ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL PURPOSES

Lesson 5
CRITICAL APPROACHES
TO WRITING A REVIEW, REACTION,
AND CRITIQUE PAPER

Prepared By: Ms. Grace B. Jotojot., LPT.

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OBJECTIVES:
define what is a Review Paper, Reaction Paper and
Critique Paper;
analyze the differences and appropriate application of the
critical approaches in writing a Review/Reaction/Critique
Paper;
apply the different critical approaches into writing a
Review/Reaction/Critique Paper
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Identify which among the three statements in the following items is a “LIE” by crossing it out.
1.
 Thesis statement is a claim or stand to develop in a paper.
 Thesis statement does not control the ideas in an essay
 Thesis statement has one main point.
2.
 Write a Thesis statement that avoids using overly-opinionated stands.
 Write a Thesis statement that does not contain facts alone.
 Write a Thesis statement in a predictable manner.
3.
 A strong Thesis statement is something that people could reasonably have differing opinions on.
 A strong Thesis statement contains an element of uncertainty, risk or challenge.
 A strong Thesis statement should not have a debatable claim

2 TRUTHS & A LIE

Lesson Recall
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Motivation:
WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

MENTAL COVID -19 ONLINE

HEALTH PANDEMIC CLASS
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Review Paper is a succinct review of a specific topic that provides sufficient

and in-depth interpretation and synthesis of published work.

Reaction Paper is a form of paper writing in which the writer expresses his
ideas and opinions about what has been read or seen.

Critique Paper summarizes and judges the book, journal article, and
artwork, among other sources. Basically, this paper includes a critical
evaluation of the item under reflection.

REVIEW, REACTION, AND CRITIQUE PAPER

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CRITICAL APPROACHES
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FORMALISM
Formalism emphasizes the form of a literary work to determine its
meaning, focusing on literary elements and how they work to create
meaning.

• Focus on the elements, structure and principles that govern a certain

text, artworks, movie, book, poems, etc.

 Poem (meter, figurative deices, imagery, theme)

 Books/stories (setting, characters, plot)
 Movies (sound effects, transition, shots)
 Artistic expression (lines, colors, shapes, rhythm, texture, sound)
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BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM
Biographical Criticism emphasizes the importance of the author’s life and
background into account when analyzing a text.

• Focus on the life and background of the writer/artist and connect it to

the subject of your review or critic.

 How did the life of Dr. Jose Rizal affect his written works?
 How did Pablo Picasso’s life experiences shape his painting style?
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HISTORICAL CRITICISM
Historical Criticism posits that every literary work is the product of its
time and its world.

• Focus on the era and significant events that happened during the time
the text/movie/book/art/poem was produced.

 How did Juan Luna’s ‘Spoliarium’ depict the happenings during the
time it was painted?
 How did Victor Hugo show the hardships and triumph during the
French revolution, in his work, ‘Les Miserables’?
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MARXIST CRITICISM
Marxist Criticism emphasizes on how power, politics, and money play a
role in literary texts and amongst literary societies and characters.

• Focus on how class, power, race and economic status affect the content
and theme of a certain work.

 In what way did the story/movie reflect the socio-economic status of the
characters?
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FEMINISM
Feminism emphasizes on the roles, positions, and influences of women
within literary texts.

• Focus on how women are portrayed in a certain literary work, in arts,

in commercials, in movie, etc.

 Are women viewed as inferior beings in the movie? How were they
portrayed?
 What aspect of the painting mirrors the patriarchal ideology in our
society?
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READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM
Reader-response criticism emphasizes that the meaning of a text is
dependent upon the reader’s response to it.

• Focus on the meaning you created while reading a text, watching a

movie or looking at a certain object. It focuses on your personal connection
with and understanding of the subject of your review.

 What emotion did you experience after reading the poem?

 What is your interpretation of the painting?
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Identify the Critical Approaches being described in Column A by matching it to its

pair from the Column B.
1. Gender Equality and Women’s Role in • FORMALISM
the Society
• MARXIST CRITICISM
2. Events during a specific time/period/era
3. Life and experiences of the writer/artist • HISTORICAL CRITICISM
4. Relationship between the reader and the
text/artwork • FEMINSIM
5. Economic Status Power
• BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM
6. Elements, Principles, Characteristics
• READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM

Let’s check your

understanding!
FIND THE MATCH
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ACTIVITY
Directions: Fill in the table by writing a short critique/analysis consisting 5-10 sentences each
critical approach on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

ROMEO AND JULIET

FEMINISM  

FORMALISM  

MARXIST CRITICISM  

BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICSM  

HISTORICAL CRITICISM  

READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM
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Thank you
for listening!