critiquing itself at every faltering half-step of its development 
(ROOT (S (VP (VBG critiquing) (NP (PRP itself)) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT every) (VBG faltering) (NN half) (HYPH -) (NN step)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ its) (NN development))))))))
(ROOT (S (VP (VBG ) (NP (PRP )) (PP (IN ) (NP (NP (DT ) (VBG ) (NN ) (HYPH ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (PRP$ ) (NN ))))))))