A Critique Template (Ch2, What It Takes)

Close Read for Summary

Question One: Primary purpose? InformPersuadeEntertain• Evaluate Informative Writing

– Info accurate? Check facts 4 cred– Info significant? Info important? Why or why not?– Info fair? Interpreted by the author in fair light?

• Evaluate Persuasive Writing– Terms clearly defined– Fair use of the info provided– Logical reasoning

• Any emotionally ‘loaded’ terms?• Name calling?• Faulty cause and effect• My way or the highway reasoning• Conclusion drawn from too little info• Bad analogy/metaphor• Oversimplifying

• Evaluate Entertaining Writing– Interesting characters– Believable – Communicates central idea– Use of language– Fulfills purpose intended

Question Two: Agree or disagree or both & why or why not

– Sum up the author’s position– State your own position• Your position is backed by your precise and particular

experience, your observations, and evidence from others.

– Look over the author’s assumptions at the heart of her arguments.