HANDOUT

UWI-MONA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

CRITICAL ANALYSIS STRATEGIES

 A Critique is an evaluation of an author’s work, in order to increase your

understanding of it.
 Critical Analysis is arrived at by breaking down and studying the parts of the
argument
 Critical Analysis involves both critical reading and writing

ASK THESE QUESTIONS:

What are the Genre and Rhetorical Context of the Argument?

 Genre – a style or category of art or literature, e.g., satire, humour,

drama.

 Rhetoric – the art of effective or persuasive speaking, or writing,

but sometimes lacking sincerity or meaningful content. .

.What is the Purpose?

 Inform with factual material? If this is so, has the material been
presented clearly, accurately, logically and coherently?

 Persuade with appeal to reason or emotions? If this is so, is there

adequate supporting evidence, logical reasoning, and have other
positions been presented? Is it a one-sided or a two-sided argument?

 Entertain to affect one’s emotions? If this is the purpose, how are

emotions affected? Does it make you laugh, cry, get angry?

1
Questions About The Writer/Speaker:

 Who is the writer/speaker?

 What are his/her credentials?
 What do you know about the publication/source?
 What is the connection between author, genre and source?

Questions About The Subject Matter :

o Is there a disagreement/controversy surrounding the subject matter?

o Is the subject matter of current interest?
o What is the overall value of the argument?
o What are its strengths and weaknesses?
o Are there any gaps in logic?
o What is the quality of the supporting evidence?
o Can the arguments be refuted?
o Have I gained any new insights?
o Has the argument raised any ethical issues?
o Has it added to my body of knowledge?

Critical Analysis of Alternate Views/Positions There are additional positions than

those proposed in a two-sided argument and it therefore behooves us to seek these views,
in addition to our position, before arriving at a conclusion. Take a position similar to that
of an arbitrator in a union dispute between two parties.

Categories Of Sources of Disagreement:

 Disagreement about the facts presented (These can include definitions of

concepts, significance and/or relevance of supporting data, analogies drawn)

 Disagreement about the underlying values, beliefs, assumptions that informed

the position taken.

2
Analysis of A Disagreement: (Define the bases of the disagreement)

 Definition of concepts?
o Facts and supporting data?
o Values?
o Experience?
o Assumptions?

Ask Yourself These Questions?

o Have I gained any new insights?

o Has it raised any ethical issues?
o Has it added to my body of knowledge?

Use Disagreement Productively For Further Investigation: (Can serve as a bridge

toward constructing your own argument)

o Become an active questioner and thinker

o
o Conduct research to seek out other points-of-view
o
o Synthesise
o
o Be intellectually flexible
o
o Understand the dialectical nature of arguments (argument from opposing
standpoints, the art of discussing the truth of opinions)
o
o Cope with ambiguity and uncertainty
o
o Remain in touch with your values and beliefs

Remember that the purpose of a critical analysis is not only to inform, but to evaluate the
purpose, worth, utility, quality, truth, validity, relevance of the argument and its ability to
advance the best solution for a complex problem.

Remember that the writer/author, purpose, genre of an argument are intertwined/closely

connected and must be considered in any thoughtful response/ critical analysis of an
argument.

(CRITICAL ANALYSIS STRATEGIES –HANDOUT (2015)

3
 