Critical Analysis

Critical Analysis: The systematic evaluation of a test’s proximity to success based on its observable characteristics, its audiences, and its intentions

The purpose of critical analysis is evaluating a text’s proximity to success.


CriteriaCriteria

We use criteria to help guide out critical analysis

Criteria: a list of keywords/parts, generated through exploratory analysis, that are crucial for evaluating the proximity to success or failure of a text objectively

Criteria are created by thinking of what a successful version of that text should ideally include. It’s NOT based on the sample text in which you are critically analyzing


  1. The “ideal” text.

    1. This is the Text that you use as the standard for evaluation

      1. Your “ideal” text can be an actual text in existence

      2. It can also be an imaginary



  1. Use “exploratory analysis” to establish your “ideal” criteria for the “ideal” text. It doesn’t matter if the text is real or imagined

    1. What are the most important parts of the ideal text that make it sucessful? (This can include both primary and secondary part.) why are these crucial for evaluation?

    2. Observe the “sample” text and write down the ways in which it engages or does not engage the criteria you establish in step 1

    3. Establish the intended audiences and intentions of the “sample” text.

    4. Use steps 1 nd 2 to develop an understanding of how success or unsuccessful the “sample” text upon steps 1-3