1. The article which you critique must come from a professional journal, not from a news magazine or newspaper. Professional theological and philosophical journals include: Theological Studies, Chicago Studies, Studia Moralia, the various reviews of religion, theology, etc. as well as the journals of the universities which have a major theological or philosophical faculty. Journals of other professions, such as Hastings Center Report (bioethical issues), may be used if the article cited has a moral question as its central focus.
2. Select an article in which the author takes a stand, on a public policy issue. The author asserts that something is either moral or immoral. He/she then defends his/her position with evidence and arguments. This is what you are to analyze. Overviews of the issue or summaries of the thought in the current literature are not good subjects for a critique.
3. Select an article which is at least 10 pages (2,500 words) in length. Articles shorter than this will not give you enough material to write a critique of 5-6 pages. You may choose to read a chapter in a book, if that chapter deals with a particular moral issue and the author takes a stand on the issue. .
4. In your critique, state what you intend to do in the first paragraph. Then, summarize briefly the author’s position. Don’t write a caricature. Don’t exaggerate the author’s position. State it clearly and fairly.
5. Analyze the author’s position from the perspective of the content of Rel 250. Some of the following questions should be answered. If you cannot answer the questions, you’d do best to seek another article for critique.