Purpose
A critical essay involves evaluating information, theories or situations and is an important way of analysing information, posing questions and challenging information.
The critical essay is an important academic tool that allows your knowledge to develop, because rather than being a personal opinion, the critical essay requires an in-
depth analysis of a topic
Structure
Introduction Body Conclusion
Introduce topic & provide a context for the essay
Answer the question by developing a discussion
Restate the Main Point
Introductions have two parts:
1.
General statements about your topic.
These sentences need to:
•
Attract reader’s attention
•
Introduce the topic in a general way to orientate your reader to
the subject and to provide background information.
This provides the context. Keep statements brief.
•
Provide background information
2.
The thesis statement. It is often the last sentence of the introduction and
gives the reader the following information:
State specific topic.
•
Identifies your position on the topic or question
•
List the subtopics that will be discussed
•
Limits the scope of what will be discussed
•
Indicates the pattern of organisation of the essay and gives a
clear outline of what will follow
•
Indicates your argument or contention when you are asked to
‘draw conclusions’ about a subject.
Here, show your knowledge and understanding of material that has been
read.
If the question / answer has more than one part, the body of the text
should be structured into separate sections and addressed individually.
Your argument should be presented logically and cohesively by following
the general paragraph structure of:
Topic sentence
States the topic and central idea of the paragraph. (The point the
paragraph makes)
Supporting sentences
These sentences support, expand, explain, examine and justify the poi nts
made in the topic sentence. (Evidence, examples and qu otes that support
your position.
Concluding Sentence
Relate the example and evidence back to your thesis
1. Relate the essay back to the essay question
2.
Reiterate the thesis point
3.
Reiterate most important evidence supporting the position
taken
4.
May also contain a reflection on the evidence presented.
5.
Questions such as these may be considered:
-What is the significance of your findings?
-What are the implications of your conclusions for this topic
and for the broader field?
-Are there any limitations to your approach?
-Are there any other factors of relevance that impact upon
the topic but fell outside the scope of the essay?
-Are there any suggestions you can make in terms of future
research?
6.
The conclusion should match the introduction in terms of the
ideas presented and the argument put forward.
WRITING A CRITICAL ESSAY
