LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO: 3

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES (EAPP)

Module 6: Use Appropriate Critical Approaches in Writing a Critique such as Formalism,
Feminism, etc.

I. INTRODUCTION
In this module, you will be able to skillfully determine and employ critical writing with a
clear understanding on how a critique should be written using appropriate approaches to a specific
subject or written material.

II. VOCABULARY LIST

Here are the following terms you might be unfamiliar with:
• Paradox- made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually or may be
true or possible
• Evaluation- to judge the value or condition of something in a careful and thoughtful way; to
determine significance or worth
• Demography-statistical study of human population with reference to size and density, distribution
and vital statistics
• Patriarchy- a family, group or government controlled or led by man or group of men
• Tripartite- involving three people, groups or parts

III. ACTIVITIES/ LEARNING CONCEPT

TEST A: “My Emoji, My Thoughts”: Choose at least two items/pictures of your choice. All you must
do is to weigh your thoughts and draw the feeling towards the picture/s by making your own emoji style.
After which, write and share why you have drawn/chosen such emoji. Whether your thoughts are
positive or negative provide your reasons/arguments. One to three sentences would be enough.

1 2 Start you answer with this:

I have chosen picture number ___. My emoji is _____.

Write your positive or negative thoughts about the

picture._______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
____________________________________________

3 4 Inspired by your thoughts above, write at least two sentences which

explain facts about the item of your choice above. Indicate below
your source of information backing up the correctness of information
you have provided.
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
Source of Information:_________________________________

Since you have initially warmed up, let us go farther in understanding the concepts and principles
focusing on critical approaches you should be familiar with necessary for you to write a critique. A step
by-step procedure will be modeled from simple to a much complex structure depending on the required
number of paragraphs or words your teacher allows you to do so.

WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?

Critique is derived from ancient Greek (“kritike”). It is defined as a careful judgment in which
you shape your opinion about the strengths and weaknesses of a piece of writing or work of art.
Depending on the instruction of your teacher, its length may vary from 100 to 750 words or more. It is
not a summary of the piece, rather, it is the critical evaluation to further understand validity, worth,
effect, use of the material that interests readers, and/or the recommendation or appeal for further
appreciation. This could be possible by way of subjecting the piece of writing on the critical approaches
in analyzing the piece using appropriate evidence and arguments. Proper and acceptable reasons or
proofs are necessary to ensure quality and substance of the opinions you have cited which reinforces
relevant persuasion.
 A. CRITICAL APPROACHES IN WRITING A CRITIQUE
In writing a critique, one approach may be enough. You may use one or a mixture of approaches
depending on the length and depth of your critique. However, it is still easier for a beginner to simply
focus with one approach.
1. FORMALISM/ NEW CRITICISM
This approach claims that all that are important in
analyzing and understanding the text can be found in the piece
of writing or text itself. Outside information regarding the
author, society of the time, politics or any other external context
are no longer needed. The text is independent. It has a fixed
meaning. It is timeless and universal.
You may consider these questions when writing a formalist
critique:
1. What is the title, setting, other elements etc. and to what
extent it is symbolic?
2. What kind of language does the author use?
3. How is the work’s structure unified?
4. How do various elements of the work reinforce its meaning?
5. What recurring patterns (repeated or related words, images,
etc.) can you find? What is the effect of these patterns or
motifs?
6. How does repetition reinforce the theme(s)?
7. How does the writer’s diction reveal or reflect the work’s
meaning?
8. What is the effect of the plot, and what parts specifically
produce that effect?
9. What figures of speech are used? (metaphors, similes, etc.)
10. Note the writer’s use of paradox, irony, symbol, plot,
characterization, and style of narration.
11. What effects are produced? Do any of these relate to one
another or to the theme?
12. Is there a relationship between the beginning and the end
of the story?
13. What tone and mood are created at various parts of the
work?
14. How does the author create tone and mood? What
relationship is there between tone and
mood and the effect of the story?
15. How do the various elements interact to create a unified
whole?
16. What is the argument or thesis?
17. Who is telling the story in the piece?
2. FEMINISM
This approach emphasizes the importance or relevance
of women as subjects and how gender been perceived in the
piece. The images of women and the underlying concepts of
femininity including economic, societal, psychological and
archetypal nature of women are examined. This approach
likewise stresses equality for a male dominated society.
You may consider these questions when writing a feminist
critique:
1. How are women’s lives portrayed in the work?
2. Is the form and content of the work influenced by the writer’s
gender?
3. How do male and female characters relate to one another?
Are these relationships sources of conflict? Are these conflicts
resolved?
4. Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of
women?
5. How do the images of women in the story reflect patriarchal
social forces that have impeded women’s efforts to achieve full
equality with men?
SAMPLE FORMALIST CRITIQUE
“Dead Stars by Paz Marquez 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 must
travel light years to reach us. Since they are
millions of miles away and light must 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 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.
Barrot & Sipacio. (2017).
Communicate Today ENGLISH for
Academic & Professional Purposes
for SHS. Quezon City: C&E
Publishing, Inc.
SAMPLE FEMINIST CRITIQUE
“Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez”
The story is a study of power
imbalance brought about by gender. In the
beginning, Dead Stars already clearly
illustrates 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 the 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.
6. What marital expectations are imposed on the
characters? What effect do these expectations have?
7. What behavioral expectations are imposed on the
characters? What effect do these expectations have?
8. If a female character were male, how would the story
be different (and vice versa)?
9. How does the marital status of a character affect her
decisions or happiness?
10. How does culture view women vs. men?
11. How is the relationship between men and women
portrayed?
12. What are the power relationships between men and
women (or characters assuming male/female roles)?
13. Do characters take on traits from opposite genders?
How so? How does this change others’ reactions to
them?
14. What does the work reveal about the operations
(economically, politically, socially, or psychologically) of
patriarchy?
15. What does the work imply about the possibilities of
sisterhood as a mode of resisting patriarchy?
16. What role does the work play in terms of women's
literary history and literary tradition?
SAMPLE FEMINIST CRITIQUE
“Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez”
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.
Barrot & Sipacio. (2017). Communicate
Today ENGLISH for Academic
& Professional Purposes for SHS.
Quezon City: C&E Publishing, Inc.

