Dos and Don'ts of Writing a Critical Essay
I. Dos
- Do your research well: Thorough research of primary and additional sources strengthens your argument.
- Use persuasive writing techniques: Credible sources and strong arguments help you prove your point.
- Present your argument with confidence: How you communicate and structure your paper reflects the strength of your argument.
- Compare and contrast: Provide in-depth analysis and thorough research alongside facts and quotes.
II. Don’ts
- Too much descriptive writing: Descriptive writing should be limited to summaries and not the analysis section.
- Assuming something is simply true: Always question your sources and back up your claims with evidence.
- ‘I’ statements: Avoid focusing on yourself, and instead emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of the text being analyzed.
- Not citing your sources: Always properly cite your sources and include a works cited page.
- Not proofreading your work: Re-read your essay out loud to catch mistakes and missing information.