How to write a critical essay
A critical essay is a form of academic writing that analyses, interprets and/or evaluates a text. In a critical essay assistant, the writer makes a claim about how certain ideas or themes are conveyed in the text, and then supports the claim with evidence from primary and/or secondary sources.
In casual conversation, we often associate the word "critical" with a negative perspective. In the context of a critical essay, however, the word "critical" simply means accurate and analytical. Critical essays analyse and evaluate the meaning and significance of a text, rather than judging its content or quality.
What makes an essay "critical"?
Imagine you have just watched the film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory". If you were chatting with friends in the cinema lobby, you might say something like, "Charlie was so lucky to find the Golden Ticket. That ticket changed his life." A friend might reply, "Yeah, but Willy Wonka shouldn't have let those angry kids into his chocolate factory. They made a big mess."
These comments make for pleasant conversation, but they don't belong in a critical essay. Why? Because they react to (and pass judgment on) the film's raw content rather than analyzing its themes or how the director conveyed those themes.
On the other hand, a critical essay on "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" might take as its theme the following: in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory", director Mel Stuart combines money and morality in his portrayal of children: the angelic appearance of Charlie Bucket, a good-hearted boy of modest means, is sharply contrasted with the physically grotesque portrayal of wealthy and thus immoral children. "
This thesis includes an argument about the themes of the film, what the director seems to be saying about these themes, and the techniques the director uses to convey his message. Furthermore, this thesis is both supported and refuted using evidence from the film itself, which means that it is a strong central argument for a critical essay.
Features of a critical essay
Critical essays are written for many disciplines and can include a wide range of textual materials: films, novels, poetry, video games, visual art, and more. However, all critical essays have different topics despite the following characteristics.
The main requirement . All critical essays have a central claim about the text. This claim is typically expressed at the beginning of the essay in a thesis statement , which is then supported by evidence in each paragraph. Some critical essays further support their claim by including any counterarguments and then refuting the evidence.
Evidence . The central claim of the critical essay must be supported by evidence. In many critical essays, most of the evidence is textual support: specific details of the text (dialogue, descriptions, word choice, structure, images, etc.) that support the claim. Critical essays may also include evidence from secondary sources, often scholarly works that support or confirm the main claim.
Conclusion . Once the claim is presented and supported by evidence, critical essays provide a succinct conclusion. The conclusion summarizes the trajectory of the essay's argument and highlights the essays' key insights.
Tips for writing a critical essay
Writing a critical essay requires careful analysis and a careful process of argumentation. If you are struggling with a critical essay assignment, these tips will help you get started.
Practice active reading strategies. These concentration and retention strategies will help you identify specific details in the text that provide evidence for the main argument. Active reading is an essential skill, especially if you are buy a personal narrative essay for a literature class.
Read essays . If you are not familiar with critical essays as a form, writing them will be very challenging. Before diving into the writing process, read several published critical essays, paying close attention to their structure and writing style. (As always, remember that formulating an author's ideas without proper attribution is a form of plagiarism.)
Critical essays should consist of your own analysis and interpretation of the text, not a summary of the text in general. If you find yourself writing long plot or character summaries, pause and consider whether these summaries are in the service of your main argument or just taking up space.
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