English 3rd Quarter Reviewer 2.

Introduction
o Background of the problem, definition of key terms, thesis
Argumentative Essay statement (claim or stand)
⮚ Tries to change the reader’s mind by convincing the reader to agree 3. Body
with the writer’s point of view. o Contains claims, reasons or evidences presented in thesis
⮚ Attempts to be highly persuasive and logical. statement, using examples, statistics, personal experiences,
or quotations.
Characteristics of Argumentative Essay 4. Conclusion
1. Presents and explains the issue or case o Restatement of the main claim/thesis statement and gives
2. Gives reasons and supports these reasons to prove its point one or two strong general statements.
3. Refutes (proves wrong) opposing arguments
Thesis Statement
Argumentative Essay ⮚ It is found in the introduction.
⮚ The controlling idea or claim.
⮚ It is open for debate (one that others may dispute)
⮚ Example:
o Janet Napoles must receive emancipation after spending
years in prison. The number of years she rendered is enough
to recompense the corruption that she committed.

How to make a thesis statement?

1. Do not just state a fact that is not debatable.
Wrong Correct

There are lots of homeless Homeless people in Manila

people in Manila City. City should be given access to
free services such as regular
food donations, public
restroom, and medical
assistance, it would improve
Persuasive Essay life for all inhabitants of the
city.

2. Stick with your stand or claim

Wrong Correct

Second-hand smoke is bad Second-hand smoke is just as

and can cause heart disease
and cancer; therefore,
smoking should be outlawed
in public places, but
outlawing smoking is unfair
to smokers so maybe non-
smokers can just hold their
breath or wear masks around
smokers instead.
harmful as smoking and leads
to a higher prevalence of
cancer and heart disease.
What’s worse, people who
inhale second-hand smoke are
doing so without consent. For
this reason, smoking in any
public place should be
banned.

Elements of Argumentative Essay

1. Position
o The side of the argument that the writer is taking.
2. Reasons
o These facts or points make up the why of the position.
3. Evidence
o This is the opportunity for the writer to prove their claim or Another example:
position by providing factual substantiation from outside Title: Aggressive Driving Should Be Avoided
resources. Thesis Statement: Aggressive driving should be avoided because it results to
o In this element, it is critical for the writer to provide crashes, injuries, and fatalities.
citations and references on where they gathered their
evidence. Note: Those underlined words will be the claims that will be explained or proven
4. Counterarguments or Counterclaims in the body of the essay so you can convince your readers why aggressive driving
o The most effective argumentative essays display the should be avoided.
counterargument or the opposite argument from the writer’s
Writing Techniques: Informative, Persuasive, and Argumentative
point of view.
Writing
Parts of Argumentative Essay
⮚ Is an essential skill that all of us need to learn and develop.
1. Title
o It should establish the stand on the subject or topic, so the
Effective Writing Skills
reader knows where your argument is headed from the
⮚ Contribute to effective communication.
beginning. Distance lea
o Avoid interrogative titles. takes place b
Informative Text
o Examples: ⮚ Aims to provide information to the readers.
1. Internet Access Must Be Limited to Students
remote from
⮚ The content of informative writing should be verifiable, factual, and
2. Existing Public School Policies Must Be Changed explanatory in nature.
delivered ou
3. Government Should Condemn Same-Sex Marriage presentation 
be delivered
Malauan liste
Examples: ⮚ Provide convincing evidence.
⮚ Recipe ⮚ Write a strong concluding paragraph that will convince your readers or
⮚ Instruction Booklets make them change their view about the topic.
⮚ Academic Books
Persuasive Devices
Expository Text 1. Facts/Data
⮚ Aims to explain a subject matter. o Can be results of studies or general facts that can persuade
the readers.
In writing informative texts, a writer must consider the following: 2. Anecdote
1. Get to know your topic or the concept very well. o A narrative or account or story of a person or any character
2. Consider your readers. which is usually written in a humorous way.
3. Write the main idea. 3. Rebuttal
4. Search for and verify the supporting information. o A contradiction, a way to oppose or disproves a certain
5. Organize the supporting information in logical order. statement.
6. Be concise. 4. Rhetorical Questions
o Are asked to make a point and not to be answered by the
Inform and educate your audience on a topic given readers.
⮚ The aim of your informative essay. o They usually challenge the readers to act or reflect on
personal views.
Informative Speech Essays Persuasive Text
⮚ Are also called the expository essays and it is not for convincing ⮚ You will be urged to believe that exercising is a requirement to have
someone to change his/her beliefs. good mental and/ or psychological activities.
Being Informative Take note of the tips how the author provides points in the composition.
⮚ Means to be interesting.
Example:
Nevertheless, you can share your thoughts concerning the issue you care about, Why People Should Exercise?
what has surprised you and made think about it, but not in persuasive tone.
In the past, I have never been inclined to participate in sports. Honestly, I didn’t
like it, but many persons whom I lived with kept telling me every day how good it
Generally, your informative essay might: was. Since the peer pressure was growing, I decided to go to the gym. It wasn’t
⮚ Inform readers about some problem they are not aware until then that I could really understand people when they said exercise really
⮚ Explain its importance helped a person get organized and keep yourself in a healthy physically and
⮚ Present the latest research on a topic mentally. THESIS STATEMENT
⮚ Compare viewpoints on a controversial subjects
⮚ Analyze a cause-effect relationship For starters, when you are a lazy person, it is difficult to take the first step, but it
is all a matter of committing yourself to something that will provide you a lot of
Example: positive feedback. Once you start doing exercise and observing positive results,
you actually enjoy it. It takes a lot of effort and strong will, but it's worth it. The
principal thing to do is to participate in an activity you like. If you do you’ll start
organizing your day in a way that enables you to do everything you have to,
including exercising. You will no longer be a person stressed-out without time to
carry on with all your activities.

