A Note on Critique Writing
Critique can often be found in research papers, position papers, book/film reviews, and essay exams. In the business world, critiques are often found in business plans or proposals, grant writing, legal briefs and legal arguments, and legislation or policy briefs.
Since most of what you are likely to read from day to day is writing that is meant to inform (newspapers, magazine articles, online news briefs, consumer reports, etc.) a reader must evaluate the accuracy of information presented by the author. We might evaluate the author on the significance of the information, as well as, the interpretation of the information presented to us by the author (the author's tone and POV, for example).
In the media, we are often bombarded by writers trying to sell us something--to convince us of a point of view or idea. Evaluating how persuasive a writer is, can also be helpful for the same reasons interpreting informative writing is helpful.
Of course, you are also expected to inform or persuade your audience when writing. Authors usually have a point to their writing. Even fiction, novels, plays, films, poems have a "lesson" to teach us about humanity. Encapsulated between the covers of a novel is a person trying to "convince" us (persuade us) to a way of thinking about the world. This is persuasive writing.
Writers also inform us. They present settings, characters, events in realistic ways so that we, as readers, believe the author. Events and settings well described help provide information.
Finally, writers also attempt to entertain us. That's a big job for writers. How well did they succeed in this endeavor? Reviews and critiques help inform us how successful an author might be.
As we read our chosen novel(s) and the articles during this unit, please consider how successful the writers are in providing information, or persuading us to a certain viewpoint, or entertaining us.
Since most of what you are likely to read from day to day is writing that is meant to inform (newspapers, magazine articles, online news briefs, consumer reports, etc.) a reader must evaluate the accuracy of information presented by the author. We might evaluate the author on the significance of the information, as well as, the interpretation of the information presented to us by the author (the author's tone and POV, for example).
In the media, we are often bombarded by writers trying to sell us something--to convince us of a point of view or idea. Evaluating how persuasive a writer is, can also be helpful for the same reasons interpreting informative writing is helpful.
Of course, you are also expected to inform or persuade your audience when writing. Authors usually have a point to their writing. Even fiction, novels, plays, films, poems have a "lesson" to teach us about humanity. Encapsulated between the covers of a novel is a person trying to "convince" us (persuade us) to a way of thinking about the world. This is persuasive writing.
Writers also inform us. They present settings, characters, events in realistic ways so that we, as readers, believe the author. Events and settings well described help provide information.
Finally, writers also attempt to entertain us. That's a big job for writers. How well did they succeed in this endeavor? Reviews and critiques help inform us how successful an author might be.
As we read our chosen novel(s) and the articles during this unit, please consider how successful the writers are in providing information, or persuading us to a certain viewpoint, or entertaining us.
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