The purpose of a critical review is to analyze and evaluate the
contents of a book or article -- to discuss the author's major contentions,
methodology, and the research of information provided as support.
Tour analysis, both positive and negative, should help the reader of the
review understand the author's point of view, purpose, and presentation
of information as well as the criteria you have used to analyze and evaluate
the author's work. As you make you analytical and evaluative comments
about the work, be careful to distinguish between your points and those
made by the author. If you include ideas from other critics or from
course materials, document or refer to theses sources in the text.
The following guidelines and questions should help you clarify your thoughts and provide you with a sequence your review might follow:
1. Describe the book or article being review. Is it a memoir, or biography, an argumentative essay, a review of literature, etc.? What information or knowledge does it convey? What is its main topic? What problems does the work address or what issues does it raise?
2. Determine the author's purpose. Is this purpose aimed at any particular group of readers? What does the preface or foreword tell you about the author's intent, background, and credentials?
3. Provide a context for your review of the book or article. How does the work relate to an area of study or an existing body of knowledge? What are the criteria by which you are analyzing the work?
4. Summarize briefly the main points, highlighted by paraphrase and quotation. The point here is not to retell but to provide an overview of the content. You may integrate your analysis with your summary or summarize first and analyze later. A word of caution: The first method of organization can make it difficult for the reader to distinguish between your ideas and the author's while the latter method can lead you to state the author's point twice. Be aware of these problems in order to avoid them. Also ask yourself, are there some natural breaks in the organization of the work where your commentary seems appropriate?
5. Evaluate what is most and/or least effective about the book or article. What is the most appropriate direction to take? Consider: How well has the book achieved its goal? What possibilities have been suggested? What points are controversial? Does the author convey prejudice or make illogical relationships? Do you see any practical or personal application for the author's work? Does the work make a significant contribution to a body of knowledge?
6. Reserve you last few lines for a comment on the book overall. Your responses to the above questions will probably address specific segments or points. Your last sentences should refer to the work in its entirety and leave the reader with a sense of completion.