WRITTEN CRITIQUE
Use the following format and organization to guide you in the process.
FORMAT:
APA citation style; 4 pages MAXIMUM (over 4 pages will be penalized); double-space; Times New Roman 12 point;
typos, misspellings, grammatical errors kept at a minimum; the critique follows the expected organization with explicit
subtitles and in this order (critique of; overview; main themes; evaluation; questions for further exploration).
ORGANIZATION (WRITE THESE SECTION SUBTITLES):
1. Critique of:
Full APA-style citation of the peer-reviewed article (VERY IMPORTANT)
2. Overview
This section is the overview, summary, or main idea(s) of the article. In one or two paragraph state what the article is
about, what the main idea is, how the research was conducted, and what are 1 or 2 important results or conclusions. This
should take only one-fourth or one-third of a page at the most. (DO NOT USE THE ARTICLES ABSTRACT FOR
THE OVERVIEW AT THE RISK OF PLAGIARISM; USE YOUR OWN WORDS).
3. Main Themes
This section is the analytical discussion. Here you clearly identify and explain at least 3-4 main themes, supporting points,
or arguments of the article. Each theme should take 1-3 paragraphs and be clearly specified and explained. You can use
direct quotes from the article you are critiquing to illustrate the themes explanation. Be explicit on how you introduce
each theme (Example of language that can be used: An important theme of this article is that [1-3 paragraphs]. A
second theme that I found is based on the finding that [1-3 paragraphs], etc.). Each theme stands on its own until you
have 3-4 themes. In this themes section, you do not apply the analytical concepts from the course yet. You stick to what
the author(s) of the peer-reviewed article that you are critiquing is saying. Altogether this section should be 1.5 or 2 pages.
4. Evaluation
This section is your actual critique or evaluation. This is the most important section. ALWAYS REMEMBER that the
goal of this written critique is to show that you know how to apply some of the sociological theories of sexuality and
analytical concepts covered in class to the critique of an academic article in connection with a sexuality problem or issue.
In this section you evaluate: (1) first, at least one strength and one weakness of the article by applying some of the
sociological theories of sexualities and/or key concepts that you have learned in this course. You have to apply some of
key sociological concepts like, for example, *Scripting, discursive power, gender binary and performativity, masculinities,
intersectionality, sex laws and wars, moral panics, etc.* You decide which concept(s) and author(s); (2) second, whether
(or how) the evidence presented in the article supports its conclusions; (3) third, how the article (or some of its themes)
relates to some readings explored in the course; (4) finally, whether you agree or disagree with the arguments and why.
This section should be 1.5 or 2 pages. I expect you to show command of some of the authors and concepts learned in class
and apply them to your article. You can paraphrase or use direct quotes from one or more authors explored in the course
and in-text cite them. A separate reference section is not mandatory. I take the course syllabus to be the reference section.
5. Questions for further Exploration
In this last section you will formulate 2-4 discussion questions that have puzzled you from your reading of the article and
that you believe should be explored further. This section should be about 1-2 short paragraphs at the most.
Here are some helpful ideas or questions that may stimulate your thinking process on sexualities from a
sociological perspective:
How would Gagnon and Simon tackle the same problem/issue that is discussed in the article? Or how would Butler? Or
Foucault? Or Connell?, Vance? Collins? Rubin? DEmilio? Fausto-Sterling?, etc. Think about how some of the authors
covered in this course reflect on sexualities (just put on their glasses to see how they see the world, points of view) to help
you gain insight on sociological perspectives on human sexualities.
How does the problem/issue deviate from more prevalent and mainstream scripts about sexuality?
How is the problem/issue performed or practiced in everyday life?
How do people who are part of the issue organize themselves? What type of discourses do they generate or confront?
What opposing societal discourses target and shape the problem/issue?
What institutions in society produce the discourse where the problem/issue is embedded?
Where does the problem/issue stand within the constellation of power forces in society?
Who or what institutions benefit/profit from the problem/issue?’
Sidenote: The peer-reviewed article that needs to be critiqued will be in the ‘additional materials’.
Last Completed Projects
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