SHS ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES (EAPP), SEM 2 Q3

Name: __________________________________________________________ Score: ______________

Grade and Section: _____________________________________________ Date: _______________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 6

I. Introduction

Critical writing depends on critical reading. Most of the papers you write will involve
reflection on written texts – the thinking and research that has already been done on your
subject. In order to write your own analysis of this subject, you will need to do careful
critical reading of sources and to use them critically to make your own argument. The
judgments and interpretations you make of the texts you read are the first steps towards
formulating your own approach.

There are specialized forms of writing, a reaction paper, a review and a critique in
which a reader evaluates either, a scholarly work, art, designs or graphic designs. These
forms of writings usually range in length from 250-750 words. They are not simply
summaries but are critical assessments, analyses, or evaluation of different works.

II. Learning Competency

Uses appropriate critical writing a critique such as formalism, feminism, etc.

III. Objectives

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. Identify various critical approaches in writing a critique
2. Distinguish characteristics of each approaches in critiquing; and
3. Write a critique using an appropriate critical writing approaches.

IV. Discussion

A critique is a genre of academic writing that briefly summarizes and critically

evaluates a work or concept. Critiques can be used to carefully analyze a variety of works
such as Creative works – novels, exhibits, film, images, poetry; Research – monographs,
journal articles, systematic reviews, theories; and 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. The purpose of an evaluation
is to gauge the usefulness or impact of a work in a particular field.

How to write a critique?

There are various ways or standpoints by which you can analyze and critique a certain
material. You can critique a material based on its technical aspects, approach to gender,
your reaction as the audience, or through its portrayal of class struggle and social
structure.

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Four Critical Approaches in Writing a Critique

1. Formalism- Claims that literary works contain intrinsic properties and treats each
work as a distinct work of art. In short, it posits that the key to understanding a text is
through the text itself; the historical context, the author, or any other external contexts
are not necessary in interpreting the meaning.

Common aspects looked into in formalism;

 Author’s techniques in resolving contradictions within the work
 Central passage that sums up the entirety of the work
 Contribution of parts and the work as a whole to its aesthetic quality
 Contribution of rhymes and rhythms to the meaning or effect of the work
 Relationship of the form and the content
 Use of imagery to develop the symbols used in the work
 Paradox, ambiguity and irony in the work
 Unity in the work

Read a sample formalist critique of Dead Stars, a classic Filipino short story by Paz
Marques Benitez.
The title of the work already gives an idea as to what it means. In physics, it is stated that
the light and energy of the stars have to travel light years to reach us. Since they are millions
of miles away and light has to travel this large distance, it is highly possible that the star
has already exploded while its light is still travelling towards us. Therefore, it is possible
that a bright light we see at night actually comes from a dead star. In the story, this metaphor
is used to refer to Alfredo’s love for Julia, a woman he meets and falls for one fateful summer.
Not only is the title an indicator of what is to come, even the fate of the characters in the
story can already be seen through their names. Alfredo’s name means counselor of elves in
Spanish and suggests someone who is wise. In the story it is indicated that Alfredo is a
lawyer, a person who counsels. Still, his name denotes a certain irony; despite his supposed
wisdom, Alfredo’s actions, especially his covert courtship with Julia while being engaged to
another, are anything but sensible. Julia’s name, on the other hand, refers to someone who
is youthful, which is how Alfredo sees her for eight years until he is confronted by reality.
2. Feminism- focuses on how literature presents women as subjects of socio-political,
psychological, and economic oppression. It also reveals how aspects of our culture are
patriarchal, i.e., how our culture views men as superior and women as inferior.

