Students will analyze how researchers conduct experiments, interpret results, and discuss the impact of the results.
At a Glance
An article critique involves making a critical assessment of a single work.
This is often an article, but it might also be a book or other written source.
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It summarizes the contents of the article and then evaluates both the strengths and weaknesses of the piece.
Knowing how to write an article critique can help you learn how to evaluate sources with a discerning eye.
Your first step should always be a thorough read-through of the material you will be analyzing and critiquing.
It needs to be more than just a casual skim read.
It should be in-depth with an eye toward key elements.
Read the Introduction Section of the Article
Start by readingthe introduction.
Read the Methods Section of the Article
Is the study procedure clearly outlined in themethods section?
Can you determine whichvariablesthe researchers are measuring?
Remember to jot down questions and thoughts that come to mind as you are reading.
Read the Results Section of the Article
Are all tables and graphs clearly labeled in theresults section?
Do researchers provide enough statistical information?
Did the researchers collect all of the data needed to measure the variables in question?
Make a note of any questions or information that does not seem to make sense.
it’s possible for you to refer back to these questions later as you are writing your final critique.
If you agree with the researcher’s conclusions, explain why.
Another alternative is to point out questions the researchers failed to answer in the discussion section.
Here’s a guide that will walk you through how to structure your critique paper.
Introduction
Begin your paper by describing the journal article and authors you are critiquing.
Provide the main hypothesis (or thesis) of the paper.
Explain why you think the information is relevant.
Thesis Statement
The final part of your introduction should include your thesis statement.
Your thesis statement is the main idea of your critique.
Your thesis should briefly sum up the main points of your critique.
Article Summary
Provide a brief summary of the article.
Outline the main points, results, and discussion.
Don’t get bogged down by your summary.
This section should highlight the main points of the article you are critiquing.
Don’t feel obligated to summarize each little detail of the main paper.
Focus on giving the reader an overall idea of the article’s content.
Your Analysis
In this section, you will provide your critique of the article.
Describe any problems you had with the author’s premise, methods, or conclusions.
Organize your paper carefully.
Be careful not to jump around from one argument to the next.
Arguing one point at a time ensures that your paper flows well and is easy to read.
Then structure your own critique so that you present a summary followed by your evaluation.
In your critique, include the strengths and the weaknesses of the article.
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