How to Write an Article Critique + [Article Critique Outline & 1 Best Example]
Writing an article critique is a great way to improve your writing skills and become more aware of the different ways you can structure an article.
In this article, we’ll outline the steps on How to Write an Article Critique successfully and provide helpful tips for making your critique as effective as possible.
What is an Article Critique?
An article critique is a critical evaluation of an article, typically for publication in a scholarly journal.
It typically includes a detailed analysis of the article’s strengths and weaknesses and provides suggestions for improving it.
An article critique can help a scholar improve their writing skills, as well as provide feedback on the quality of their work.
When writing an article critique, it is important to be clear and concise. It is also helpful to provide specific examples to support your analysis.
It is also important to be objective and unbiased. You should not only point out the author’s mistakes but also highlight the positive aspects of the writing. Try to be constructive rather than destructive, since your goal is to help the author improve their work.
There are many different techniques you can use when writing an article critique. Some tips include:
- Breaking down the article into its component parts
- Evaluating each part individually
- Suggesting ways in which the article could be improved
- Providing concrete examples to support your points
- Saying nothing if you don’t have any critiques to offer
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How to Write an Article Critique
Step 1: Read Actively
You cannot critique a research article until you have read and comprehended it. These journal articles can be quite lengthy, and they frequently contain terms that you are unfamiliar with.
That is why simple reading will not suffice. You’ll need to do some active and close reading, as well as some research, to define and comprehend unfamiliar terms.
You will notice facts and details about the text during this process. You will recognize the author’s main point as well as the arguments used to support that point.
This implies that you will undoubtedly require a marker as well as a note-taking app. If you prefer to take notes the old-fashioned way, get yourself a notebook and begin writing as you read.
As you read the article, keep these key aspects of the research in mind:
- The research problem and the research objective
- Hypothesis
- Methods of investigation
- Participants in the study
- Variables
- The main findings
- Conclusions
You’ll most likely need to read the article several times before you’re finished with this stage.
With each reading, you’ll uncover new layers, and new ways to critique will emerge.
Make a note of those ideas as well.
When it comes to notes, don’t make them too brief. Perhaps you believe that a brief note expresses your entire thought, but it does not.
Keep in mind that this is a complex type of academic paper. Because you’re analyzing a complex text, it’s easy to lose track of some of your ideas when it comes time to write.
Yes, reading and taking notes on your observations will take more time. If you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll reduce the number of roadblocks during the writing process.
Step 2: Create a Brief Outline
Now that you’ve read the article thoroughly and taken copious notes, it’s time to organize them into a rough outline. Why is this a rough outline? – Because you haven’t finished the critique process yet.
In this outline, you will simply plan how you will discuss the article’s main points.
Step 3: Interrogate the Author’s Main Points
When the professor begins reading your critique, the first thing he or she will wonder is, “Did this student understand the difference between a summary and an analysis?”
The article critique is not a summary; rather, it is a critical analysis. Although your primary goal is not persuasion, you must still develop a convincing argument.
To do so, you must consider whether the writer’s overall message is logical. This objective will necessitate additional research.
You hardly have the entire knowledge base required to analyze a researcher’s work. As a result, you’ll need to look for similar examples and compare this article’s hypothesis to them.
You can easily check the message’s logic by comparing the introduction and conclusion. Do the elements of these two sections correspond?
In addition to the article’s main message and logic, you will question the following:
- The research techniques
- The outcomes
- The conversation
- The stylistic components
Yes, stylistic elements are important. If the author’s style is difficult to understand, you may use that argument as part of your critique.
Remember: you are not required to write a negative critique if you question the main elements and points of the article.
Positive criticism is also possible. You will write a positive critique if you agree with all of the points. If you disagree, you will write your comments.
If you’re somewhere in the middle (as is common in article critiques), you’ll emphasize both the positive and negative aspects of the article. In any case, you must use compelling arguments to back up your claims.
Step 4: Recognize Contradictions
Perhaps you noticed some inconsistencies in the article as you read. Researchers can be biased, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
As a result, they may ignore or misinterpret contrary evidence in order to use it to their advantage.
Prejudices can contribute to bias. An architect with a traditional education, for example, may have prejudices against feng shui and will disregard evidence that may prove the method’s benefits.
