These guidelines are not a rigid formula for writing critical book reviews. Thousands of authors write critiques that do not follow this structured method. However, until you are more confident and experienced in writing critiques, we suggest you follow these guidelines. They are not meant to restrict you, but to provide you with a workable method of writing critical book reviews. Now you don't have to search through books for tips on how to write a critical review, simply refer to this article when receiving an assignment from your school or university. The only help for writing a critique for you now is practicing. Practice makes perfect.



How many times when asked to criticize you made the same mistake: used phrases like ?I don't like it, because?? or ?This was the best one??? Don't you think it's time to grow up a little and finally learn how to write a critical review?

Writing a critique paper involves giving a response to a book, movie, work of art, etc. But writing a critique is more than just saying that the text is "great" or "unsatisfactory". These are responses, but they don't eliminate the subject for everyone. Therefore, in your critique papers, you have to explain how you arrived at your conclusions. Let's find it out on the example of writing a critical book review.

Writing a critique paper starts with a summary. Whether it is positive or negative, it should be, first of all, fair. It means that by stating an argument in writing a book critique you have to back it up with facts, references to the text, and your opinions. Writing critical book reviews also helps you to go over your ideas and beliefs, and even change them.

You start writing a book critique from the beginning ? the introduction. In this part of your critique research paper, you get your readers acquainted with the author, his biography, the book, which you are evaluating, and the circumstances, under which it has been written. At this point, stating your main idea will be of great help for writing the critique, because you will put your thoughts together, and make them go in the right direction.

You proceed writing a critical book review by giving your response to the text. Which of the author's arguments are close to your beliefs? Which are not? In writing a critique paper, it's important to specify them. If you see weak sides of the book, point at them, too. Again, don't forget to back them up with evidence as you are writing a critique paper and not simple notes. When writing a book critique, evaluate the text by answering the questions ?how??, ?why??, and ?how well?? At the end of this part of your critique research paper state how the text contributed to your growing knowledge of the course's subject matter.

Your critique paper writing must have a conclusion. In this part, don't make new points. Remind your readers about the strong and weak parts of the book. When writing a critical book review, say whether the author achieved his goal and whether he was clear enough. Beware of simply responding mechanically to the discussion questions or your critique papers can degenerate into a series of short, disjointed responses. If you are writing a critique, it should be expressed as a consistent point of view.