CRITIQUING

CRITIQUING

- Critiquing is a systematic way of

highlighting weakness and
strengths and weaknesses and its
applicability to practice. Experts
affirm that almost every reader
can identify the strengths and
weaknesses of a masterpiece.
 WHY WRITE A CRITIQUE?

- A critique is an exercise in judging

the value of a piece of writing or
research. It is also a way of
improving your own skills by looking
at the way other writers and
researchers work. It is a valuable
exercise in the careful reading of
text that will increase your
understanding of a particular
subject.
 What are the functions of
being a critic?
1. to introduce the author/work
2. ignite interest on a neglected work
3. show relationship between ages
and cultures
4. contribute to better understanding
of a work
5. make a study on art and its
"making"
6. introduce the relationship of art
and life
 NOTE:

(A critique is the paper that

exercises the value of a
piece of writing or research
while a critic is a person
who writes a critique)
 NOTE:

It needs to be clarified that

when one performs
criticism, it’s NOT SIMPLY
FINDING FAULT/MISTAKES
OR WRONG, but it aims to
find excellence and
perfections.
 What are the steps that we
need to do to write a
critique?
1. Analyze the text
This should include some or all of the
following:
-set out the main purpose of the author’s
book or article.
-identify the main point that the author is
making.
-discuss the arguments that are used to -
support the main point and the evidence
that supports them.
-explain the conclusions reached by the
author and how they have been reached.
2. Evaluate the text
You will need to comment not only on the content of
the piece but also on the way in which it has been
written. Consider the following:
-is the argument logical?
-is the text well organized, clear and easy to read?
have important terms been clearly defined?
-are the facts accurate?
-do the arguments support the main point?
-is there sufficient evidence for the arguments?
-does the text present and consider opposing points
of view?
-does the material help you understand the subject?
what questions/observations does this article
suggest?
-what does this text make you think about?
3. Write in standard essay form
A critique should be written in an
essay format. It will need an
introduction, a main body of text
and a conclusion. You will need to
prepare a rough draft of your essay.
 What are the parts of a critique?
I. Introduction
-Define the subject of your critique and your
point of view
-Background to Research
II. Main body
-Begin with a brief summary describing the
project.
-Discuss the strengths of the article
-Discuss the weaknesses of the article
III. Conclusion
-Re-emphasize your argument/point of view
-Make final suggestions and/or positive and
negative criticisms on the book or article you
critiqued
-What questions/observations does the article
suggest? (the final paragraph)
CONCEPT
PAPER
 CONCEPT PAPER

- A concept paper aims to clarify a

concept which can be about any topic
from any fields.
- It can also be a short summary that tells
the reader what the project is, why it is
important, and how it will be carried out.
- Its aim is to capture the thoughts and
ideas while the research proposal
captures the ideas in a structured
manner for approval to research. It is
not easy to write a concept paper but
with careful study and research, you can
create one.
- There are many ways a
writer can expound a
concept. You can use
definition, explication,
and clarification.
- Definition identifies a term and
sets it apart from all other
terms that may be related to it.
Often, definitions begin by
mentioning the general class to
which a term belongs. Then
they provide specifics to
distinguish the term from other
members of that class.
THE ART OF
DEFINING
 DEFINITION

- There are two types of

defining.
1.Formal definition
2.Extended definition
 FORMAL DEFINITION

1. Formal definition – in which you are

given a term to be defined and you
define the term by giving the genus
and differentia.
The definiendum - the term or concept
you are defining.
Genus – giving the class where the
definiendum belongs
Differentia – characteristics that
distinguish the term from other
terms.
Term/Defini Genus Differentia
endum
Definition A mode of That
paragraph answers
developme the
nt questions:
what is it,
what does
it mean, or
what is its
special
features
Term/Defini Genus Differentia
endum
Dog An animal That has a
from fur, and
Kingdom has the
Animalia ability to
bark.
Sir Ryan A grade 12 Who
senior high teaches
school English for
teacher Acad and
Prof
Purposes.
 EXTENDED DEFINITION

2. Extended definition – is
needed to define abstract
concepts. It allows you to
broaden your definition.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
1. Definition by synonym– using a similar
word or phrase to define a word.
Example:
The word "mountebank" is another
SYNONYM for charlatan, but it is
unlikely to be understood by anyone
who does not read Victorian novels. It
is, therefore, not likely to be of much
help in EXPLAINING the meaning of the
term "charlatan," and the
EXPLANATION of a word's meaning is
what DEFINITION is all about.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
2. Definition by
etymology/origin/semantic
history– tracing where the term
originated.
Example:
Democracy originates from the
Greek demokratia (rule of the
people) from demos (people) and
kratos (power/rule).
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
3. Definition by illustration– defining
an object/person by its
characteristics.