Second, it is obvious that once you exercise you will have a better condition. You
will be healthier in a physical way. It is probable that you will lose weight and
your muscles will get stronger and stronger. Your body will feel good, full of
energy and it will respond immediately to any action you want to do, any activity
that has to be done with high spirits.

The third reason why exercising is good is that it affects you positively in a
mental and psychological way. Doing exercise helps you set specific goals which
along with strong will can be achieved. When you do that, you are aware of your
abilities, accept your weaknesses, and your self-esteem goes up. Any sport
distracts you because it helps you not to think about school, friends, problems,
among other things. It brings you time to think about yourself and no one else. It
helps you keep your mind busy and to avoid dangerous habits like drugs.

Persuasive Essay
⮚ This type of writing is intended to persuade or convince the readers to
believe in or do something.
⮚ encourages the writer to be creative and challenges him or her to
integrate the different kinds of appeal in his or her paper.
⮚ One can do this by employing several kinds of persuasive techniques
(e.g. appeals) and devices in his or her paper.
Examples: Campaign Speeches, Advertisements
Explanation: The texts mentioned above all aim to influence the readers’ point of
view.
Writing Persuasive Texts:
⮚ Be clear about your view.
⮚ Consider your readers.
⮚ Use different kinds of appeals and devices.
Doing exercise is very important to any person of any age. The positive effects of
exercising, which I’ve already mentioned, are like a chain. Once you do a sports
activity that you like, you get organized; therefore, you start doing things the right
way and get enormous benefits which make you feel good as a whole human
being. You start living your life happily.
(Source: Lengua Iglesia III, Writing Persuasion)
Argumentative Essay
⮚ Is a type of writing in which points of view about a particular topic are
presented, and the writer aims to establish his position and persuade the
reader to side with him.
Writing an Argumentative Essay
Logical and verifiable support
⮚ Writing an argumentative essay requires _________.
Claim
 ⮚ Where does the content of an argumentative essay always focuses? 4. Critiquing a book or a novel (also known as a book review)
5. Critiquing the media such as news reports, feature articles, etc.
Thesis Statement 6. Critiquing a research article published in a peer-reviewed journal
⮚ Where does the claim is stated? 7. Critiquing a research thesis, a journal article, a systematic review
8. Critiquing a creative work such as an exhibit, a film (film review), and
Thesis Statement a poem
⮚ Is a statement of a writer's point on a particular issue and is usually 9. Critiquing a work of art such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night or a song like
debatable. Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”
10. Critiquing a theory or idea like Sigmund Freud’s theory of
Primary feature of an argumentative essay: psychosexual development or Charles Darwin’s Evolution Theory.
⮚ To convince and prove that the writer's statement warrants a logical and
verifiable claim. Why do we write critiques?
Examples: 1. A knowledge of the work’s subject area or related works.
1. Poverty, or lack of financial stability, is one factor that hinders a child 2. An understanding of the work’s purpose intended audience,
from finishing school. development of argument, structure of evidence or creative style.
2. Only those who finished a college degree will have a better life in the 3. A recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the work.
future.
Critique
Which among the two thesis statements above is considered debatable? Which is ⮚ Involves thoroughly analysing with the goal of pointing out its
considered non-debatable? strengths and weaknesses or identifying its overall effectiveness.
⮚ Are one of the few essays you may be required to write in science
Explanation: classes in which you otherwise focus mainly on quantitative data
1. Statement number 1 is a non-debatable claim. analysis.
o Because it tells a general idea and all studies agree that ⮚ Is therefore an essential step on your road to professional and personal
