Critical writing: Structure
This section outlines the overall structure of a critical essay comprising an introduction, body and conclusion.
The structure will help you plan and organise your response to the task - an analysis of a particular work of communication design from the twentieth century.
Overview
Use the questions provided in the task to create an outline of the body of the essay. Along with the introduction and conclusion, your essay needs to:
- Describe the work to the reader. What is the work? Who made it? When was it made?
- Contextualise the work. Consider what was happening in the world at that time? Think about what was happening in society and in politics for example, both locally and more broadly.
- Analyse the work's relevance for contemporary communication design.
This example is drawn from an analysis of Wolfgang Weingart's 1972-1973 Typografische Monatsblätter cover designs.
Introduction
Weingart's philosophy of design practice calls for a commitment to the act of design, to focus on design as an iterative process of experimentation, prototyping and continuous refinement.
Paragraph 2: Describe
What is the work? Who made it? When was it made?
- Wolfgang Weingart - 1972/1973, 15 covers for Typografische Monatsblätter magazine
- describe the distinctive features and style of the work.
Paragraph 3: Contextualise
Why was it important at the time?
- Post World War II - increasing globalisation
- Need for communicative clarity, multilingual formats,
Paragraph 4: Contextualise
Why was it important at the time?
- 1968 reaction against conservatism & demand for social change
Paragraph 5: Analyse
What relevance does it have for us today?
- Explore all potential ideas via experimentation.
Paragraph 6: Analyse
What relevance does it have for us today?
- more aware and expressive attitudes in design resulted
Conclusion
Wolfgang Weingart's critical questioning of assumed principles of design remains an important element of a designer's philosophy of practice today.
Introduction
The introduction prepares the reader for your analysis.
There are three main parts:
- General statements to provide context and background information, and to show the importance of the work and the reason for your evaluation.
- A thesis statement (argument) that identifies your specific topic and your position.
- An outline of the scope and organisation of the essay so the reader knows what is covered. This will be determined by your argument, which you support in the body of your essay.
The introduction should also include key words from the themes and concepts of the framework. Key words should be used throughout your essay to reinforce cohesion and help with the overall 'flow' of your writing.
Use the examples below to explore the different features of an introduction.
Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
The 1960s was a period of transition from old ways of thinking to new as rapid changes in technology, social and political ideologies, and increasing globalisation affected aesthetic archetypes and design principles. Typografische Monatsblatter (TM), one of the few international design magazines, set trends in communication design.1Screen reader users, this is the context. Wolfgang Weingart’s cover designs for TM demonstrated his objection to the perceived conservatism and design limitations inherent in Swiss Typographic style, reflecting broader, international politico-social unrest. His experimental media combinations and playful subjectivity resonated with a youthful, international audience, and inspired the next generation of designers to create a post-modern aesthetic.2Screen reader users, this is what will be covered. Weingart’s philosophy of design practice calls for a commitment to the act of design, to focus on design as an iterative process of experimentation, prototyping and continuous refinement.3Screen reader users, this is the argument/position.
Modernist Brasilia: A utopian paradox
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The modernist movement in urban planning and architectural design in the twentieth century rejected tradition in pursuit of the new. This approach to design presented a clear break from the past, taking its cues from a changing environment, society and technologies.1Screen reader users, this is the context. The search for idealistic, utopian visions of the future nevertheless led to breakdowns in the social and cultural life for the residents of modernism.2Screen reader users, this is what will be covered. The city of Brasilia, designed and developed by Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, survives today as a monument to modernism, thus providing a valuable opportunity to consider the societal consequences of Corbusierian philosophies applied by Costa and to evaluate the flaws and successes of a realised, modernist utopia in the context of a national capital city.3Screen reader users, this is the argument/position.
Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
Modernist Brasilia: A utopian paradox1Screen reader users, these are key words.
The modernist1Screen reader users, this is a key word. movement in urban planning and architectural design in the twentieth century rejected tradition1Screen reader users, these are key words. in pursuit of the new1Screen reader users, these are key words.. This approach to design presented a clear break from the past1Screen reader users, these are key words., taking its cues from a changing environment, society and technologies. The search for idealistic, utopian1Screen reader users, these are key words. visions of the future nevertheless led to breakdowns in the social and cultural life for the residents of modernism1Screen reader users, this is a key word.. The city of Brasilia, designed and developed by Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, survives today as a monument to modernism, thus providing a valuable opportunity to consider the societal consequences of the Corbusierian philosophies applied by Costa and to evaluate the flaws and successes of a realised, modernist utopia1Screen reader users, these are key words. in the context of a national capital city.
The modernist1Screen reader users, this is a key word. movement in urban planning and architectural design in the twentieth century rejected tradition1Screen reader users, these are key words. in pursuit of the new1Screen reader users, these are key words.. This approach to design presented a clear break from the past1Screen reader users, these are key words., taking its cues from a changing environment, society and technologies. The search for idealistic, utopian1Screen reader users, these are key words. visions of the future nevertheless led to breakdowns in the social and cultural life for the residents of modernism1Screen reader users, this is a key word.. The city of Brasilia, designed and developed by Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, survives today as a monument to modernism, thus providing a valuable opportunity to consider the societal consequences of the Corbusierian philosophies applied by Costa and to evaluate the flaws and successes of a realised, modernist utopia1Screen reader users, these are key words. in the context of a national capital city.