3. READER’S RESPONSE SAMPLE READER’S RESPONSE CRITIQUE

This approach stresses the
attachment or strong connectionism
of an individual reader’s mind to the
piece at hand. The reader herself
can put meaning and interpret every
part of the text. The text is nothing
unless it has been read and
interpreted by the reader.
The reader’s reaction and
interaction made from the piece
recreates and develops a further
depth of meaning. The manner a
poem or a short story is read or
delivered strengthens and invokes
visuals and imagination to a much-
sought individual appreciation.
In such a case, a reader who
happened to read the same text may
find the experience different from the
first against the second time
“Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez”
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 the feeling of betrayal for
Esperanza that stays.
Barrot & Sipacio. (2017). Communicate Today ENGLISH for
Academic
& Professional Purposes for SHS. Quezon City: C&E
Publishing, Inc.

4. MARXIST CRITICISM SAMPLE MARXIST CRITIQUE

This approach tries to
unfold how socioeconomic status
affects hierarchy or conflicts
involving social classes in the
masterpiece.
This approach likewise
attempts to answer the following
questions:
1. What are the differences
between economic classes?
2. What conflict has arisen
between the working class and
the elite?
3. What implication may the
socioeconomic system bring?
4. What social class has been
emphasized and how was this
portrayed in the piece?
“Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez”
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 is 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 reached 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.
Barrot & Sipacio. (2017). Communicate Today ENGLISH for
Academic & Professional Purposes for SHS. Quezon City: C&E
Publishing, Inc.
OTHER APPROACHES
5. Biographical Approach: Focuses on connection of work to author’s personal experiences.
Understanding authors’ life can help in comprehending the work. This aspect amplifies meaning and
relevance of the text.
6. Historical Approach: This approach focuses on connection of work to the historical period in
which it was written; literary historians attempt to connect the historical background of the work to
specific aspects of the work.
7. Psychological Approach: This approach focuses on the psychology of characters.
8. Sociological Approach: This approach focuses on man’s relationship to others in society, politics,
religion, and business.
9. Archetypal Approach: This approach focuses on connections to other literature,
mythological/biblical allusions, archetypal images, symbols, characters, and themes.
10. Philosophical Approach: This approach focuses on themes, view of the world, moral statements,
author’s philosophy, etc.

