CRITICAL REVIEW
How to Write An Abstract & CRITICAL Analysis of a TEXTBook chapter
last update: 26 June 2006

NB: this analysis will be presented orally and discussed in class on the day the chapter is assigned to be read. The written assignment is due the session before this oral presentation. Check the sign-up page for the due date for your specific assignment.

  1. Format:
    1. Put the complete bibliographic reference at the top of the first page of your chapter review
    2. Put your name on one line and the chapter number and title on the second line of a two-line header that appears on the top left of each page of your review
    3. Put page numbers on the top right of each page of the review
  2. Use part one of the review to outline the topic of the chapter and sketch its main features
    1. What is the structure of the chapter?
    2. What is the key idea or thesis of the chapter?
    3. What key terms are used in the chapter, and what do they mean?
  3. Use part two of the analysis to summarize the key illustrations and evidence adduced by the author
    1. What images, illustrations, Scripture passages and/or other evidence does the author cite to support the key idea or thesis?
    2. What are some phrases or sentences which you see as key to conveying the author's point of view in this chapter (i.e., some "quotable quotes" or "sound bites" to help other students remember the main concepts of this chapter)?
  4. Use part three of your review to evaluate the chapter
    1. What are the most interesting points raised or illustrations used?
    2. What concepts do you think are the most important for our studies?
    3. What concepts remain unclear to you?
    4. When you compare the Scripture passages cited in the chapter with the way they are interpreted by the author, what kinds of differences do you see between your reading and the author's interpretation? Are these differences of method or content or both?
    5. What do you see as the three most important contributions of this chapter to understanding the topic, and what do you see as its limitations—or even errors of fact or of method?

Click here: Grading Protocol