Example:

Luna, the one who caught my heart,

looks good with her red and golden
dress.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
4. Definition by function– stating
what the term is for
Example:

Democracy is established so that

people would practice freedom
and fairness in each of one of
them.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
5. Definition by analysis– breaking
down wholes into parts, aspects to
levels and a process into steps)
Example:
Democracy encompasses social,
economic, and cultural conditions
that enable the free and equal
practice of political self-
determination.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
6. Definition by likeness or
similarity– defining by the use of
similarities or sameness.
Example:
Democracy encompasses social,
economic, and cultural
conditions that enable the free
and equal practice of political
self-determination.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
7. Definition by contrast– defining
by the use of opposites.
Example:
Democracy is an antonym to
aristokratia (rule of an elite).
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
8. Definition by analogy or metaphor–
comparing the term to another
object/concept/idea that shares the
same characteristic as the term
being defined
Example:
An arbiter is like a referee–he or she
listens to both sides and makes a
decision as to who is at fault,
without the intervention of outside
parties.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
9. Definition by negation– defining
the term by stating what it is not.
Example:

In an arbitration proceeding, no
lawyers are present.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
10. Definition by example– defining by
giving sentences or terms that are
akin to the original term.
Example:
The political system of Classical
Athens, for example, granted
democratic citizenship to an elite
class of free men and excluded
slaves and women from political
participation.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
11. Definition by cause and/or effect– explain
what CAUSES contribute to the existence
of the concept and its effects

Ex. of CAUSE for animal cruelty: According

to the 2013 Washington Post article “The
Grisly Economics of Elephant Poaching,”
because ivory can earn $1,000 per pound
in China, approximately 30,000 elephants
were illegally poached in 2012, “the most
in three decades” (Plumer). The potential
for profit is at the heart of these particular
acts of animal cruelty.
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
11. Definition by cause and/or effect– explain what
CAUSES contribute to the existence of the
concept and its effects

Ex. of EFFECTS of animal cruelty: Before the ivory

trade became illegal in 1989, nearly 75% of
elephants in certain regions were killed,
especially grown females, which have especially
large tusks. A 2013 study led by Karen McComb,
from the University of Sussex in the United
Kingdom, found that “the trauma of separation
and displacement” from the cruel poaching of
elephant matriarchs “may have lasting
psychological impacts on the creatures
resembling post-traumatic stress disorder in
humans” (Gannon).
 TYPES OF EXTENDED
DEFINITION
12. Definition by categorization/classification–
Identify different types or categories of the
concept

Example:

There are several types of love, including

familial love, deep friendship, commitment
to an idea or thing, and true love. The
strongest, however, is true love.
- Explication is the process by which
concepts are defined for scientific
purposes.
- "To explicate" something is, in the
most general sense of the term, to
spell out its implications. Thus, it is
the process of spelling out the
implications of something and derived
from this, in turn, is the sense of
"explication" that refers to the product
of this process: some account of what
the implications of something are.
Explication, in other words, is a kind of
explanation.
- Clarification is an
analysis of an abstract
concept through
investigation of
examples and the
identification of critical
and less critical
attributes.
 KINDS OF CONCEPT PAPER
1. Implicit – implicit is, “implied or
understood though not plainly or
directly expressed.” Something is,
therefore, implicit when it is not
directly stated but is either
suggested in the wording or
necessary to effectuate the
purpose.

Example: Technology caused horrors

in some aspects.
 KINDS OF CONCEPT PAPER
2. Explicit– “to fully and clearly
express something, leaving nothing
implied.”
Something is explicit when it is
cleared stated and spelled out and
there is no room for confusion, as in
the writing of a contract or statute.

Example: Technology is harmful to us.

 CONCEPT PAPER
(according to other books)
-Is required to be submitted for
review prior to the submission of
a full proposal.
-It is for the applicants to obtain
informal feedback on their ideas
and projects prior to preparing a
proposal.
 PARTS OF CONCEPT PAPER
(according to other books)
I. ACTIVITY
II. DATE
III. VENUE
IV.SOURCE OF FUND:
V.RATIONALE
VI. OBJECTIVES
VII. MISSION AND VISION (optional)
VIII.ASSESSMENT TOOLS
IX. PARTICIPANTS
X. EXPENDITURES/ESTIMATED EXPENSES
XI. CONTACT INFORMATION (optional)
XII. Signatories