Critic Paper

How To Write a Critical Paper

“CRITICISM”: n. The art, skill or profession of making discriminating judgments and evaluations.

THE ESSENCE OF CRITICAL THINKING

Ask Four Basic Questions as You Read / Listen:

1. What is the book/message about as a whole?

2. What is the author/speaker saying in detail, and how is it said?

3. Is the book/message true, in whole or in part?

4. What is the significance of the book/message?

ELEMENTS OF A CRITICAL PAPER

The following is a general structure to follow for the body of a critical paper. Be sure to include a suitable introduction and conclusion, as described in the previous section, How to Write a Whole Composition.

Adapt it to specific assignments as appropriate.

PART ONE: DESCRIPTION

* Classify the book/message according to kind and subject matter.

* Very briefly, state what the whole of the book/message is about.

* Enumerate the major parts of the book/message in their order and relation.

* Define the problem or problems that the author/speaker is trying to solve.

PART TWO: INTERPRETATION

* Find the important words (terms) in the book/message and determine the author’s/speaker’s meaning of these terms, with precision.

* Identify the most important sentences (propositions) in the book/message, the ones that express the judgments on which the whole book/message rests. These are the foundational affirmations and denials of the author/speaker.  They must be either premises or conclusions. State them in your own words.

* Construct the author’s/speaker’s arguments, beginning with any assumptions and/or self-evident propositions. An argument is the author’s/speaker’s line of reasoning aimed at demonstrating the truth or falsehood of his or her claims, that is, the coherent series of reasons, statements, or facts that support or establish a point of view.  If the arguments are not explicitly expressed in the book/message, you will need to construct them from sequences of...