critical essay

How to Write a Critical Essay

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A critical essay is a form of academic writing that analyzes, interprets, and/or evaluates a text. In a critical essay, an author makes a claim about how particular ideas or themes are conveyed in a text, then supports that claim with evidence from primary and/or secondary sources.

In casual conversation, we often associate the word "critical" with a negative perspective. However, in the context of a critical essay, the word "critical" simply means discerning and analytical. Critical essays analyze and evaluate the meaning and significance of a text, rather than making a judgment about its content or quality.

What Makes an Essay "Critical"? 

Imagine you've just watched the movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." If you were chatting with friends in the movie theater lobby, you might say something like, "Charlie was so lucky to find a Golden Ticket. That ticket changed his life." A friend might reply, "Yeah, but Willy Wonka shouldn't have let those raucous kids into his chocolate factory in the first place. They caused a big mess."

These comments make for an enjoyable conversation, but they do not belong in a critical essay. Why? Because they respond to (and pass judgment on) the raw content of the movie, rather than analyzing its themes or how the director conveyed those themes.

On the other hand, a critical essay about "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" might take the following topic as its thesis: "In 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,' director Mel Stuart intertwines money and morality through his depiction of children: the angelic appearance of Charlie Bucket, a good-hearted boy of modest means, is sharply contrasted against the physically grotesque portrayal of the wealthy, and thus immoral, children."

This thesis includes a claim about the themes of the film, what the director seems to be saying about those themes, and what techniques the director employs in order to communicate his message. In addition, this thesis is both supportable  and  disputable using evidence from the film itself, which means it's a strong central argument for a critical essay .

Characteristics of a Critical Essay

Critical essays are written across many academic disciplines and can have wide-ranging textual subjects: films, novels, poetry, video games, visual art, and more. However, despite their diverse subject matter, all critical essays share the following characteristics.

• Central claim . All critical essays contain a central claim about the text. This argument is typically expressed at the beginning of the essay in a thesis statement , then supported with evidence in each body paragraph. Some critical essays bolster their argument even further by including potential counterarguments, then using evidence to dispute them.
• Evidence . The central claim of a critical essay must be supported by evidence. In many critical essays, most of the evidence comes in the form of textual support: particular details from the text (dialogue, descriptions, word choice, structure, imagery, et cetera) that bolster the argument. Critical essays may also include evidence from secondary sources, often scholarly works that support or strengthen the main argument.
• Conclusion . After making a claim and supporting it with evidence, critical essays offer a succinct conclusion. The conclusion summarizes the trajectory of the essay's argument and emphasizes the essays' most important insights.

Tips for Writing a Critical Essay

Writing a critical essay requires rigorous analysis and a meticulous argument-building process. If you're struggling with a critical essay assignment, these tips will help you get started.

• Practice active reading strategies . These strategies for staying focused and retaining information will help you identify specific details in the text that will serve as evidence for your main argument. Active reading is an essential skill, especially if you're writing a critical essay for a literature class.
• Read example essays . If you're unfamiliar with critical essays as a form, writing one is going to be extremely challenging. Before you dive into the writing process, read a variety of published critical essays, paying careful attention to their structure and writing style. (As always, remember that paraphrasing an author's ideas without proper attribution is a form of plagiarism .)
• Resist the urge to summarize . Critical essays should consist of your own analysis and interpretation of a text, not a summary of the text in general. If you find yourself writing lengthy plot or character descriptions, pause and consider whether these summaries are in the service of your main argument or whether they are simply taking up space.
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How To Write A Critical Analysis Essay With Examples

Declan Gessel

May 4, 2024

A Critical Analysis Essay is a form of academic writing that requires students to extract information and critically analyze a specific topic. The task may seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can become an exciting task. 

Critical Analysis Essays help students improve their analytical skills and foster principles of logic. In this article, we are going to discuss how to write an essay and break it down for you. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Table Of Content

What is a critical analysis essay, why the subject of your critical analysis essay is important, 5 reading strategies for critical analysis essay, building the body of your analysis, 5 things to avoid when writing your critical analysis essay, write smarter critical analysis essay with jotbot — start writing for free today.

When you write a critical analysis essay, you move beyond recounting the subject's main points and delve into examining it with a discerning eye. The goal? To form your own insights about the subject, based on the evidence you gather. 

This involves dissecting and contemplating the author's arguments , techniques, and themes while also developing your own critical response. While forming your own conclusions may sound intimidating, it's a key aspect of fine-tuning your critical thinking skills and organizing your thoughts into a cohesive, argumentative response. 

Key Skills in the Craft

This process consists of two key elements: understanding the core components of the subject and forming your own critical response, both supported by evidence. The first part involves grasping the subject's main arguments, techniques, and themes. The second part entails taking that knowledge and constructing your analytical and evaluative response. 

Deconstructing the Subject

In other words, roll up your sleeves and get deep into the subject matter. Start by identifying the author's main point, deconstructing their arguments, examining the structure and techniques they use, and exploring the underlying themes and messages. By engaging with the subject on this level, you'll have a thorough understanding of it and be better prepared to develop your own response. 

The Power of Evidence

Remember that evidence is your secret weapon for crafting a convincing analysis. This means going beyond summarizing the content and instead using specific examples from the subject to support your own arguments and interpretations. Evidence isn't just about facts, either; it can also be used to address the effectiveness of the subject, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. 

The Art of Evaluation

Lastly, put your evaluation skills to work. Critically assess the subject's effectiveness, pinpointing its strengths and potential shortcomings. From there, you can offer your own interpretation, supported by evidence from the subject itself. This is where you put everything you've learned about the subject to the test, showcasing your analytical skills and proving your point.

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Let’s delve on the importance of understanding the Work you'll be analyzing:

Main Argument

When diving into a work, one must unravel the central point or message the author is conveying. All other analyses stem from this fundamental point. By identifying and comprehending the main argument, one can dissect the various elements that support it, revealing the author's stance or point of view.

Themes are the underlying concepts and messages explored in the subject matter. By venturing into the depths of themes, one can unravel the layers of meaning within the work. Understanding these underlying ideas not only enriches the analysis but also sheds light on the author's intentions and insights.

Structure & Techniques

Understanding how the work is built - be it a chronological story, persuasive arguments, or the use of figurative language - provides insight into the author's craft. Structure and techniques can influence the way the work is perceived, and by dissecting them, one can appreciate the intricacies of the author's style and the impact it has on the audience.

In critical analysis, understanding the context can add an extra layer of depth to the analysis. Considering the historical, social, or cultural context in which the work was created can provide valuable insights into the author's influences, intentions, and the reception of the work. While not always necessary, contextual analysis can elucidate aspects of the work that might otherwise go unnoticed.

To conduct a comprehensive critical analysis , understanding the work you'll be analyzing is the foundation on which all other interpretations rely. By identifying the main argument, themes, structure, techniques, and context, a nuanced and insightful analysis can be crafted. This step sets the stage for a thorough examination of the work, bringing to light the nuances and complexities that make critical analysis a valuable tool in literary and artistic exploration.

1. Close Reading: Go Deeper Than Skimming

Close reading is a focused approach to reading where you don't just skim the text. Instead, you pay close attention to every word, sentence, and detail. By doing this, you can uncover hidden meanings, themes, and literary devices that you might miss if you were reading too quickly. I recommend underlining or annotating key passages, literary devices, or recurring ideas. This helps you remember these important details later on when you're writing your critical analysis essay.

2. Active Note-Taking to Capture Important Points

When reading a text for a critical analysis essay, it's important to take active notes that go beyond summarizing the plot or main points. Instead, try jotting down the author's arguments, interesting details, confusing sections, and potential evidence for your analysis. These notes will give you a solid foundation to build your essay upon and will help you keep track of all the important elements of the text.

3. Identify Recurring Ideas: Look for Patterns

In a critical analysis essay, it's crucial to recognize recurring ideas, themes, motifs, or symbols that might hold deeper meaning. By looking for patterns in the text, you can uncover hidden messages or themes that the author might be trying to convey. Ask yourself why these elements are used repeatedly and how they contribute to the overall message of the text. By identifying these patterns, you can craft a more nuanced analysis of the text.

4. Consider the Author's Purpose

Authorial intent is an essential concept to consider when writing a critical analysis essay. Think about the author's goals: are they trying to inform, persuade, entertain, or something else entirely? Understanding the author's purpose can help you interpret the text more accurately and can give you insight into the author's motivations for writing the text in the first place.

5.  Question and Analyze your Arguments

In a critical analysis essay, it's important to take a critical approach to the text. Question the author's ideas, analyze the effectiveness of their arguments, and consider different interpretations. By approaching the text with a critical eye, you can craft a more thorough and nuanced analysis that goes beyond a surface-level reading of the text.

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Let’s delve on the essentials of building the body of your analysis: 

Topic Sentence Breakdown: The Purpose of a Strong Topic Sentence

A powerful topic sentence in each paragraph of your critical analysis essay serves as a roadmap for your reader. It tells them the focus of the paragraph, introducing the main point you will explore and tying it back to your thesis. For instance, in an essay about the role of symbolism in "The Great Gatsby," a topic sentence might read, "Fitzgerald's use of the green light symbolizes Gatsby's unattainable dreams, highlighting the theme of the American Dream's illusion."

Evidence Integration: The Significance of Evidence from the Subject

To bolster your arguments, you need to use evidence from the subject you are analyzing. For example, in "To Kill a Mockingbird," when explaining Atticus Finch's moral compass, using a quote like, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it," can back up your analysis. It proves that the character values empathy and understanding.

Textual Evidence: Integrating Quotes, Paraphrases, or Specific Details

When you quote or paraphrase text, ensure it directly relates to your analysis. For example, when discussing Sylvia Plath's use of imagery in "The Bell Jar," quote, "I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story." This paints a vivid picture for readers and helps solidify your point about the protagonist's feelings of entrapment.

Visual Evidence: Analyzing Specific Elements in the Artwork

If you are analyzing a painting, you can use visual details like color, lines, or symbolism as evidence. For instance, if exploring Van Gogh's "Starry Night," you could delve into the calming effect of the swirls in the sky or the stark contrast between the bright stars and the dark village below. This visual evidence helps explain the painting's emotional impact on viewers.

Analysis & Explanation: The Importance of Going Beyond Evidence Presentation

When examining evidence, don't stop at merely presenting it. Analyze how it supports your thesis. For instance, when exploring the role of the conch in "Lord of the Flies," after showing how it represents order, explain how its loss signals the boys' descent into savagery. By unpacking the evidence's meaning, you help readers understand why it matters and how it connects to your overall argument.

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1. Avoiding Summary vs. Analysis Pitfalls

When crafting a critical analysis essay, it's crucial not to fall into the trap of merely summarizing the subject without offering your own critical analysis. A summary merely recaps the content, while an analysis breaks down and interprets the subject. If you overlook this vital distinction, your essay will lack the depth and insight that characterize a strong critical analysis. Ensure your critical analysis essay doesn't read like an extended book report.

2. Steering Clear of Weak Thesis Statements

A critical analysis essay lives and dies on the strength of its thesis statement, the central argument that guides your analysis. A weak or vague thesis statement will result in an unfocused essay devoid of direction, leaving readers unclear about your point of view. It's essential to craft a thesis statement that is specific, arguable, and concise, setting the tone for a thoughtful and illuminating analysis.

3. Using Evidence is Key

The use of evidence from the subject matter under analysis is instrumental in substantiating your critical claims. Without evidence to back up your assertions, your analysis will appear unsubstantiated and unconvincing. Be sure to provide detailed examples, quotes, or data from the text under scrutiny to support your analysis. Evidence adds credibility, depth, and weight to your critical analysis essay.

4. The Importance of Clear and Supported Analysis

A successful critical analysis essay goes beyond simply presenting evidence to analyzing its significance and connecting it to your central argument. If your essay lacks clear analysis, readers won't understand the relevance of the evidence you present. Go beyond description to interpret the evidence, explaining its implications and how it supports your thesis. Without this analysis, your essay will lack depth and will not persuade your audience.

5. Addressing Counter Arguments

In a critical analysis essay, it's vital to acknowledge and engage with potential counterarguments. Ignoring opposing viewpoints undermines the credibility of your essay, presenting a one-sided argument that lacks nuance. Addressing counter arguments demonstrates that you understand the complexity of the issue and can anticipate and respond to objections. 

By incorporating counterarguments, you strengthen your analysis and enhance the overall persuasiveness of your critical essay.

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How to Write a Critical Essay

Last Updated: April 8, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,163,374 times.

The goal of a critical essay is to analyze a book, film, article, painting, or event and support your argument with relevant details. When writing a paper like this, you will have to come up with an interpretation of your own and then use facts or evidence from the work or other sources to prove that your interpretation is acceptable. A critical essay on a book, for example, might focus on the tone and how that influences the meaning of the book overall and would use quotations from the book to support the thesis. This type of paper requires careful planning and writing, but is often a creative way to engage with a subject that you are interested in and can be very rewarding!

Preparing to Write a Critical Essay

• Get to know the text inside and out by reading and rereading it. If you have been asked to write about a visual text like a film or piece of art, watch the film multiple times or view the painting from various angles and distances.

