Critique shape

The Critique Shape for Non-Fiction
Introduction
     --name of author and work
     --general overview of subject and summary of author's       
       argument
     --focusing (or thesis) sentence indicating how you will      
       divide the whole work for discussion or the particular     
       elements you will discuss

Body
     --objective description of a major point in the work
     --detailed analysis of the logic and relationships
     --interpretation of the concept
     --repetition of description, analysis, interpretation if     
       more than one major concept is covered

Conclusion
     --overall interpretation
     --relationship of particular interpretations to subject as a
       whole
     --critical assessment of the value, worth, or meaning of the
       work, both negative and positive

The Critique Shape for Literature
Introduction
     --name of author and work
     --brief summary / description of work as a Whole
     --focusing sentence indicating what element you plan to      
       examine
     --general indication of overall significance of work

Body
     --literal description of the first major element or portion
       of the work
     --detailed analysis
     --interpretation
     --literal description of second major element
     --detailed analysis
     --interpretation (including, if necessary, the relationship
       to the first major point)
     --and so on

Conclusion
     --overall interpretation of the elements studied 
     --relationship to the work as a whole
     --critical assessment of the value, worth, meaning, or       
       significance of the work, both positive and negative

You may not be asked in every critique to assess a work,
only to analyze and interpret it.  If you are asked for a
personal response, remember that your assessment should not be
the expression of an unsupported or irrelevant personal opinion. 
Your interpretations and your conclusions must be based on
evidence from the text and follow from the ideas  you have dealt
with in the paper.  Remember also that a critique may express a
positive as well as a negative assessment.  Don't confuse
critique with criticize in the popular sense of the word, "to
point out faults."

From http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/reading-writing/on-line/critique.html