USING CRITICAL

APPROACHES IN
WRITING A CRITIQUE
ALFRED JAN G. NAPARAN, MALT
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 CRITIQUING
characteristics
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a constructive way to better explore and
The word means “to
understand the material we
evaluate”
are working with.

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

a work or concept.
 CRITIQUE
purpose
Writing a critique helps us:

 develop a knowledge of the work’s subject area

 understand the work’s purpose
 determine the intended audience
 understand the development of argument
 know structure of evidence or creative style; and
 recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the work.
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 CRITIQUE

Always remember that a critical evaluation does not

simply highlight negative impressions. It should
deconstruct the work and identify both strengths and
weaknesses. It should examine the work and evaluate its
success, in light of its purpose.
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 APPROACHES IN CRITIQUING
ACADEMIC TEXT
The judgment you make about a work will reflect your
own values, biases, and experience; however, you must
respect the author's words and intentions as presented in
the work.
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 APPROACHES IN CRITIQUING
ACADEMIC TEXT
Do not analyze a work in terms of what you would like to
see; analyze it in terms of what you actually observe.
Remember to clearly separate your assumptions from the
author's assumptions.
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 FORMALISM
characteristics
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the primary goal for formalist critics is to Title Two
determine how elements of form (style,
the key to understanding a text is through
structure, tone, imagery, etc.) work together
the text itself
with the text's content to shape its effects
upon readers

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the historical context, the author, or any
the main focus is on the arrangement of
other external contexts are not necessary in
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language
interpreting the meaning
 FORMALISM
guide questions
 How are the various parts of the work interconnected?
 How is the work structured? What techniques, styles, media were used in the
work? Are they effective in portraying the purpose?
 How does the author's choice of point of view affect the reader’s
understanding and feelings about the text?
 Does the work enhance understanding of key ideas? Does the work engage
(or fail to engage) with key concepts or other works in its discipline?
 What types of evidence or persuasion are used? Has evidence been
interpreted fairly?
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 What lesson does the author want me (the reader) to learn about life?
 FEMINISM
characteristics
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concerned with the ways in which the text
reinforces or undermines the economic, This looks at how aspects of our culture are
political, social, and psychological inherently patriarchal (male dominated)
oppression of women.

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aims to expose misogyny in writing about
women, which can take explicit and
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implicit forms
 FEMINISM
guide questions
 How is the life of women portrayed in the work?
 Is the form and content of the work influenced by the writer’s gender?
 Does the work challenge or affirm traditional views of women?
 What does the work say about women's creativity?
 What does the work reveal about the actions of patriarchy?
 How do the images of women in the work reflect patriarchal social forces that
have impeded women’s efforts to achieve full equality with men?
 What marital expectations are imposed in the work? What effect do these
expectations have?
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 What role does the work play in terms of women's history and tradition?
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study the work under discussion take notes on key parts of the work

HOW TO
WRITE
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develop an understanding of the main consider how the work relates to a broader
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argument or purpose being expressed in the issue or context

work
 CRITIQUE
structure

INTRODUCTION
 short
 should describe the main argument or purpose of the work
 explain the context in which the work was created
 briefly summarize the main points
 objectively describe how the author portrays these by using techniques,
styles, media, characters or symbols
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 CRITIQUE
structure

BODY
 should give systematic and detailed assessment of the different elements
of the work
 evaluating how well the author was able to achieve the purpose
 include the summary of the work and a detailed evaluation
 present the gauge of usefulness or impact of the work in a particular
field
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 CRITIQUE
structure

CONCLUSION
 a very brief paragraph
 includes a statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work
 a summary of the key reasons or
 recommendations for improvement on the work
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CRITIQUE
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CRITIQUE
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 CRITIQUE: FORMALISM
APPROACH
The anti-smoking campaign poster is designed to appeal to the smokers to quit from smoking.
The poster works against the allure of cigarettes and upsets the routine presence in popular
smoking culture.
This poster uses negative images concerning bad effects of the cigarette. It sends messages that
using tobacco may harm other people. It emphasize that secondhand smoke harms non-smokers
due to person who use tobacco. On the other element of the poster, this uses sophisticated graphic
design techniques to encourage the viewer to stop smoking. The entire image of the woman
metaphorically illustrates the need to "break the habit" of smoking, a common mantra in smoking
cessation campaigns. While the tagline compliments to the woman’s image, it also strikes a strong
message why is there a need to quit from smoking.
Reflecting the style and polish of this campaign, this poster is significant because it provides a
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graphic illustration for the behavioral change it advocates. The poster calls for control of nicotine
addiction, offering a liberating and implicitly empowering outcome.
 CRITIQUE: FEMINISM APPROACH
The anti – smoking campaign poster concerns with the harmful effects of smoking. This is
designed to create an association between the smoking behavior and its ultimate consequences.
In the poster, the man portrays the role of the smoker and a woman’s image is used to portray the
effects of cigarette use. The idea of using of woman’s image as suggests that women are more prone
to the effect of cigarette use than men. Thus, in this element, the poster contradicts to what is really
the culture of smoking in the society. As the study shown, about 35 percent of men in developed
countries smoke (Mackay and Eriksen, 2002). For women, the pattern is reversed, about 9 percent in
developed countries smoke. The beauty of the woman countenance attracts audience specially men.
This really supports the idea of marketing which women images are used to attract men clients.
Indeed, this campaign poster does not only effectively deliver the message, but it also shows the
attributable role of women in the society as a driving force to motivate smokers from quitting
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cigarette use.
 CRITIQUE
tips
 Your critique should be written in academic style
 Order your ideas into paragraphs.
 Start with the broad impressions first and then move into the details of the
technical elements.
 For shorter critiques, you may discuss the strengths of the works, and then
the weaknesses.
 In longer critiques, you may wish to discuss the positive and negative of
each key question in individual paragraphs.
 Provide evidence from the work itself, such as a quote or example,
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 Cite evidence from related sources. Explain how this evidence supports
your evaluation of the work.
 BRING HOME ACTIVITY

 Write a 3-paragraph critique

of the poster presented
 Use formalism approach
 Write your answer on your
quiz notebook
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