• What is the text about?
• What are the main ideas?
• What is puzzling about the text?
• What is the purpose of this text?
• Does the text accomplish its purpose? If not, why not? Is so, how so? [3] X Research source Don't: summarize the plot — you should already be familiar with it. Do: jot down thoughts that may guide your paper: Does he mean __? Does this connect to __?

• Your solution to the problem should help you to develop a focus for your essay, but keep in mind that you do not need to have a solid argument about your text at this point. As you continue to think about the text, you will move closer to a focus and a thesis for your critical analysis essay. Don't: read the author's mind: Mary Shelley intended Frankenstein's monster to be more likable because... Do: phrase it as your own interpretation: Frankenstein's monster is more sympathetic than his creator, leading the reader to question who the true monster really is.

Conducting Research

• Books, articles from scholarly journals, magazine articles, newspaper articles, and trustworthy websites are some sources that you might consider using.
• Use your library’s databases rather than a general internet search. University libraries subscribe to many databases. These databases provide you with free access to articles and other resources that you cannot usually gain access to by using a search engine.

• The author and his or her credentials. Choose sources that include an author’s name and that provide credentials for that author. The credentials should indicate something about why this person is qualified to speak as an authority on the subject. For example, an article about a medical condition will be more trustworthy if the author is a medical doctor. If you find a source where no author is listed or the author does not have any credentials, then this source may not be trustworthy. [5] X Research source
• Citations. Think about whether or not this author has adequately researched the topic. Check the author’s bibliography or works cited page. If the author has provided few or no sources, then this source may not be trustworthy. [6] X Research source
• Bias. Think about whether or not this author has presented an objective, well-reasoned account of the topic. How often does the tone indicate a strong preference for one side of the argument? How often does the argument dismiss or disregard the opposition’s concerns or valid arguments? If these are regular occurrences in the source, then it may not be a good choice. [7] X Research source (Note, however, that literary criticism often presents a very strong preference for one reading; this is not usually considered "bias" because the field of literary study is inherently subjective.) Don't: dismiss an author for favoring one point of view. Do: engage critically with their argument and make use of well-supported claims.
• Publication date. Think about whether or not this source presents the most up to date information on the subject. Noting the publication date is especially important for scientific subjects, since new technologies and techniques have made some earlier findings irrelevant. [8] X Research source
• Information provided in the source. If you are still questioning the trustworthiness of this source, cross check some of the information provided against a trustworthy source. If the information that this author presents contradicts one of your trustworthy sources, then it might not be a good source to use in your paper. [9] X Research source

• Clearly indicate when you have quoted a source word for word by putting it into quotation marks and including information about the source such as the author’s name, article or book title, and page number. Don't: highlight a phrase just because it sounds significant or meaningful. Do: highlight phrases that support or undermine your arguments.

Writing Your Essay

• Make sure your thesis provides enough detail. In other words, avoid simply saying that something is "good" or "effective" and say what specifically makes it "good" or "effective." [12] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source
• Place your thesis statement at the end of your first paragraph unless your instructor tells you to place it elsewhere. The end of the first paragraph is the traditional place to provide your thesis in an academic essay.
• For example, here is a multi-sentence thesis statement about the effectiveness and purpose of the movie Mad Max: Fury Road : "Many action films follow the same traditional pattern: a male action hero (usually white and attractive) follows his gut and barks orders at others, who must follow him or die. Mad Max: Fury Road is effective because it turns this pattern on its head. Instead of following the expected progression, the movie offers an action movie with multiple heroes, many of whom are women, thereby effectively challenging patriarchal standards in the Hollywood summer blockbuster." Don't: include obvious facts ( Mad Max was directed by George Miller ) or subjective opinions ( Mad Max is the greatest movie of 2015 ). [13] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source Do: present an argument that you can back up with evidence.

• You may want to use a formal outline structure that uses Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, and letters. Or, you may want to use an informal "mind-map" type of outline, which allows you to gather your ideas before you have a complete idea of how they progress.

• Other good techniques to open an essay include using a specific, evocative detail that links to your larger idea, asking a question that your essay will answer, or providing a compelling statistic.

• If you are writing about a book, provide the name of the work, the author, and a brief summary of the plot.
• If you are writing about a film, provide a brief synopsis.
• If you are writing about a painting or other still image, provide a brief description for your readers.
• Keep in mind that your background information in the first paragraph should lead up to your thesis statement. Explain everything the reader needs to know to understand what your topic is about, then narrow it down until you reach the topic itself.

• Provide a claim at the beginning of the paragraph.
• Support your claim with at least one example from your primary source(s).
• Support your claim with at least one example from your secondary sources.

• Summarize and review your main ideas about the text.
• Explain how the topic affects the reader.
• Explain how your narrow topic applies to a broader theme or observation.
• Call the reader to action or further exploration on the topic.
• Present new questions that your essay introduced. Don't: repeat the same points you made earlier in the essay. Do: refer back to earlier points and connect them into a single argument.

Revising Your Essay

• It is important to begin writing a paper far enough ahead of time to allow yourself a few days or even a week to revise before it is due. If you do not allow yourself this extra time, you will be more prone to making simple mistakes and your grade may suffer as a result. [16] X Research source

• What is your main point? How might you clarify your main point?
• Who is your audience? Have you considered their needs and expectations?
• What is your purpose? Have you accomplished your purpose with this paper?
• How effective is your evidence? How might your strengthen your evidence?
• Does every part of your paper relate back to your thesis? How might you enhance these connections?
• Is anything confusing about your language or organization? How might your clarify your language or organization?
• Have you made any errors with grammar, punctuation, or spelling? How can you correct these errors?
• What might someone who disagrees with you say about your paper? How can you address these opposing arguments in your paper? [17] X Research source

• If you are submitting your paper online or through email, check with your teacher or professor to find out what format s/he prefers. If you have used any textual formatting in your paper, you may wish to save it as a PDF file to preserve your formatting.

Sample Essays

Community Q&A

• Ask a friend, family member or other acquaintance to proofread and make constructive comments on your paper. Professional writers go through several drafts of their work and you should expect to do the same. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
• It is often easier to write a rough introduction and proceed with the rest of the paper before returning to revise the introduction. If you're feeling lost on how to introduce your paper, write a placeholder introduction. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1
• Write in your own voice. It is better to correctly use the words you know than to misuse the words you do not know in an attempt to sound scholarly. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1

• Make sure to cite all of your research including quotations, statistics and theoretical concepts as accurately as possible. When in doubt, err on the side of citing more rather than less, since failing to cite your research can result in a charge of plagiarism. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2
• Papers written at the last minute suffer from logic gaps and poor grammar. Remember that your teacher has read hundreds, if not thousands of student papers, and as such, can tell when you've written a paper at the last minute. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 2

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://uwc.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/UWC_handouts_readingessayprompts.pdf
• ↑ http://www.sussex.ac.uk/s3/?id=122
• ↑ http://www2.southeastern.edu/Academics/Faculty/elejeune/critique.htm
• ↑ https://guides.lib.uw.edu/research/faq/reliable
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/553/03/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/673/1/
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
• ↑ https://www.irsc.edu/students/academicsupportcenter/researchpaper/researchpaper.aspx?id=4294967433
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/2/58/
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/561/05/

About This Article

To write a critical essay, develop a thesis that expresses your essay's main focus and states an arguable claim. Next, write an introduction that gives a basic overview of your paper and introduces your thesis. Then, create paragraphs that discuss your specific ideas, focusing on one main idea per paragraph. Be sure to start each paragraph with a claim and use examples from primary and secondary sources to support that claim. Finally, create a conclusion that summarizes your main points. For tips on outlining and revising your paper, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Critical Essay

Critical Essay - An Ultimate Guide For Students

Published on: Jan 6, 2023

Last updated on: May 26, 2023

On This Page On This Page

A critical essay is a type of essay writing assignment that expects you to examine another person’s work, critically analyze it, and present your own idea.

In order to come up with effective critical writing, you must have knowledge of source material and the basic principles of writing this type of essay.

In this article, we will discuss what is a critical essay in detail and how to write one for an A+ grade.

Follow the guide and understand the key information for writing an impressive critical analysis essay.

Critical Essay Definition

A critical essay is a form of academic writing in which a writer evaluates and analyzes a text. It can be a book, article, or movie, etc.

In this type of writing, the main objective is not to convince your audience but to create an informative analysis.

You have to come up with your interpretation and prove with facts or evidence from other sources of work.

Teachers assign this type of assignment to challenge the critical analyzing ability of students. They want to get a well-written paper with clear arguments and reliable references to support the claim.

Characteristics of a Critical Essay

All critical essays, despite the subject matter, share the following characteristics.

• Critical essays contain a central point that is usually expressed at the start of the essay.
• It includes facts and evidential information to support your thesis statement.
• All critical essays offer a brief and concise conclusion. It summarizes the main argument and emphasizes the most important points of the essay.

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How to Write a Critical Essay?

Here is a step-by-step guide that you need to go through for writing an excellent critical analysis essay.

Find and Examine a Source

Find the information you need to include in your essay to support the central claim. Books, journals, articles, encyclopedias, and news are the most common sources of information that you can use.

Start critical reading and gather the relevant information and refer to it when writing your essay.

Make Notes of Your Thoughts and Ideas

Now identify the main problem to be discussed in your essay. After the central claim, find the evidence for demonstrating that claim.

Brainstorm ideas and think about how it can relate to what you are analyzing. Think about the associated ideas and write it all on paper and figure out which ideas need further research.

Compose a Thesis Statement

All critical essays must have a one-sentence thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph.

The thesis statement should be composed based on the information that you gather from different sources.

When composing a thesis statement, answer the question, ‘What point are you trying to prove?’. If you are still not sure, read some interesting  thesis statement examples  and know-how to come up with a strong point.

Create an Outline

Don’t think about writing an essay without creating its outline first. An outline will help you save your time and organize your ideas more effectively. Here you need to structure all the points so the writing process is easier for you.

Write Your Essay

Once you are done with the outline, start the writing process. Begin your essay with an interesting introduction that ends with the central claim of your essay. After that, analyze and evaluate it with facts and evidence in the body paragraphs. And end it with the key points of the claim in conclusion.

Edit and Proofread

After writing your essay, leave it for a few days if the deadline is not soon. Then review your essay to find and correct mistakes. You may do it yourself or ask your friend or family member to do it for you.

Make the changes until you feel like the essay is perfect and without any mistakes. You can also hire an  essay writer  for professional editing and proofreading services.

Create captivating essays effortlessly!

Critical Essay Outline

The critical analysis essay outline also follows a 5 paragraph structure format. It includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction

The introduction of the essay should describe the topic and provide some background information of the work in a few sentences. It should end with a strong  thesis statement  that will help the reader determine what the essay is focusing on.

Body Paragraphs

In this section, you need to cover all the ideas that have been outlined. Answer the question that you have mentioned in the introduction. Explain the significance of the work with facts, examples, and quotes. Keep in mind that your main aim is to analyze and inform your readers so pay attention to how the original work is presented.

Wrap up your essay by restating the main point of view of your essay. Summarize the main argument and emphasize the key points of the essay.

Critical Essay Format

Here is the most commonly used format that you can use for creating a detailed  critical essay outline  and organize your ideas.

1. Introduction

• Introduce the topic
• Provide some background information
• Thesis statement

2. Body Paragraphs

• A summary of the whole work
• Cover your ideas and answer the main question
• Analyze and evaluate

3. Conclusion

• Restate the thesis statement
• Summarize the key pieces of evidence
• The work’s overall importance

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Critical Essay Topics

Here are some interesting  critical essay topics  for college students. Feel free to choose any topic and start the research process.

• The impact of violent video games on young children
• What are the negative effects of modern technology?
• Pros and cons of standardized tests
• Analyze the three types of decision making
• What is the impact of human-nature relationships on health?
• Analyze the economic development of the UK since 1950
• Critically examine the novel ‘Jane Eyre’.
• How are humans related to nature?
• What is the role of modern art in our society?
• What is the ideology of feminism?
• The most important elements in Chinese religious culture
• The future of the oil industry

Critical Essay Examples

Before you start writing your essay, get inspired with some interesting critical analysis essay examples.

Critical Essay About the Leadership of Duterte PDF

The Great Gatsby Critical Essay Example PDF

Critical Essay on my Papa’s Waltz PDF

Critical Essay of Aristotle on Tragedy PDF

These examples will definitely help you learn how to write a good critical essay no matter if you are a beginner writer.

You may also see our  free essays  and understand the basic principles of writing academic essays.

Critical Essay Writing Tips

Below are some expert tips to remember when writing a critical essay.

• In critical essays, your personal opinion plays an important role but avoid writing it if you don't have enough evidence to support it.
• Critically analyzing a piece of work does not mean you need to bring out the negative aspects of it. You are evaluating another person’s work, you need to be informative and that means the claims you made need to be backed up by credible evidence.
• Your critical essay should inform your audience of something new. Whether it is a new idea or new lesson or a new perspective.
• Do you know what type of language should be used in a critical analysis essay? Your tone and language in a critical analysis essay should be objective throughout. Although you can use a humorous tone if you are not writing on a serious topic.

