I think that you can derive a strong argument from "your definitions aren't specific enough," if the theory allows for more than one interpretation (which should arise as a result of nonspecific definitions being used). The "specific" criticism could come from looking at your answer for the first part of the essay, suggesting an analysis that is sufficiently different from yours that they differ in key points, and then supporting this alternative analysis using the theory as well. Or, as an alternative way of phrasing question - is there one clear answer to the first part, or does the theory allow for multiple courses of action with non-trivial differences?
So although the original problem arose from the definitions, the actual criticism would be along the lines of "the theory is not specific/developed enough to prescribe a unique course of action in all circumstances."
I'm currently writing an essay for one of my classes, 'Theoretical Foundations of Nursing.' I'm about the most 'gong-si' class I've ever taken. (That is a Chinese term for 'shit talking,' which is my boyfriend's favourite term for any field that gets into arguments over definitions, has concepts that don't correspond to any empirical phenomena, is based on ideology, etc.)
The essay involves analyzing a clinical situation (in this case a 55-year-old recently divorced, recently unemployed man, admitted to the psychiatric ward with major depression and suicidal ideation) using a theory (in this case, Roy's Adaptation Model). Done. The next step involves finding criticisms with the model...and despite the fact that I've been complaining about this class and its non-empirical nature all semester, I seem unable to come up with specific criticisms of what this nursing theory is missing.
Which is what I need your help for, because LessWrong is the best community ever when it comes to specific criticisms.
Here is a very brief overview of Roy's Adaptation Theory:
Now my question is, what is a specific criticism I can make of this particular theory in general...not "your definitions aren't specific enough" or "the whole field of nursing theory isn't reductionist enough", but something that this kind of theory should have but doesn't. Any ideas?