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Responding Critically to Texts

Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

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Page 1: Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

Responding Critically to Texts

Page 2: Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

Why Critique?

To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations, conclusions, assertions, methodology, assumptions, techniques, strategies, choices

Page 3: Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

Summary vs. Critique

Summary Restates what the text said Answers the question, “What did the author say?”

Critique Analyzes, interprets, and evaluates Answers questions “how?” “why?” “how well?”

Page 4: Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

Step 1: Analyze

As you read, ask the following questions:What is the author’s main point?Who is the author’s intended audience?What is the author’s purpose?What are the author’s underlying assumptions or

biases?

Page 5: Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

Step 2: Evaluate

After you read, begin to evaluate the author's argument. Follow these steps:

1. Identify the claim—What is the person trying to convince you is true?

2. Identify the reasons, or premises, that the person offers in support of the claim.

3. List the premises in what seems to be the most logical order with the conclusion at the bottom. 

4. Define the key terms. 5. Evaluate the argument.

• Is it deductively valid? That is, does the conclusion follow logically from the premises?

• Do gaps appear in the argument? • Are the premises are true?

6. If the argument is valid and the premises are true, then it is a good argument.

Page 6: Responding Critically to Texts. Why Critique? To explain why you respond to the text the way you do by evaluating an author’s ideas, interpretations,

Step 3: Formally Critique

Write a critique. Follow your own structure to avoid summary. Be sure to address the following points:

Identify and explain the author's ideas using specific excerpts.

Identify and describe points that you agree/disagree with. Use specific excerpts as evidence.

Provide your opinion. What do you think about the argument? Explain how the passages support your opinion.