Article Critique

What is a Critique?

To start us off, it is important for us to ask ourselves, “What is a critique?” Article critiques can be referred to as objective types of analysis of scientific or literary pieces. In these analyses, there is usually some emphasis that is laid on whether the writer supports the article`s main points or not. It is important to note that this emphasis is done based on relevant and reasonable arguments that are founded on facts.

At times, there is a tendency for people to become derailed and find them merely making summary points of articles without challenging and analyzing them. This is something that should be done away with because you will not have answered the question of, “What is a critique?” A valid critique essay is meant to demonstrate a person’s impression of a particular article. This should be done while concurrently providing enough evidence to reinforce these impressions.

When you are taking the position of a critic, you should take your time to scrutinize and read through the article and article review example thoughtfully and carefully. Once you have done this, you should then move to preparing your evidence and arguments cogently and vividly.

Reading Actively

1) Read the Article at Least Once to Get Its Main Idea

You should ensure that the first time you go through an article and an article critique example, the overall argument which is being relayed by the author should get inscribed in your mind. It is also essential to make sure that you pay keen interest to the article`s thesis because this is the backbone of the answer to the question of “how to write an article critique.”

2) Re-read the Article as You Mark It Up

Take some time to reread the article, but this time; make sure you use tools such as a highlighter or even a red pen to create conspicuous markings. For you to perform this task efficiently, you could read through the article while asking yourself questions such as:

• What is this article`s target audience?
• What argument is the author trying to bring to light?
• What purpose does the author have in arguing such a thesis?
• Is it possible to find blank spaces in the author`s argument?

3) Create Legends for the Markings That You Make

Creating legends for your markings entails coming up with unique symbols that enable you to tell the difference between the parts of the article that you have found inconsistent, confusing or essential. A good example is the use of circles to indicate obscure passages, stars to show inconsistencies and underlining to show essential passages. These are some of the skills that will set you apart from your contemporaries when you`re learning how to critique a research article.

4) Come Up With Preliminary Concepts for Your Critique

Always ensure that you craft a rough opinion of the article that you have at hand. Scrutinize the overall arguments that the author relays after reading the article around three or four times and record your reactions in the text.

After you have done this, come up with a list of the possible evidence sources that you will use in your critique. Try to recall any piece of literature that you might have read, perused through or even documentaries that you think are relevant in assisting you to evaluate the article review example.

How to Critique an Article: Gathering Evidence

Question If The Writer`s General Message Is Reasonable

Make sure that you test the author`s hypothesis and go a step further to compare it with similar examples. While doing this, analyze the writer`s main message to find its application in the real world and practicality regardless of whether the author has done in-depth research as well as quoted highly-esteemed experts. In addition to this, examine the article`s conclusion and introduction so as to ensure that they can pass off as convincing, corresponding elements.

Search through the Article to Check for Biases

In case the author has something to profit from the various conclusions and points that are depicted in the piece, then there is a possibility of bias being demonstrated. The leading indicators of bias include the ignoring of contrary evidence and misappropriating evidence, and are the biggest enemy to a writer that is learning how to critique a research article. All these things are done by authors in a bid to make their conclusions to come off different from the way they are, while also imparting their own foundation-less opinions in the article.

It is important to note that bias can be derived from a narrow point of view. Be keen to flesh out preferences that are linked to gender, race, politics, class, and ethnicity, and you’ll have begun your journey into mastering how to critique an article.

You Shouldn`t Ignore Stylistic Elements

The article`s content is highly likely to be the most vital aspect of your literary critique, but take care not to overlook the literary and formal techniques which are used by the author. Pay keen attention to vague choices of words as well as the writer`s tone in the article. This comes in handy, moreso when dealing with the non-scientific type of materials.

These stylistic aspects of a particular article can function to reveal deeper problems found in the argument. A good example can be seen in articles that are written in overzealous and heated tones. When you scrutinize them further in your process of how to critique an article, you shouldn`t be shocked to find the author having a knack to reject contradictory evidence during analysis.

Formatting Your Article Critique

1) Start with a Great Introduction That Gives an Outline of Your Argument

When starting off your article format, you shouldn`t write an introduction that exceeds two paragraphs and ensures, within these two paragraphs, your critique’s basic framework has been laid out vividly. Begin by noting the areas where the article in your critique succeeds or fails most remarkably while giving reasons to support your stand.

It is essential for you to remember to include the author`s name, a statement regarding the thesis and article`s focus, the journal and article`s title, its publication date in the article critique introductory paragraph. Also, note the main academic writing style that’s commonly incorporated is APA format article critiques unless your professor tells you otherwise.

2) In Your Article Critique`s Body, Give Evidence To Reinforce Your Argument

All the paragraphs in your critique essay body should talk about new ideas or better still, expand your points further and in a new direction. Start all the body paragraphs with topic sentences that help to summarize the paragraph`s content readers should expect to come. You should, however, not feel as though your article format requires you to fit the whole paragraph into a topic sentence. This is a place in many article critique examples people use to make transitions into new and different ideas.

3) Wrap up Your Critique by Making a Summary of Your Argument and Giving Potential Implications

It is vital for you to recap your APA format article critique`s main points while also explaining to the readers the relevance of your review to the entire discipline as a whole. This will assist readers to understand that your work has broader implications to that particular field of study and not merely attempting to debunk another scholar`s messy work. Lastly, you should strive to see to it that you have left a permanent mark on your readers in your article`s conclusion via the use of specific language to show your work`s importance.

With these simple steps, you will have unraveled the puzzle of how to write a critique for an article.