madam professor

SUMMARY-CRITIQUE PAPERS

sufficademictypeofwritingthatcondensesinformation,orreducesitinto more manageable pieces. As the name suggests, the writer summarizes the article and provides

a personal critique (analysis) of the information and writing style.

SUMMARY: A summary restates the author's main point, purpose' intent, and

supporting details in your own words.

How to Write a Good Summary: . Read the article several times until you understand it fully. You can't summarize what you don't

understand.

. Determine the main idea and major points. o The first paragraph often provides an overview of the entire article, and the last paragraph often provides abrief summary.

o The main idea of a paragraph is often (though not always) expressed in the first or last sentence ofthe paragraph.

. Summarize as vou read. o Write a sentence in your own words at the end of each paragraph. You can also take notes on a separate piece of paper while you read to remember the main idea and major details.

o Use the original author's ideas but not his or her words. Paraphrase the author instead. Paraphrase means writing the author's ideas in ygur own words and your own sentence

structure. \-----z \----- o While writing a summary, do not look at the original article. This will help to ensure that you are summarizing in your own words. After you complete a draft, check your summary against the

original to check for accuracY. *Remember, a summary should contain only the author's views, so be as objective as possible. Do NOT

include your ideas, conclusions, or opinions about the article'

CRITIQUE: A critique is an analysis and an evaluation of a text.

How to l|/rite a Good Critique: . Comment on the author's work in terms of your own knowledge and experiences with the topic'

If you gained new insights, explain them. If you disagree with the author, say why'

' Consider the author's viewpoint, methods, and conclusions' o What was the author trying to accomplish? Was that successfully done? WhyAilhy not?

o How objective was the author? How did that affect you as a reader?

o Did the author acknowledge/respond to other points of view? Do you agree with that choice?

o How do the author's ideas compare with other views on the topic?

o Did you notice strengths or weaknesses in the author's methods and reporting? (Present an objective observation, not your opinion.)

A critique is an informed evaluation: Always provide evidence/support for your claims.

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