Reading and Critiquing Academic Articles and Journals

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Reading and Critiquing Academic Articles and Journals Rollo, Marvin Renelle C.

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Page 1: Reading and Critiquing Academic Articles and Journals

Reading and

Critiquing Academic

Articles and Journals

Rollo, Marvin Renelle C.

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When college professors askyou to read and write acritique of a text, theyusually expect you toanalyze and evaluate, notjust summarize.

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SUMMARY vs

CRITIQUE

A summary merely reports what thetext said; that is, it answers only thequestion, "What did the author say?"

A critique, on the other hand, analyzes,interprets, and evaluates the text,answering the questions how? why?and how well?

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A critique does not necessarily have tocriticize the piece in a negative sense.

Your reaction to the text may be largelypositive, negative, or a combination of the two.

It is important to explain why you respond tothe text in a certain way.

A good critique demonstrates yourimpressions of the article, while providingample evidence to back up your impressions.

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CRITIQUING

JOURNALSWHAT IS A JOURNAL?

an academic magazine publishedon a regular schedule

contains articles written by expertsin a particular field of study

can be in print or digital formats,and many are available both ways.

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STEPS IN

CRITIQUING A

JOURNAL

ARTICLE

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STEP 1 -

CITATIONProvide a full citation of the article to includeauthor(s), title of article, and name ofjournal, volume and pages.

For example:McFarlane, J., Malecha, A., Gist, J., and Watson, K. 2002. An

In‐Depth Analysis of California’s Use of AdultIncarceration for Juveniles: It’s Affects andAfter‐Affects. Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol. 51(6),347‐594.

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STEP 2 - TOPICBriefly describe the topic of the journalarticle.Identify the major and minor objectives ofthe article as wellIdentify and define the important conceptsfocused on by the author.

Are the definitions clear, in your opinion?

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STEP 3 – THEORY/RESEARCH

METHODSIs the author being guided by a particulartheoretical perspective? If so, what is it andhow does he use this theory to understandthe problem?Does the author collect data? If so, whatmethod does he use?

Example of methods: survey, field observation, useof existing sources, experiment, and is itcross‐sectional or longitudinal in design

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STEP 4 – MAIN

IDEASSummarize the article’s content.In doing so, what is the author’smajor argument?What are the supporting arguments?Are the ideas clearly presented?

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STEP 5 –

CONCLUSIONWhat conclusions does the author(s)make?

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STEP 6 –

REFLECTIONIn your opinion, do the data support theconclusions being made by the author?In your opinion, are the results thoughtprovoking?In your opinion, what could be done toimprove the research?What was the most important thing youlearned by reading and critiquing thisarticle?

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EXAMPLE OF A

CRITIQUE OF A

JOURNAL ARTICLE

http://ocw.utm.my/file.php/18/Contoh_1_Journal_Article_Critique_-_Jamal_Oman_2009.pdf

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STEPS IN

CRITIQUING AN

ACADEMIC

ARTICLE

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CRITIQUING

ARTICLESWHAT IS AN ACADEMIC ARTICLE?

Academic (or scholarly) articles arearticles that have been peer-reviewedbefore they are published.This means that experts in the fieldof study will review and approve thearticle before the journal will publishit.

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Step 1 - Analyze the textAs you read the book or article you plan to critique, the following questions will help you analyze the text:What is the author's main point?What is the author's purpose?Who is the author's intended audience?What arguments does the author use to support the main point?What evidence does the author present to support the arguments?What are the author's underlying assumptions or biases?

You may find it useful to make notes about the text based on these questions as you read.

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Step 2 - Evaluate the

textAfter you have read the text, you can begin to evaluate the author's ideas. The following questions provide some ideas to help you evaluate the text:Is the argument logical?Is the text well-organized, clear, and easy to read?Are the author's facts accurate?Have important terms been clearly defined?Is there sufficient evidence for the arguments?Do the arguments support the main point?Is the text appropriate for the intended audience?

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Step 2 - Evaluate the

textDoes the text present and refute opposing points ofview?Does the text help you understand the subject?Are there any words or sentences that evoke a strongresponse from you? What are those words orsentences? What is your reaction?What is the origin of your reaction to this topic?When or where did you first learn about it? Can youthink of people, articles, or discussions that haveinfluenced your views? How might these be comparedor contrasted to this text?What questions or observations does this articlesuggest? That is, what does the article make you thinkabout?

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Step 3 – Plan and write your critique

Write your critique in standard essay form. It isgenerally best not to follow the author'sorganization when organizing your analysis, sincethis approach lends itself to summary rather thananalysis.Begin with an introduction that defines thesubject of your critique and your point of view.Defend your point of view by raising specificissues or aspects of the argument.Conclude your critique by summarizing yourargument and re-emphasizing your opinion.

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Step 3 – Plan and write your critique

You will first need to identify and explain theauthor's ideas. Include specific passages that supportyour description of the author's point of view.Offer your own opinion. Explain what you thinkabout the argument. Describe several points withwhich you agree or disagree.For each of the points you mention, include specificpassages from the text (you may summarize, quote,or paraphrase) that provide evidence for your point ofview.Explain how the passages support your opinion.

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EXAMPLE OF A

CRITIQUE OF AN

ACADEMIC

ARTICLE

http://www.sagepub.com/eic/14/Chapter14_Critique1.pdf

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WEBLIOGRAPHYhttp://faculty.gordonstate.edu/ewattswarren/How%20To%20Critique%20a%20Scholarly%20Journal%20Article.pdfhttp://www.marietta.edu/~peeblesm/452%20Article%20critique.htmhttp://www.wikihow.com/Critique-an-Articlehttp://www.pcc.edu/library/research/what-journalhttp://ocw.utm.my/file.php/18/Contoh_1_Journal_Article_Critique_-_Jamal_Oman_2009.pdfhttp://www.sagepub.com/eic/14/Chapter14_Critique1.pdfhttp://libanswers.uwinnipeg.ca/a.php?qid=28519