A medical expert will have preconceived notions about Chinese medicine. You get the idea.
Take note of any biases, and you’ll discover the contradictions. Check out the source whenever the author mentions another author’s work.
Yes, it will require more reading, but it will help you identify the article’s weak points so you can critique it.
You may include untrustworthy evidence in your critique if the author cited it.
Step 5: Put It in Writing!
You’ll have a lot of notes by this point. Don’t be concerned; this is a good thing. All you have to do is organize them in a logical order as you discuss the article. When you’re ready, you can begin the writing process.
1. In the introduction, state your main point.
It’s not difficult to begin writing the introduction. You must include the title of the article, the author’s name, the journal where it was published, and the publication date.
Then you’ll make a statement about the research article’s focus. Isn’t there a thesis statement? Include it in the beginning.
The introduction of most academic papers includes a thesis statement. The introduction to the article critique should also outline your main argument.
In this statement, reveal your main points of critique to give the reader an idea of what they are about to read.
2. Compose the Body Paragraphs
The time for serious criticism has arrived. Each body paragraph should elaborate on a new point from the article. You may use subheadings for these sections because this is not a 5-paragraph essay (the article critique will be much longer!).
You don’t have to do that if you’re writing a brief article critique.
Each paragraph in the body should begin with a topic sentence that you will expand on throughout the paragraph.
Check that there is a logical connection between these sections of the paper.
3. Your Arguments Should Be Summarized
You will summarize your critique and suggest potential implications in the conclusion.
You may suggest additional research that will shed new light on the issue and improve the work of the writer you just critiqued.
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Step 6: Double-check!
Please do not skip this step! Don’t even consider it. The article critique is a serious project that should demonstrate your critical thinking and argumentation skills. If you do not revise it, even the smallest error will ruin the reader’s impression.
Pay close attention to the citations during this process. Did you properly cite all of your sources?
Also, proofread the bibliography! If you’re not sure how to format it, make sure to follow the article critique MLA/APA formatting style rules.
Article Critique Outline
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Article Critique Example
To help you apply the concepts and steps described above, the following is a condensed example of a critique of an academic article:
In the article “Anxiety among students: Higher anxiety levels found in new students,” Hunter Allen examined the impact of anxiety across all levels of college students.
He argued that students just entering college or who are in their first year of school have higher anxiety levels than those in their later college years. Researchers have previously noted this to be true, so Hunter’s article is supported by this. His writing shows significant results that illustrate the amount of anxiety experienced by newer undergraduate students that are supported by his research of a sample of students.
Allen used a sample of 50 incoming and current college students to study the impact of anxiety on students in different years of their studies. He collected several relevant details, including demographic information, previous histories of anxiety and measurements of anxiety at various points throughout the study. He discussed the important topic of student mental health and its impact on college-aged individuals.
Allen found significant results in his study that showed that newer students experienced more anxiety than students who have been in college for one year or more. Out of the 50 students analyzed, all but two new college students had higher anxiety ratings than those in their later years of college. This shows how entering college impacts a person’s anxiety levels negatively.
While Allen’s findings were certainly significant, his sample size was very small, making it difficult to generalize the findings of his study. Additionally, the students he analyzed all went to the same college in California, which also limits the ability to generalize these findings across all student populations.
Overall, Allen’s work is an important asset to higher education and mental health among younger individuals in general. Further research is needed to allow for a more thorough analysis of anxiety among college students to effectively show the impact of entering college on anxiety levels.
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Related FAQs
1. What should be included in a critique of an article?
A critique may include a brief summary, but the main focus should be on your evaluation and analysis of the research itself. What steps need to be taken to write an article critique? Before you start writing, you will need to take some steps to get ready for your critique:
2. How do you write an introduction for a critique paper?
To write an article critique, an introduction should: Include the name of the author, the name of the article, the publisher, the date of publication, and the focus of the article. Indicate areas where the article succeeds and areas where it fails remarkably. Limit the introduction to a paragraph or two, at most.
3. How do I get Ready for a critique?
Before you start writing, you will need to take some steps to get ready for your critique: Choose an article that meets the criteria outlined by your instructor. Read the article to get an understanding of the main idea