SKILLS / Writing / Critical review

Critical Review Writing

A critical review is an evaluation of an academic text eg: an article, report, essay or book. You are asked to make judgments, positive or negative, about the text using various criteria. The information and knowledge in the text needs to be evaluated, and the criteria that should be used can vary depending on your discipline. That is, management, sociology, information technology, or literature may use different criteria. All critical reviews, however, involve two main tasks: summary and evaluation.

Summary/Description Evaluation/Judgement
A description of the text:

  • The topic, or the main question it proposes to answer.
  • Why does the author think the question(s) is important?
  • The arguments (answers with reasons) that it makes.
  • The structure of the text or the method used to answer the question.
  • The evidence used to support answers.
  • The conclusions reached in the text.
  • Any further questions raised, but not answered in the text.

Be careful not to give too much detail, especially in a short review.

YOUR judgment about the quality or value of the text (for other researchers, or to practitioners in the field, or to students).
An evaluation of the text using criteria, appropriate to your discipline. When evaluating the text you could answer some of the following questions.

  • Is the question the text tries to answer relevant, interesting, new, useful?
  • Who will find the text useful?
  • Does the text give new answers to an old question?
  • Is the text detailed, or brief? Simple or complex?
  • Is the evidence presented to support the answer extensive? Strong? Weak? Contradictory?
  • Are the conclusions reached final, or preliminary?

For more detailed information go here: https://www.monash.edu/rlo/quick-study-guides/writing-a-critical-review

Critical Writing Review Structuring

Critical Review: Structure information sheet 

This information sheet provides information on how to structure a critical review. It includes the differences between descriptive and evaluative writing. Monash University.

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Critical Writing Review Essay Notes

Critical Review: Model essay analysis 

This information sheet provides information on  what makes a good critical review. It analyses a sample essay and highlights critical review academic style and conventions. Monash University / Webpage Link.

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