poverty is one factor that hinders a child from finishing development.
school. ⮚ Mastering the critique will help you become a better communicator.
2. Statement number 2 is a debatable and can generate varied
opinions and needs to be further supported by valid and logical Structure of Critique Paper
data. 1. Introduction
o The writer has to create an impression of being credible to A. Title of the Literary Work
the readers by providing logical and verifiable claims such B. Author’s Name
as results of studies, statistics, and statements of experts in C. Thesis Statement
the field. 2. Body
A. Summary of Story
Parts of Argumentative Essay B. Critical Evaluation
1. Introduction and Thesis Statement 3. Conclusion
o The introduction part always states the context of your A. Restatement of Thesis Statement
paper. B. Summary of Key Points
o In this part, you must completely establish the: C. Suggestions and Recommendations
a. Primary objective of your paper D.
b. Provide the background information The reason why critiques are important in all academic subjects and in all
c. Clearly state your claim professional areas is that:
2. Body and Supporting Statements ⮚ You need to be able to master the skill of analysing work from your
o Body peers.
▪ Always contains the most important details.
o In this part, it is necessary that you provide strong How do we write a critique?
1. Before you start writing, it is important to have a thorough
supporting details of your claim.
understanding of the work that will be critiqued.
o Remember, your primary objective is to ‘convince’ your
o Develop an understanding of the main argument or purpose
readers to change their perception about a particular issue.
being expressed in the work.
o So, it is a must that you carefully choose the information
2. Study the work under discussion.
that you will include.
o Make notes on key parts of the work.
3. Conclusion
o Consider how the work relates to a broader issue or context.
o Serves as a generalization statement that contains the main
claim or arguments and their supporting details.
3. Always find both positive and negative things to say.
o This may also contain a message that addresses the thesis in
o Sometimes called “hedging,” using both positive and
a different light and leaves an impression in the readers’
negative descriptors will make your critique stronger.
mind.
o There is no such thing as perfect.
o Everything you are asked to critique—even famous works of
art and literature—have some flaws that are helpful to point
out in a critique.
Write a Critique about an Independent Selection: 4. Consider the author’s/creator’s purpose and the historical context.
o Sometimes the author makes your job easier by stating
Critique outright the purpose of the study, which is common in peer-
⮚ Is a genre of academic writing that briefly summarizes and critically reviewed journal articles.
evaluates a work or concept. o Some journalistic pieces also have a clear purpose stated
⮚ Like an essay, a critique uses a formal, academic writing style and has outright, but in many cases, you will need to research more
a clear structure, that is, an introduction, body, and conclusion. about the author or the context to understand it better.
⮚ However, the body of a critique includes a summary of the work and 5. Analyze your emotional reactions.
a detailed evaluation.  o Often, your first response to something will be emotional.
⮚ The purpose of an evaluation is to gauge the usefulness or impact of a o You may react strongly but not have the ability to logically
work in a particular field. explain why you feel the way you do.
o This is especially true when you have been asked to critique
A critique can be about anything. Consider the following examples: a form of media like art or music.
1. Critiquing a speech of a famous person 6. Do outside research.
2. Critiquing a website for design and credibility o Sometimes when writing a critique, it helps to read what
3. Critiquing an essay written by one of your peers others have also said about that work.
 o Even if you already have strong opinions about the object, 1. A statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work
read how others have analyzed it first to see if there is 2. A summary of the key reasons identified during the critical evaluation,
