Writing a Reaction, Review, and Critique
Paper Depending on the assignment, it may
What are reaction papers, reviews, and
critiques?
A reaction paper, a review, and a
critique are specialized forms of writing
in which a reviewer or reader evaluates
any of the following:
● a scholarly work (e.g.
academic books, articles)
● a work of art (e.g. play,
dance, sports, film, exhibits)
● designs (e.g. industrial
designs, furniture, fashion
design)
● graphic designs (e.g. posters,
billboards, commercials,
digital media)
Reaction papers, reviews, and critiques
● usually range from 250-750
words;
● are critical assessments,
analyses, or evaluations and
● involve skills in critical thinking
and recognizing arguments.
Writing a Reaction Paper
be necessary to formulate reactions to
the text you have read in class, your
teacher’s lectures, and even reactions
to classmates’ writings. In these cases,
you are writing a reaction paper.
Writing reaction papers can be
informal or formal and are mostly
analytical. Reactions can include
critiques, reviews, explanations of
ideas, or judgments about concepts
and theories.
Here are some important things to
consider when writing a reaction
paper.
1. Reaction papers require
careful reading of the text
you are reacting to. A solid
understanding of what you
read is the first step to writing
a reaction paper.
2. Reaction papers go beyond
the literal content of the text,
requiring that you bring to
the text meaning not
explicitly stated, to elaborate
on or explore the
implications of the author’s
ideas.
3. Your reaction paper may
contain your subjective
interpretation. You can also
use the first-person narrator
"I". Your paper does not have
to follow the structure or
layout of the text you are
writing. In fact, the reaction
 can start from the last point
the author made, and then
move on to other previously
made points.
4. The response may involve
one or more of the author's
ideas. While the responses
focus on your own reflection,
you can also include
summaries, paraphrases, or
citations of the text under
consideration.
Basic Qualities of a Good Reaction
Paper
1. Gives a fair and balanced
social commentary
2. Provides relevant and
accurate information on the
situation
3. Exhibits by means of
thorough and in-depth
analysis and appreciation of
context (including time,
place, people, involvement,
motivation, and actuation)
4. Makes a clear distinction,
through language, between
what is actual and what is
probable or possible
5. Exhibits a deep sense of
humanity and an
understanding of the human
situation even while
expressing disapproval or
disagreement most intensely
Writing a Review
A review article can also be called a
literary review. This is a survey of
previously published research on a
topic. It will provide an overview of
current thinking on the subject. And,
unlike an original research paper, it will
not present new trial results.
Writing a literature review involves
providing a critical review of available
data from existing studies. Review
articles can identify potential areas of
research for further exploration, and
they will sometimes draw new
conclusions from existing data.
Why write a review article?
● To provide a comprehensive
foundation on a topic.
● To explain the current state
of knowledge.
● To identify gaps in existing
studies for potential future
research.
● To highlight the main
methodologies and research
techniques.
Reviews are not limited to literature
reviews. They may also be written by
laypersons in the form of an assessment
of something. In this case, the review
lacks a technical basis and can be
read or understood by anyone.

Writing a Critique
In each critique, you may not be asked
to rate a text but only to analyze and
interpret the work. If you are asked to
give a personal response, remember
that your assessment is not an
expression of unsubstantiated opinion.
Your interpretations and conclusions
should be based on evidence from the
text. They must follow the ideas you
discussed in the paper.
Also, keep in mind that a critique can
represent positive as well as negative
reviews. Do not confuse “critique” with
“criticize” in the usual sense of the term,
i.e. "pointing out an error".
● do not just rely on mere
opinions; use both proofs and
logical reasonings to
substantiate your comments;
● process your ideas and
theories, revisit and extend
ideas in the specific field of
study and
● present an analytical
response to a book or article.
You answer different questions:
● How do you feel about the
topic?
● Do you agree with the
author's claims?
● Do you identify with the
topic?
● What is your evaluation of the
topic?

To sum it up...
To critique a piece of writing is to do
the following: Reaction Review Critique
Paper
● Describe: give the reader an
idea of ​the overall purpose
and intentions of the author.
● Analyze: examine how text
structure and language
convey its meaning.
● Interpret: State the meaning
or importance of each part
of the text.
● Assess: make judgments
about the value or worth of
the work.

