Assignment 1: Critical Review of an Object Text
This assignment asks you to produce a critical review of one of the core readings from the course – which we are treating as “object
texts” – the focus of your critical gaze. Being critical is one of the key skills in academic work, and this assignment requires you
to both read and write in a critical manner. There are three key steps to the writing of your critical review:
Step 1: Select one of the object texts (see the list below).
Step 2: Summarise your selected object text (300 words max):
Here you should:
1.Note the publication details and biographical details about the author [look up the author online if these are not in the reading].
2.Note where and when they were writing.
3.Identify and then provide a clear summary in your own words of the central question or issue that the paper explores AND the main
claims/argument presented by the researcher(s) in respect of the findings of their research;
Step 3. Produce a critical account of your object text:
In doing so, you should:
1.Examine the reasons and evidence provided to support the claims/argument made by the author
2.Consider the extent to which you think that the claims made or interpretations presented are justified and supported by these
reasons/evidence
3.Consider whether any aspects of methodology, presentation or argument are unclear
4.Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the piece (compared to other articles/chapters you have read)
It is very important that the primary focus of your review is on your critical engagement with the object text, rather than your
summary of what the reading says. It is therefore strongly recommended that your initial summary of the object text should be no more
than 300 words !!!!!!!!!!
You will need to make use of other relevant literature (for example using a different theoretical approach to the same object of
interest) that you have read in order to be critical, but we will not be expecting you to demonstrate wide reading in this assignment
– your primary focus should be on critically evaluating your object text.
The Student Learning Development Centre web pages provide some general guidance on what makes critical reading and critical writing,
which you may find useful.
1.Critical Reading: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/critical-reading
2.Critical Writing: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/critical-writing
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