Critical response writing
Write critical responses to texts: summarise fairly, evaluate strengths and weaknesses rigorously, and present your own reasoned position.
In this lesson you will
- Summarise a text fairly and briefly
- Evaluate argument, evidence and assumptions
- Develop and justify your own position
Learn
Structure: brief summary (what the author argues) → evaluation (strengths, weaknesses) → your response (agreement, disagreement, extension) → conclusion.
Fair summary comes first — readers must trust you understand the text before you criticise it.
Evaluation criteria: clarity of argument, quality and relevance of evidence, hidden assumptions, logical consistency, what is omitted, and applicability to other contexts.
Your position: go beyond ‘I agree/disagree’: extend (The argument could be strengthened by…), qualify (This holds only when…), or challenge (A more plausible explanation is…).
Examples
- Chen argues persuasively that…; however, her evidence is drawn exclusively from urban schools.
- The article’s central assumption — that parents have equal time — is questionable.
- This argument holds only where public transport is reliable.
Vocabulary
rigorous
careful and thorough
plausible
reasonable, likely
applicability
how far something applies elsewhere
exclusively
only
extend
develop further
In real life
Read the short opinion piece, then respond critically.
Homework should be abolished. Homework causes stress, damages family life and widens inequality. A survey of 300 parents at my children’s school found that 70% considered homework a source of conflict. Children from wealthier families have quiet rooms and educated parents to help them; poorer children do not. Finland, which famously gives little homework, tops international rankings. It is time to follow its lead and abolish homework entirely.
Practice
What is the author’s main claim?
Speaking
Give a two-minute critical response to the homework article: summary, two strengths or weaknesses, and your qualified position.
Writing
Write a critical response (250–300 words) to the homework article, with fair summary, rigorous evaluation and your own reasoned position.
Lesson quiz
“Plausible” means…
Review
Key points
- Fair summary first.
- Evaluate: evidence, assumptions, logic, omissions.
- Extend, qualify or challenge.
- Clear conclusion.
What you learned
- ✓ I write critical responses.
- ✓ I evaluate rigorously.
- ✓ I present reasoned positions.