Unit 3 Analyzing Informational Text Summary vs. Critique Unit 3 Analyzing Informational Text

When teachers ask you to write a critique of a text, they expect you to analyze and evaluate, not just summarize. A summary merely reports what the text said; that is, it answers only the question, "What did the author say?" Summarizing an article simply means presenting it in a brief format and assuring yourself and your audience that you understand the article. A critique, on the other hand, analyzes, interprets, and evaluates the text, answering the questions how? why? and how well?

A critique does not necessarily have to criticize the piece in a negative sense. Your reaction to the text may be largely positive, negative, or a combination of the two. It is important to explain why you respond to the text in a certain way. In a critique you must explain why you do or do not accept the information and/or conclusions in the article as correct.

Characteristics of a Summary Restates what you read in your own words Presents only the main, or important, details Maintains a neutral and objective stance

Characteristics of a Critique Moves beyond a summary Assesses or analyzes what you read Offers interpretations and judgments about what your read Gives evidence to support your evaluation

Both the summary and the critique should be written using the literary present tense the author writes And in third person point of view he remembers, she points out, the essay has