Critical essay writing is not an easy task especially if you are writing about a topic which you don’t know anything about.

The task becomes even more difficult if you do not have enough time to research and the deadline is approaching soon. You can handle this by delegating your task to professional essay writers at  FreeEssayWriter.net .

All you have to do is place your  order  with your initial requirements and get your critical essay done on time.

John K. (Research)

John K. is a professional writer and author with many publications to his name. He has a Ph.D. in the field of management sciences, making him an expert on the subject matter. John is highly sought after for his insights and knowledge, and he regularly delivers keynote speeches and conducts workshops on various topics related to writing and publishing. He is also a regular contributor to various online publications.

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Critical Essay Outline - Easy Guide for Students

Best Critical Essay Topics for College Students

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Critical Essay

Definition of critical essay.

Contrary to the literal name of “critical,” this type of essay is not only an interpretation, but also an evaluation of a literary piece. It is written for a specific audience , who are academically mature enough to understand the points raised in such essays. A literary essay could revolve around major motifs, themes , literary devices and terms, directions, meanings, and above all – structure of a literary piece.

Evolution of the Critical Essay

Critical essays in English started with Samuel Johnson. He kept the critical essays limited to his personal opinion, comprising praise, admiration, and censure of the merits and demerits of literary pieces discussed in them. It was, however, Matthew Arnold, who laid down the canons of literary critical essays. He claimed that critical essays should be interpretative, and that there should not be any bias or sympathy in criticism.

Examples of Critical Essay in Literature

Example #1: jack and gill: a mock criticism (by joseph dennie).

“The personages being now seen, their situation is next to be discovered. Of this we are immediately informed in the subsequent line, when we are told, Jack and Gill Went up a hill. Here the imagery is distinct, yet the description concise. We instantly figure to ourselves the two persons traveling up an ascent, which we may accommodate to our own ideas of declivity, barrenness, rockiness, sandiness, etc. all which, as they exercise the imagination, are beauties of a high order. The reader will pardon my presumption, if I here attempt to broach a new principle which no critic, with whom I am acquainted, has ever mentioned. It is this, that poetic beauties may be divided into negative and positive, the former consisting of mere absence of fault, the latter in the presence of excellence; the first of an inferior order, but requiring considerable critical acumen to discover them, the latter of a higher rank, but obvious to the meanest capacity.”

This is an excerpt from the critical essay of Joseph Dennie. It is an interpretative type of essay in which Dennie has interpreted the structure and content of Jack and Jill .

Example #2: On the Knocking at the Gate in Macbeth (by Thomas De Quincey)

“But to return from this digression , my understanding could furnish no reason why the knocking at the gate in Macbeth should produce any effect, direct or reflected. In fact, my understanding said positively that it could not produce any effect. But I knew better; I felt that it did; and I waited and clung to the problem until further knowledge should enable me to solve it. At length, in 1812, Mr. Williams made his debut on the stage of Ratcliffe Highway, and executed those unparalleled murders which have procured for him such a brilliant and undying reputation. On which murders, by the way, I must observe, that in one respect they have had an ill effect, by making the connoisseur in murder very fastidious in his taste, and dissatisfied by anything that has been since done in that line.”

This is an excerpt from Thomas De Quincey about his criticism of Macbeth, a play by William Shakespeare . This essay sheds light on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and their thinking. This is an interpretative type of essay.

Example #3: A Sample Critical Essay on Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises (by Richard Nordquist)

“To keep Jake Barnes drunk, fed, clean, mobile, and distracted in The Sun Also Rises , Ernest Hemingway employs a large retinue of minor functionaries: maids, cab drivers, bartenders, porters, tailors, bootblacks, barbers, policemen, and one village idiot. But of all the retainers seen working quietly in the background of the novel , the most familiar figure by far is the waiter. In cafés from Paris to Madrid, from one sunrise to the next, over two dozen waiters deliver drinks and relay messages to Barnes and his compatriots. As frequently in attendance and as indistinguishable from one another as they are, these various waiters seem to merge into a single emblematic figure as the novel progresses. A detached observer of human vanity, this figure does more than serve food and drink: he serves to illuminate the character of Jake Barnes.”

This is an excerpt from an essay written about Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises . This paragraph mentions all the characters of the novel in an interpretative way. It also highlights the major motif of the essay.

Functions of a Critical Essay

A critical essay intends to convey specific meanings of a literary text to specific audiences. These specific audiences are knowledgeable people. They not only learn the merits and demerits of the literary texts, but also learn different shades and nuances of meanings. The major function of a literary essay is to convince people to read a literary text for reasons described.

Related posts:

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• Narrative Essay
• Definition Essay
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• Types of Essay
• Analytical Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• Expository Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Process Essay
• Explicatory Essay
• An Essay on Man: Epistle I
• Comparison and Contrast Essay

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Critical Essay: The Complete Guide. Essay Topics, Examples and Outlines

Whether you specialize in literature or just write an essay for a class, knowing how to write a critical essay will give you an advantage throughout your studies at a university and in your professional career. Writing critical essays allows you to develop critical thinking skills, including attentive reading, technical analysis, academic writing skills, searching for reference books, and editing. Mastering these skills will help you conduct a scientific conversation and allow you to communicate and think more productively.

What is a Critical Essay?

A critical essay is an analysis of any piece of text. It can be a book, a movie, an article or even a painting. The main point of this type of an essay is to interpret text or position it in a wider context. For instance, if you write a critical analysis of a book, you may analyze the tone of its text and find out how it influences the overall meaning of the book. If you analyze a movie, you might concentrate on a symbol that you see over and over again. Nevertheless, you have to include an argumentative thesis about the text and have a lot of evidence sources, obviously textual, to support your statements.

How to write a Critical Essay? Step-by-Step Guide

• Find out the topic as early as possible to plan your research.
• Find the information you need in a wide variety of sources, including journal articles, books, encyclopedias, and news. Gather more information than you plan to actually refer to when writing a paper, but do not collect too much, it can distract you from the main thing, and you will eventually include it in your essay simply because you found it. Do not use Wikipedia and do not copy other people’s comments; no matter from which website you take them, plagiarism will be discovered.
• Look through your sources to separate interesting information from irrelevant material. Interesting research can be found in books, literary guides, in published critical articles on your particular topic. And vice versa, do not investigate things that do not relate to your topic, what I mean is, do not engage in the study of witches, if the topic of your paper is a monarchy.
• Carefully reread the relevant materials and evaluate them critically. Highlight, underline or otherwise mark the necessary information in your personal articles and books. Use colored stickers to draw your attention to important details in library books. Make a brief summary of each source after reading it. Pay attention to important details and highlight the main point of view for further use.
• Formulate the thesis by reviewing your notes and research. You can write a more general thesis or ask an important question that your paper will answer.
• Write a preliminary introduction, knowing that you can edit or even rewrite it later.
• Develop an approximate plan based on your notes and studies.

Identify two or three main sections of the body of your essay. These sections should consist of your most important arguments. Use your notes and research to fill these sections with details. You can copy and paste the most important details or arguments into your plan.

• Identify the relationships between sections of your essay and briefly describe them on the margins of your plan.
• Use this connection to write an approximate conclusion.
• Set your paper aside for a few days before rereading the draft.
• Leave enough time to make a thorough review of all material that will clarify any illogical reasonings or arguments.
• Complete your essay by carefully checking the final version of the printed version. Use your imagination and make the introduction interesting for readers. Write a clear thesis statement and use up-to-date sources, with a lot of useful information.

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Critical Essay Outline

Writing a good critical essay requires a deep analysis of a given topic, and the ability to form clear arguments in order to draw meaningful conclusions. It is important to be aware of the various elements that must be taken into consideration when ordering an essay in order to produce a well-structured, balanced and compelling piece of work. Doing so will help you understand the material better, think more critically, and come up with a more insightful analysis of the topic. Additionally, it will also help you to identify any gaps in the existing literature that can be addressed in your own research.

As with any other essay, the critical analysis consists of the introduction, body, and conclusion. The outline that you will see below is just a sample for you to understand what it can look like. Once you are comfortable, you are free to change it, add more details or arrange it differently to make it more effective. If you are really unsure what your essay is supposed to look like, you can also contact your teacher.

INTRODUCTION

The introduction has three main functions. First of all, you have to introduce the reader to the topic of your paper, what are you going to analyze here but briefly? Then, describe how are you going to address the topic of your paper. And finally, grab the reader’s attention, make them want to stay here, and read the rest of your paper.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

This is going to be the largest part of your essay. Here you have to write about something you said you are going to write about in the intro. In other words, support your thesis statement. You have to make a General Statement, then add some quotes to expand it or prove it. After that you have to explain how the quote relates to the thesis, here you have to ask yourself “so how does it relate to my thesis”. And do not forget about Transitions which are connecting paragraphs.

To write a paper in a relevant way, students need to add new information to their research and assess the significance of each argument. Critical essays are meant to be insightful and thought-provoking, so they should provide enough evidence and analysis to support the argument and connect it to the thesis statement. Moreover, students should pay attention to the structure of the essay and make sure they write a paper that is logically organized and easy to understand.

In other words, the conclusion is restating of your thesis. If you have written a strong and clear introduction, the conclusion will not be a problem at all.

So, you have to Restate your Thesis. But do not just repeat what you said before, put it differently. Basically, you said that you are about to prove to us something and now you have to show us that you did. And make a good ending. Make it memorable. Your reader has to have a feeling that the point has been proven.

Introduction

• Attention-catcher
• Briefly say what you are going to talk about
• Thesis statement

Body paragraphs

• Topic Sentence (piece of evidence that supports your opinion)
• Supporting Evidence and Details
• Concluding Sentence/Transition
• Restate the thesis statement in different words
• Summarize the main key pieces of evidence
• Final closing sentence

Critical Essay Topics

Good critical essay topics.

• Describe the way irony was used in your favorite classical book
• Feminist ideologies in a piece of literature
• Analyse how the background of the author affects his writing.
• Describe the secondary characters in your favorite book
• What makes a good and captivating drama series?
• Choose a movie/series that recently won a best picture award
• Provide one alternative to anti-poverty programs today and discuss
• What are the problems of eating healthy? Discuss
• What are the economic benefits of recycling? Discuss what makes it effective in your context
• Discuss how historical figures is portrayed in movies

Critical Essay Tips

• Try to start in advance, if possible. You will write a better essay and will not experience stress if you start writing earlier than the last night.
• Finish the draft a few days earlier to leave time for checking it.
• Ask a friend or a family member to check and comment on your essay. Professional writers write a few drafts of their work, and you, most likely, will have to do the same.
• Work according to your own needs. For example, some people need a plan, while others believe that a formal plan kills inspiration. Find out what is best for you, and act accordingly.
• Write in your own style. It is better to correctly use words that you know, than abuse words that you do not know, in an attempt to sound smarter.
• Make sure that the quotes are given as accurately as possible, including inverted commas, statistics, and theoretical concepts. If in doubt, it’s better to be wrong in quoting than to be accused of not being able to conduct your research, which can lead to accusations of plagiarism.
• Essays written at the last minute, suffer from a lack of logic and poor grammar. Remember that your teacher has read hundreds, if not thousands of student papers, and can easily understand that you wrote an essay at the last minute.

I know that you might still be lost in all these long explanations but bear with me. Here are some useful links you might like to review at Edusson :

• Essay Topic Generator. Do not know how to name your essay? Then this link is just for you. Everything is simple, enter the keywords for your essay and select the category and you’ve got yourself a great title.
• Essay Examples . I know that sometimes you just can’t start writing until you see how it is all supposed to look like. So, here you go – essay examples. Be sure not to rewrite the content, though.
• Essay Checker . One of the most important parts of writing an essay is checking it once it’s done. You might write a great essay in terms of content, but if you have grammar mistakes or your answers are not relating to the questions, say goodbye to your good grade.
• Essay Editing Service . Just to make sure you have not missed anything, use this service. Let a professional do their work.

Writing a good definition essay can be a challenging task. Students often need to pay for papers to be written for such assignments, and it is not always easy to find a reliable source for them. Fortunately, Edusson can provide quality papers and ensure that students get the best results. By using this custom essay writing service, students can be sure that their papers will meet the requirements of their professor and be of the highest quality.

So, that is it. I hope your skills will get even better now. Good luck!

Related posts:

• Narrative Essay: Useful Guidelines for Writing
• Research Paper Writing Help Guide
• How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Effective Tips
• How to Structure and Write an Effective Critique Paper

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• A Research Guide
• Writing Guide
• Essay Writing

How to Write a Critical Analysis Essay

• What is a critical essay
• Critical essay structure
• How to start a critical essay

Types of critical essays

Step-by-step critical essay writing guide.

• Critical essay formatting tips
• Critical essay examples

What is a critical essay?

• To offer an objective vision of the original author.
• To provide a complete analysis of the consistency offered by the original author.
• To thoroughly evaluate original work and discuss the capability to maintain and support primary arguments and concepts.
• To critically analyze in an essay by presenting strengths and weaknesses discovered in an article, a movie, or an academic journal entry.
• To criticize the original author’s work by providing actual examples and explanations.

