Missy

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The purpose for writing a critique is to evaluate somebody\'s work (a book, an essay, a movie, a painting...) in order to increase the reader\'s understanding of it. A critical analysis is subjective writing because it expresses the writer\'s opinion or evaluation of a text. Analysis means to break down and study the parts. Writing a critical paper requires two steps: critical reading and critical writing.

Critical reading:

Identify the author\'s thesis and purpose

Analyze the structure of the passage by identifying all main ideas

Consult a dictionary or encyclopedia to understand material that is unfamiliar to you

Make an outline of the work or write a description of it

Write a summary of the work

Determine the purpose which could be

To inform with factual material

To persuade with appeal to reason or emotions

To entertain (to affect people\'s emotions)

Evaluate the means by which the author has accomplished his purpose

If the purpose is to inform, has the material been presented clearly, accurately, with order and coherence?

If the purpose is to persuade, look for evidence, logical reasoning, contrary evidence

If the purpose was to entertain, determine how emotions are affected: does it make you laugh, cry, angry? Why did it affect you?

Consider the following questions: How is the material organized? Who is the intended audience? What are the writer\'s assumptions about the audience? What kind of language and imagery does the author use?

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SAMPLE OUTLINE FOR CRITICAL ESSAY

After the passage under analysis has been carefully studied, the critique can be drafted using this sample outline.

I. Background information to help your readers understand the nature of the work

A. Information about the work

1. Title

2. Author

3. Publication information

4. Statement of topic and purpose

B. Thesis statement indicating writer\'s main reaction to the work

II. Summary or description of the work

III. Interpretation and/or evaluation

A. Discussion of the work\'s organization

B.

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