Common aspects looked into in Feminism;

 How culture determines gender
 How gender equality is presented in the text
 How gender issues are presented in literary works and other aspects of human
production and daily life
 How women are socially, politically, psychologically, and economically oppressed by
patriarchy
 How patriarchal ideology is an overpowering presence

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Sample Feminist Critique of Dead Stars
The story is a study of power imbalance brought about by gender. In the beginning, Dead
Stars already clearly illustrate the gender roles ingrained in Filipino society; Don Julian and
the judge are portrayed as the male leaders of the household, taking up lofty professions
such as business and law while the women are portrayed accomplishing domestic tasks
such as tending to children and preparing food. The most note-worthy display of imbalance
in power, however, lies on the central theme of Alfredo’s love for Julia as simply a dead star.
Eight years after their forbidden love and after getting married to another woman, Alfredo
still holds Julia as an object of affection, thus creating a distance between him and his wife,
Esperanza. In their relationship as a wedded couple, the power lies in Alfredo, not only
because patriarchal society designates him as the head of the household, but also because
he remains unreachable to his wife by harboring feelings for another woman. Moreover, the
realization that his love for Julia is simply a dead star is brought about by his treatment of
Julia as simply an illusion and an object of affection, and not as a woman. This gender
imbalance leads to a tragic epiphany for the characters, but is also a reflection of how men
are viewed to dominate not only in the household but also in their relationship with women.
3. Reader response criticism- concerned with the reviewer’s reaction as an audience
of a work. This approach claims that the reader’s role cannot be separated from the
understanding of the work; a text does not have meaning until the reader reads it and
interprets it. Readers are therefore not passive and distant, but are active consumers of
the material presented to them.

Common aspects looked into when using Reader Response Criticism;

 Interaction between the reader and the text in creating meaning
 Impact of reader’s delivery of sounds and visuals on enhancing and changing
meaning

Sample Reader Response Critique of Dead Stars

Despite being limited in length, Dead Stars manages to evoke various feelings which
ultimately build up the ending. While Alfredo is the center of the story, as a woman reader
it is hard not to feel greatly for Esperanza. Esperanza can only be seen through the
perspective of Alfredo. This does a disservice to her, as we can only know her through the
description of someone who does not love her anymore. Still, it is also through Alfredo’s
descriptions and his unfaithfulness that Esperanza gains sympathy from the reader. During
all the moments when Alfredo and Julia are together, the thought of Esperanza looms in the
background-- does she know? How will she react? What will happen now? The sympathy
only increases when they get married, for it is clear that Alfredo is detached from her and
is still harboring feelings for Julia. While the end certainly evokes a feeling of loss at
Alfredo’s epiphany, it is feeling of betrayal for Esperanza that stays.
4. Marxist Criticism-concern with the differences between economic classes and
implications of a capitalist system, such as the continuing conflicts between the working
class and the elite. Hence, it attempts to reveal that the ultimate source of people’s
experience is the socioeconomic system.

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Common aspects looked into when using Marxist Criticism;
 Social class as represented in the work
 Social class of the writer/ creator
 Social class of the characters
 Conflicts ad interactions between economic classes

Sample Marxist Criticism of Dead Stars

The imbalanced societal power play is evident in the short story in the form of the treatment
of the characters based on their class. This most easily evident in the conversation between
Alfredo and his fiancée, Esperanza, about Calixta, their note-carrier who grew up in the
latter’s family. The scene depicts a parallelism in the circumstance of Alfredo and his new
love, Julia, and Calixta and her live-in partner. However, while no one blatantly frowns upon
the budding relationship between Alfredo and Julia, except for some whispered rumors that
reach Esperanza, Calixta is dubbed ‘’ungrateful’’ to her master for doing such an act. Alfredo
does not have to answer to anyone for his unfaithfulness, but Calixta is responsible not only
for what her family might think, but also for the members of her master’s family. Despite the
same circumstances, the two people are regarded differently based on their positions in life.

V. Activities

A. Look me back!
Directions: Analyze the statements below. Write True if it is correct based on the
characteristics of a critical writing approaches. If the idea is incorrect, write False and
encircle the word that makes it wrong.

_________1. In a reader-response criticism, a person’s interpretation will likely change

over time, as they have more experiences to bring with them to the text.
_________2. A text is completely combined in an individual entity as suggested by the
formalist criticism.
_________3. Marxist Criticism focus mainly on the ways in which people are alienated
from one another because of power, money, and politics.
_________4. Literary pieces under Feminist Criticism were written by both male and
female authors.
_________5. Basically, the formula for a reader-response criticism would be, reader +
reading situation + text= meaning.