Critical essay structure and outline rules

How to start a critical essay?

• Take notes about information related to the author and include it in your introduction paragraph.
• Determine the author’s opinion and take on the subject by analyzing available data.
• Seek out examples of evidence as to whether the author proves why it is the right way of thinking.
• Create a strong thesis statement representing 50% of the author’s opinion and 50% of your vision.
• Determine both the strong and weak sides of the author’s style, grammar, accuracy, and structure. Use evaluation and analysis.
• Sociological critique.
• Sociocultural analysis.
• Reader-response criticism.
• Gender-based critical writing.
• Mythological critique.
• Biographical writing.
• History writing analysis.
• Psychoanalytical criticism.
• Formalist criticism and analysis.

Step 1: Know what is expected!

Step 2: take your time to analyze the source material, step 3: taking notes technique, step 4: primary challenges and working in patterns, step 5: author’s solutions, step 6: editing and proofreading, important critical essay formatting tips.

• Keep up with the specified writing style for your citations and the written content.
• Provide basic biography information about the author.
• Include only 1-3 citations per page.
• Provide information in “introduction – quote – analysis” template format.
• Your tone must be formal and analytical unless specified otherwise.
• The bias matters must be clarified with your academic advisor before writing.
• When seeking out the weak points for your critical analysis essay, explain why you think so with a piece of evidence that may include the author’s limitation or evidence taken from an external source.

Helpful critical essay examples

• Critical Reading and Analysis by the University of Queensland. 
• Critical Analysis Template by Thompson Rivers University. 
• Critical Essay Examples by EduBirdie (Our academic writing partner). 
• Critical Essay Samples by Students by James Cook University. 

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Critical Essay

Critical Essay Writing - An Ultimate Guide

Published on: Sep 3, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

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Critical Essay Outline -Step by Step Guide & Samples

Best Critical Essay Topics & Ideas to Choose from

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Are you tired of staring at a blank page, struggling to write a compelling critical essay?

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll get to learn all about critical essays. From steps to tips, this blog covers it all.

Plus, we’ve included some expertly written example essays and tips to ensure your critical essay lacks nothing. 

So, read on and learn!

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What Makes an Essay Critical?

A critical essay is not your typical run-of-the-mill essay. It goes beyond summarizing or describing a topic; instead, it dives deep into analysis, evaluation, and interpretation.

In a general essay, the focus is often on presenting information or sharing personal opinions. However, in a critical essay, the emphasis shifts toward examining and scrutinizing the subject matter. It involves a more in-depth exploration of the topic, breaking it down to uncover underlying meanings, implications, and flaws.

For instance, a general essay prompt might ask, "Discuss the benefits of technology in modern society." On the other hand, a critical essay prompt could challenge you with, "Analyze the ethical implications of technology's influence on personal privacy in modern society."

A critical essay goes beyond mere description or opinion-sharing, it demands interpretation. You become a storyteller, unraveling the hidden narratives within the topic. It's an opportunity to uncover the underlying motives and meanings and unravel the web of conflicting viewpoints.

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Characteristics of a Critical Essay

This type of essay particularly helps a student to learn how a provided subject is analyzed critically. This essay can be composed on a topic related to films, novels, poetry, video games, art, and many more. 

A good critical essay should have the following characteristics.

• Central claim

Every outstanding critical essay revolves around a central claim, which is introduced right at the beginning. 

This claim is supported by a strong thesis statement that lays the foundation for the essay. As you progress, body paragraphs are dedicated to reinforcing the claim with compelling evidence and factual data. 

To further strengthen your argument, you may even acknowledge counterarguments and provide explanations.

A critical essay thrives on solid evidence. This evidence can take various forms, including dialogues, descriptions, or citations from secondary sources. 

Secondary sources often include scholarly works, articles, books, and other reputable references. 

By incorporating well-chosen evidence, you substantiate your central claim and show your knowledge of the subject matter. 

Once you have gathered relevant evidence, it's crucial to conduct a thorough analysis. 

Scrutinize the collected information to ensure its validity and relevance to support your claim. If you come across any weaknesses or shortcomings, replace them with more authentic and appropriate information. 

Remember, analysis is a vital aspect of a critical essay that should never be overlooked.

How to Write a Critical Essay?

Writing a critical essay is a technical thing to do, and a writer must have strong writing skills to write such an essay.

The following are the steps that help you in writing a critical essay. 

Let’s discuss them in detail. 

• Examine Your Prompt/Topic 

Choose an interesting and captivating topic that will make your critical essay effective. 

Understanding the topic is crucial, so identify its strengths and weaknesses. Engage in critical reading to gather information and develop a solid understanding.

• Conduct Research 

Once you've selected your topic, gather strong evidence and factual information to support your arguments. 

Research from reputable sources such as journals, books, and news articles. Stay focused during your research to avoid getting sidetracked. 

• Create the Critical Essay Outline 

With your topic and relevant information in hand, create an outline for your essay. An outline provides structure and saves you time.  Typically, a critical essay includes three main sections:

• Introduction
• Body Paragraphs 

Here are the details of what each of the section covers in the essay:

Need help structuring your essay outline? Check out this guide on creating a critical essay outline !

4. Write the First Draft 

Start your critical essay with a concise summary of the main topic and its central claim. Analyze and evaluate the topic using supporting evidence. 

Conclude your essay by emphasizing the parts that support your argument. Maintain a formal writing style, use expressive language, and incorporate transitional sentences for coherence.

5. Proofread and Edit 

After completing the writing process, carefully revise your essay and rectify any minor mistakes. 

Proofreading is crucial for ensuring a high-quality essay. You can do it yourself or seek assistance from a friend. It's advisable to repeat the proofreading process multiple times for better results.

How to Write a Critical Essay

Critical Essay Examples

Examples make understanding things easy and more vivid. However, as discussed in the blog, a critical essay is not a typical type of essay and is also not easy to write. This is why looking at examples of the critical essay is important. 

Look at the following examples and see how a well-written critical essay is written. 

Critical Essay on Atlantis Theories

If you are a naive writer, the following example of a critical essay is perfect for your guidance. 

Critical Essay on Changing Gender Roles

Critical Essay about a Movie

Critical Essay on Jane Eyre

Critical Essay on Animal Farm

Critical Essay on Language Perception

Critical Essay on Oedipus Rex

Equality by Maya Angelou Critical Essay

Critical Essay Topics

One of the things that make an essay difficult for students is finding a good topic. For a critical essay, it is very important to have a good topic. 

Here we have made a shortlist of interesting topics that you might use and write an essay.  

• Changing gender roles
• Impact of technology
• Homelessness
• Drug abuse among teenagers
• Multicultural societies
• Islamophobia
• First Nations of Canada
• Connection of violent crimes with Genes
• Wonders of the ancient world
• How do you answer the question about wars in the U.S.?  
• The pyramids of Giza
• Colonization of America
• Unemployment
• Substitutes for fossil fuels

Thoroughly look into these topics and see which topic you find to be an interesting one for your critical essay.

Don’t see a suitable topic? Have a look at this extensive list of critical essay topics to choose from!

Critical Essay Writing Tips

Writing a critical essay requires very careful analysis and the construction of an effective argument.

If you are a naive writer or writing a critical essay for the first time, the following tips will help you write an effective critical essay. 

• Be an Active Reader 

To write a good critical essay, the writer must be well-focused. The thing that keeps a reader focused is the availability of authentic information. And the best way to collect authentic information is to practice active reading strategies. 

This strategy will help you to identify specific details in the text that will make strong evidence to support your main argument. Reading is essential, especially if you aim to write a critical essay.

• Read Examples

No matter how experienced a writer you are, examples will help you write an essay more effectively. 

In case you are writing a critical essay for the first time, it is going to be a challenging task for you. This is why before you hop on to the writing process, look into some critical essay examples online. 

Carefully read through the essay and pay attention to the structuring and the writing strategy of the essay. 

• Avoid Using the Summarization 

Critical essays usually consist of an analysis and your personal opinion and interpretation of the text. It is not merely about the summary of the text in a general context. 

This is why be careful while writing and focus more on writing about your personal analysis regarding the argument rather than just writing summaries.

Learn more tips by viewing this video:

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should you not do in a critical essay.

Here are some important points that you don’t include in a critical essay. 

• Not focus on yourself. 
• Do not mention the work’s title. 
• Do not assume that the reader knows everything. 

How long is a critical analysis essay?

It is between 1-4 pages in length. 

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Academic writing: a practical guide

Criticality in academic writing.

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Being critical is at the heart of academic writing, but what is it and how can you incorporate it into your work?

What is criticality?

What is critical thinking.

Have you ever received feedback in a piece of work saying 'be more critical' or 'not enough critical analysis' but found yourself scratching your head, wondering what that means? Dive into this bitesize workshop to discover what it is and how to do it:

Critical Thinking: What it is and how to do it (bitesize workshop)[YouTube]

University-level work requires both descriptive and critical elements. But what's the difference?

Descriptive

Being descriptive shows what you know about a topic and provides the evidence to support your arguments. It uses simpler processes like  remembering , understanding and applying . You might summarise previous research, explain concepts or describe processes.

Being critical pulls evidence together to build your arguments; what does it all mean together? It uses more complex processes: analysing ,  evaluating and creating . You might make comparisons, consider reasons and implications, justify choices or consider strengths and weaknesses.

Bloom's Taxonomy  is a useful tool to consider descriptive and critical processes:

Bloom's Taxonomy [YouTube]  |  Bloom's Taxonomy [Google Doc]

Find out more about critical thinking:

What is critical writing?

Academic writing requires criticality; it's not enough to just describe or summarise evidence, you also need to analyse and evaluate information and use it to build your own arguments. This is where you show your own thoughts based on the evidence available, so critical writing is really important for higher grades.

Explore the key features of critical writing and see it in practice in some examples:

Introduction to critical writing [Google Slides]

While we need criticality in our writing, it's definitely possible to go further than needed. We’re aiming for that Goldilocks ‘just right’ point between not critical enough and too critical. Find out more:

Critical reading

Criticality isn't just for writing, it is also important to read critically. Reading critically helps you:

• evaluative whether sources are suitable for your assignments.
• know what you're looking for when reading.
• find the information you need quickly.

Critical reading [Interactive tutorial]  |  Critical reading [Google Doc]

Find out more on our dedicated guides:

Using evidence critically

Academic writing integrates evidence from sources to create your own critical arguments.

We're not looking for a list of summaries of individual sources; ideally, the important evidence should be integrated into a cohesive whole.  What does the evidence mean altogether?  Of course, a critical argument also needs some critical analysis of this evidence.  What does it all mean in terms of your argument?

Find out more about using evidence to build critical arguments in our guide to working with evidence:

Critical language

Critical writing is going to require critical language. Different terms will give different nuance to your argument. Others will just keep things interesting! In the document below we go through some examples to help you out:

Assignment titles: critical or descriptive?

Assignment titles contain various words that show where you need to be descriptive and where you need to be critical. Explore some of the most common instructional words: 

Descriptive instructional words

define : give the precise meaning

examine : look at carefully; consider different aspects

explain : clearly describe how a process works, why a decision was made, or give other information needed to understand the topic

illustrate : explain and describe using examples

outline : give an overview of the key information, leaving out minor details

Critical instructional words

analyse : break down the information into parts, consider how parts work together

discuss : explain a topic, make comparisons, consider strengths & weaknesses, give reasons, consider implications

evaluate : assess something's worth, value or suitability for a purpose - this often leads to making a choice afterwards

justify : show the reasoning behind a choice, argument or standpoint

synthesise : bring together evidence and information to create a cohesive whole, integrate ideas or issues

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5 Tips for writing a critical essay

The following table provides a helpful summary of key questions you should ask yourself as you prepare an essay that demonstrates the level of criticality expected at postgraduate level. The suggestions in the ‘do’ and ‘don’t’ columns are equally important so pay attention to suggestions.

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Critical writing Analyse and evaluate information to develop an argument

In academic writing you will develop an argument or point of view. This will be supported by concrete evidence, in other words reasons, examples, and information from sources. The writing you produce in this way will need to be 'critical writing'. This section looks at critical writing in detail, first by giving a definition of critical writing and considering how to write critically , then by contrasting critical writing with descriptive writing , with some examples . There is also a discussion of how critical writing relates to Bloom's taxonomy of thinking skills , as well as a checklist to help you check critical writing in your own work.

What is critical writing?

Critical writing is writing which analyses and evaluates information, usually from multiple sources, in order to develop an argument. A mistake many beginning writers make is to assume that everything they read is true and that they should agree with it, since it has been published in an academic text or journal. Being part of the academic community, however, means that you should be critical of (i.e. question) what you read, looking for reasons why it should be accepted or rejected, for example by comparing it with what other writers say about the topic, or evaluating the research methods to see if they are adequate or whether they could be improved.

How to write critically

In order to write critically, you need to use a range of sources to develop your argument. You cannot rely solely on your own ideas; you need to understand what others have written about the same topic. Additionally, it is not enough to use just a single source to support your argument, for example a source which agrees with your own view, since this could lead to a biased argument. You need to consider all sides of the issue.

