•  Avoid trying to cover too much. A few well-made  points usually is more beneficial than a large number  of points that are not developed adequately. •  Allow time for a summary of the critique to  reemphasize the most important things a student  should remember. •  Never allow yourself to be maneuvered into the  unpleasant position of defending criticism. If the  criticism is honest, objective, constructive, and  comprehensive, no defense should be necessary. •  If part of the critique is written, make certain that it is  consistent with the oral portion. •  Objective—the effective critique is focused on student  performance. It should be objective, and not reflect  the personal opinions, likes, dislikes, and biases of  the instructor. If a critique is to be objective, it must  be honest; it must be based on the performance as it  was, not as it could have been, or as the instructor and  student wished that it had been. •  Flexible—the instructor needs to examine the entire  performance of a student and the context in which  it is accomplished. Sometimes a good student turns  in a poor performance and a poor student turns in a  good one. A friendly student may suddenly become  hostile, or a hostile student may suddenly become  friendly and cooperative. The instructor must fit the  tone, technique, and content of the critique to the  occasion, as well as the student. A critique should  be designed and executed so that the instructor can  allow for variables. An effective critique is one that  is flexible enough to satisfy the requirements of the  moment. •  Acceptable—before students willingly accept their  instructor’s criticism, they must first accept the  Although, at times, a critique may seem like an evaluation,  it is not. Both student and instructor should consider it as an  integral part of the lesson. It normally is a wrap-up of the  lesson. A good critique closes the chapter on the lesson and  sets the stage for the next lesson. In order to provide direction and raise the students’ level  of performance, the critique must be factual and be aligned  with the completion standards of the lesson. This, of course,  is because the critique is a part of the learning process. Some  Characteristics of an Effective Critique The  Effective Critique Objective Specific Flexible Acceptable Thoughtful Organized Constructive Comprehensive 10-17 Figure 10-12.  Elements of an effective critique. of the requirements for an effective critique are shown in  Figure 10-12 . 