and opinions . An opinion is a personal thought and requires confirmation, whereas a fact is supported by reliable data and requires no further proof. Do not back up one idea with another one.
- Remember that your purpose is to provide the reader with an understanding of a particular piece of literature or other work from your perspective. Be as specific as possible.
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:
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- Summarize the analysis you provided in the body of the critique.
- Summarize the primary reasons why you made your analysis .
- Where appropriate, provide recommendations on how the work you critiqued can be improved.
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.
Just $13.00 $10.40/page , and you can get an custom-written academic paper according to your instructions
And here are some more critique paper examples for you check out:
- A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Critique Paper
- Critique on “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- “When the Five Rights Go Wrong” Article Critique
- Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey — Comparison & Critique
- “The TrueBlue Study”: Qualitative Article Critique
- Ethical Conflict Associated With Managed Care: Views of Nurse Practitioners’: Article Critique
- Benefits and Disadvantages of Prone Positioning in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress: Article Critique
- Reducing Stress in Student Nurses: Article Critique
- Management of Change and Professional Safety – Article Critique
- “Views of Young People Towards Physical Activity”: Article Critique
Seeing an example of a critique is so helpful. You can find many other examples of a critique paper at the University of Minnesota and John Hopkins University. Plus, you can check out this video for a great explanation of how to write a critique.
- Critical Analysis
- Writing an Article Critique
- The Critique Essay
- Critique Essay
- Writing a Critique
- Writing A Book Critique
- Media Critique
- Tips for an Effective Creative Writing Critique
- How to Write an Article Critique
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Wow…great work… kindly can you assist me in writing a critique about indiscipline in a school

Hello, Vivian! Our experts will help you with any task
That’s an interesting demonstration I watched. However, my weakness is that I’m very poor in language and analysing issues.
Thanks for the feedback, Adamu!
Hi, can you help me for my assignment about article critiquing?
Hello, Vivian! Our experts will help you with any task!
I need your help if you can send me a full written dissertation..thank you
Hello! Our experts will help you with any task!
This is gud
Thanks for stopping by!
Can you help me to my activities
Hello, Sandara! Our experts will help you with any task!
Thank you so much! This really helped me!
Glad to help, Maya! Thank you for stopping by!
thanks so much
Thank you for your feedback, Peter!
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- Types of Papers
- Article Review
- How To Write A Critique Paper
How to Write a Critique Paper
Critique papers summarize and judge the book, journal article, and artwork, among other sources. Basically, these papers include a critical evaluation of the item under reflection. In this case, learners must follow an academic writing style and include different sections, like the introduction, body, and conclusion. Moreover, creating a strong thesis statement in critique essays determine the focus of the entire work. In turn, the body section must summarize and evaluate the source objectively. Besides, one must avoid biased judgment during the assessment. The closing paragraph makes an informed summary of the main points and arguments. Hence, one may use recommend ways on how to write a critique paper to improve the work under evaluation.
General Rules on How to Write a Critique Paper
Critique essays contain summaries of the book, journal article , and artworks, among other sources. In particular, critiques use formal rules for academic writing . Students engage in a critical evaluation of the item under consideration. Then, compulsory sections include the introduction, body, and conclusion. In turn, a persuasive thesis statement at the beginning communicates the primary focus of the written work. Further on, the body section summarizes and appraises the source by considering how to write a critique paper. Avoiding biased judgment during the assessment improves the quality of the composition. As a result, the conclusion brings closure to work and connects to the central claim. However, one may restate the thesis and provide practical recommendations.
Definition of a Critique Paper
Critique papers contain a summary and a critical analysis of a source or concept. Basically, these papers lead to a careful analysis of a variety of works like:
- Research Papers – published journal articles, scientific reports, and general reviews
- Media – news reports and periodicals
- Creative Works – paintings, poems, songs, and novels
Critiques use formal and academic writing styles . For instance, students follow a clear structure to present ideas. In practice, critique papers must have the introduction, body, and conclusion. Besides, the body paragraphs contain an evaluation that gauges the usefulness or impact of work under evaluation.
What is more for how to write a critique paper, these rules help to develop:
- covering knowledge of the subject or object under review;
- having a deeper understanding of related works;
- including an appreciation of work’s purposes under analysis;
- recognizing the intended audience and advancement of a central argument in critique essays ;
- considerating how the book, journal article, or artwork relates to the broader issue or context.
Criteria for Writing Critique Papers