Further, in developing your argument, you need to analyse and evaluate the information from other sources. You cannot just string quotes together (A says this, B says that, C says something else), without looking more deeply at the information and building on it to support your own argument. This means you need to break down the information from other sources to determine how the parts relate to one another or to an overall structure or purpose [ analysing ], and then make judgements about it, identifying its strengths and weaknesses, and possibly 'grey areas' in between, which are neither strengths nor weaknesses [ evaluating ]. Critical reading skills will help you with this, as you consider whether the source is reliable, relevant, up-to-date, and accurate. For example, you might examine the research methods used in an experiment [ analysing ] in order to assess why they were chosen or to determine whether they were appropriate [ evaluating ], or you might deconstruct (break down) a writer's line of reasoning [ analysing ] to see if it is valid or whether there are any gaps [ evaluating ].

As a result of analysis and evaluation, you will be able to give reasons why the conclusions of different writers should be accepted or treated with caution . This will help you to build a clear line of reasoning which will lead up to your own conclusions, and you will be writing critically.

What is descriptive writing?

Critical writing is often contrasted with descriptive writing . Descriptive writing simply describes what something is like. Although you need a critical voice, description is still necessary in your writing, for example to:

• give the background of your research;
• state the theory;
• explain the methods of your experiment;
• give the biography of an important person;
• provide facts and figures about a particular issue;
• outline the history of an event.

You should, however, keep the amount of description to a minimum. Most assignments will have a strict word limit, and you should aim to maximise the amount of critical writing, while minimising the number of words used for description. If your tutors often write comments such as 'Too descriptive' or 'Too much theory' or 'More analysis needed', you know you need to adjust the balance.

Examples of descriptive vs. critical writing

The following table gives some examples to show the difference between descriptive and critical writing. The verbs in bold are key verbs according to Bloom's taxonomy , considered next.

Relationship to Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy was developed in 1956 by Benjamin Bloom, an educational psychologist working at the University of Chicago. It classifies the thinking behaviours that are believed to be important in the processes of learning. It was developed in three domains, with the cognitive domain, i.e. the knowledge based domain, consisting of six levels. The taxonomy was revised in 2001 by Anderson and Krathwohl, to reflect more recent understanding of educational processes. Their revised taxonomy also consists of six levels, arranged in order from lower order thinking skills to higher order thinking skills, namely: remembering, understanding, applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating.

Bloom's revised taxonomy is relevant since analysing and evaluating , which form the basis of critical writing, are two of the higher order thinking skills in the taxonomy. Descriptive writing, by contrast, is the product of remembering and understanding , the two lowest order thinking skills. The fact that critical writing uses higher order thinking skills is one of the main reasons this kind of writing is expected at university.

The table below gives more details about each of the levels, including a description and some keys verbs associated with each level. Although the verbs are intended for the design of learning outcomes, they are nonetheless representative of the kind of work involved at each level, and are therefore relevant to academic writing.

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Below is a checklist for critical writing. Use it to check your own writing, or get a peer (another student) to help you.

Academic Phrasebank , The University of Manchester (2020) Being Critical . Available at: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/being-critical/ (Accessed: 11 September, 2020).

Churches, A. (n.d.) Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy . Available at: https://edorigami.edublogs.org/blooms-digital-taxonomy/ (Accessed: 1 September, 2020).

Colorado College (n.d.) Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy . Available at: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/assessment/how-to-assess-learning/learning-outcomes/blooms-revised-taxonomy.html (Accessed: 1 September, 2020).

Cottrell, S. (2013) The Study Skills Handbook (4th ed.) . Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan

Shabatura, J. (2013) Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Write Effective Learning Objectives . Available at: https://tips.uark.edu/using-blooms-taxonomy/ (Accessed: 1 September, 2020).

Sheffield Halam University (2020) Critical Writing . Available at: https://libguides.shu.ac.uk/criticalwriting (Accessed: 1 September, 2020).

Teesside University (2020). Critical Writing: Help . Available at: https://libguides.tees.ac.uk/critical_writing (Accessed: 11 September, 2020).

University of Hull (2020) Critical writing: Descriptive vs critical . Available at: https://libguides.hull.ac.uk/criticalwriting/descriptive-critical (Accessed: 11 September, 2020).

University of Leicester (2009) What is critical writing . Available at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/writing/writing-resources/critical-writing (Access date: 8/12/14).

Wilson, L.O. (2020) Bloom’s Taxonomy Revised . Available at: https://thesecondprinciple.com/essential-teaching-skills/blooms-taxonomy-revised/ (Accessed: 1 September, 2020).

Yale University (2017) Bloom’s Taxonomy . Available at: https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/BloomsTaxonomy (Accessed: 1 September, 2020).

Next section

Find out about research skills in the next section.

• Research skills

Previous section

Go back to the previous section about writing objectively .

• Objectivity

Author: Sheldon Smith    ‖    Last modified: 06 January 2022.

Sheldon Smith is the founder and editor of EAPFoundation.com. He has been teaching English for Academic Purposes since 2004. Find out more about him in the about section and connect with him on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

Compare & contrast essays examine the similarities of two or more objects, and the differences.

Cause & effect essays consider the reasons (or causes) for something, then discuss the results (or effects).

Discussion essays require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by saying which side you favour.

Problem-solution essays are a sub-type of SPSE essays (Situation, Problem, Solution, Evaluation).

Transition signals are useful in achieving good cohesion and coherence in your writing.

Reporting verbs are used to link your in-text citations to the information cited.

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How to Write a Critical Essay [Ultimate Guide]

Table of Contents:

1.How to write a critical essay 2.What Makes Essay Critical 3.Steps to Write a Critical Essay 4.Creating a critical essay plan 5.Tips for Writing a Critical Essay 6.Useful techniques used in writing a critical essay 7.Critical Essay Structure 8.Topics for writing a critical essay 9.Critical Essay Examples

How to write a critical essay:

• Examine a source: read it carefully and critically.
• Organize your thoughts: figure out the core claim and evidence, do research of secondary resources.
• State a thesis: make sure it has both a claim and details sustaining it.
• Write an outline.
• Write a draft of your critical essay.
• Edit and improve your essay .

Critical essays are among the most common types of writing assignments in college. Also known as analytical, a critical essay is about evaluating somebody’s work (a movie, a book, an article, etc.) and proving that your evaluation is correct.

The problem is, students often confuse a critical essay with a report, a critical precis , or a review.

In this article, we’ll reveal the core characteristics of a critical essay and learn the right way of writing it.

What Makes Essay Critical

A critical essay has  a claim  and  evidence  to prove that claim.

Here you need to  analyze the work (a book, a movie, an article, whatever), respond to its central themes, and evaluate  how its author conveyed them.

Attention!  If the purpose of your paper isn’t to critique but inform or persuade readers of something, it won’t be a critical essay. Check our guides on  expository essays  or  persuasive essays  instead.

In other words,  your essay is critical if:

• There is a thesis about the central themes of a discussed work in it.
• It explains what an author wanted to say about those themes.
• You describe what techniques an author used to communicate the message.

Please note that “critical” doesn’t mean “negative.” It’s about analysis and interpretation, not judging or disparaging.

When a teacher assigns a critical essay, they want to get a professionally presented and grammatically correct paper with a clear argument and consistent and accurate references to support that argument. They need a paper demonstrating that you’ve read a source, understood its theme, and evaluated the evidence relating to that theme.

Steps to Write a Critical Essay

Before you take a seat and start writing a critical essay, make sure you understand its characteristics and purpose inside out.

You need to analyze and evaluate a work.

Note:  Analysis = breaking down and studying the part; evaluation = assessing strengths and weaknesses.

You need to express a central claim of your work in a  thesis statement  and then support it with evidence in each body paragraph.

Note:  The evidence can be either the details from a source (dialogues, imagery, descriptions, text structure, etc.) or secondary resources such as scholarly articles or expert reviews that can help you support your argument.

You need to  write a conclusion .  Summarize a critical essay, emphasizing its most essential insights.

Long story short, here go your steps to write a critical essay.

Step 1: Examine a Source

You won’t write a critical essay if you don’t understand the subject of evaluation. Let’s say you write an essay on a book. It stands to reason that you need to read it first, right?

So, your first step to writing a critical essay will be critical reading. And while reading, make sure to take as many notes as possible. Utilizing an essay maker can help to organize your thoughts and structure your essay.

Take note of the instruments the author uses to communicate the message. What does he want to say? What words, grammar constructions, or stylistic devices does he use?

Also, think of the questions that come to your mind while reading. Write them down, too.

Step 2: Organize Your Thoughts

Now it’s time to figure out the core topic and problem of a piece. Find its central claim and the evidence demonstrating that claim. What does make it different or similar to other corresponding works?

Brainstorm to come up with what you already know, think, and feel about the topic. Think of related ideas and associations arising when you try to analyze it. Once your thoughts are on paper, start organizing them: group all the ideas and identify the areas for further research.

You might need to  do research  and find secondary sources such as scholarly articles or online reviews by experts to understand the original piece better. Collect all the necessary references you might later need to give credit in your critical essay.

Step 3: State a Thesis

Your critical essay should have a one-sentence thesis with two components: a claim and details sustaining it. Based on the information you’ve gathered from the subject of evaluation (a book, a movie, etc.) and secondary sources, write a thesis that will specify your essay’s direction.

Hint:  When making a claim, answer the question, “What point am I trying to make?” If still in doubt, introduce your idea and evidence to a  thesis statement generator : it will craft a thesis draft that you’ll modify later (if needed) to reflect your position better.

Step 4: Write a Critical Essay Outline

You can’t write an essay without outlining. At least, it will help you  save time : here you’ll structurize all the points into paragraphs so it would be easier to write them later.

At this stage, you’ll have arguments and evidence to evaluate in essay paragraphs. Decide on the evidence that would support your thesis statement best.

Step 5: Write a Draft

Once the essay outline is ready, it’s time to write. (Yeap, finally!) Begin with an examination (a summary) of the work and respond to its central claim. Then, analyze and evaluate it with the evidence. And finally, conclude your critical essay with the emphasis on its most essential insights.

While writing, remember about academic style: stay formal and objective; use language precisely; remember about references; use transition words in paragraphs to guide readers and help them follow your train of thoughts.

Step 6: Edit and Improve

The best advice here would be to hold your completed draft for a short while and get some rest from writing. Then,  read your essay  a few times to see all the mistakes. You may do it yourself or ask a friend, a mom, or a groupmate to help you: they’ll see your essay from a different perspective, as readers, so it will be easier for them to identify weak points to edit.

Revise your essay, making all the necessary amendments until you see it’s perfect. To make sure it’s genuinely so, don’t hesitate to  ask writing service for professional help .

Creating a critical essay plan

To write critical essay correctly, you will need a work plan. This will make it possible not to be confused by your information and to do the work consistently. More often than not, only three basic steps will suffice:

• The first thing to do is to write an introduction that will allow the topic to be disclosed, give the first argument, and strengthen the thesis.
• Next, you must create the central part, consisting of at least three full paragraphs. Consistently give arguments, facts, figures, and comparisons.
• Conclude with a proper conclusion. You can rephrase the thesis statement to make a circle between the end and the beginning of your paper.

Now you know how to write a critical essay introduction and can get started efficiently.

Tips for Writing a Critical Essay

Writing a critical essay is about your thinking skills. It’s an analysis- and argument-building process, and you need to practice a lot to develop essential skills of thinking. These tips will help you start and write academic papers that work, no matter if that’s a SAT essay , a dialectic essay , or any other type of college writing.

• Practice smart reading.  It’s when you read a text, identifying and analyzing its specific details: an author’s claims, how he or she presents those claims, controversies surrounding the message, its strengths and weaknesses, its overall value, etc.
• Read some examples of critical essays.  It will help to understand their structure and writing style. But don’t copy others’ ideas, trying to sound smarter! Develop your writing style, use the words you know, and introduce your ideas.
• Start writing a critical essay in advance. Don’t wait until the last moment: you’ll need time to read and evaluate the source, find evidence, introduce your thesis, write, and edit your essay. The more time you have, the better.
• Remember to introduce the author and the work  you’re going to evaluate in your essay.
• Avoid the “I think” or “in my opinion” stuff  when writing. You need to focus on the work, not yourself. When expressing your opinion, do it third-person and back it up with evidence.
• Always document quotes, paraphrases, and other references  you use in essays.
• Resist the temptation of summarizing the source in general. If you start writing lengthy descriptions of all characters and the plot, stop and double-check if this information helps your analysis. Critical essays are about interpretation and evaluation, not retelling the plot.

Useful techniques used in writing a critical essay

Writing critical analysis essays can help you with a few useful tricks that even experts use during their work:

• you need to create a clear thesis statement to follow throughout the paper;
• work properly with textual evidence. Don’t leave only quotes in the paragraph and give clear examples;
• try to break paragraphs in time to create the right pauses for readers and to move from description to critique.

By doing so, your chances of succeeding in your assignment will return several times over!

Critical Essay Structure

Most essay types have a standard structure that includes an introduction (with a thesis statement), a body (paragraphs with arguments and evidence to support the thesis), and a conclusion (with a thesis restatement and essential insights). A critical essay structure is not an exception here.

