EAPP WEEK 4

KINDS OF CRITIQUE
 Most Essential Learning
Competencies

Uses appropriate critical writing a

critique such as formalism, feminism,
etc.
 Case: Jimmy was browsing the net when he found an essay
that contains the same ideas as he has for his assignment in

•
Filipino. Since it is in English, he copy-pasted the whole essay in
Google Translate and revised a few grammar mistakes, transferred
it to MS Word, wrote his name on it, printed it, and submitted it
to his teacher.
Do you think Jimmy has committed plagiarism? Explain your
answer
Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen
letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What’s the difference between critic and critique?
• a. Just the spelling but they mean the same.
b. The former is more positive than the latter.
c. The latter focuses on your unfavorable opinion,
unlike in the former, you analyze and asses.
 2. Which is considered “writing”?

• a. Putting ink on a paper

b. Decoding messages
c. Oral recitation
d. Going through the texts
 3. Is criticism always negative?

• a. No. Because it’s always positive

b. Yes. Because to criticize is to attack.
c. No. Because to criticize is to analyze.
d. Yes. Because the truth may be painful yet can always
make something better.
 
 Writing a Critique
What is a critique?
A critique is a genre of academic
writing that briefly summarizes and
critically evaluates a work or concept.
 Critiques can be used to carefully
analyse a variety of works such as:
❖ Creative works – novels, exhibits,
film, images, poetry
❖ Research – monographs, journal
articles, systematic reviews, theories
❖ Media – news reports, feature
articles
 Like an essay, a critique uses a formal,
academic writing style and has a clear
structure, that is, an introduction, body
and conclusion. However, the body of a
critique includes a summary of the work
and a detailed evaluation.
 Why do we write critiques?
Writing a critique on a work helps us to
develop
❖ A knowledge of the work’s subject area or related works
❖ An understanding of the work’s purpose
❖ A recognition of the strengths and weaknesses of the
work.
 How to write a critique?
Before you start writing, it is important to have a thorough
understanding of the work that will be critiqued.
• Study the work under discussion.
• Make notes on key parts of the work.
• Develop an understanding of the main argument or purpose being
expressed in the work. 
• Consider how the work relates to a broader issue or context.
There are a variety of ways to structure a critique.
 The following template, which showcases the main
features of a critique, is provided as one example .
A. Introduction
Typically, the introduction is short (less than 10% of the
word length)
B. Summary
Briefly summarize the main points and objectively
describe how the creator portrays these by using
techniques, styles, media, characters or symbols.
 C. Critical evaluation
• This section should give a systematic and
detailed assessment of the different elements of the
work
D. Conclusion
This is usually a very brief paragraph which include overall
evaluations of the work
E. Reference list
Include all sources cited in your ending
D. Conclusion
This is usually a very brief paragraph
which includes overall evaluation of the work.
E. Reference List
Include all resources cited in your critique.
 F. Checklist for a critique

• Mentioned the name of the work, the date of its creation and the name
of the creator?
• Accurately summarized the work being critiqued?
• Mainly focused on the critical evaluation of the work?
• Systematically outlined an evaluation of each element of the work to
achieve the overall purpose?
• used evidence, from the work itself as well as other sources, to back
and illustrate my assessment of elements of of the work?
• formed an overall evaluation of the work, based on critical reading?
• used a well structured introduction, body and conclusion?
• used correct grammar, spelling and punctuation; clear presentation;
and appropriate referencing style?
“When we say critique paper, you don’t critic but you
critique. The difference between the two is so
important because the former focuses on your
unfavorable opinion, unlike in the latter, you analyze
and assess.”
 Critical Approaches

New Historicism-A reading of a text that deems the

historical political, economical, and sociological context of
the time the text was written in order to truly understand
the work(s).
 Critical Approaches

Biographical Criticism- A reading of a text that deems the

biography of the author most important in order to truly
understand the work(s).
 Formalism / New Criticism
Formalistic approach
involves a close reading of the text. Formalistic
critics believe that all information essential to the
interpretation of a work must be found within the
work itself: irony, paradox, imagery, and metaphor.
 Psychological Criticism
Psychological critics view either at the psychological
motivations of the characters or of the authors
themselves, although the former is generally
considered a more respectable approach.
Feminist criticism is concerned with the impact of
gender on writing and reading. It usually begins with
a critique of patriarchal culture. It is concerned with
the place of female writers in the cannon.
 Marxist criticism is a type of criticism in which
literary works are viewed as the product of work and
whose practitioners emphasize the role of class and
ideology as they reflect, propagate, and even
challenge the prevailing social order.
Deconstructionism is, by far, the most difficult critical theory for
people to understand. It was developed by some very smart (or very
unstable) people who declare that literature means nothing because
language means nothing. In other words, we cannot say that we know
what the “meaning” of a story is because there is no way of knowing.