Body paragraphs
The body of a critical essay should have a logical sequence. This helps the reader to follow the development of the argument, as stated in the introduction. Your argument determines what evidence you select from your research, how you develop your reasoning, and what citations you include to support your position.
Consider others' analyses of the work and identify the strengths or weaknesses of your reasoning. Use evidence to support your views and acknowledge any arguments against them.
Paragraphs are used to group and categorise your evidence. In the example below, note how the linking sentence of the first paragraph connects to the topic sentence of the following paragraph.
Each paragraph should:
- relate back to the thesis (argument)
- describe one main idea supported by information and evidence from your research
- use keywords to express the concepts and themes from the framework
- use a structure such as TEEL to clearly express your ideas to the reader.
Use the following paragraph to explore the TEEL strategy.
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By 1968, demand for changes in social relationships, the emancipation and politicisation of women and minorities, and increasing urbanisation contributed to a global expectation of rebellion, particularly against the social conservatism of the preceding decades.1Screen reader users, this is a topic sentence. It was also the beginning of a period of intense student activism against authoritarian and patriarchal governments (Villiger 2013).2Screen reader users, this is an explanation. In the United States, where Swiss Style had become synonymous with corporate America, socio-political tensions surrounding the Vietnam War emerged (Paradis et al. 2013).3Screen reader users, this is evidence. Weingart started using more organic and emotional shapes, such as the Issue 11, 1973 cover for TM (TM RSI SGM 1960-90 n.d.c), where the typography is all but obscured by spaces which could be interpreted as bullet holes.4Screen reader users, this is an example. The increasing awareness of global complexity and social turmoil encouraged experimentalism and a move away from anonymity to individualism in design.5Screen reader users, this is a link.
Conclusion
The conclusion is your final opportunity to persuade the reader of your position based on the information you have presented. An effective conclusion establishes a sense of completeness.
Your conclusion should:
- restate your position
- summarise how the most important evidence supports this
- show how your position is related to the broader body of knowledge of this field/topic
Examples
Use the following paragraph to explore the features of a conclusion paragraph.
Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
Wolfgang Weingart’s critical questioning of assumed principles of design remains an important element of a designer’s philosophy of practice today.1Screen reader users, this is restate the argument. As a designer, Weingart has had his work applauded for its break from the conservatism of the International style and celebrated for its individualism. Yet his focus on experimentation and embrace of technology did not distract from his belief that a designer must understand the basic principles of design practice and graphic techniques to underpin their personal practice.2Screen reader users, this is sum up the main points. His more expressive approach to typography encouraged new perspectives and a reaction against the corporatisation of the Swiss Typographic Style.3Screen reader users, this is relate to the broader topic.
Use the following paragraph to explore the features of a conclusion paragraph.
Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
Brasilia was an attempt to advance a nation by rejecting history and embracing new ideas and technologies based on ideologies of a utopian future: making the planned city a useful context through which to analyse modernism and its inherent failures. It is evident that the philosophies of Brasilia’s designers, Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, have led to a breakdown in autonomy between perceived ideas of utopia and the desires of its inhabitants.1Screen reader users, this is restate the argument. The strict ordering and bureaucratic regulations that control life within the planned city have led to social segregation, where people are denied the freedom that modernism promised. The city has been meticulously structured, rooted in the principles of modernism that control any spontaneous event.2Screen reader users, this is sum up the main points. The concepts of functionality and rationalism that are fixed in modernism can be useful in planning civic spaces. However, rejection of historical context and denial of freedom of thought of its occupants has led to a refusal to accept these theories as a way of living.3Screen reader users, this is relate to the broader topic.
Now explore what keywords have been used.
Screen reader users, this text uses visual highlights to indicate different features of the text. Each highlight is explained for your convenience.
Brasilia was an attempt to advance a nation by rejecting history1Screen reader users, these are key words. and embracing new ideas and technologies1Screen reader users, these are key words. based on ideologies of a utopian future:1Screen reader users, these are key words. making the planned city1Screen reader users, these are key words. a useful context through which to analyse modernism and its inherent failures. It is evident that the philosophies of Brasilia’s designers, Lucio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, have led to a breakdown in autonomy between perceived ideas of utopia1Screen reader users, this is a key word. and the desires of its inhabitants. The strict ordering1Screen reader users, these are key words. and bureaucratic regulations1Screen reader users, this is a key word. that control1Screen reader users, this is a key word. life within the planned city have led to social segregation, where people are denied the freedom that modernism promised. The city has been meticulously structured1Screen reader users, these are key words., rooted in the principles of modernism that control any spontaneous event. The concepts of functionality1Screen reader users, this is a key word. and rationalism1Screen reader users, this is a key word. that are fixed in modernism can be useful in planning civic spaces. However, rejection of historical context and denial of freedom of thought of its occupants has led to a refusal to accept these theories as a way of living.