When writing reaction papers, reviews,

and critiques…
 Methods Used
A reaction A review A critique can
paper is a refers to a simply be Major findings, claims, ideas, messages
type of formal understood as
III. REVIEW/CRITIQUE (75% of the paper)
written evaluation of a critical
assignment a particular assessment of Appropriateness of methodology to
which work. the support arguments
requires
Reviews may author’s work. Theoretical soundness, coherence of
personal
also be ideas
opinion Critiques are
written by
and written by Sufficiency and soundness of
laypersons in
conclusion. experts in a explanation in relation to other
the form of
particular field. available experts
Reaction an
papers are assessment of A critique Other perspectives in explaining the
designed something. usually has a concepts and ideas
so that Here, it lacks sound
you'll a technical IV. CONCLUSION (10% of the paper)
technical
consider basis and it basis. Overall impression of the work
carefully can be read
what you or understood It may not be Scholarly or literary value of the
think or feel by anyone. read or reviewed article
about understood by
everyone. Benefits for the intended audience
something
you've read Suggestion for the future direction of the
or seen. research

Guidelines for Writing a Reaction Paper,

Structure of a Reaction Paper, Review, Review, or Critique
and Critique

I. INTRODUCTION (5% of the paper)

Title of the book

Writer/Director’s name

Thesis Statement

II. SUMMARY (10% of the paper)

Objective or purpose
 For Articles and Journals
A. PREPARE B. OUTLINE
● Read the work to be
Take notes and jot Once you have reviewed carefully.
down questions as the content ● Relate the content of the
you read. gathered, you work to what you already
should make an know about the topic.
If you are writing
outline to organize ● Focus on discussing how the
an essay about a
the points you wish book/article/journal treats the
memory,
to make before topic (this book /work
brainstorm about
writing the essay. presents/author argues)
the experience
using concept For example, if you ● Examine if the information is
mapping, free are reacting to a adequately supported.
writing, or listing so short story, you ● Point out other interpretations
that you can might include that the writer missed out.
record everything quotations of the ● Suggest points for
that comes to characters' improvement of the
mind. dialogue or plot reasoning.
elements to which For artworks and other media
you are reacting.
● Use speculative verbs (evoke,
create, appear, & suggest).
C. EXPRESS. DO D. PROOFREAD and ● Make sure to describe it to
NOT SUMMARIZE. POLISH the reader (do not spoil key
The reaction Check for proper events).
involves exploring spelling and ● Describe the material in
cause and effect, grammar and simple terms (artworks).
motivation, make certain that General note:
themes, and you have
correlations to thoroughly ● Did the work hold your
other texts and reflected on and interest?
events, rather than analyzed the ● Did the work annoy or excite
re-telling an topic. you?
experience or ● Did the work prompt you to
story. raise questions to the author?
● Did the work lead you to
some realizations?
● Did the work remind you of
other materials that you have
read, viewed, or listened to?
Critical Approaches in Writing a Critique
→ The purpose of literary criticism is to
enhance the reader's understanding by
summarizing, interpreting, and
examining the author's work. After
reading the text closely, the critic
produces a comprehensive literary
analysis that may inform or challenge
other readers' understanding of the text.
The practice of literary criticism creates
a space for readers to better
understand the beauty and complexity Reader Response Criticism
of the world through literature - Concerned with the reviewer’s
(MasterClass, 2021). action as an audience
- A text does not have meaning
Formalism
until the reader reads it and
- Understanding a text through the
interprets it.
text itself
Two Important Ideas in
- Focuses on literary elements and
Reader-Response
how they work to create
An individual reader’s interpretation
meaning
usually changes over time.
Major Principles of Formalism
A literary text exists independent of any
Readers from different generations and
particular reader; it has a fixed meaning
time periods interpret texts differently.
➢ Can I relate to it?
The greatest literary texts are “timeless”
➢ Boring or exciting for me?
and “universal”.
➢ What is the setting?
➢ What is the title?
➢ What kind of characters are
there?
Feminist Criticism
- Concerned with the role,
position, and influence of women
in literary texts. Marxist Criticism
- Reveals how aspects of our - Concerned with the differences
culture are patriarchal. between economic classes and
➢ Are the female characters the implications of a capitalist
treated well? system.
➢ Characteristics of - Attempts to reveal that the
females? ultimate source of people’s
