ARTICLE CRITIQUE

What is an article critique?
A critique is not (only) a
criticism. A critique is a
specific style of essay in
which you identify,
evaluate, and respond to an
author's ideas, both
positively and negatively. It

•A review (or “critique”) of a
book or article is not
primarily a summary.
Rather, it analyses,
comments on and
evaluates the work.

•An article critique is similar to
book review, but it analyzes
and comments on an article or
text, instead of an entire book.
Although the word "critique" is
usually associated with fault
finding or criticism in a
negative sense, it actually

•You are expected to engage
with the article rather than
just summarize it, by
considering its content
carefully, and from different
angles. Your critique must
be objective, so support it
with evidence rather than

When you engage in a critique you are demonstrating
to your marker that:
• You have read extensively
• You can identify the particular strengths
and weaknesses of those readings
• You can identify different positions and
perspectives in the readings
• You are developing the skills and
knowledge to engage with the experts
• You are joining in a broader academic
debate about an article's merits

What do we do when we critique?
Identify:
•What is the article's
background and purpose?
•What is the main idea (the
main argument) that the
article is communicating?

Evaluate:
•How convincing is the
argument?
•What does the argument
assume?
•How useful or applicable is
the article?

Respond:
•What is your
assessment of the
article?
•What issues does it
raise?

STRUCTURE

Structure #1
•Introduction
•Summary
•Content (your review)
•Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
•Include a few opening
sentences that announce
the author(s) and the
title, and briefly explain
the topic of the text.
Present the aim of the

SUMMARY
•Present a summary of the key
points along with a limited
number of examples.
•You can also briefly explain the
author’s purpose/intentions
throughout the text and you
may briefly describe how the
text is organized.

REVIEW
•The REVIEW should be a balanced
discussion and evaluation of the
strengths, weakness and notable
features of the text.
•Remember to base your discussion
on specific criteria.
•Good reviews also include other
sources to support your evaluation

•If your critique is more positive
than negative, then present the
negative points first and the
positive last.
•You could begin by stating what is
good about the idea and then
concede and explain how it is
limited in some way. While this
example shows a mixed evaluation,

Structure #2

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

How to make an ARTICLE CRITIQUE?

•Read the article.
•Re-read the article. Underline
important ideas. Circle key terms.
Find the main point of the article.
Divide the article into sections or
stages of thought.
•Note the main idea of each

•Scan the text. Look for
information that can be
deduced from the
introduction, conclusion and
the title and headings.
What do these tell you
about the main points of the

•Locate the topic sentences
and highlight the main
points as you read.

•Reread the text and make
separate notes of the main points.
Examples and evidence do not
need to be included at this stage.
Usually they are used selectively
in your critique.
•Rewrite them in your own words
and in complete sentences

•Use reporting verbs and
phrases (eg; The author
describes…, Smith argues
that …).
•If you include unique or
specialist phrases from the
text, use quotation marks.

QUIZ TIME!