B. Tell me more!
Direction: Identify what writing approach has been described in each statement. Write
your answer on the space provided before each number.

______________1. Removes the focus from the text and places it on the reader instead.
______________2. Strongly politically-oriented criticism, deriving from the theories of the
social philosopher Karl Marx.
______________3. Attempt to understand representation from a woman’s point of view and
analyze women’s writing strategies in the context of their social conditions.
______________4. It directs attention to the idea that all language makes ideological
statements about things like class, economics, race, and power, and the function of
literary output is to either support or criticize the political and economic structures in
place.

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______________5. Determine how elements work together with the text’s content to shape
its effects upon readers.

C. Let’s do this!
Directions: Read the summary of a short story, The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry. Analyze
the story critically and answer the questions after. Then write a simple critique out of it.
You may use any of the four critical writing approaches, considering the structure of a
critique below.

The Gift of the Magi

O. Henry
The story opens with $1.87. That's all Della Dillingham Young has to buy a present for her
beloved husband, Jim. And the next day is Christmas. Faced with such a situation, Della
promptly bursts into tears on the couch, which gives the narrator the opportunity to tell us a
bit more about the situation of Jim and Della. The short of it is they live in a shabby flat and
they're poor. But they love each other.

Once Della's recovered herself, she goes to a mirror to let down her hair and examine it.
Della's beautiful, brown, knee-length hair is one of the two great treasures of the poor couple.
The other is Jim's gold watch. Her hair examined, Della puts it back up, sheds a tear, and
bundles up to head out into the cold. She leaves the flat and walks to Madame Sofronie's
hair goods shop, where she sells her hair for twenty bucks. Now she has $21.87 cents.

With her new funds, Della is able to find Jim the perfect present: an elegant platinum watch
chain for his watch. It's $21, and she buys it. Excited by her gift, Della returns home and
tries to make her now-short hair presentable (with a curling iron). She's not convinced Jim
will approve, but she did what she had to do to get him a good present. When she finishes
with her hair, she gets to work preparing coffee and dinner.
Jim arrives at 7pm to find Della waiting by the door and stares fixedly at her, not able to
understand that Della's hair is gone. Della can't understand quite what his reaction means.

After a little while, Jim snaps out of it and gives Della her present, explaining that his
reaction will make sense when she opens it. Della opens it and cries out in joy, only to burst
into tears immediately afterward. Jim has given her the set of fancy combs she's wanted for
ages, only now she has no hair for them. Jim nurses Della out of her sobs. Once she's
recovered she gives Jim his present, holding out the watch chain. Jim smiles, falling back
on the couch. He sold his watch to buy Della's combs, he explains. He recommends they put
away their presents and have dinner. As they do so, the narrator brings the story to a close
by pronouncing that Della and Jim are the wisest of everyone who gives gifts. They are the
magi.

Analytical Questions:

1. Does the story end the way that you expect? Why or why not?

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2. What aspects of the story would be revealed or hidden if it were told from another
point of view? For instance, how would the story change if it were told completely from
Jim’s perspective?

3. How would the story change if the setting were different? Would this be an effective
story if it were set in today’s time?

4. Pretend that Jim sold his gold watch in a newspaper ad instead. Write the
newspaper ad for Jim’s gold watch. What details would he include? Would he divulge the
reasoning behind him selling his possession?

5. If Della had had short hair in the beginning of the story, what do you think that she
would have done/sold in order to pay for the gold chain? Why do you think so?

