A Guide to Writing a Critical Summary of an Article

Are you a writer tasked to compose an article about a particular topic? Are you a student that needs to write a text pertaining to a specific subject within a short period of time? You need to find out the secrets on writing a critical summary of an article!

One of the best characteristics a writer must have is the ability to become critical about everything. It includes having an in-depth analysis of what an author has written on the introduction and body of an article. The main purpose of this ability is to empower the author to provide comprehensible information through the summary.

Writing a critical summary of an article is essential because this paragraph states the overall “wrap up” of the text.

It presents the readers with information that are important to remember and conclude what they have read. Its purpose is to support the arguments and sub-arguments provided in the article with shorter descriptions.

What is a Critical Summary?

A critical summary is a short summary of an article or book that highlights significant points made in the text. It allows the reader to form their personal opinion and read further into the text.

When evaluating a book or article, you will need to identify, summarize, and criticize the information the author has introduced. In other words, you will weigh someone’s perspective on a topic.

The purpose of a critical summary is just like the aforementioned things. It gives you the chance to analyze what an author said through their text.

You must choose your stand on the subject based on your knowledge (readings, lectures, experience). It includes factors such as the criteria described in your assignment or discussed by you with your instructor.

3 Steps on Writing a Critical Summary of an Article

A brief abstract of one scholarly article is accompanied by a critical reading of the article. A summary describes, explains, and analyzes the thesis and supporting arguments in argumentative articles.

For empirical articles, the summary identifies, outlines, and analyzes the research questions, methods, findings, and implications.

Below are three steps on writing a critical summary of an article.

Step #1: Analyze

Analyzing the writing will allow you to focus on how and why the author makes certain points. This step will prevent you from merely summarizing what the author says.

Assuming the role of an analytical reader will assist you in determining whether the author fulfills the stated purpose of the book or article.

It improves your understanding or knowledge of the subject.

Step #2: Describe

Next, you need to describe the things you have analyzed about the document. The best way to do this is to list the major aspects of the article and the key points that support these.

For example, the article might present a new account security issue in the banking industry. You might start by recognizing a few key points about this issue within the text.

These aspects and points are the topics of your critical summary.

Step #3: Criticize

Lastly, you need to criticize the ideas you have discovered. This is always a nuanced process.

It is suggested that you draw upon standards to formulate your critique.

For example, the scientific method can be used to critique your comments. It ensures that your thoughts are founded upon factual observations and not just personal feelings.

Conclusion

See? Writing a critique of an article is not a challenging thing to do. All you need to do is remember the three basic steps on making one. First, you need to analyze the information given to you by the text.

Next, you must describe this information based on what you have read.

Lastly, you need to criticize the entire text and give your insights about the claims.