ENGLISH FOR

ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
ARVIN MALIHAN
 CRITICAL
APPROACHES IN
WRITING A CRITIQUE
WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?
Critiquing shares a root with the
word “criticize”. Most of us tend to
think of criticism as being negative
or mean, but in the academic sense,
doing a critique is not the least bit
negative.
WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?
The word means “to
evaluate”. Through our
critique, we do a deep
evaluation of a text.
WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?
When we critique a text, we
interrogate it. When we critique, our
own opinions and ideas become part
of our textual analysis. We question
the text, we argue with it, and we
examine into it for deeper meanings.
WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?

NOLI ME
TANGERE
TYPES OF CRITICAL
APPROACHES
FORMALISM
 FORMALISM
In using formalist criticism,
you need to focus your
analysis on the formal
feature of the subject not on
the profile of the creator.
 FORMALISM
You need to establish how
one element works together
with other elements to
achieve the effect to the
audience or spectator.
 FORMALISM
claims that literary works contain
intrinsic properties and treat each
work as a distinct work of art. In
short, it posits that the key
understanding a text is through the
text itself.
 FORMALISM
Aspects to looked into in formalism:
Author's technique
Contribution of rhymes and rhythms
to the meaning or effect of the work.
Use of imagery to develop the
symbols used in the work
 FORMALISM

”It's a sin to kill a mockingbird"

FORMALISM
Marxism /
Marxist
Theory
MARXISM

Karl Marx - Father

of Socialism
 MARXISM
Concerned with differences
between economic classes and
implications of a capitalist system,
such as the continuing conflicts
between the working class and
elite.
 MARXISM
Hence, it attempts to reveal
that the ultimate source of
people’s experience is the
socio-economic system.
 MARXISM
Bourgeosie
Proletariat
 MARXISM
Common aspect looked into when using
Marxist criticism are as follows:
Social class as represented in the work.
Social class of the writer/creator.
Social class of the characters.
Conflicts and interactions between
economic classes.
MARXISM
FEMINISM
 FEMINISM
this type of critique focuses
on how literature presents
women as subjects socio-
political, psychological, and
economic oppression.
 FEMINISM
also reveals how aspects of
our culture are patriarchal,
i.e., how our culture views
men as superior and women
as inferior.
 FEMINISM
Feminist critics carefully examine
how the images of men and
women reflect or reject the social
forces that have historically kept
the sexes from achieving total
quality.
 FEMINISM
Common aspects to looked into when
using feminism:
How culture determines gender.
How gender issues are presented in
literary works and other aspects of
human production and daily life.
 FEMINISM
Common aspects to looked into when
using feminism:
How patriarchal ideology is an
overpowering presence.
How gender equality (or lack of it)
is presented in the text.
 READER-
RESPONSE
CRITICISM
 READER-RESPONSE
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;
READER-RESPONSE
a text does not have
meaning until the
reader reads it and
interprets it.
 READER-RESPONSE
"What's the point of
having a voice if you're
gonna be silent in
those moments you
shouldn't be?"
 READER-RESPONSE
“It is only with the
heart that one can
see rightly; what is
essential is invisible
to the eye.”
HISTORICAL
CRITICISM
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
In writing a historical
criticism or review, you need
to relate how the time and
place of creation affected the
meaning of the subject.
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
HISTORICAL CRITICISM
BIOGRAPHICAL
CRITICISM
BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM
By looking into the
biography of the creator, you
understand how his/her life
shaped and influenced the
work of art.
BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM
 MORAL/
PHILOSOPHICAL
MORAL/PHILOSOPHICAL

is a type of literary
criticism that believes
literature should
instruct morality.
MORAL/PHILOSOPHICAL
MORAL/PHILOSOPHICAL
It tells us to never forget that
we were child once. It tells us
to look at the world around
us and be astonished by how
beautiful it is.
 SEATWORK #3 (20 PTS.)

MENTION A BOOK/MOVIE
AND SHARE TO US ITS
MESSAGE/MEANING/MOR
AL LESSON