University of Calgary Assignment Tracker

Critical Review of A Scholarly Article or A Book

1. Step 1: Read your assignment outline
   Percent time spent on this step: 5%

   Instructions:

   The assignment sheet or marking schema is the most valuable resource for your review. Don’t quickly skim through it and write the assignment that you think it should be. Set aside a half hour to methodically go through this resource. For tips on getting the most from your assignment sheet, you may want to use Reading Your Assignment Sheet.         
2. Step 2: Review introductions or abstracts
   Percent time spent on this step: 10%

   Instructions:

   Often starting with the introduction or abstract of a text can help you preview what is in the text.  Consider answering the following questions as you read the abstract or introduction:

   • Where and when was this text published?
   • What do you know about the author(s) of this text?
   • What can you learn from the title?
   • Is the article organized? Is it divided into sections?
   • What do the authors suggest they are doing? What is their goal for the article?
   • What value do they attribute to their work?
   • What topics or areas of study do they relate their work to?

   By previewing the text, you now have an outline of the article. As you go along reading, you can start to understand how the bits and pieces fit together.        
3. Step 3: Effectively read through the material
   Percent time spent on this step: 25%

   Instructions:

   Because your goal is to critically review the text or article, you will want to read in an engaged manner. It can be useful to document your reaction to the text. Imagine it is a conversation where you pose questions and comments in the margins.You may want to consider responding to topics, such as the author’s intention, the author’s assumption, the author’s method or methodology, the author’s data or source material, the author’s choices or style of presentations, and the author’s contribution to knowledge on the topic.  These notes will lead to your evaluation.        
4. Step 4: Develop a set of criteria for evaluation
   Percent time spent on this step: 10%

   Instructions:

   When developing criteria for the critical review, remember to consider the needs of your audience. What aspects of the text would be valuable to this audience? What aspects of the text would your audience be concerned with? Criteria help you organize your review and separate your review from just following the order of information in the text.        
5. Step 5: Develop outline or writing strategy
   Percent time spent on this step: 5%

   Instructions:

   It can be difficult to figure out an outline for your review, but you have done all the ground work. By outlining your review,  you can ensure that you present information in the most logical for your reader. For tips, check out Figuring Out an Outline.

   Depending on your assignment outline, you may be required to have additional sources beyond the article or book. Often the purpose of this material is to help you to evaluate the text. It is hard to evaluate something in a vacuum. Context can be helpful. 
6. Step 6: Drafting assignment
   Percent time spent on this step: 25%

   Instructions:

   Start by writing the material and points with which you are most comfortable. Leave the introduction and conclusion till the end. Start by focusing on your strengths.  Remember to stay motivated through this part of the process. It can be tempting to start with a summary of the source. Because this should be brief, it might be easier to see what you will cover in your evaluation.        

   Don’t rush through your introduction and conclusion.  Think like a reader, and what information they will need to understand the rest of the document. Helpful hints for constructing introductions and conclusions can be found in Beginnings and Endings.
7. Step 7: Check and double check
   Percent time spent on this step: 15%

   Instructions:

   Read through your review, while looking for your most common errors. Start with the errors that require the most rewriting (run-on sentences) and work towards smaller typos (subject-verb agreement). Printing and reading your review aloud to yourself will help you become a more effective editor.  As a starting point, you may want to review Planning for Revision.

   A well-written review should include a citation for the text itself as well any other sources. Don’t forget, borrowing ideas from an external source without citing is considered plagiarism and is a serious academic offense. For more information, you may want to review Plagiarism: What is it and How to Avoid It.  There are several citation styles used in various disciplines throughout the university.  The most common in the Arts and Social Sciences are APA, Chicago, and MLA. In the Sciences, the most common styles are APA, CSE, and Vancouver. Always check if your instructor has a preferred style.