There are several criteria on how to write a critique paper that learners can use, depending on primary objectives. Basically, one may use the following standards:
Students evaluate the appropriateness of an item to the audience. For instance, outstanding critique papers show the weaknesses and strengths of the article or the object under evaluation. Besides, they contain ways to improve the source and fit the readers’ needs discussed in critique essays.
Information
Critique essays examine the usefulness of the material under analysis. In particular, one considers if the information makes sense to the audience or contributes to existing knowledge. This process on how to write a critique paper helps to determine if the information expresses the intended meaning.
Learners examine if specific information makes sense to readers. Possible factors to consider may include conceivable jumps in logic, among other weaknesses. As a result, this criterion determines the overall quality of a piece of work under review.
Critique essays may focus on the balance between facts and fiction. Basically, the criterion applies where two sides of an argument exist. In this case, students determine the vagueness of the information presented when organizing critique papers.
7 Steps on How to Write Critique Papers
1. understanding the task.
Before starting the writing process, students must understand the work under discussion for writing critique papers. The following steps lead to better results:
- studying the work under consideration;
- making notes on relevant sections of the critique papers;
- appreciating the main argument and the purpose of the object or work;
- considering how the work relates to a broader issue or context.
2. Writing an Introduction
One must write a short introduction. In this case, the opening paragraph should be approximately 10% of the overall word length of a critique paper. Hence, the introductory part should:
- identify the work under review, the date of formation and author or creator;
- explain the context of the work under evaluation – the required information may include social or political context and place of work in an academic tradition;
- have a thesis statement that indicates the type of evaluation used.
Students must summarize the main points objectively. In particular, the process includes stating how authors portray original messages using characters, ciphers, media, or styles, covering how to write a critique paper. In practice, summaries should be shorter than evaluation parts of critique essays.
4. Critical Evaluation
Critical evaluation gives a detailed appraisal of various elements of critique essays. In this case, students determine the inventor’s effectiveness in achieving the core purpose. As a result, the practical analysis must:
- deconstruct the work;
- identify the strengths and weaknesses;
- examine the success of the source in achieving the primary purpose.
5. Conclusion
The closing paragraphs contain a summary of the overall evaluation of the work. Basically, one should include:
- key reasons identified during the assessment process;
- purpose of the evaluation;
- recommendations for improving the whole work.
6. Reference list
The reference list in critique essays contains cited credible sources . In turn, students should confirm the required referencing style to meet the rules on how to write a critique paper.
7. Proofreading
Revising critique papers helps to identify major grammatical mistakes. In this case, taking adequate time to read through the work improves the quality and expected outcomes.
Additional Tips for Writing Critique Papers
This section of critique papers serves as the heart of the analysis. In particular, students should use compelling examples to support the main ideas and arguments. Moreover, the inquiry method used must align with the one mentioned in the thesis statement.
Closing Paragraph
One must seek advice from the instructor on how to close the paper for learning how to write a critique paper. For example, some instructors may require students to restate the thesis statement at the end of critique essays. Effective conclusions:
- link body paragraphs to the introduction;
- do not present new information.
Summing Up on How to Write a Critique Paper
Critique essays summarize books, academic articles , and artworks, among other sources. Basically, students engage in a critical evaluation of the item under consideration if they know how to write a critique paper. In this case, scholars cover an academic writing style and different sections, like the introduction, body, and conclusion. Moroever, a strong thesis statement in the opening chapters guides entire works. Then, the body section includes a summary and appraisal of sources. In turn, one must avoid biased judgment during assessments. Besides, the conclusion brings closure to work and connects to the central claim. Finally, a recommendation to improve the work under evaluation makes written compositions valid.

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IMAGES
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A reaction paper is a student’s response to something that he has read, typically for a class assignment. The student reflects on the message received from the story and demonstrates effective analysis and writing clarity.
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8.1: What's a Critique and Why Does it Matter? ... Critiques evaluate and analyze a wide variety of things (texts, images, performances, etc.)
A critique paper is a way for students to improve their writing and communication skills. It is essential to use adequate vocabulary, grammar and spelling. The
However, because the main purpose of the reaction paper is to analyze and synthesize the discussed texts, it is important that the summary section is not
Writing a Critique ; interpret: state the significance or importance of each part of the text; assess: make a judgment of the work's worth or value ; general
Writing a critique on a work helps us to develop: A knowledge of the work's subject area or related works. An understanding of the work's
WRITING A REACTION PAPER, REVIEW, AND CRITIQUE | English for Academic and Professional Purposes. 13K views 2 years ago.
Although reactions often seem like freewriting or reacting in continuous writing, you want to organize your thoughts with a thesis, introduction and conclusion
A review is a means of going beyond the literal content of a source and is a tool for connecting ideas from a variety of academic sources. A review provides an
Reaction papers/reviews/critiques allow writers to express their views, enabling
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
Moreover, creating a strong thesis statement in critique essays determine the focus of the entire work. In turn, the body section must summarize