B. WRITING STRUCTURE

In this accord, let us denote salient structures and parts appropriate to include in the output along
with the outlined questions you have included. There has been no strict rules in terms of structure for it
varies depending on your teacher’s task requirements, however, for uniformity purposes, let us
generally use the following parts below ranging from at least 100 to 750 words.
Remember that the heart of your critique shall focus on its strengths and weaknesses and to relay
how effective is the material.
GENERAL FORMAT STRUTURE FOR CRITIQUE OF
ACADEMIC TEXTS AND RESEARCH
A. Introduction (Short paragraph/paragraph/s - one
to three sentences or more) A. INTRODUCTION (around 5% of the paper)
This must include the title of the material, the This includes the title of the book/article/work,
author, and your assessment of the material. the writer’s name and the thesis statement which will
For a short story, this part may also include preview your analysis.
the background of the piece, your opinion and the
thesis. The thesis includes the subject, your opinion, B. SUMMARY (around 10%)
and your main point. In this phase, objective or purpose must be
For example: cited. Methods used if applicable could be included
SUBJECT: The Blind Assassin along with major finding, claims, ideas or message
OPINION: show’s Atwood’s skills as a writer highlighted in the material. This also includes
MAIN POINT/S: because of the visual imagery, the arguments and findings on the material
strong characters and the memorable
message. C. REVIEW (around 75%)
In this phase, the following must be observed:
B. Plot Summary/Description (Short paragraph/s –
one to three sentences or more) 1. Appropriateness of methodology to support the
This involves the gist or the description of the arguments (for books and articles) or
material. For a short story, this is the understanding appropriateness of mode of presentation (other
of plot or summary of the piece examined. works) must be cited.
2. Theoretical soundness, coherence of ideas
C. Analysis and Interpretation/ Evaluation (One 3. Sufficiency and soundness of explanation in
to three or more paragraph/s) relation to other available information and
In this phase you will retrieve the guiding experts. It is likewise best to ask the following
questions of your choice to include in your outlined questions during this part:
discussion. It does not necessarily mean that you will a. What are the assumptions mentioned in the work?
include all in one but rather only those you think are Are they explicitly discussed? • What are the
needed depending on the arguments or points you contributions of the work to the field where it belongs?
wanted to stress. b. What problems and issues are discussed or
For the formalist view for example, any presented in the work? • What kinds of information
among the character, dialogue, setting, conflict, are presented in the work?
suspense, ending and plot would speak by itself. c. How are information used to support the
Analysis of the poem for formalists may involve arguments or thesis? • Are there other ways
imagery, sound, figurative language, language and of supporting the arguments or thesis aside from the
other elements. information used in the work? Is the author or creator
silent about the alternative ways of explanation?
D. Conclusion/Closing paragraph (One to three
paragraphs) D. CONCLUSION (around 10%)
At this point, you shall be able to link your 1. Your overall impression of the work shall be
thoughts reinforced with your assessment in the stated.
introduction.
 If in any case it is possible for you to compare
the masterpiece to a similar work, the better. Your
recommendation depends on how you have
perceived the material observing all fair judgment
and appreciation.
4. Suggestion for future direction of research
5. Clarify and summarize judgments
6. Comment about why such research matters or
what else needs to be researched in the field.

TEST B: Let’s Write! Read the excerpt below and write on your notebook the critical approach used.
What critical approach is employed on the excerpt cited below?
1. a. Feminism b. Biographical c. Marxist d. Readers Response

Your love is like the sun, Excerpt of a Critique:

That lights up my whole world
I feel the warmth inside;
Your love is like the river,
That flows down through my veins
I feel the chill inside;
It has a sestet stanza or six lines in a stanza, it’s lyrical
because it shows strong
feelings and thoughts. It shows no rhyme (a, b, c, d, e, c). It
is a hexameter consisting of
six number of feet and it shows repetition of phrases. The
repetition is intently used to
evoke a strong feeling.

2. a. Psychological approach b. Formalism c. Historical/Marxist d. Feminist

Sample excerpt critique:
The poem explores the concept of justice and how it is applied in the Philippine Society today
compared to our times in the past. Although it is about the Supreme Court in particular, it also reflects
other problems in the Philippine Government. For example the use of money and power by government
officials to cover up their mistakes in public. Evident in the content, we can say at present that checks
and balances in the Philippine Government to some extent are still alive and well, however, there are
loopholes at some circumstances apparent or observable today.

3. a. Biographical b. Formalism c. Historical d. Feminist

Sample Excerpt:
The piece begins from a thought how happy life is. The experiences of the main character the
moment he was born depicts a remarkable good life. Contentment as it may seem are repeated
expressed in the piece. However, a twist seems to unfold the mask behind happy faces, happy
moments and happy life. It is an exactly opposite of reality as hinted by some contradicting thoughts by
the speaker. This I think is very much possible because the main character it seems is the author
himself.

TEST C: A poem entitled “Caged Bird” is hereunder written. Analyze and decide on the approach/es
you will use in critiquing the piece. Draft your critical approach questions and put them together in
your critique outline. Then, write a critique not less than two paragraphs or a hundred words. Use the
rubric below in checking your critique content.
CAGED BIRD BY MAYA ANGELOU

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill
of things unknown
 CAGED BIRD BY MAYA ANGELOU
CONTINUATION…..

but longed for still

and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom

Your Critique Writing Rubric

Critique Structure:
1. Introduction (Short paragraph/paragraph/s - one to three sentences or more)
Introduction Statement (include Title, author, your opinion) 5points
Your thesis 5points

II. Plot Summary/Description (Short paragraph/s – one to three sentences or more)

This involves the gist or the description of the material. For a short story, this is the
understanding of plot or summary of the piece examined. 10 points

III. Analysis and Interpretation/Evaluation (One to three paragraph/s) 60 points

Your Critique
For formalism may consider
Imagery, sound, language figures of speech etc.
For Biographical may consider knowing the author’s experiences
For Historical may deal comparison women on her time was perceived
For Marxism may consider societal differences
For feminism the focus would be on oppression etc.

IV. Conclusion/Closing paragraph 20 points

________________
100 points/percent/10points