Critiquing a paper: a guide.

9 Can be done by an individual or in a group. Working in a group can be very motivating, as group members are able to discuss various aspects of the paper and put forward why they think it is valuable or not valuable. Also discussions about the paper's potential contribution to practice can be developed within a group. 9 Should not be thought of as a means of deciding what is wrong with the paper it is not an invitation to attack the author and the paper. Instead it is a means by which the strengths and weaknesses of the paper are identified and drawn out. Once this is done you can confidently consider how the paper may assist you in the development of your own work either in practice or in your own academic advancement. 9 Is time consuming, and for many of us is achieved in a number of stages. Often involving putting the paper down and returning to it after thinking about its contents for a couple of days. You will be expected to read the paper a number of times as well as make notes about its various parts. However, as with all other skills, practice does speed the process up over a period of time.