SIMPLE CRITIQUE ON THE STORY: The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry

Critical Writing Approach Used: __________________________

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 Structure of Critique
Introduction The length of an introduction is usually one paragraph for a
journal article review and two or three paragraphs for a longer
book review. Include a few opening sentences that announce the
author(s) and the title, and briefly explain the topic of the text.
Present the aim of the text and summarize the main finding or
key argument. Conclude the introduction with a brief statement
of your evaluation of the text. This can be a positive or negative
evaluation or, as is usually the case, a mixed response.
Summary Present a summary of the key points along with a limited number
of examples. You can also briefly explain the author’s
purpose/intentions throughout the text and you may briefly
describe how the text is organized. The summary should only
make up about a third of the critical review.
Review/Critique The critique should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of
the strengths, weakness and notable features of the text.
Remember to base your discussion on specific criteria. Good
reviews also include other sources to support your evaluation
(remember to reference).
You can choose how to sequence your critique. Here are some
examples to get you started:
 Most important to least important conclusions you make
about the text.
 If your critique is more positive than negative, then present
the negative points first and the positive last.
 If your critique is more negative than positive, then present
the positive points first and the negative last.
 If there are both strengths and weakness for each criterion
you use, you need to decide overall what your judgement is. For
example, you may want to comment on a key idea in the text and
have both positive and negative comments. You could begin by
stating what is good about the idea and then concede and explain
how it is limited in some way. While this example shows a mixed
evaluation, overall you are probably being more negative than
positive.
 In long reviews, you can address each criterion you choose
in a paragraph, including both negative and positive points. For
very short critical reviews (one page or less), where your
comments will be briefer, include a paragraph of positive aspects
and another of negative.

You can also include recommendations for how the text can be
improved in terms of ideas, research approach; theories or
frameworks used can also be included in the critique section.
Conclusion This is usually a very short paragraph.
 Restate your overall opinion of the text.
 Briefly present recommendations.
 If necessary, some further qualification or explanation of
your judgement can be included. This can help your critique
sound fair and reasonable.
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VI. Assessment
Directions: Read and analyze the given literary work from Luzon, entitled Footnote to
Youth by Jose Garcia Villa. Critic the story using the different approaches in reading
through identifying its common aspects. Answer the questions and complete the
analytical table below.

"Footnote to Youth" by José García Villa

Footnote to Youth" begins with the main character Dudong working in the fields. He takes
no real joy in his dusty work; he is too distracted, impatient to get home and tell his father
that he has asked Teang, the woman he loves, to marry him—and she has accepted. He is
preoccupied by feelings of adulthood and masculinity, believing himself to be grown and
capable. On the way home, he stops to bathe in a creek, a symbolic gesture: he is beginning
fresh, starting a new chapter in his life. At home, we see the labors of the home and the
trials of old age: Dudong regrets that he doesn't have a sister to help his mother with the
housework; his father has a terrible and persistent toothache. When he tells his father his
news, the latter tries to talk him out of it—Dudong is young, only 17. But because he is only
17, he is headstrong and sure of what he wants, so his father allows him to marry.

Nine months later, Teang gives birth to a boy, whom they name Blas. As Dudong waits out
the childbirth in the yard, he frets to himself about what it will mean to be a father, and he
imagines himself having ten children. He is afraid and despondent rather than excited at
the prospect, and he is embarrassed to be a father and to have a child and to feel these
things, though he does develop a sense of paternal pride upon seeing the baby.

Over the course of six years, Teang gives birth six more times, which takes its toll on both
her body and Dudong's. Both become old beyond their years, and both regrets having
married so young; Teang bitterly wishes she had accepted the hand of another suitor, who
in those six years had married but had no children. Dudong does not want all these children,
and one night he stays awake wondering why life can be so cruel when youth is so full of
dreams, so full of hope and expectation.

This same night, Blas, now 18, comes home late, and is unable to sleep. Dudong asks him
what has him so agitated, and sees that the roles of father and son are now reversed: where
once Dudong was the stubborn, impatient youth who thought that to marry was to live, and
his father was the cautious, objective voice of reason, now Dudong's son has asked his
girlfriend to marry him, and Dudong wants desperately for the young man to reconsider.
But he will not reconsider, and Dudong resignedly gives his consent. Thus, the impatience
of youth perpetuates itself, along with the wisdom of years. Though love may at first
overcome, life soon catches up.

A. Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. What behavioral expectations are imposed on the characters?

2. If a female character were male, how would the story be different (and vice versa)?

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3. Is there a relationship between the beginning and the end of the story? Explain.

