what must one do to write an effective critical response?
WRITING THE CRITICAL RESPONSE. --adapted from Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers, 4th edition, Writing: Invention Forma and Style. by Podis & Podis, The Purposeful Writer by Donna Gorrell. A critique is an analysis of and a commentary on another piece of writing. It generally. focuses on technique as well as on content. A critical response essay (or interpretive. essay or review) has two missions: to summarize a sourceâs main idea and to respond to. the sourceâs main ideas with reactions based on your synthesis. Summarizing. The first step to writing is to read actively and thoughtfully, seeking answers to the.