Writing the Critical Response
WRITING THE CRITICAL RESPONSE
A critique is an analysis of and a commentary on another piece of writing. It generally focuses on technique as well as on content.
A critical response essay (or interpretive essay or review) has two missions: to summarize a source’s main idea and to respond to the source’s main ideas with reactions based on your synthesis.
Organization
Introduction: attention-getting with a thesis statement
Body: clear critical reasoning and adequate examples
Summary
Analysis: Evaluate the evidence: sufficient (enough evidence, examples), representative (large enough pool/sample), relevant (accurate correlations), accurate, claims fairly qualified
Response: base reaction on your own experience, prior knowledge, and opinions
Conclusion: summary of the whole critical essay
Note:
Within the body, you may choose from three basic patterns of organization: - Write all the summary paragraphs first, followed by the analysis portion - Alternate between summary and analysis paragraphs so that each paragraph of summary is followed by a critique of the summarized information - Combine a summary and critique of each idea within each paragraph of the body.
Summarizing
The first step to writing is to read actively and thoughtfully, seeking answers to the following questions as you go:
What are the main points, ideas, or arguments of the work (book, article, play, essay, etc.)?
What evidence/support does the author give?
Analyzing (interpretation and evaluation)
On what points do you agree with the author? On what points do you disagree? What is lacking or flawed in the argument?
Is any of the evidence weak or insufficient? In what way? Conversely, is the evidence/support particularly effective or strong?
Can I supply further explanation to clarify or support any of the main points, ideas, arguments?
Research peer-reviewed journals for other critiques of the same topic, as well as any direct responses to your author.
Be sure to document your
A critique is an analysis of and a commentary on another piece of writing. It generally focuses on technique as well as on content.
A critical response essay (or interpretive essay or review) has two missions: to summarize a source’s main idea and to respond to the source’s main ideas with reactions based on your synthesis.
Organization
Introduction: attention-getting with a thesis statement
Body: clear critical reasoning and adequate examples
Summary
Analysis: Evaluate the evidence: sufficient (enough evidence, examples), representative (large enough pool/sample), relevant (accurate correlations), accurate, claims fairly qualified
Response: base reaction on your own experience, prior knowledge, and opinions
Conclusion: summary of the whole critical essay
Note:
Within the body, you may choose from three basic patterns of organization: - Write all the summary paragraphs first, followed by the analysis portion - Alternate between summary and analysis paragraphs so that each paragraph of summary is followed by a critique of the summarized information - Combine a summary and critique of each idea within each paragraph of the body.
Summarizing
The first step to writing is to read actively and thoughtfully, seeking answers to the following questions as you go:
What are the main points, ideas, or arguments of the work (book, article, play, essay, etc.)?
What evidence/support does the author give?
Analyzing (interpretation and evaluation)
On what points do you agree with the author? On what points do you disagree? What is lacking or flawed in the argument?
Is any of the evidence weak or insufficient? In what way? Conversely, is the evidence/support particularly effective or strong?
Can I supply further explanation to clarify or support any of the main points, ideas, arguments?
Research peer-reviewed journals for other critiques of the same topic, as well as any direct responses to your author.
Be sure to document your