essay writing prompts

How to write a critical essay: an example

Essays are a critical part of being a college student. There are entrance essays, continuing education essays, and the dreaded term papers. As a college student, you will find there will always be essays that help you prepare for the critical ones.

Rules for writing a critical essay


When it is time to write a critical essay, remember all the essays you had to write before. Make sure you take into account the formatting, the topics, the styles and types, and the notes left by the facilitator. It is crucial to pay attention to the details the facilitator left regarding formatting and citing. We will cover some of the most crucial things to consider when writing a critical essay.

  • Formatting
  • Resources
  • Citations
  • Grammar and Punctuation
  • Spelling
  • Passive Voice

These are all things a student must consider when writing a critical essay. The formatting of an essay is one of the most important things to consider. Every critical essay has to be written in a particular format. This can range from APA to Chicago style formatting; knowing which format is required for the essay is the most important. Points are deducted if the wrong format is used. Using reliable resources is also a very important of writing a critical essay. The information gathered for the essay needs to be reliable information.  Making sure the sources are cited and referenced with in text citations and reference page can make or break the paper. Papers that are not referenced and cited can be considered plagiarized and cause more harm than good.

Minor important factors


In critical essays, grammar and punctuation are expected to be superb. Going through and proofreading is an important part of the essay. Spelling should also be accurate; with spell check automatically built into the programs used to create documents, there should be no spelling issues. The last thing to consider is using a voice style other than passive. The passive voice can cause points to be deducted from your grade.

When there is a critical essay that needs to be written, follow these simple guidelines and you will not have an issue. Critical essays should be clear, concise, and properly supported with evidence. The proper references and citation for your supporting evidence is also important. It does not have to be complicated. There are example essays available online to look at the structure and set-up. There are also grammar and punctuation checkers available online.