When we critique a text, we interrogate it. Imagine the text, sitting on a stool under a bright, dangling light bulb while you ask, in a demanding voice, “What did you mean by having Professor Mustard wear a golden yellow fedora?”When we critique, our own opinions and ideas become part of our textual analysis. We question the text, we argue with it, and we delve into it for deeper meanings.
●How did you respond to the piece? Did you like it? Did it appeal to you? Could you identify with it?
●Do you agree with the main ideas in the text?
●Did you find any errors in reasoning? Any gaps in the discussion?
●Did the organization make sense?
●Was evidence used correctly, without manipulation? Has the writer used appropriate sources for support?
●Is the author objective? Biased? Reasonable? (Note that the author might just as easily be subjective, unbiased, and unreasonable! Every type of writing and tone can be used for a specific purpose. By identifying these techniques and considering why the author is using them, you begin to understand more about the text.)
●Has the author left anything out? If yes, was this accidental? Intentional?
●Are the text’s tone and language text appropriate?
●Are all of the author’s statements clear? Is anything confusing?
●What worked well in the text? What was lacking or failed completely?