something you overlooked. why this evaluation was formed.
o Doing research ahead of time can be especially helpful when 3. In some circumstances, recommendations for improvement on the work
you are writing a critique but are confused and do not know may be appropriate.
where to begin, or if you do not fully understand the article
or piece you are describing. E. Reference List
o Include all resources cited in your critique.
What are the main features of a critique? o Check with your lecturer/tutor for which referencing style
A. Introduction to use.
o Typically, the introduction is short (less than 10% of the
word length) and you should: Approach of Literary Criticisms
1. Name the work being reviewed as well as the date it was created
and the name of the author/creator. Critical Approaches
2. Describe the main argument or purpose of the work. ✔ Are different perspectives we consider when looking at a piece of
3. Explain the context in which the work was created.  This could literature.
include the social or political context, the place of the work in a ✔ They seek to give us answers to these questions, in addition to aiding us
creative or academic tradition, or the relationship between the in interpreting literature.
work and the creator’s life experience. 1. What do we read?
4. Have a concluding sentence that signposts what your evaluation 2. Why do we read?
of the work will be. For instance, it may indicate whether it is a 3. How do we read?
positive, negative, or mixed evaluation. Formalist Approach
✔ Emphasizes the form of a literary work to determine its meaning,
B. Summary focusing on literary elements, and how they work to create meaning.
o Briefly summarize the main points and objectively ✔ Considers the work in isolation disregarding author’s intent, author’s
describe how the creator portrays these by using techniques, background, context, and anything else outside of the work itself.
styles, media, characters, or symbols.  ✔ Literary Elements
o This summary should not be the focus of the critique and is 1. Characters
usually shorter than the critical evaluation. 2. Settings
C. Critical Evaluation 3. Plot
1. This section should give a systematic and detailed assessment 4. Theme
of the different elements of the work, evaluating how well the ✔ Meaning resides in the text – not in reader, author, or world
creator was able to achieve the purpose through these.
o For example, you would assess the plot structure, Moralist Approach
characterization, and setting of a novel; a critique of a ✔ Judges the value of the literature based on its moral lessons or ethical
research project would look at subject selection, design of teachings.
the experiment, analysis of data, and conclusions. ✔ Moral and Philosophical critics believes that the larger purpose of
2. A critical evaluation does not simply highlight negative literature is to teach morality and to probe philosophical issues.
impressions.
o It should deconstruct the work and identify both strengths Major Moralist Influence
and weaknesses. 1. Plato
o It should examine the work and evaluate its success, in light o Banished poets from Republic for fear that he might spread immortality and
of its purpose. destabilize the country.
o Examples of key critical questions that could help your 2. Horace
o Studies how Poetry could be used to promote morality in his Ars Poetica.
evaluation include:
a. Who is the creator? Is the work presented objectively or subjectively? 3. Dr. Johnson
b. What are the aims of the work? Were the aims achieved? o Was a stern upholder of morality and attacked Shakespeare for his slip shod
c. What techniques, styles, media were used in the work?  Are they treatment of moral values.
effective in portraying the purpose? 4. Philip Sidney
d. What assumptions underlie the work? Do they affect its validity? o Praised the role of the poet in purifying the imagination, which the historian
e. What types of evidence or persuasion are used? Has evidence been and the philosopher were capable of.
interpreted fairly? 5. Matthew Arnold
f. How is the work structured?  Does it favor a particular interpretation or o Great poetry is marked by high seriousness and true criticism pays attention
point of view? Is it effective? to what a poem says than to how it says.
g. Does the work enhance understanding of key ideas or theories? Does
