Critiquing is a systematic way of objectively reviewing a masterpiece to highlight both ACTIVITY 1:

its strengths and weaknesses and its applicability to practice. Determine the critical approach underscored in the following items for two
Critical Approaches in Writing Critique (2) points each. Write your answer on the blank provided before each number.
1. Reader-Response Approach - asserts that a great deal of meaning in a text lies with how __________ 1. Divine researched the life and credentials of the author to help her
the reader responds to it. Reader-response suggests that the role of the reader is essential analyze and understand the author’s notable work.
to __________ 2. The researcher found out that the novel “El Filibusterismo” emphasizes
the meaning of a text, for only in the reading experience does the literary work come alive. the social and political aspects in the Philippines.
2. Formalism Approach - emphasizes the form of a literary work to determine its meaning, __________ 3. A student in English class tries to understand the theme and symbolism
focusing on literary elements and how they work to create meaning. Using formalism, a of the story she is reading.
critic __________ 4. Jaime noticed that the book she is reading focuses on the success
can show how the various parts of a work are welded together to make an organic whole. stories of men.
After analyzing each part, the critic then describes how they work together to make give __________ 5. The group of students has encountered trouble in understanding the
meaning (theme) to the text. article they are reading; so, they checked when it was written and tried to connect the
3. Psychological Approach - views a text as a revelation of its author’s mind and significant events happed during that time to understand the views of the author.
personality. _________ 6. Jessa reads a novel that highlights on the gap between rich and the
It is based on the work of Sigmund Freud. It is also known as Psychoanalytical Criticism, poor.
the analysis of an author’s unintended message. The analysis focuses on the biographical __________ 7. Trisha reads a book entitled “Behind Her Smile” which centers on the
circumstances of an author. The main goal is to analyze the unconscious elements within a struggles and achievements of women.
literary text based on the background of the author. __________ 8. A painting displayed in the museum reflects the traditions and practices
4. Sociological Approach - argues that social contexts (cultural, economic and political of the Filipinos.
context) must be considered when analyzing a text. __________ 9. While reading the poem entitled “Dust of Snow” by Robert Frost, Sheena
Based on the theories of Karl Marx (and so influenced by philosopher Georg Wilhelm interprets the meaning of the poem based on her own understanding.
Friedrich Hegel), this school concerns itself with class differences, economic and otherwise, __________ 10. During breaktime, Daniela reads one chapter of her favorite novel.
as well as the implications and complications of the capitalist system: "Marxism attempts While reading, she tries to imagine and picture out the situation in the story.
to
reveal the ways in which our socioeconomic system is the ultimate source of our Activity 2:
experience" Study the painting below and answer the following questions for two (2)
(Tyson 277). points each at the back.
5. Gender Criticism- examines how sexual identity influences the creation of a masterpiece. Questions:
a. Feminist approach- is concerned with the role, position, and influence of women 1. What does the painting reflect?
in a literary text. 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the painting?
b. Masculinist approach- centers on the desire to work with men’s issues and yields 3. What critical approaches can be best applied in critiquing
to the political conviction that feminism does not fit with the facts, and needlessly this artwork? Why?
vilifies men. 4. How would you relate the painting to the current
6. Biographical Approach - argues that we must take an author’s life and background into conditions and practices in our
account when we study a text. Like other approach papers, this is a tool for initial analysis society?
of a subject. As you think through each element of the paper, you’ll gain a deeper 5. What would you recommend to improve this artwork
understanding of the person profiled.
7. New Historicist Approach -argues that every literary work is a product of its time and its
world.

New Historicists do not believe that we can look at history objectively, but rather that ACTIVITY 3:
we interpret events as products of our time and culture and that "...we don't have clear Choose any movie that you like the most. Write a critique about it following
access to any but the most basic facts of history...our understanding of what such facts the given format of a critique paper for twenty (20) points. Write your answer
mean...is...strictly a matter of interpretation, not fact" (279). Moreover, New Historicism on a separate short bond paper. Here are also some suggested Filipino movies:
holds that we are hopelessly subjective interpreters of what we observe. 1. Veronica Velasco’s Through Night and Day
Format of a Critique Paper 2. Nuel Crisostomo Naval’s Miracle in Cell No. 7
A. Introduction- name of the work being reviewed as well as the date it was created and 3. Erik Matti’s BuyBust
the 4. Loy Arcenas’s Ang Larawan
name of the 5. Articulo Uno productions’ Heneral Luna
author/creator.
-describe the main argument or purpose of the work
- explain the context in which the work was created. This could include the social or
political context, the place of the work in a creative or academic tradition, or the
relationship between the work and the creator’s life experiences.
(Generally, the background information of the artwork.)
B. Body - contains both the summary/description of the work, and the critical evaluation of
the work.
Summary- describe the certain work
Critical Evaluation- this section should give a systematic and detailed assessment of
the different elements of the work, evaluating how well the creator was able to achieve
the purpose.
-determine both the strengths and weaknesses of the work
-it should examine the work and evaluate its success, in light of its purpose.
C. Conclusion - a statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work
-a summary of the key reasons, identified during the critical evaluation, why
this evaluation was formed
-in some circumstances, recommendations for improvement on the work may
be appropriate.

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