How to Write a Critique

Proofreading Marks, Verbs,

Prepositions, Pronouns

What is a critique?

Builds upon a summary

a formalized, critical reading of a passage that

includes a personal response

purpose is to turn a critical reading of a passage

into a systematic evaluation to deepen a readers
understanding of that passage

Addresses two broad questions

To what extent does the author succeed in his/her

purpose?
To what extent do you agree with the author?

How to Organize a Critique

1. Introduction

identify the article title and author

provide background information that answers one or
more of the following questions:

Why is the subject of current interest?

How or why is the subject of the passage controversial?
What is the authors background?
Under what circumstances was the passage written?

include a specific thesis statement

How to Organize a Critique

2. Summary

summarizes the authors main points and purpose for

writing

is brief, complete, objective, and avoids plagiarism

How to Organize a Critique

3. Assessment of presentation

essay objectively assesses the validity of the

authors presentation by commenting on the authors
success in achieving his/her purpose by reviewing 3
or 4 specific points

How to Organize a Critique

3. Assessment of presentation

The specific points are based upon the following

criteria:

Is the information accurate?

Is the information significant?
Has the author clearly defined terms?
Has the author used and interpreted information
fairly? Has the author argued logically?

How to Organize a Critique

4. Personal response to the
presentation

Essay responds to the authors views

Essay discusses reasons for agreement and/or
disagreement
Questions to answer include:

With which views do you agree? Why?

With which views do you disagree? Why?

How to Organize a Critique

5. Conclusion

states conclusions about the overall validity of the

article
assesses authors success at achieving aims
mentions personal reactions to authors views
restates the thesis by mentioning the
weaknesses/strengths of passage

Verbs

Active verbs

Whenever possible avoid the passive voice

and use the active voice
Makes writing crisper, more lively, more
concise
Avoid or replace be verbs

be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been

The fly ball was caught by Hernando.

Hernando caught the fly ball.

Active Verbs

Use the active voice unless you have a good

reason for choosing the passive.
In active, the subject does the action
In passive, the subject receives the action

Mostly scientific writing

The settlers stripped the land of timber.

The land was stripped of timber by the settlers.

Active Verbs

Replace be verbs that result in dull or wordy

sentences
As a rule, choose a subject that names the
person or thing doing the action.

Active or passive? If its passive, make it

active. If its active, make it passive.
1. Thomas fed his dog.
2. The dog is fed by Thomas.
3. The family went to the beach.
4. The letter was written by Marshall.
5. The game had been won by the blue team.
6. The problem was solved.
7. The stunt man risked his life.
8. The fire was extinguished.
9. The car was being cleaned by its owner
10. It gets cold here during the winter.

Grammar Task
Write five sentences that use active verbs.
Write five sentences that use passive verbs.

Prepositions

Parts of Speech
Preposition
indicates the relationship between the noun or
pronoun that follows it and another word in the
sentence
At, by, for, from, in, of, on, to , with

The road to the summit travels past craters from

an extinct volcano.

Prepositions

Can you end a sentence with a preposition?

Where are you at?

Where are you?
She displayed the good humor shes known for.
She displayed the good humor for which she is known.
I want to know where he came from.
I want to know from where he came.

Prepositions
She is a person I cannot cope with.
She is a person with whom I cannot
cope.

If the restructured sentence sounds contrived and

unnatural, simply rewrite the sentence:

It is behavior I will not put up with.

It is behavior up with which I will not put.
It is behavior I will not tolerate.

Grammar Task
Restructure or rewrite five sentences that end
in a preposition. Make sure to include the
original sentence.

Pronouns

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

What is a pronoun?
Substitutes a noun
He, she, it, her, him, they, we, us, them
What is an antecedent?
Noun or pronoun that a pronoun refers to
Dr. Berto finished her rounds.
The hospital interns finished their rounds.

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

Do not use plural pronouns to refer to singular

antecedents
3 Ways to correct
When someone travels outside the US for the
first time, they need to apply for a passport.

Replace plural pronoun with he or she (his or her)

When someone travels outside the US for the first time,
he or she needs to apply for a passport.
Make antecedent plural
When people travel outside the US for the first time,
they need to apply for a passport.
Rewrite sentence to correct problem
Anyone who travels outside the US for the first time
needs to apply for a passport.

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

Do not use plural pronouns to refer to singular
antecedents
These indefinite pronouns are all singular
Anybody
anyone
anything each
Everybody
either
everyone
everything
Nobody
no one
neither
nothing
Somebody
someone something

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

Treat collective nouns as singular unless the

meaning is clearly plural
Collective nouns are treated as a group and
functions as a unit
Jury
committee
audience
couple
Crowd
class
troop
family
team
The committee granted its permission to build.
Sometimes they act as individuals though
The committee put their signatures on the
document.
Simplify by adding a clearly plural antecedent
The members of the committee put their
signatures on the document.