 experience is the socioeconomic
system.
- It examines the literature to see
how it reflects:
➢ Are there groups of
people?
➢ How can groups resolve
conflicts?
Interpreting and Preparing Visuals
Two Common Charts:
Strategies in Preparing an
Organizational Chart:
General Steps in Interpreting Visuals:
1. Read the title and subtitle
2. Read the caption, keys, and
labels
3. Determine the purpose of the
material
4. Identify the organization of
information
5. Analyze the relationship and
trends of the presented data
6. Make a conclusion of the data, if
Strategies in Preparing a Flow Chart:
necessary
Charts
- A graphical representation of
data using symbols that are
usually boxes, lines, and arrows
- Generally shows ranks, levels,
procedures, and classifications.
Strategies in Reading a Chart:
1. Study each grouping or stem
presented in the chart.
2. Pay attention to the arrows or
lines that indicate the flow,
relationship, steps, or sequence
of its details.
3. To ensure you understand the
chart, summarize each step or
component in your own words
and make your own mental
chart.
4. Compare your mental chart to the
description in the text to check how
accurate you are.
1. Organizational Chart
- Presents rankings, classifications,
and levels
● Use varied shapes carefully
Rectangles - common for all
positions.
● Connect boxes with lines to show
relationships
Solid lines - direct relationships
Dotted lines - indirect or staff
relationships.
● Avoid distracting and
complicated designs.
2. Flow Chart
- Illustrates process.
● Present only the capsule version
of the whole process.
● Note that each shape has a
corresponding meaning. Limit the
number of shapes.
 Rectangle - represents an event,
step, or action to take.
Diamond - decision points
Rounded box - represents an
event that occurs automatically;
denotes the start and end of the
whole process.
● Provide a legend when
necessary
● Sequence the data from left to
right or top to bottom
Table
- Useful in displaying numbers in
columns.
- Condenses and classifies
information to make comparisons
between and among data.
- Helps the readers grasp
relationships that might be visible
in prose.
- It contains at least two columns
with
Boxhead - heading at the top
Stub - heading on the far left
Strategies in Reading a Table
● Read the title of the table.
● Check whether the information is
updated or obsolete.
● Check the source of the
information
● Study their headings and their
relationships.
● Read the details with the
headings in mind.
● Compare and contrast the
different columns.
Graph
- Shows data using
Bars - bar graph
Lines - line graph
Circles - pie graph
Pictures - pictograph
- Each type of graph has a specific
purpose.
Bar graph
- Shows comparison of data.
Strategies in Reading a Bar Graph
● Read the title, caption, and
source note.
● Determine the purpose of the
graph
● Look at the dates mentioned, if
there are any
● Identify the items being
compared and determine what
about them is being compared?
● If the data change over time,
determine the time span and the
amount of change.
Strategies in Preparing a Bar Graph
● Limit the number of bars
● Show the comparisons clearly
● Keep the bar width consistent
● It is ideal to use space between
bars. However, if comparisons are
too close or too many, spaces
between bars may be deleted.
● Arrange the bars based on
sequence or by
ascending/descending order
● Use legends as much as possible
Line graph
- Shows trends and changes in
data
- The bottom grid scale usually
represents time.
Strategies in Reading a Line Graph
● Read the title, caption, and
source note
● Determine the purpose of the
graph
 ● Read the horizontal and vertical especially when the items they
axis represent are divisible by 100.
● Determine the time intervals ● Make the circle graph as simple
● Determine the changes over as possible.
time. ● Label each component
Strategies in Preparing a Line Graph ● If you want to show a subdivision
● Plot the data carefully of a particular wedge in a circle
● Use different line colors for line graph, use a “pie within a pie”
graphs using multiple lines technique
● Make the chart lines thicker than
the axis lines
● Do not put the numbers on the
line graph itself.
Pie Graph
- Also known as a circle graph that
uses sections to show
relationships of the parts to the
whole percentages and portions
Strategies in Reading a Pie Graph
● Read the title and the captions
carefully,
● Note the number and the labels
of pie sections of the graph
● Check if there is any legend
section and study it
● Identify the share quantity and
the percentage of each section.
Identify which sections have the
smallest and largest
percentages.
Strategies in Preparing a Pie Graph
● Use no more than 7 divisions
● Move clockwise from 12:00. Start
with the largest wedge going to
the smallest. However, “others” or
miscellaneous items must be
placed last no matter how large
they cover.
● Use the circle graph for
percentages and money