Moralist Approach
the work engage (or fail to engage) with key concepts or other works in
its discipline? ✔ How to write:
1. Evaluate the maturity, sincerity, honesty, sensitivity, and courage.
Evaluation 2. Guide Questions:
⮚ Written in formal academic style and logically presented. a. If the literature seeks corruption and negative influence.
b. The Moral and Ethical Teachings the author presents.
1. Group and order your ideas into paragraphs. c. How does the text play out ethical principles?
2. Start with the broad impressions first and then move into the details d. Is practical, moral, or philosophical idea being presented?
of the technical elements.    ✔ Common Values:
3. For shorter critiques, you may discuss the strengths of the works, and o Adventure o Security
then the weaknesses. o Equality of Condition o Cooperation
4. In longer critiques, you may wish to discuss the positive and negative o Novelty o Harmony
of each key critical question in individual paragraphs. o Ambition o Spontaneity
o Equality of Opportunity o Courage
To support the evaluation: o Order o Honesty
1. Provide evidence from the work itself, such as a quote or example. o Autonomy o Tolerance
2. You should also cite evidence from related sources. o Excellence o Creativity
o Patriotism o Justice
Explain how this evidence supports your evaluation of the work.
o Collective Responsibility o Tradition
D. Conclusion o Flexibility
o This is usually a very brief paragraph, which includes: o Peace
 o Comfort
o Freedom of Speech
o Rationality
o Competition
o Generosity
Marxist Approach
✔ This is based on socialist and dialectic theories.
✔ Marxist criticism views literary works as reflections of the social
institutions from which they originate.
✔ It also includes analysing the class constructs demonstrated in the
literature.
✔ Marxist critics are also interested in how the lower or working classes
are oppressed – in everyday life and in literature.
“Marxism attempts to reveal the ways in which our socioeconomic system is the
ultimate source of our experience” (Tyson 277)
Team Presentation
1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo – French Revolution
2. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane – South Africa Apartheid
3. The United Fruit Co. by Pablo Neruda – Imperialism in America-
Banana Republics
Guide Questions
1. Whom does it benefit if the work or effort is
accepted/successful/believe, etc.?
2. What is the social class of the author?
3. Which class does the work claim to represent?
4. What conflict can be seen between the value the work champions and
those it portrays?
5. What social classes do the characters represent?
6. How do characters from different classes interact or conflict?
7. How do characters overcome oppression?
8. What does the work say about oppression; or are social conflicts
ignored or blamed elsewhere?
9. Does the work propose some form of utopian vision as a solution to the
problems encountered in the work?
Feminist Approach
✔ Examines the social, economic, and cultural aspects of literary works,
but takes a more in-depth look at what literature reveals about the roles, Guide Topics
positions, and influence of women both as writers and subjects within
the text.
✔ Focuses on female representation in literature, paying attention to
female points of view, concern, and values.
Three Underlying Assumptions:
1. Western Society is pervasively patriarchal, male centered and
controlled, and is organized in such a way as to subordinate women;
2. The concept of gender is socially constructed, not biologically
determined;
3. Patriarchal ideology pervades those writings which have been
considered “great works of literatures.”
Guide Questions
1. How is the relationship between men and women portrayed?
2. What are the power relationships between men and women (or
characters, assuming male/female roles)?
3. How are male and female roles defined?
4. What constitutes masculinity and femininity?
5. How do characters embody these traits?
6. Do characters take on traits from opposite genders? How so? How does
this change others’ reactions to them?
7. What does the work reveal about the operations (economically,
politically, socially, or psychologically) of patriarchy?
8. What does the work imply about the possibilities of sisterhood as a
