INSTRUCTIONS FOR WRITING THE CRITICAL REVIEW PAPER

1) The first step is to find an article from the list of suggested articles. Choose an article that is written on a topic that interests you and that you would like to learn more about. There are articles on the list from different types of sources, representing different levels of difficulty. Some articles are from popular or news magazines, others are from psychology journals, and some are more technical and research-based than others. Some articles are shorter in length while others are longer. Please read the entire article before committing to it, to be sure that it interests you and that the level of difficulty is appropriate for you. Choose an article that feels comfortable for you.

2) Read the article several times until you have become very familiar with it and have a deeper understanding of it. You may want to take notes so that you can put the information from the article into your own words. You are now ready to start writing your paper. Please try to avoid quoting directly from the article unless it is absolutely necessary. I would prefer to see you explaining the information from the article in your own words.

3) Your paper should be at least five full pages long, double-spaced, but can be as long as you want. The paper should have the following sections:

 A) Begin with an introductory paragraph that introduces the reader to the article. This paragraph should include the article’s title, author(s), name of magazine or journal where it was published, date of publication, and the topic of the article. You do not need to provide autobiographical information about the author(s).

B) In the next section, summarize and explain the article IN DETAIL. This section should be around three pages long.

C) In the next section, bring in class material that connects to your article. For example, you might want to use information that you learned in class about certain concepts, terms, or theories that further explain the information in your article. Go to the textbook, the study guides, and your class notes to find material on the same topic as your article or course information that connects to the article in some way. Discuss how the class material helps you to understand the article better. This section should be about one page long.

D) The final section of the paper is for your personal comments. Why did you choose the article? Why was the topic of interest to you? Feel free to share personal life experiences (if you want) that explain why you connect with or can relate to the topic of the article. What were your reactions to the article, both positive and negative? Do you agree or disagree with points the author makes? Critique the article, discussing its strengths and weaknesses. This section of the paper is your opportunity to express your own opinions. This section can be a page or longer.  

4) When writing the paper, try to be mindful of your grammar and writing style. Use full sentences. Do not use bullet points. Keep sentences short. Avoid long, run-on sentences. One sentence shouldn’t be so long that it takes up an entire paragraph. Break long sentences up into shorter ones that are easier to understand. Each paragraph should contain multiple sentences. Keep paragraphs short as well. Each section of the paper should contain several short paragraphs, each one focusing on a different topic, theme, or idea. A single paragraph shouldn’t take up an entire page. Proofread and edit your work before submitting it, making sure that your writing is clear and can be understood by the reader. If you need help, use the college’s Writing Center. There is contact information for the Writing Center in the course syllabus.

5) Include a title/cover page at the beginning of the paper and a Works Cited page at the end. There is no required format for the cover page. On the cover page you should give your paper a title, which could be either the title of your article or the general topic of the article. The bottom corner of the cover page should include information such as your name, the course name and number, my name, and the date. YOUR NAME SHOULD BE ON THE COVER PAGE ONLY. YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT YOUR NAME IN A HEADING ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THE PAPER OR AT THE TOP OF EACH PAGE. You can decorate your cover page with clip art and graphics if you wish.

The Works Cited page must have two citations, your article and the textbook, both in APA (American Psychological Association) formatting. To cite the textbook correctly, see the first page of the course syllabus where it says “Required Textbook” and copy that citation.  When citing your article, if you copy the citation directly from the list of suggested articles that I provided, the format will be correct. 

THE COVER PAGE AND THE WORKS CITED PAGE SHOULD BE SEPARATE PAGES IN ADDITION TO THE TEXT OF YOUR PAPER. YOUR PAPER SHOULD HAVE 7 PAGES IN TOTAL: A COVER PAGE, FOLLOWED BY 5 PAGES OF WRITTEN TEXT, FOLLOWED BY A SEPARATE WORKS CITED PAGE. 

6) Submit the paper on Blackboard on or before Wednesday, April 27 by 11:59 pm. Please include a link to your article. Late papers will have five points deducted from the grade.

If you have any questions or need help, don’t hesitate to ask! Good luck!!