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

Treat most compound antecedents joined with
and as plural
In 1987, Reagan and Gorbachev held a summit
where they signed the Intermediate-Range
Nuclear Forces Treaty.
With compound antecedents joined with or or
nor (or with eitheror or neithernor), make
the pronoun agree with the closer antecedent
Either Bruce or Tom should receive first prize
for his poem.
Neither the mouse nor the rats could find their
way through the maze.

Pronoun & Antecedent Agreement

With compound antecedents joined with or or

nor (or with eitheror or neithernor), make
the pronoun agree with the closer antecedent
*if one antecedent is singular and the other
plural, put plural one last to avoid
awkwardness
*If one antecedent is male and the other female,
do not follow the traditional rule
Either Bruce or Elizabeth should receive first
prize for her short story.
The prize for best short story should go to
either Bruce or Elizabeth.

Exercise 7.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

1. Meteorology has made many advances in the past
few decades, but they still cannot answer a number
of questions about tornadoes.
Meteorology has made many advances in the past
few decades, but it still cannot answer a number of
questions about tornadoes.
2. Every tornado has their own unique
characteristics.
Every tornado has its own unique characteristics.

Exercise 7.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

3. The science of tornado watching has its own
system, the Fujita scale, for measuring storms from
weakest (F0) to strongest (F5).
correct
4. An F4 tornado or an F5 tornado can destroy
everything in their path.
An F4 tornado or an F5 tornado can destroy
everything in its path.

Exercise 7.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

5. Scientists cannot yet predict how strong any
tornado will be before they happen.
Scientists cannot yet predict how strong any tornado
will be before it happens.
6. One mystery about tornadoes involves the last step
when it forms.
One mystery about tornadoes involves the last step
when they form.

Exercise 7.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

7. Specialists do not know if a tornado forms in a
cloud and travels to the ground or if they begin on
earth and spiral upward.
Specialists do not know if a tornado forms in a cloud
and travels to the ground or if it begins on earth and
spirals upward.
8. Improved meteorological technology and the skill
to interpret data have made their contributions to
tornado prediction.
correct

Exercise 7.2 Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

9. Either a few extra minutes of warning or more
information about a storms power would prove
their effectiveness in saving lives.
Either a few extra minutes of warning or more
information about a storms power would prove its
effectiveness in saving lives.
10. People who live in a tornado zone should always
know where his or her nearest safe area is.
People who live in a tornado zone should always
know where their nearest safe area is.
People who live in a tornado zone should always
know the location of their nearest safe zone.

Pronoun References

Avoid ambiguous or remote pronoun reference

Occurs when pronoun could refer to 2 possible
antecedents
When Gloria set the pitcher on the glasstopped table, it broke.
Which object broke the pitcher or the table?
The pitcher broke when Gloria set it on the
glass-topped table.
Tom told Sam that he had won the lottery.
Who won the lottery Tom or Sam?
Tom told Sam, You have won the lottery.

Pronoun References

Generally, avoid broad reference of this, that,

which, it
By advertising on TV, pharmaceutical
companies gain exposure for their prescription
drugs. Patients respond to this by requesting
drugs they might not need.
What are patients responding to ads,
companies, prescription drugs?
By advertising on TV, pharmaceutical
companies gain exposure for their prescription
drugs. Patients respond to the ads by
requesting drugs they might not need.

Pronoun References

Do not use a pronoun to refer to an implied

antecedent
A pronoun should refer to a specific
antecedent, not to a word that isnt actually in
the sentence
After braiding Anns hair, Sue decorated them
with ribbons.
What is the antecedent for the pronoun them?
After braiding Anns hair, Sue decorated the
braids with ribbons.

Pronoun References

Avoid the indefinite use of they, it, you

A pronoun should refer to a specific antecedent,
not to a word that isnt actually in the sentence
In June, they announced that parents would have
to pay a fee.
In June, the board announced that parents would
have to pay a fee.
In the encyclopedia it states that male moths can
smell female moths from several miles away.
The encyclopedia states that male moths can
smell female moths from several miles away.

Pronoun References

Avoid the indefinite use of they, it, you

A pronoun should refer to a specific antecedent,
not to a word that isnt actually in the sentence
Ms. Pickersgills book stipulates that you should
not arrive at a party too early or leave too late.
Ms. Pickersgills book stipulates that a guest
should not arrive at a party too early or leave too
late.

Pronoun References

To refer to persons, use who, whom, whose NOT

which, that
Use which, that to refer to animals or things
All thirty-two women in the study, half of which
were unemployed for more than six months,
reported higher self-esteem after job training.
All thirty-two women in the study, half of who
were unemployed for more than six months,
reported higher self-esteem after job training.
During the two-day festival El Dia de los Muertos,
Mexican families celebrate loved ones that have
died.
During the two-day festival El Dia de los Muertos,
Mexican families celebrate loved ones who have
died.

