3 Ways to How to Critique an Article (With Example)

Many students wonder about what is an article critique. We can define it as a careful evaluation of a text that looks at its purpose, methods, reasoning, and the contribution it brings to the field. You'll need to weigh evidence against claims, and by the end of writing an article critique, you can assess whether the author's work was effective and sharpen your own understanding at the same time.

This article will teach you practical approaches to writing with examples drawn from different formats (research studies, academic journals, etc.). You'll know exactly how to create a thorough and precise critique by following these models. And remember that you can always rely on EssayPro to take over your academic tasks if you still need a helping hand afterwards!

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How is a Critique Different From a Summary?

A critique of the article examines the strength of the evidence and the logic of the arguments. The writer studies how the author builds the case and how they use knowledge to support the claims they make. Yes, you'll need to note key ideas, but you'll also need judgment and interpretation. 

The focus while writing an article critique is on explaining the effectiveness of the text and the contribution to the subject it addresses. The process is somewhat similar if you know how to write a review article, but the distinction is that a critique is more technical and expert-level.

General Information on How to Critique an Article

The process of critiquing an article follows the same foundation regardless of the subject or discipline. Every critique should focus on three main metrics:

1. Purpose – What the author is trying to achieve and how clearly the objective is stated.
2. Evidence – The strength, credibility, and variety of the supporting data.
3. Clarity – The way the argument is structured, organized, and communicated.

To help you get through the writing process without too much stress, we've prepared this 3-step guide for you. And if you sometimes think, 'I wish someone could write my paper, ' you can always delegate your tasks to our writers.

Step 1: Reading the Article

The first stage of writing a critique is always reading the article more than once. You'll get the general idea from a single reading, too, but the subsequent ones will help you notice those subtleties that make up the arguments. Each pass helps you understand better. You'll catch how effectively the author puts the work together. As you reread, use guiding questions to frame your evaluation:

1. Why is the author credible? Consider academic background, professional experience, or previous research that establishes authority.
2. What is the thesis or hypothesis? Identify the claim or central question that directs the entire article.
3. Who is the audience? Determine whether the article addresses specialists, students, or a general readership, since this shapes tone and depth.
4. Are the arguments persuasive? Look at whether the reasoning and evidence truly support the thesis.
5. Do logical fallacies appear? Watch for errors such as overgeneralization, appeals to authority, or unsupported claims.
6. Is the conclusion convincing? Ask if it flows naturally from the evidence and resolves the initial problem with clarity.

And if you're still not sure how to critique an article, ask a custom essay writer for assistance.

Step 2: Gather Evidence

A critique becomes meaningful only when it relies on evidence rather than opinion. Anyone studying how to write article critique assignments should understand that judgment without support lacks weight. By collecting supporting evidence, you can better test how strong the author's reasoning is. You can also show whether any argument falls short. This is practically the only way to fairly critique an article, since all your claims are tied directly to the text's logic.

1. Examine the author's use of logic.

An argument should progress in a structured way. Each point must be supported by sound reasoning. Logical fallacies often take the place of genuine proof when this does not happen. Unfortunately, such errors in thought appear convincing to a lot of people. But that's only at first glance. Once you start recognizing them, you'll be able to critique with a lot more accuracy. Once you point them out, you reveal how misleading persuasive writing can be when you ignore logic. Here are the most frequent logical fallacies:

• Ad hominem: the author shifts focus from the idea to the individual presenting it, attacking character rather than content.
• Slippery slope: assumes a small action will inevitably lead to an extreme outcome without credible evidence.
• Correlation vs. causation: a mistake that treats two events occurring together as though one directly caused the other.
• Wishful thinking: conclusions rest on hope rather than measurable proof.

2. Identify the presence of bias.

The evidence is there to be presented fully. Even the best-researched work won't hold up if you pick and choose proof or use emotional language to display it. That's called bias. It appears, for example, when opposing views are dismissed. Or when statistics are framed to favor one side. A careful critique is one that acknowledges these patterns and explains their effect on the progression of an argument. This way, the writer can also show how such errors change the reliability of the text. This step requires you to fairly determine whether the article offers an objective analysis or a one-sided perspective.

When applied together, these steps ensure that a critique is more than a personal response. They turn the exercise into a measured evaluation that separates reason from assumption and helps readers understand both the strengths and the weaknesses of the article under review.

Check out our guide on how to write an explanatory essay while you're at it.

