Article: If you are asked to do a general analysis, you can include what you think are the most important problems and assets of the text. For academic critiques, the introduction should outline what you are being asked to critique. This can be done in the introduction or near the end, if you desire. Critiques based on works in progress should begin and end with positive assessments. The positive assessments should begin with a general description of what is positive in the text. Then, you can include praise of imagery, characters and other details. For a published work, this will give your basis for review. For a non-published work, this will tell the author how you interpreted the work. You do not need to do an analysis of all of these elements, unless you are asked to by the author or assignment. Focus on things that stuck out as you read and reread the work. Try not to refer to things that need work as weaknesses. If you are doing an academic critique, add how you interpreted the work and found it convincing and complete. If you are doing a draft writing critique, feel free to leave a few opinions or topics for thought and discussion. Consider presenting your critique to the author in person. Written critiques do not have the nuance of verbal critiques.

What is a summary?
Clarify with the author or professor what you are being asked to critique. Introduce the critique with a short description of the author and text. Explain the significance of the work. Begin with positive critiques, if you are writing the critique based on a draft. Include a short summary of the work next. Do an analysis of the larger elements of fiction, such as plot, setting, protagonist, antagonist and point of view. Add both positive and negative points under each section. Explain the overall success of the work in the conclusion.