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Writing an Effective Critical Review

What is a Critical Review?

A critical review is substantially different to a simple summary of an article. It is an analysis and

evaluation of an article, book, or other medium. Writing a good critical review requires that you

understand the material, and that you analyse and evaluate it using appropriate criteria.

Three Steps

1. Reading

▪ Scan through the whole text to identify the overall thesis, structure and methodology

This will help you understand how the different elements connect.

▪ Read critically

It is not enough to simply understand what the author is saying; it is crucial to challenge it.

While reading, take notes that reflect what the text means to you. You should focus on the

following criteria in order to ensure that all important aspects of the article are considered.

Structure

▪ What type of text is it? (For example: Is it a primary source or

secondary source? Is it original research or a comment on original

research?)

▪ What are the different sections and how do they connect? Are any

of the sections particularly effective/ ineffective?

Methodology

▪ Is the research quantitative or qualitative? Does the methodology

have any weaknesses?

▪ How does the design of the study address the hypothesis?

Reasons/Evidence

▪ What sources does the author use (interviews, peer-reviewed

journals, government reports, journal entries, newspapers, etc.)?

▪ What types of reasoning are employed (inductive, deductive,

abductive)?

▪ What type of evidence is provided (empirical, statistical, logical,

etc.)?

▪ Are there any gaps in the evidence or argument?

Conclusions

▪ Does the data adequately support the conclusion drawn by the

researcher(s)?

▪ Are other interpretations possible?

▪ Are the conclusions dependent on a particular theoretical

formulation?

▪ How does the paper contribute to the field?

2. Writing

a. Formulate a thesis based on your overall evaluation. A strong thesis acknowledges both

strengths and limitations. After you describe the author’s argument, provide your argument

in the form of your thesis statement at the end of the introduction. You must make certain

that your thesis answers the assignment.

b. Use each of the body paragraphs to evaluate each of the author’s points. After you

summarise the text, start going through the points that support your thesis.

Synthesise information by creating a dialogue between your ideas and the sources you

used in your work. You should also create a dialogue between your sources.

c. Conclude with your final judgment of the author’s argument. This is where you can

summarize the main points of your analysis and give your overall opinion of the

effectiveness of the article.

*** For information in regards to the structure of a Critical Review please read Brief and

Guidelines – Assignment 3a- Writing a Critical Review.

3. Choose a structure that will best allow you to support your thesis within the required word

constraints. The first example below is more suitable for shorter assignments, but the risk is that

too much time will be spent developing the overview, and too little time on the evaluation. The

second example works better for longer reviews because it provides the relevant description with

the analysis and evaluation, allowing the reader to follow the argument easily.

Logic

▪ What assumptions does the author make?

▪ Does the author account for all of the data?

▪ What alternative perspectives remain neglected?

▪ Are there any logical failings in the construction of the argument?

Two common structures used for critical reviews:

Example 1 Example 2

• Introduction (with thesis)

• Overview of the text

• Evaluation of the text

Point 1

Point 2

Point 3

Point 4

(continue as necessary)

• Conclusion

• Introduction (with thesis)

• Explanation and Evaluation

Point 1: Explanation and Evaluation

Point 2: Explanation and evaluation

Point 3: explanation and evaluation

(continue as necessary)

• Conclusion