Skip to main content

Content Intent: Critique / Review

Purpose​

Use when evaluating a work, tool, or approach against explicit criteria.

Canonical Structure​

  1. Scope and evaluation criteria
  2. Strengths with evidence
  3. Weaknesses with evidence
  4. Overall judgment and fit guidance

Best-Fit Formats​

  • article
  • blog-post
  • reddit-post
  • newsletter

Best-Fit Styles​

  • analytical
  • professional
  • journalistic

Rules​

Rule: Declare Evaluation Criteria Up Front​

Description: Tell readers how judgments will be made. Negative example: Pure opinion with no criteria. Positive example: "I evaluate by clarity, usefulness, and implementation cost."

Rule: Separate Description From Judgment​

Description: Explain what it is before assessing how well it works. Negative example: Immediate verdict with no description. Positive example: Brief factual summary followed by evaluation.

Rule: Support Praise and Criticism Equally​

Description: Use concrete evidence for both strengths and weaknesses. Negative example: Detailed critique but vague praise. Positive example: One evidence-backed point for each major claim.

Rule: Avoid Personal Attacks​

Description: Critique the work, not the person. Negative example: Dismissing creators rather than evaluating output. Positive example: Focusing on choices, outcomes, and tradeoffs.

Rule: Acknowledge Context and Audience Fit​

Description: Clarify who this is good for and who it is not for. Negative example: Absolute recommendation with no audience context. Positive example: "Strong for beginners, limited for advanced technical users."

Rule: End With a Clear Recommendation​

Description: Conclude with actionable guidance for reader decision-making. Negative example: Ambiguous ending with no recommendation. Positive example: "Use this when speed matters; avoid it for compliance-critical work."