DePaul University Social Network Sites Communications Summary Essay

The critical analysis content summary paper asks you to summarize the argument made by the author. You will summarize the article attached. The article should be about 2.5 pages.

A critical analysis asks you to make an argument about the readings you chose. The goal is two fold: 1) identify and explain the argument that the author is making, and 2) evaluate this argument and bring context to it – how do you understand it in your own life?

What is a critical analysis paper?

The critical analysis content summary paper that asks you to summarize the argument made by the authors.

You will choose 1 article (academic articles, not videos or blog posts) from the assigned readings to summarize.

Your written summary and analysis of the article should be about 2-2.5 FULL pages

A critical analysis asks you to summarize the argument and critically engage the readings you chose.

1. The goal is two fold:

1) identify and explain the argument that the author is making, and

2) evaluate this argument and bring context to it – how do you understand it in your own life? eg: critically engage with the argument.

HOW TO WRITE A CRITICAL ANALYSIS 

1. One of the key directions of these assignments is often to avoid/minimize summary – you are not writing a book report, but evaluating the author’s argument.

Potential points of criticism

Once you recognize that these authors are making arguments, you can analyze whether or not you find their argument compelling. Following are some possible questions you could ask to evaluate arguments:

Potential Theoretical questions – How does the author understand the situation? What is his/her/their theoretical background? How would this influence their view of the situation?

Potential Definitional questions – Are all the concepts in the text clear? Does the author define a concept vaguely to allow it to travel across different situations? If a concept can relate two seemingly different situations, is the concept meaningful?

Potential Evidence questions:

Does the author’s evidence support their argument? Do they have enough specific evidence to prove the more general point? (be sure to tell us what kind of evidence and how their evidence supports their argument)

Does the author underemphasize or ignore evidence that is contrary to their argument?

Is an argument compelling if it ignores an obvious exception?

Is the evidence credible? Can you identify a bias in the evidence?

Was the study done by a political action committee, and environmental NGO, or a nonpartisan research group? How might a group affiliation or funding influence the outcome of research?

Implication/Policy relevance questions – What are the implications of this argument? Are those implications positive or negative? How has the author dealt with this issue?

Other potential approaches:

• Is the author’s argument consistent throughout the essay?book? Or, does the conclusion seem to offer a different argument than he/she presented in the introduction?
• Does the author’s background have important implications for their argument?
• Do the specific language choices of the author betray a certain ideology or bias, or frame the argument in a certain way?[1]

STRUCTURING A CRITICAL ANALYSIS PAPER

• Most critical analysis papers begin with a short summary of the work and then dive in to the argument. Since these analyses are short, it is important to be concise in all parts of your analysis. Writing an outline (and following it) is crucial to remain focused on your argument and avoid summary or irrelevant description.
• Following is a sample outline for a critical analysis paper: 
• I. Introduction
• Identify the work being criticized
• Present thesis – argument about the work
• II. Short summary of the work
• Does not need to be comprehensive – present only what is necessary to summarize the argument

III. Conclusion

• Reflect on the argument and engage with it – bring context from your own life and understanding
• Point out the importance of your argument
• Note potential avenues for additional research or analysis