4. How does the author create tone and mood?

5. What view of life does the story present?

B. Directions: Fill out with the table with your brief critique of the story of Footnote to
Youth. Make sure you have considered the common aspects to look into when critiquing.
Use the Structure of Critique on page 7.

Formalist Criticism Feminist Criticism Marxist Criticism

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Be guided by the rubrics below.

Content 5 3 2 Score
INTRODUCTION and Introduction creates Introduction Background details are
CONCLUSION interest. Thesis states adequately explains the a random, unclear
the position. background, but may collection of
Conclusion effectively lack detail. Thesis information. Thesis is
summarizes the topic. states the topic, but vague and unclear.
key elements are Conclusion is not
missing effective and does not
summarize main
points.
MAIN POINTS Three or more main Two to three main Stated main points and
points and aspects of points and aspects of some aspects of
criticism have been criticism have been criticism have been
stated. The analysis stated. The analysis stated. The analysis
used more descriptive used more descriptive used more descriptive
language. language. language.
ORGANIZATION Logical progression of Organization is clear. Writing is not
ideas. Transitions are Transitions are present organized. The
present throughout the at times, but there is transitions between
essay, but lacks very little variety. ideas are unclear or
variety. non-existent.
STYLE Writing is clear and Writing is clear, but Writing is confusing
sentences have varied could use a little more and hard to follow.
structure, Diction is sentence variety to Contains fragments
consistent. make the writing more and/or runon
interesting. sentences.
MECHANICS Punctuation, spelling, There are only a few (3- Distracting errors in
and capitalization are 4) errors in punctuation, spelling,
generally correct and punctuation, spelling, and capitalization.
no error at all. and capitalization.

Total

VII. Reflection

Directions: Choose and encircle the letter of the answer.

1. Which of these features of a text would a Formalist be most interested in?

A. Context C. Structure
B. Meaning of words D. Author's biographical information

2. Which type of text would be the most useful when applying Formalism?
A. Poem B. Play C. Novel D. Non-fiction

3. What is the term Formalists use to describe a text that exhibits a special use of
language?
A. Linguist B. Literal C. Languages D. Literariness

4. Feminism is both a movement and _____.

A. a historical moment that has been superseded by other concerns
B. an approach to social and intellectual issues
C. of particular interest to all women
D. a style of scientific investigation

5. Feminism is concerned with identifying and remedying harm against and

disadvantage _____.
A. to women in business C. to women in the sciences
B. to women in academia D. arising from biases against women
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6. Feminists argue that, among other things, prejudices against women lead to _____.
A. much-needed discussions about the role of women in society
B. widespread discrediting of women's ideas and experience
C. policies that enforce equity
D. an unbalanced life

7. Some feminists argue that women are denied some characteristic essential to full
personhood, thereby making them _____.
A. a different sort of human C. less than human
B. equivalent to men D. superior to men

8. Formalism is sometimes analyzed and written as ________________________.

A. a gender study C. a study of patterns
B. a close reading D. a focus on inter-textual connections

9. Reader Response Theory charges that a community of readers are likely to read and
interpret a text _________________.
A. quickly B. critically C. similarly D. differently

10. Formalist Criticism studies all of the following elements except for _____.
A. point of view C. character development
B. reader’s emotions D. character's motivations

VIII. References

https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/researching/critical-
reading/#:~:text=A%20critical%20reading%20attempts%20to,is%20the%20text%20wr
itten%20for%3F
https://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/write/critique.html
http://home.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/spring97/litcrit.html

Prepared by:
SHEENA MAE NAGUIMBING-SIMBULAN
Teacher II, Maruhat NHS - SHS

Note: Practice Personal Hygiene Protocols at all times.

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IX. Key to Correction

Look me Back Reflection

1. True 1. C
2. Completely combined 2. A
3. True 3. D
4. True 4. B
5. True 5. D
6. B
7. C
8. A
Tell me More 9. D
1. Reader-Response 10. B
Criticism
2. Marxist Criticism
3. Feminist Criticism
4. Marxist Criticism
5. Formalist Criticism

Let’s do this
Students’ answer may vary, depending on
how it was understood by the learners

Assessment
Students’ answer may vary, depending on
how it was understood by the learners

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