University of Delaware Writing Center

Critical Reviews

A review goes one step beyond an abstract or summary.  In addition to identifying and paraphrasing the significant information, the review analyses and evaluates the work. Very often an instructor will have a particular kind of analysis in theory with one discussed in class.  You should always check with
your instructor to make certain that you know the exact requirements of the assignment, including any organization or format requirements.

The content of your review will depend on both the nature of the source and the requirements of the assignment.  However, identifying the following points will give you material for your analysis:
• the author's thesis, hypothesis, or research problem
• the author's purpose
• the author's methods
• the author's most important arguments or the results of his or her research
• the author's conclusions (and any implications that he or she discusses) 

You can generate analysis by asking questions about this material.  Those questions include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Are the author's methods appropriate?  Is he or she approaching the problem or question correctly?
• Is the author basing his or her arguments on invalid assumptions?
• Is the author biased in any way?
• Are the author's conclusions sound?
• Do they follow logically from the evidence?
• Is the evidence sufficient?
• Are there any important implications of the conclusions that the author does not address?
• Of what value is this work?
• What use can it be put to?

Additional analysis may be possible if you can place the work you are reviewing in a larger context.  Can you compare this author's methods or conclusions with another's?  To what extent does he or
she agree with the methods or theories discussed in class?  You give purpose and value to your analysis when it makes connections between the work reviewed and other issues, ideas, or approaches.

You must remember also that it is not enough for you simply to make statements about your source (such as, "Smith's conclusion that y is the result of x is unreasonable" or "Several of Jone's assertions indicates a bias against z").  You must, in addition, show why the conclusion is unreasonable or give examples from the text of the biased assertions.  You must prove, explain, and/or illustrate all of your critical comments.  Remember, too, that "criticism" is not limited to pointing out all of the problems with an author's work.  Criticism also involves identifying the valuable contributions and good work of the author.  But you should support these critical statements in the same way that you support your negative criticism.