For this assessment, write a critical review of 1500 words of the articles below. You need to structure your essay along normal lines but you need to make a case for or against the strength of the article. In order to do this, you need to engage with other academic literature.
Guidelines and Questions to be Considered
1. Reviews should begin with a full bibliographic citation (author, title of journal
article, name of journal, volume, issue, date of publication, pages).
2. Is there any biographical information about the author given? What are the
author’s qualifications and authority?
3. Who is the intended audience?
4. Define the general problem area. What does the author intend to discuss?
Why?
5. Does the author try to build on past research?
6. What is the objective or purpose of the research? Is this clearly stated?
7. Does the author define any terms? Are the definitions specific, useful,
circular?
8. What is the effect of the author’s language? Is the vocabulary and sentence
structure appropriate? Does the author maintain neutrality in his/her choice of
words and terms or are they emotionally charged or biased?
9. Are references given (footnotes or bibliography)? What is the size of the
reference section? Are the references recent, important? How are the
references used: for support, rebuttal, etc.?
10. If the article is a report of a research study, does the author clearly state
what is expected to happen? What is the sample for the study and how is it
selected? Does the author discuss factors or variables that may affect the
research? Are the methods for measuring results clearly explained and
appropriate? Does the expected result occur?
11. Are illustrations, tables or graphs used? Do they complement the text? Are
they the best method to present data, or are they unnecessary?
12. What are the author’s major findings and conclusions? Have these been
supported by the author’s analyses, arguments, findings or evidence? Has the
author overlooked anything?
13. Is the article referred to by anyone else? (Check the Social Sciences Citation
Index for this information.) How is the article used by other authors:
background, support, rebuttal, etc.?
14. Does the author accomplish her/his objective? Does the author do what
she/he has set out to do?
15. Does the author suggest areas for further research or discussion?
The guidelines and questions listed above are suggestions that should be considered
when writing a critical review of an article. Not all of the questions or guidelines will
be appropriate for every article and depend upon the purpose of the review.