Step 3: Formatting Your Paper

A critique depends as much on structure as it does on the strength of its analysis. Careful formatting gives you the framework that allows your ideas to unfold in a logical sequence. This way, you can guide the reader through the argument. When the paper is arranged with purpose, every section contributes to the overall clarity of the work and prevents important points from being lost. Each part carries a distinct function:

1. Introduction
   
   • State the name of the author.
   • Mention the title of the article.
   • Present the author's central idea.
   • End with a thesis statement.
2. Summary
   
   • Identify the main idea of the article.
   • Outline the central arguments.
   • Restate the conclusion offered by the author.
3. Critique
   
   • Point out both strengths and weaknesses of the article.
   • Comment on clarity, accuracy, and relevance.
   • Support each observation with direct examples from the text.
4. Conclusion
   
   • Summarize the main points of your critique.
   • Offer a final judgment on the research.
   • If relevant, explain why further study in the field may be valuable.

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How to Critique a Journal Article

A journal article critique depends on following a structured path. Each stage of the process builds on the last. Together, they give you a basis for precise evaluation.

Collect the Essential Details

You need to familiarize yourself with the background of the article first. Note these details:

• Title of the article
• The journal in which it appears
• The full publication information
• The problem it addresses
• The author's purpose
• Methodology
• Findings

Read for General Understanding

Once you know the context of the article, you should read it to understand the main points. The focus here is on how the argument is introduced and how smoothly the author guides the reader from one idea to another. The objective is comprehension rather than evaluation.

Read Again with a Critical Eye

The general idea of the article won't be enough for a thoughtful critique. You need to reread it a couple more times. Then, you will be able to confidently talk about the quality of the reasoning and the credibility of the author's evidence. Pay attention to the points where arguments are strong. Highlight where they lack support. Careful notes from this stage prepare the ground for the critique itself. It should ultimately address questions such as:

• Is the title accurate and specific?
• Does the abstract reflect the scope and purpose of the article?
• Is the main purpose clearly introduced?
• Are the interpretations supported by solid evidence?
• Does the discussion contribute to the field?
• Are the sources credible and used appropriately?
• Is the research presented objectively?

The critique becomes properly structured after you answer these questions. Yet, some students still prefer to order essay when deadlines are pressing.

How to Critique a Research Article

At the outset, a critique of a research article should consider the motivation behind the work. The author's motivation for creating a research article might be the following:

• Confirming or defending an established point of view
• Introducing a new perspective to the field
• Refining or reformulating an existing idea for clearer explanation
• Challenging a prevailing argument by evaluating its limits
• Reconciling two perspectives that appear to be in conflict

It is also important to look at how the author approaches the subject matter. Some writers limit themselves to describing features. Others might stop at defining terms or classifying concepts. Some of them might go further by illustrating general points or speculating about explanations. The language and methods used to frame the subject also influence the quality of the analysis.

The structure of the article should not be overlooked either. Key points often appear when authors repeat or summarize ideas since these moments highlight the main thesis. When reviewing, pay attention to how the article measures up in areas commonly assessed by peer reviewers:

• The study's contribution to knowledge, theory, or practice
• The design and methodology applied
• The accuracy and clarity of findings and interpretations
• The strength of the conclusions
• The quality of writing and organization

Let's talk a little about the guidelines for critiquing a research article:

1. State the article's title, the author's name, and full publication details. Include the purpose of the study and the theoretical framework, if relevant. Mention the author's credibility.
2. The structure of your critique must follow the article itself. Review the study: design, data handling, result interpretation, and validity of the conclusions. Determine how appropriate the research is for the topic.
3. Use headings to organize sections of your critique. The evaluation must be clear and easy to follow without reference to the original article.
4. Present a balanced analysis by discussing both strengths and weaknesses. Support every criticism with specific examples rather than general observations.
5. Conclude by summarizing the article's value and limitations. Assess its overall contribution to the field and, if appropriate, propose directions for future research.

Article Critique Examples

Take a look at the three essay samples below to deepen your understanding of what makes a strong critique article. Seeing complete papers gives you a clearer sense of how ideas are organized and how different sections should be built. You’ll find both a research article critique example and a journal article critique example below where each one has its own style, and by reading closely, you’ll see the differences in tone and structure.

The Bottom Line

A good critique goes further than retelling what's in front of you. It asks why the piece was written, how well the arguments are supported, and whether the message is delivered clearly. Learning how to write an article critique gives students a way to practice careful reading while also building stronger writing habits.

If the process of critiquing an article feels overwhelming when deadlines stack up, EssayPro is always there to step in with some extra help.

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