First Essay Instructions

A critique is a formal evaluation of a text, and one of the most common forms of critique in literature is the review. In a review, you – as the reviewer – get to evaluate the text. For your first essay, choose one of the short stories (The things they carried or How to tell a true war story) I’ve assigned to review. Your 3-5 page review should include quotations from the text wherein you will cite your sources according to MLA guidelines. Here are some guidelines for writing your review:

Introduce What You Are Evaluating
• Include the title and author.
• Be clear about what you are evaluating
Set up Your Review with a Summary
• Your summary is to be used as a reference point for your discussion.
• Be sure that your summary is balanced with adequate analysis. This is not a book report.
Put the Piece into Context
• What type of work is it?
• When was it written?
Analyze the Text
• Note how the work is structured.
• Look at the individual elements: plot, character, dialogue.
• Determine the purpose of the work.
Include Your Reasoned Opinion: This Is Your Evaluation
• Did the work achieve its purpose?
• What is your response to the selection and why?
• Agree or disagree with the presentation of information (whether or not it achieved its purpose).
• Base your agreement or disagreement on evidence.
End with a Balanced Conclusion
• Recap the pros and cons of the piece.
• Give your overall reaction.

You’ll need to take this essay to the Writing Lab (or make an online appointment) for a paper-reading appointment. Your essay is due in the dropbox by midnight on Monday, February 14.