mode of resisting patriarchy?
9. What does the work say about women’s creativity?
10. What does the history of the work’s reception by the public and by the
critics tell us about the operation of patriarchy?
11. What role does the work play in terms of women’s literary history and
literary tradition? (Tyson)
Historical Approach
✔ Relies heavily on the author and his world.
✔ This approach involves understanding the events and experiences
surrounding the composition of the work, especially the life of the
author, and using the findings to interpret that work of literature.
✔ Sees literature as both a reflection and product of the times and
circumstances in which it is written.
The critic will begin to research what was going on in the world at the time the
literary work was being written in order to see if the author either consciously or
unconsciously incorporated outside forces into the literary work.
Examples:
✔ Written in 1943 by an aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupery
in French medium as Le Petit Prince
✔ In The Little Prince, its narrator, the pilot talks of being stranded in the
desert, beside his crashed aircraft.
✔ The account clearly drew on Saint-Exupery’s own experience in the
Sahara Desert.
✔ The Little Prince is written and published during the WWII.
✔ Though regarded as a famous children’s book, it also reflects wisdom
of life and human nature.
Example:
✔ An Old English epic poem in the tradition of Germanic Heroic
Legend.
✔ When we read the Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf, which was written
sometime around 700 to 800 AD.
✔ We notice that the poet often refers to both to pagan gods and rituals
and to Christianity.
✔ Critics try to understand exactly how and when the Anglo-Saxon
people were converted from paganism to Christianity, so they look
outside the text of Beowulf to see what events led to the transition from
paganism to Christianity
1. You want to begin your research by looking at the time period, in
which the work was written.
o Elements of the time period include:
a) Social Structure (race, class, gender roles)
b) Culture (how people lived, values, family structure)
c) Politics (wars, leaders, conflict)
d) Economy (depressions, recessions, class divisions)
e) Religion (religious leaders, conflicts, prominence)
f) Intellectual History (sciences, education, philosophy)
g) Language
h) Other Literary works published in this period.
2. Understanding of the world the author lived in (events, ideologies,
culture, lifestyle, etc.) allows for a more comprehensive understanding
of the work.
Louise Rosenblatt Theory (1940)
✔ The process of reading is a dynamic transaction between the reader
and the text, in which meaningful ideas arise for reader from their own
thought and creative interpretations.
Reader-Response Approach
✔ The writer creates the text and readers co-creates the meaning of the
text.
✔ Reader’s Shchemata
✔ Reader-Response is concerned with how the work is viewed by the
audience.
✔ This considers readers’ reactions to literature as vital to interpreting
the meaning of the text.
✔ The purpose of a reading response is examining, explaining, and
defending your personal reaction to a text.
✔ your personal reaction to a text.
✔ Your critical reading of a text asks you to explore:
a. Why you like or dislike the text;
b. Explain whether you agree or disagree with the author;
c. Identify the text’s purpose; and
d. Critique the text

✔ If you did not like a text, that is fine, but criticize it either from:
A. Principle, for example:
1. Is the text racist?
2. Does the text unreasonably put down things, such as religion
or groups of people, such as women or adolescents,
conservatives or democrats, etc.?
3. Does the text include factual errors or outright lies? Is it too
dark and despairing? Is it falsely positive?
B. Form, for example:
1. Is the text poorly written?
2. Does it contain too much verbal?
3. Is it too emotional or too childish?
4. Does it have too many facts and figures?
5. Are there typos or other errors in the text?
6. Doe the ideas wander around without making a point?

Example:
1. The Story of Daedalus and Icarus
o Readers can personally relate to the characteristics.
2. Inferno – by Dante Alighieri
o Readers can reflect on our acts
o Gives readers the concept of punishment of our sins