Exercise 7.1 Pronoun Reference

1. In much political analysis, they say that public
distrust of the US government began with Watergate.
Many political analysts say that public distrust of the
US government began with Watergate.
2. That scandals continuing legacy may make it one of
the most influential American events of the twentieth
century.
That scandals continuing legacy may make Watergate
one of the most influential American events of the
twentieth century.

Exercise 7.1 Pronoun Reference

3. Since the early 1970s, political scandals have rarely
interested Americans; they often seem to have very
little effect.
Since the early 1970s, political scandals have rarely
interested Americans; the scandals often seem to
have very little effect.
4. Journalists provided the American people with a lot
of information about the Iran-Contra hearings, but
they could not have cared less.
Journalists provided the American people with a lot of
information about the Iran-Contra hearings, but the
public could not have cared less.

Exercise 7.1 Pronoun Reference

5. Most people were indifferent; could it have been the
result of post-Watergate trauma?
Could the indifference of most people have been the
result of post-Watergate trauma?
6. If Americans expect politicians to be corrupt, it will
not surprise or even interest them.
If Americans expect politicians to be corrupt,
government scandals will not surprise or even
interest them.

Exercise 7.1 Pronoun Reference

7. Ironically, the medias coverage of scandals seems to
have made the public suspicious of them as well.
Ironically, the medias coverage of scandals seems to
have made the public suspicious of journalists as
well.
8. Cynicism about political and journalistic motives,
leads to apathy and it can spread contagiously.
Cynicism about political and journalistic motives, which
can spread contagiously, leads to apathy.

Exercise 7.1 Pronoun Reference

9. Many people are so apathetic that it makes them
refuse to vote.
Many people are so apathetic that they refuse to vote.
10. If people do not believe that they can make a
difference in the political process, it makes the
country less democratic.
If people do not believe that they can make a difference
in the political process, the country becomes less
democratic.

Grammar Tasks

Create a mad lib in which players have to apply

each pronoun reference rule and each pronoun &
antecedent agreement rule.

Link to define madlib

http://www.itsamadlibsworld.com/

How to create a Madlib

Choose a topic (I chose hippos)
Write one sentence illustrating each rule.
(No one wants to be eaten by a hippo while wearing his
or her dirty underwear. A family of hippos was drinking
from its watering hole. The male and female hippo
knew that they must stay hydrated.
*continue for all rules written in blue; there are 10*)
Underline each pronoun and its antecedent

Submit the paragraph with the pronouns and antecedents

underlined

Erase each underlined word or phrase

Create a list indicating which type of pronoun or
antecedent is needed to complete the blank

Submit these steps as well

How to create a Madlib

___1___wants to be eaten by a hippo while
wearing ___2___ dirty underwear. A ___3___ was
drinking from ___4___ watering hole. The ___5___
hippo knew that ___6___ must stay hydrated.
*continue for all rules*
1. Singular antecedent
2. Singular pronoun
3. Collective noun antecedent
4. Singular pronoun
5. Compound antecedent
6. Plural pronoun

For Thursday...

Write a one page summary about what this

PowerPoint taught you about critique writing,
verbs, prepositions, and pronouns

On Thursday, class will be held in the Writing

Lab which is located in room N-306.

For Tuesday
Read the following articles from chapter 14,
Happiness and Its Discontents (pgs. 523-568)
Answer critique questions for assigned article (listed
on following slide)
In Pursuit of Happiness by Mark Kingwell
The Dalai Lamas Ski Trip: What I Learned in the Slush
with His Holiness by Douglas Preston
A Balanced Psychology and a Full Life by Martin
Seligman, Acacia Parks, and Tracy Steen
Finding Flow by Mihaly Csizszentmihalyi
Yes, Money Can Make You Happy by Cass R.
Sunstein
Happiness: Enough Already by Sharon Begley

For Tuesday
Answer critique questions for assigned article
In Pursuit of Happiness by Mark Kingwell
Cyan, Reese, Jennifer, Nigel
The Dalai Lamas Ski Trip: What I Learned in the Slush with His
Holiness by Douglas Preston
Travis, Destinie, Serena, Dalton
A Balanced Psychology and a Full Life by Martin Seligman,
Acacia Parks, and Tracy Steen
Lily, Anisa, Jason, LaBrayla
Finding Flow by Mihaly Csizszentmihalyi
Martinea, Kayoda, Bryce, Morganne
Yes, Money Can Make You Happy by Cass R. Sunstein
Olabisi, Ric, LaTionna, Raya
Happiness: Enough Already by Sharon Begley
Brock, Josh, Tyler