But before you start writing, craft an outline,  aka  a roadmap for your essay to make sure you won’t miss any critical detail while writing a draft.

Critical Essay Outline

When you have an essay plan, its writing becomes much easier. Consider the format: as a rule, critical essays have a standard structure that consists of an introductory paragraph, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Use this template that will help you write a detailed outline for your critical essay :

Once you’ve completed the critical essay outline, it’s time to start writing. Do it quickly (you will have time to proofread and edit it later), paying attention to all the details from your outline.

Critical Essay Introduction

All essays have introductions, as it’s a part where you  hook readers , tell about the topic and its importance, and, therefore, persuade them to continue reading. But while the purpose of most introductions is to introduce the thesis, a critical essay introduction is more complicated.

  Here’s how to write a critical essay introduction:

• First,  you need to introduce the author and the title of the work.
• Second,  you need to state the author’s main point (of the entire work or the section you’re going to evaluate in your critical essay). Answer the question, “What does the author want readers to remember?”
• Third,  you need to state (1-2 sentences) your evaluation of the work. (It will be your thesis statement.)
• And finally, add any background information the reader might need to understand the work’s context (its overall topic, the controversy it might involve, etc.). While it’s not a narrative essay , you need to set the stage: the chances are, your audience didn’t read the work so they wouldn’t understand your essay without the provided background.

Critical Essay Body

It’s the most detailed part of your critical essay, and it involves several sections. Each section addresses a particular detail and evidence to support your thesis.

The first section is the work’s summary.

Write a short, objective, and unbiased report of the work (or its abstract) you’re evaluating in your critical essay. Here you need to tell about the author’s overall point and the main supports he or she offers for that point. Make sure to avoid your personal opinion: write a summary in the third person!

The second section is the work’s interpretation and evaluation.

It’s where your report ends, but your  analysis  starts. Here you’ll evaluate the work’s strong and weak parts, by the following criteria:

• How accurate is the information in the work you’re criticizing?
• Does it have or lack definitions and key terms?
• Are there any controversies or hidden assumptions?
• Is the author’s language clear?
• Is the author fair? Does he or she cover both sides of the issue, without any bias?
• Is the work’s organization logical? Does the author present all the points in a meaningful way?
• Are there any gaps in his or her arguments?
• What are (if any) the author’s fallacies? (Too emotional language, over-simplification, generalization, etc.)

After that, your interpretation comes. It’s not about judging (evaluation) anymore, but your response (opinion) on this work.

Ask yourself:

• Where do I agree or disagree with the author?
• What does he or she get right or wrong?
• Would I recommend this work as a credible research source?

Your interpretation is, actually, the thesis of your essay. In this section, you’ll support the opinion you expressed in the thesis.

Critical Essay Conclusion

Yes, finally! Here comes the time to write a critical essay conclusion, and it doesn’t have to be too long. It’s like a reworded introduction, where you repeat the importance of your topic, reiterate the points you discussed, and summarize your interpretation.

• Remind readers why this topic is essential.
• Combine your evaluation and interpretation to focus on the work’s overall strengths and weaknesses.
• State what makes the work so popular and successful.

Topics for writing a critical essay

A properly assembled structure of a critical essay will allow you to work with almost any topic without any problems. However, choosing it can take a while, so here are some cool examples to help you start proactively.

Choose the topic closest to you and begin to study it in depth. This will allow you to accumulate the right argument and use it competently and quickly. Don’t forget to learn how to structure a critical essay and get to writing!

Critical Essay Examples

With tons of resources available online today, it’s not that difficult to find critical essay examples. But it’s challenging to find good ones . Here we have a couple of essay abstracts for you to get an idea of what a critical essay looks and sounds. Feel free to use them for informational and educational purposes only; don’t copy them word by word in your essays to avoid duplications and  accusations of plagiarism  from your educators.

Critical essay example #1  (the abstract, taken from examples.com):

Critical essay example #2  (the abstract, taken from examples.com):

More examples and explanations:

• The University of Queensland: Critical reading and analysis
• Thompson Rivers University: Critical analysis template
• Nova Southeastern University : Critical essay

FAQ about Critical Essay

And now, for the most interesting part:

To make a long story short for you, here go answers to the most frequently asked questions about critical essay writing. Read them if you want your analytical essay to be A-worthy.

• What type of language should be used in a critical analysis essay?

Make sure to use a formal language in critical essays. It’s about grammatical and pronunciation norms used in intellectual and academic activities. And since your essay is analytical and requires credibility, a formal language is what you need to make it sound so.

• How to cite a critical essay?

For citing critical essays, use the MLA format. Name the author first, followed by the title. Then, specify the publication details, including the pages from where you take the quote or reference.

• How to write a critical essay on movies?

Do it in the same ways as with books or articles. Watch the movie several times, engage with it critically: identify its core focus and message, interpret and evaluate it in the essay, and come up with the essential insights this movie gives to the audience.

• How to write a self-critical essay?

Self-critical essays are about analyzing and evaluating your own writings. As a rule, educators assign them for you to reflect on your progress as a writer.

Such essays are not that difficult to craft. Follow the basic structure of a critical essay: write an introduction stating your thesis, a few body paragraphs analyzing your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and a conclusion that restates your thesis and sums up what you’ve learned about yourself. 

• Can a critical essay be in the first person?

Yes, if you write a self-critical essay. But if you write about others’ works, use the third person only.

In a Word…

Don’t be afraid of writing a critical essay! Yes, essays are many, and it might seem impossible to learn the differences between them and the rules of writing them. But their basic structure is the same. All you need to do is identify the purpose of your assigned work and outline it accordingly.

Critical essays are about analyzing and evaluating the work of other writers. So, just read it, figure out what the authors wanted to say, think of whether you agree or disagree with them, and write a critical essay about all this stuff. Therefore, you develop critical thinking. You learn to introduce and prove your arguments.

And you understand how to share ideas with others so they’d listen and support you.

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Critical Essay Writing

Critical Essay - A Step by Step Guide & Examples

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A Comprehensive List of 260+ Inspiring Critical Essay Topics

Critical Essay Outline - Writing Guide With Examples

Many students find it tough to write a good critical essay because it's different from other essays. Understanding the deeper meanings in literature and creating a strong essay can be tricky.

This confusion makes it hard for students to analyze and explain literary works effectively. They struggle to create essays that show a strong understanding of the topic.

But don't worry! This guide will help. It gives step-by-step instructions, examples, and tips to make writing a great critical essay easier. By learning the key parts and looking at examples, students can master the skill of writing these essays.

• 1. Critical Essay Definition
• 2. Techniques in Literary Critical Essays
• 3. How to Write a Critical Essay?
• 4. Critical Essay Examples
• 5. Critical Essay Topics
• 6. Tips For Writing a Critical Essay

Critical Essay Definition

A critical is a form of analytical essay that analyzes, evaluates, and interprets a piece of literature, movie, book, play, etc. 

The writer signifies the meaning of the text by claiming the themes. The claims are then supported by facts using primary and secondary sources of information.

What Makes An Essay Critical?

People often confuse this type of essay with an argumentative essay. It is because they both deal with claims and provide evidence on the subject matter. 

An argumentative essay uses evidence to persuade the reader. On the other hand, a critical analysis essay discusses the themes, analyzes, and interprets them for its audience. 

Here are the key characteristics of a critical essay:

• Looking Beyond the Surface: In a critical essay, it's not just about summarizing. It goes deeper, looking into the hidden meanings and themes of the text.
• Sharing Opinions with Evidence: It's not only about what you think. You need to back up your ideas with proof from the text or other sources.
• Examining from Different Angles: A critical essay doesn't just focus on one side. It looks at different viewpoints and examines things from various perspectives.
• Finding Strengths and Weaknesses: It's about discussing what's good and what's not so good in the text or artwork. This helps in forming a balanced opinion.
• Staying Objective: Instead of being emotional, it stays fair and objective, using facts and examples to support arguments.
• Creating a Strong Argument: A critical essay builds a strong argument by analyzing the content and forming a clear opinion that's well-supported.
• Analyzing the 'Why' and 'How': It's not just about what happens in the text but why it happens and how it influences the overall meaning.

Techniques in Literary Critical Essays

Analyzing literature involves a set of techniques that form the backbone of literary criticism. Let's delve into these techniques, providing a comprehensive understanding before exploring illustrative examples:

Formalism in literary criticism directs attention to the inherent structure, style, and linguistic elements within a text. It is concerned with the way a work is crafted, examining how literary devices contribute to its overall impact.

Example: In Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights," a formalist analysis might emphasize the novel's intricate narrative structure and the use of Gothic elements.

Psychoanalytic Criticism

Psychoanalytic Criticism delves into the psychological motivations and subconscious elements of characters and authors. It often draws on psychoanalytic theories, such as those developed by Sigmund Freud, to explore the deeper layers of the human psyche reflected in literature.

Example: In "Orlando," Virginia Woolf employs psychoanalytic elements to symbolically explore identity and gender fluidity. The protagonist's centuries-spanning transformation reflects Woolf's subconscious struggles, using fantasy as a lens to navigate psychological complexities.

Feminist Criticism

Feminist Criticism evaluates how gender roles, stereotypes, and power dynamics are portrayed in literature. It seeks to uncover and challenge representations that may perpetuate gender inequalities or reinforce stereotypes.

Example: Applying feminist criticism to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" involves scrutinizing the representation of women's mental health and societal expectations.

Marxist Criticism

Marxist Criticism focuses on economic and social aspects, exploring how literature reflects and critiques class structures. It examines how power dynamics, societal hierarchies, and economic systems are portrayed in literary works.

Example: Analyzing George Orwell's "Animal Farm" through a Marxist lens involves examining its allegorical representation of societal class struggles.

Cultural Criticism

Cultural Criticism considers the cultural context and societal influences shaping the creation and reception of literature. It examines how cultural norms, values, and historical contexts impact the meaning and interpretation of a work.

Example: Cultural criticism of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" may delve into the impact of colonialism on African identity.

Postcolonial Criticism

Postcolonial Criticism examines the representation of colonial and postcolonial experiences in literature. It explores how authors engage with and respond to the legacy of colonialism, addressing issues of identity, cultural hybridity, and power.

Example: A postcolonial analysis of Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" may explore themes of identity and cultural hybridity.

Understanding these techniques provides a comprehensive toolkit for navigating the diverse landscape of literary criticism.

How to Write a Critical Essay?

Crafting a critical essay involves a step-by-step process that every student can follow to create a compelling piece of analysis.

Step 1: Explore the Subject in Depth

Start by diving into the primary subject of the work. When critically reading the original text, focus on identifying key elements:

• Main themes: Discover the central ideas explored in the work.
• Different features: Examine the distinctive components and specific details in the story.
• Style: Observe the techniques and writing style  used to persuade the audience.
• Strengths and weaknesses: Evaluate notable aspects and potential shortcomings.

Step 2: Conduct Research

To support your insights, conduct thorough research using credible sources. 

Take detailed notes as you read, highlighting key points and interesting quotes. Also make sure you’re paying attention to the specific points that directly support and strengthen your analysis of the work. 

Step 3: Create an Outline

After you have gathered the sources and information, organize what you have in an outline. This will serve as a roadmap for your writing process, ensuring a structured essay.

Here is a standard critical essay outline:

Make sure to structure and organize your critical essay with this in-depth guide on creating a critical essay outline !

Step 4: Develop Your Thesis Statement

Create a strong thesis statement encapsulating your stance on the subject. This statement will guide the content in the body sections.

A good thesis keeps your essay clear and organized, making sure all your points fit together. To make a strong thesis, first, be clear about what main idea you want to talk about. Avoid being vague and clearly state your key arguments and analysis. 

Here's what a typical thesis statement for a critical essay looks like:

"In [Title/Author/Work], [Your Main Claim] because [Brief Overview of Reasons/Key Points] . Through a focused analysis of [Specific Aspects or Elements] , this essay aims to [Purpose of the Critical Examination] ."

Step 5: Decide on Supporting Material

While reading the text, select compelling pieces of evidence that strongly support your thesis statement. Ask yourself:

• Which information is recognized by authorities in the subject?
• Which information is supported by other authors?
• Which information best defines and supports the thesis statement?

Step 6: Include an Opposing Argument

Present an opposing argument that challenges your thesis statement. This step requires you critically read your own analysis and find counterarguments so you can refute them.

This not only makes your discussion richer but also makes your own argument stronger by addressing different opinions. 

Step 7:  Critical Essay Introduction

Begin your critical essay with an introduction that clearly suggests the reader what they should expect from the rest of the essay. Here are the essential elements of an introduction paragraph:

• Hook: Start with a compelling opening line that captivates your reader's interest.
• Background Information: Provide essential context to ensure your readers grasp the subject matter. Add brief context of the story that contributes to a better understanding.
• Thesis Statement: Conclude with a clear thesis statement, summarizing the core argument of your critical essay. This serves as a roadmap, guiding the reader through the main focus of your analysis.

Step 8: Critical Essay Body Paragraphs

The body presents arguments and supporting evidence. Each paragraph starts with a topic sentence, addressing a specific idea. Use transitional words to guide the reader seamlessly through your analysis.

Here’s the standard format for a critical essay body paragraph:

• Topic Sentence: Introduces the central idea of the paragraph, acting as a roadmap for the reader.
• Analysis: Objectively examines data, facts, theories, and approaches used in the work.
• Evaluation: Assesses the work based on earlier claims and evidence, establishing logical consistency.
• Relate Back to Topic Sentence: Reinforces how the analyzed details connect to the main idea introduced at the beginning of the paragraph.
• Transition: Creates a seamless transition from one body paragraph to the next.

Step 9: Critical Essay Conclusion

Summarize your key points in the conclusion. Reiterate the validity of your thesis statement, the main point of your essay. 

Finally, offer an objective analysis in your conclusion. Look at the broader picture and discuss the larger implications or significance of your critique. Consider how your analysis fits into the larger context and what it contributes to the understanding of the subject.

Step 10: Proofread and Edit

Allocate time for meticulous revision. Scrutinize your essay for errors. Rectify all mistakes to ensure a polished academic piece.

Following these steps will empower you to dissect a work critically and present your insights persuasively.

Critical Essay Examples

Writing a critical essay about any theme requires you take on different approaches. Here are some examples of critical essays about literary works and movies exploring different themes:

Critical Essay About A Movie

Equality By Maya Angelou Critical Essay

Higher English Critical Essay

Analysis Critical Essay Example

Critical Essay on Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

Critical Essay On Tess Of The d'Urbervilles

Critical Essay Topics

A strong critical essay topic is both interesting and relevant, encouraging in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.

A good critical essay topic tackles current issues, questions established ideas, and has enough existing literature for thorough research. Here are some critical analysis topic:

• The Representation of Diversity in Modern Literature
• Impact of Social Media on Character Relationships in Novels
• Challenging Stereotypes: Gender Portrayal in Contemporary Fiction
• Exploring Economic Disparities in Urban Novels
• Postcolonial Themes in Global Literature
• Mental Health Narratives: Realism vs. Romanticism
• Ecocriticism: Nature's Role in Classic Literature
• Unveiling Power Struggles in Family Dynamics in Literary Works
• Satire and Political Commentary in Modern Fiction
• Quest for Identity: Coming-of-Age Novels in the 21st Century

Need more topic ideas? Check out these interesting and unique critical essay topics and get inspired!

Tips For Writing a Critical Essay

Become a skilled critical essay writer by following these practical tips:

• Dig deep into your topic. Understand themes, characters, and literary elements thoroughly.
• Think about different opinions to make your argument stronger and show you understand the whole picture.
• Get information from reliable places like books, academic journals, and experts to make your essay more trustworthy.
• Make a straightforward and strong statement that sums up your main point.
• Support your ideas with solid proof from the text or other sources. Use quotes, examples, and references wisely.
• Keep a neutral and academic tone. Avoid sharing too many personal opinions and focus on analyzing the facts.
• Arrange your essay logically with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Make sure your ideas flow well.
• Go beyond just summarizing. Think deeply about the strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact of the work.
• Read through your essay multiple times to fix mistakes and make sure it's clear. A well-edited essay shows you care about the details.

You can use these tips to make your critical essays more insightful and well-written. Now that you have this helpful guide, you can start working on your critical essay. 

If it seems too much, no worries. Our essay writing website is here to help. 

Our experienced writers can handle critical essays on any topic, making it easier for you. Just reach out, and we've got your back throughout your essay journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many paragraphs is a critical essay.

Keep in mind that every sentence should communicate the point. Every paragraph must support your thesis statement either by offering a claim or presenting an argument, and these are followed up with evidence for success! Most critical essays will have three to six paragraphs unless otherwise specified on examinations so make sure you follow them closely if applicable.

Can critical essays be in the first person?

The critical essay is an informative and persuasive work that stresses the importance of your argument. You need to support any claims or observations with evidence, so in order for it to be most effective, you should avoid using first-person pronouns like I/me when writing this type of paper.

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Posted: 12 June, 2017

Critical Essay: How-To, Structure, Examples, Topics

Critical essays are quite common when you reach college, but you may not know exactly how to go about writing one. This guide will help you with the entire writing process, so read on to find out more.

Table Of Contents

What is Critical Essay?

Critical essay structure, how to write critical essay, critical essay topics, critical essay examples.

A critical essay is one where you evaluate a subject, removing yourself from it and looking at it critically. It sounds as though you must always be negative, but in fact that's not true. Instead, you must make a judgement on the topic depending on the evidence you find. You could be positive as well as negative in your essay.

The essay structure for this type of essay is quite simple, so it's easy to follow. Most critical essays will follow this pattern:

• Introduction: Where you introduce the main topic, and present your thesis on it. You'll be expanding on this shortly.
• Main body: This is where you'll be writing about your evaluation. Dedicate each paragraph to a new topic, and link them together to create a flow that your readers can follow. Use your research to back up any points you make here.
• Conclusion: This is where you'll wrap up your main points, in order to prove your thesis.
• When you get your topic, start reading around it. Start gathering evidence that supports your evaluation of that topic. If you take notes, you'll find it easier to refer back to research later when you're writing.
• Write your outline. Now you've done the reading, start outlining your essay, using the structure given here. You can write in your topic sentences now, so it will be easier to refer back to them later.
• Now, you'll need to write your essay. If you have the outline already written, this should be simple. Just follow what you write in it and you'll be done in no time at all.
• Now you've written it, make sure you proofread and edit your essay before handing it in.

Critical essays are usually given in subjects such as English, where you may be asked to critically analyse a book or author. You can also be asked to analyse an idea or theory, depending on which subject you study. So, you could be asked to critically analyse John Steinbeck, or modern day advertising. These problems can be solved by an essay writing service in just a day. There's a lot of scope in these essays to put your own ideas across, as long as you back them up with research.

Here are some examples of essay topics, if you want to try writing an essay yourself:

• The impact of social media on your school.
• The future of self driving cars.
• The benefits of Sudoku in the elderly.
• The health benefits of gaming.

Remember to use research to analyze these issues, and come up with your own conclusion.

There you have it. You too can write an excellent critical essay, and get the grades you need.

The Policy of Appeasement in World War II: a Critical Analysis

This essay is about the policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France before World War II. It examines how leaders like Neville Chamberlain tried to avoid conflict by making concessions to Adolf Hitler, most notably through the Munich Agreement of 1938. The essay explains the flawed assumptions behind appeasement, such as underestimating Hitler’s ambitions and overestimating the effectiveness of diplomacy. It discusses the consequences of this policy, including the emboldening of Nazi Germany and the eventual outbreak of war. The essay concludes by reflecting on the historical context and lessons of appeasement, highlighting its relevance to contemporary foreign policy.

How it works

The policy of appeasement during the epoch of the Second World War persists as one of the most contentious and deliberated strategies in contemporary historiography. Fundamentally, conciliation constituted an endeavor by the nations of Britain and France to avert another cataclysmic conflict by acquiescing to the demands of Germany under the dominion of Adolf Hitler. Nonetheless, this stratagem has faced widespread condemnation for bolstering the ascendancy of the Nazi regime and precipitating the eruption of global warfare. To apprehend the essence of conciliation, it becomes imperative to scrutinize its contextual backdrop, its execution, and the ramifications it engendered upon Europe and the wider world.

In the aftermath of the First World War, Europe languished in the throes of devastation, with the Treaty of Versailles imposing punitive measures upon Germany. This treaty not only enfeebled the German economy but also fomented a miasma of humiliation and animosity among its populace. Upon ascending to power in 1933, Adolf Hitler deftly exploited this simmering discontent, proffering pledges to restore Germany to its erstwhile eminence. As Germany commenced its trajectory of rearmament and territorial expansion, the specter of the Great War cast a pall over Europe. The leadership echelons of Britain and France were resolutely determined to avert another conflagration at all costs, thus embracing a policy of conciliation.

The quintessential manifestation of conciliation materialized in the form of the Munich Agreement of 1938, wherein British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Premier Édouard Daladier acceded to Hitler’s demands for the annexation of the Sudetenland, a bastion of Czechoslovakia teeming with a substantial ethnic German populace. Chamberlain famously returned to British shores, heralding the accord as a harbinger of “peace for our time.” Initially lauded as a triumph of diplomacy over bellicosity, it swiftly transpired that the accord merely deferred the inevitable conflagration. Hitler construed the Munich Agreement as a testament to the vulnerability of his adversaries, thereby emboldening him to pursue further territorial conquests.

Conciliation was underpinned by a litany of erroneous presumptions that ultimately proved to be the proverbial house of cards. Foremost among these fallacious suppositions was the notion that Hitler’s demands were inherently reasonable, and that acquiescing to them would placate his voracious appetite for territorial expansion. This fallacy grievously underestimated Hitler’s irredentist ideology and his insatiable lust for Lebensraum, or living space, for the German populace. Secondly, proponents of conciliation harbored the belief that diplomacy could obviate the specter of warfare, postulating that concessions would pave the path towards enduring tranquility. However, this Panglossian perspective turned a blind eye to the belligerent nature of the Nazi regime, which harbored scant inclination towards negotiation and espoused the ethos of domination. Lastly, the proponents of conciliation grossly underestimated the latent capacity for resistance simmering within Germany and the occupied territories, laboring under the delusion that a docile approach would stave off the specter of conflict.

The ramifications of conciliation reverberated far and wide, exacting a toll of devastation and upheaval. By acquiescing to Hitler’s demands, Britain and France not only bestowed unto Germany the mantle of ascendant power but also dealt a grievous blow to the credibility of the League of Nations, the pantheon tasked with preserving global peace. This emboldened other bellicose regimes, such as Italy and Japan, thereby further destabilizing the global equilibrium. With Hitler’s brazen invasion of Poland in 1939, the fallacy of conciliation was laid bare for all to witness. The world was plunged into an abyss of conflict more cataclysmic than its predecessor.

In hindsight, the policy of conciliation is often regarded as a tragic miscue, a well-intentioned endeavor to safeguard peace that instead sowed the seeds of greater conflagration. However, it becomes imperative to contextualize these decisions within the crucible of the epoch. The trauma of the First World War still festered, and the economic vicissitudes of the Great Depression had left many nations wary of embroiling themselves in another costly conflict. The proponents of conciliation embarked upon their course of action in a bid to safeguard peace and stability, albeit through a stratagem that proved to be a house of cards.

The reverberations of the epoch of conciliation persist as an indelible imprint upon contemporary foreign policy. The quandary of when to confront aggression and when to seek diplomatic reprieve remains a pressing concern in the labyrinthine domain of geopolitics. While the policy of conciliation in the lead-up to the Second World War is widely perceived as a quagmire, it serves as a potent reminder of the intricacies and exigencies inherent in the preservation of international peace and security.

In summation, conciliation during the Second World War epitomized a well-intentioned yet fatally flawed stratagem aimed at forestalling another devastating conflict. By capitulating to Germany’s demands, Britain and France harbored aspirations of securing peace, but instead, they unwittingly furnished a springboard for the ascendancy of an aggressive regime and sowed the seeds for a global cataclysm. The policy of conciliation serves as a poignant parable of how the pursuit of peace can sometimes veer perilously awry, underscoring the imperative of vigilance and fortitude in the face of tyranny.

It is incumbent upon the reader to bear in mind that this treatise serves as a mere prologue to contemplation and further inquiry. For bespoke counsel and assurance of compliance with academic precepts, it is advisable to solicit the services of professionals at EduBirdie.

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There’s no time to indulge Labor’s love affair with gas — it delays the inevitable

Labor claims gas is critical to the net-zero pathways of Australia's trading partners. This ignores the exponentially growing affordability of renewables.

Joëlle Gergis

Jun 03, 2024

Despite Labor’s grandstanding about its credentials as a climate leader, in March 2023, the federal minister for resources, Madeleine King, signalled the continuation of “business as usual” in her resources statement to Parliament, saying:

Some fail to acknowledge this, but Australia’s coal and gas resources are essential for energy security, stability and reliability both domestically and across the Asia-Pacific and will be needed for decades. From Hanoi to Hyderabad, Seoul to Singapore, families rely on Australia’s natural resources to provide the energy security they need.

She emphasised that gas is critical to our trading partners’ net-zero pathways, saying that as nations such as Japan and South Korea pursue their net-zero targets, they will continue to require gas for decades.

But the truth is that transitioning from coal to gas is like switching from cigarette smoking to vaping — the outcome is still very bad for your health and simply delays the inevitability of having to quit smoking altogether. Given the rapidly deteriorating state of the climate, time is the one thing we no longer have. Every day we delay, we risk breaching critical thresholds needed to maintain planetary stability.

Promoting gas as a necessary transition fuel also fails to consider the fact that renewable energy is now the cheapest form of electricity in the world and is growing exponentially. The International Energy Agency’s “Renewables 2023” report details how the world is on track to build enough solar, wind and other renewables over the next five years to power the equivalent of the United States and Canada. It also highlights that onshore wind and solar power are cheaper than both new and existing fossil fuel plants, and that the price of solar panels halved in 2023, driven by China, the world’s renewable powerhouse.

Here in Australia, while Labor has an ambitious target of 82% renewables in the electricity sector by 2030, they still only accounted for around 36% of electricity generation in 2022. That means the remaining 64% is still being generated by fossil fuels, with coal alone accounting for 47%. Although the development of the renewable energy sector has started to reduce Australia’s reliance on coal, declines have been modest, with the share of coal in the electricity generation mix falling from close to 60% in 2021 to around 55% in 2022. Over the same period, gas increased its share of power generation from 7.7% to 8.9%.

But according to the Clean Energy Council, Australia’s investment in the clean energy industry was $6.7 billion in 2022; that’s just over half the amount spent by the government subsidising the fossil fuel industry.

The government’s reluctance to move away from polluting industries stems from the fact that Australia is the third-largest fossil fuel exporter. Energy companies reap tens of billions of dollars each year selling coal and liquified national gas (LNG), mainly to the North Asian countries of Japan and South Korea.

Right now around 90% of coal and three-quarters of all gas produced in Australia is exported. In 2024, the Climate Change Authority reported that emissions generated from the use of Australia’s coal and gas overseas amount to approximately three times those generated domestically, accounting for around 4% of global emissions.

But what is odd is that the authority says: “Customers of Australia’s fossil fuel imports will decide when they phase them out and there is a risk that as Australia reduces its fossil fuel exports, other countries may increase their exports to fill the gap.”

Instead of taking the ethical lead and choosing to limit the supply of products we know are cooking the planet, we are using the drug dealer’s defence that if addicts don’t buy from us, they’ll get their fix somewhere else. Instead of enabling countries hooked on their dirty habit, Australia could instead choose to take them to rehab and help them get clean.

The main culprit is Japan, which gets about 40% of its LNG from Australia, with the head of the Japanese energy giant Inpex, Takayuki Ueda, telling parliamentarians in April 2023 that he feared any restrictions imposed on new gas developments could result in “a direct threat to the rules-based international order essential to the peace, stability and prosperity of the region, if not the world.”

Although tensions with China are thawing, it is a reminder that energy policy is closely tied to geopolitics, which is becoming increasingly harder to navigate in a war-torn world. Fearmongering aside, the truth is that Japan’s net zero plan is heavily reliant on CCS [carbon capture storage] technology, the fantasy get-out-of-jail-free card that threatens to ruin us.

While I don’t doubt Labor’s intentions are good, and I accept that the challenge the government faces is monumental, unfortunately it is still unwilling to address the root cause of the problem, which is Australia’s continuing reliance on fossil fuels.

The industry’s dominance over our political system is currently blocking the scale and speed of the renewable energy transition. Despite Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen’s comments at COP28 that a “phase-out of fossil fuels is Australia’s economic opportunity as a renewable energy superpower,” we are yet to realise this vision. Despite all the talk, the Climate Change Authority’s assessment of progress towards reducing emissions concluded that: “Australia is not yet on track to meet its 2030 targets.”

The problem is that many gas producers like Australia are promoting methane as a “transition” fuel to support the shift away from coal, while also using the need to protect their export markets as a reason why we can’t reduce our reliance on fossil fuels any time soon. Although the burning of natural gas for electricity is generally considered less emissions-intensive than coal, unintentional “fugitive” emissions released during the extraction, processing, storage and transportation processes can offset the benefit of its lower carbon intensity.

The other major issue is that even though methane breaks down more quickly in the atmosphere, it is around 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide, measured over a 20-year period, meaning that the burning of gas will exacerbate global warming in the near term. So while methane may be sold to the public as the lesser of two evils, rest assured that it is still a highly destructive greenhouse gas.

Given that Australia is one of the world’s top two exporters of LNG [liquid natural gas] and coal, fossil fuel lobbyists exert a very strong influence on our political debate, diplomacy, economic strategy and policy development both domestically and internationally. Trying to pivot away from fossil fuels has proved to be political poison in Australia, time and time again, despite the nation being highly vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate.

As our next federal election approaches, we need to ask ourselves if we are going to be the ones to remove the social licence for the continued exploitation of Australia’s coal, oil and gas reserves — whether for domestic or international consumption — to avoid destabilising the Earth’s climate. Is Australia honestly doing enough to secure a liveable future? Or will corporate bullies stop us from doing what really needs to be done?

This is an edited extract of Joelle Gergis’  Quarterly Essay Highway to Hell: Climate Change and Australia’s Future (Black Inc.).

About the Author

Contributor

Dr Joëlle Gergis is an award-winning climate scientist and writer at the Australian National University. She is an internationally recognised expert in Australian and Southern Hemisphere climate variability and change who served as a lead author for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report — a global, state-of-the art review of climate change science.

• climate change
• climate emergency
• climate science
• ENVIRONMENT
• fossil fuels

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The Gas industry is currently running a massive public misinformation campaign promoting the use of “Clean Renewable Gas” in the home. They even have the Masterchef Australia TV kitchen equipped with “Clean Renewable Gas”. The clear intention of the TV ads is to dishonestly reassure people that there is no need to switch their gas appliances over to electric because “Clean Renewable Gas” is environmentally good, clean and renewable. Of course, the truth is that the domestic gas network uses methane from non renewable sources and is not likely to ever be replaced by clean, renewable hydrogen or by bio-methane. It is a telling indictment of Australia’s weak, feather light regulatory systems that such blatantly dishonest and misleading advertising is allowed.

If true, the Government along with the advertising regulations should be able to stop this sort of misinformation, very quickly.

For those who have not seen the advertising campaign, check out their website, https://renewable-gas.com.au/ . AGIG (Australian Gas Infrastructure Group) is behind the advertising campaign and Masterchef Australia promotion. The wording of the ads and the website are cleverly constructed to imply that non-renewable gas currently supplying household gas appliances will be replaced by “Clean Renewable Gas”. The probability of that ever actually happening is miniscule. It maybe that some tiny proportion of bio-methane and hydrogen may be blended with non-renewable methane sometime in the future, for marketing purposes, but that blend will not constitute “Clean Renewable Gas”. Of course, it is vital to AGIP’s interest that households do not exchange their gas appliances for electric appliances. IMO, that is the true intention of this advertising campaign, but read their website and decide for yourself.

So: We basically ignore the 3% of the world’s GHG emissions that come from other countries burning FFs from Australia. We allow the companies mining and exporting those FFs to make massive profits while paying the Australian people peanuts for our resources. We allow the search for new offshore oil and gas deposits by means of the outrageous seismic blasting to continue apace (coming to the Otway Basin soon). We go on and on in the MSM about domestic gas shortages to create the licence for said FF companies to open up new mines and wells. We aim for a 43% reduction in domestic emissions, starting from a baseline of a peak year (2005) and including the subterfuge of forest and land use changes (LULUCF) – and we won’t achieve the target anyway.

That, friends, is STATE CAPTURE!!!

And, much as Joelle’s Quarterly Essay is excellent, we don’t need any more books to tell us how f-ed things are. We need Greens, Teals and Pococks to force some real action in Parliament. And disruptive protest in the streets.

They’re buying time for the industry: while ‘micturating it up the wall’ for the rest of us.

Yep, allowing global or MNC fossil fuel companies/subsidiaries to squeeze out the last drops and future income streams for as long as possible while delaying or obstructing renewable threats; Finance 101, Porter’s 5 Forces and ‘state capture’.

However, from Australia’s perspective what happens, with evidence already*, that renewables are more economic, but gas becoming more expensive?

*FT (23 Sep ’22): ‘Opinion – Data Points: Economics may take us to net zero all on its own. The plummeting cost of low-carbon energy has already allowed many countries to decouple economic growth from emissions’

I had to look that one up, Well Done Klewso!

It’s a terrible dilemma for Labor. How can they do Nothing about renewables while being seen to do Something? How can the Not meet their renewables target while convincing the voters that they Are? I’m reminded of Catch 22, where Major Major Major’s father got up at the crack of noon so as not to grow more alfalfa.

We ask them to replace gas with renewables, so they replace the gas with renewables-plus-gas, claiming a “reduction”. Then we ask them to replace that gas with renewables, so they replace that gas with renewables-plus-gas and claim a further “reduction”. Then we ask for that gas to be reduced as well, claiming a further “reduction”. Everybody feels incredibly virtuous with all of our reductions and quite forgiven for the emissions we continue to make.

It shouldn’t be a dilemma, for them, they went to the last election promising climate change reform. I look forward to seeing their report card,

It’s so typical of commenters here to say ‘but gas’ as a daft trivialisation of all the action federal and state governments are taking to transition to renewables.

Let me list all the renewable focussed agencies, initiatives and policies Labour has introduced or reinvigorated in the last 2 years:

Clean Energy Finance corp Arena CIS RET LTSEA (long term service energy agreements) ACAP (Australian centre for advanced photovoltaics) Climate Change Authority National Net Zero Authority National Adaptation Plan National Energy Transformation Partnership Rewiring the Nation Community Batteries trial Community Solar Banks Energy Saving Package Offshore electricity infrastructure framework Competition and Consumer (Gas Market Code) Regulations 2023  Safeguard Mechanism Safeguard Transformation Stream ACCU Review Implementation Plan  Hydrogen Headstart Industrial Transformation Stream Critical Inputs to Clean Energy Industries (CICEI) program STS and CICEI – cement, lime, alumina and aluminium sectors  Guarantee of Origin scheme  National Electric Vehicle Strategy New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Commonwealth fleet target Driving the Nation Fund On-road emissions and fuel consumption testing National Energy Performance Strategy  Future Fuels and Vehicles Strategy Australia’s Long-Term Emissions Reduction Plan Modern Manufacturing Strategy National Hydrogen Strategy Bioenergy Roadmap Future Fuels Fund Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy Establishing offshore renewable energy infrastructure Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings Energy and Climate Ministerial Council National Energy Transformation Partnership New bilateral Renewable Energy Transformation Agreements Climate Active National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme

A sensible journalist would assess the impact all of that will have delivering a low-risk transition to renewables. Even just reading a transcript of Chris Bowen’s speeches in parliament would give them a good start.

The truth is a lot needs to happen for OZ (and the world) to transition to renewables – governments have to manage the risks of hiccoughs along the way. If the current transition rate continues then gas will quickly recede as a requirement. But it’s indispensable as a physical and psychological backup.

“But gas’ you say!

We must call out the lie, “transition fuel” every time we hear it. Until when? There can be no transition if there is no destination. We must correct the wobblies in our own ranks, too. Until pigs fly, they would say. Until all the old people die rich. Until we draw all of our energy from renewables. Until Kuwait stops selling gas. Until the fourth of never. These are false promises.

The fact is that our government is doing exactly what we want them to do. They are installing an indefinite future where our energy is mainly supplied by fossil gas, camouflaged with prayer wheels and holy panels and toy batteries inadequate to last a single night. That cannot change until enough of us are willing to replace fossil fuels with nonfossil fuels. Until then, our wobblies will ensure that we bequeath to the kiddies a world of endlessly worsening climate disasters.

We must call out the lie, “transition fuel” every time we hear it. Until when? There can be no transition if there is no destination. 

The destination is peaking power provided by batteries, hydro, and similar.

Just like it would be with “baseload” nuclear.

And similar? The fine print of any nominally 100% renewables scenario includes a reference to using natural gas when all else fails. The catch is that all else fails quite often with renewables. Once the public is distracted with wars, recessions, refugees and other climate disasters, the bean counters move in and the intention to use a tiny bit of gas turns into a majority supplier of the nation’s power.

. The catch is that all else fails quite often with renewables.

This is false.

 Once the public is distracted with wars, recessions, refugees and other climate disasters, the bean counters move in and the intention to use a tiny bit of gas turns into a majority supplier of the nation’s power.

Why would “the bean counters” be intending to do that ?

It’s true. There is no combination of wind and solar that can provide electricity on demand through all seasons. It is simple maths – a sum of random variables is another random variable, there will always be times when supply is less than demand. It is no use saying “and batteries” because the batteries invariably are far too small to supply power over a single still night, let alone a season of unfavourable weather. That’s when you’ll discover the fine print saying “and gas”. It is not politically correct to say “and gas” out loud because it makes a lie out of any claim to 100% renewables.  But we have asked our government to provide us with renewables, so we are being given renewables… and gas.

Neither weather nor seasons are “random”.

That is why there is not an equal probably of snow or sunshine here in Brisbane tomorrow.

Roger, it’s time to move on. The effects of random variables can easily be simulated. Peer-reviewed study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032118303897 “ Large-scale electricity systems based on 100% renewable energy can meet the key requirements of reliability, security and affordability.” “The principal barriers to 100% renewable electricity are neither technological nor economic, but instead are primarily political, institutional and cultural.”

“The principal barriers to 100% renewable electricity are neither technological nor economic, but instead are primarily political, institutional and cultural.”

These kinds of comments gloss over the engineering that will be required to transform our energy networks into 100% renewables.

There is a big gap between where we are and where we could be – it will only be bridged by a lot of complicated engineering over a long period of time.

On the path to where we need to be it’s unavoidable that some unsavoury technologies will be in play.

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