The purpose for writing a critical analysis is to evaluate somebody's work (a book, an essay, a movie, a painting...) in order to increase the reader's understanding of it. While a summary is a small repetition of the main points of a passage, a critical analysis expresses the writer's opinion or evaluation of a text. Analysis means to break down and study the parts. Writing a critical analysis requires two steps: critical reading and critical writing.
Critical reading:
1. Identify the author's thesis and purpose
2. Analyze the structure of the passage by identifying all main ideas
3. Consult a dictionary or encyclopedia to understand material that is unfamiliar to you
4. Write your summary of the work before writing the critical analysis.
5. Before actually writing the critical analysis, answer the following questions:
o What is the source of the material?
o What are the author’s qualifications?
o Are there more facts or opinions given?
o What is the author’s purpose?
o Is there any bias present in the passage?
o Who is the author’s intended audience?
o What is the tone of the passage?
o What is the intended meaning of the passage?
Critical Writing:
1. Start your critical analysis by giving the title, author, and purpose of the passage.
2. Choose several of the areas that you analyzed in your critical reading that are noteworthy and
discuss them in several sentences.
3. Finish your critical analysis with a total assessment of the article. What is your overall view
of the article? Is it well-written?
4. What should not be in a critical analysis:
a. I liked this article because…
b. I didn’t like this article because…
5. Check to be sure that you do not summarize the reading selection. You should only be analyzing it.
Remember:
Avoid introducing your ideas by stating “I think” or “in my opinion.” Keep the focus on the subject of your analysis, not on yourself. Identifying your opinions weakens them.
Always introduce the work. Do not assume that because your reader knows what you are writing about, you do not need to mention the work’s title.
Other questions to consider: Is there a controversy surrounding either the passage or the subject which it concerns?
What about the subject matter is of current interest?
What is the overall value of the passage?
What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Support your thesis with detailed evidence from the text examined. Do not forget to document quotes and paraphrases.
Remember that the purpose of a critical analysis is not merely to inform, but also to evaluate the worth, utility, excellence, distinction, truth, validity, beauty, or goodness or something
Even though as a writer you set the standards, you should be open-minded, well informed, and fair. You can express your opinions, but you should also back them up with evidence.
Your review should provide information, interpretation, and evaluation. The information will help your reader understand the nature of the work under analysis. The interpretation will explain the meaning of the work, therefore requiring your correct understanding of it. The evaluation will discuss your opinions of the work and present valid justification for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment