W R IT IN G

C R IT IC A L
R O A C H E S
A PP
L E SSO N 7
WHAT ARE YOUR CRITIQUES/REACTIONS
ON THE PICTURES?
 CRITICAL
APPROACHES
-are different perspectives we consider when looking
at a piece of literature.

• What do we read?
• Why do we read?
• How do we read?
 T Y P E S O F
C R IT I C A L
R O A C H E S
A P P
 READER-RESPONSE
CRITICISM
-this approach asserts that a great deal of
meaning in a text lies with how the reader
responds to it.
-is concerned with the reviewer’s reaction as an
audience of a literary work.

-claims that the reader’s role cannot be separated

from the understanding of the work.
 READER-RESPONSE
CRITICISM
-criticism is focused on the message of the text.

How do you feel after reading the story?

What are the lessons you learned from the

story?
EXAMPLE
 READER-RESPONSE
CRITICISM

Reader’s
Understanding of the
text
 FORMALIST CRITICISM
-this approach emphasizes the form of a literary
work to determine its meaning, focusing on
literary elements and how they work to create
meaning.

-claims that literary works have intrinsic

properties and treats each work as a distinct work
of art.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
FORMALIST CRITICISM

Formalism is about the

Elements of the Text
being criticized
 FEMINIST CRITICISM
-concerned with the role, position, and influence
of women in a literary text.

-focuses on how literature presents women as

subjects of socio-political, psychological and
economic oppression.
 FEMINIST CRITICISM

-tend to reveal the patriarchal aspects of our

culture

Are the male characters powerful or

superior in their position while the female
characters are subordinate or inferior?

Are the male characters decisive and the

female are not?
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
FEMINIST CRITICISM

FEMINISm =
FEMALES
 MARXIST CRITICISM
-emphasizes economic and social conditions

-based on the political theory of Karl Marx and

Freidrich Engel.

-this approach is concerned with understanding

the role of power, politics and money in literary
texts.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
MARXIST CRITICISM

MARXISM =
SOCIAL
CLASSES
 PSYCHOLOGICAL/PSYCHOANALYTIC
CRITICISM

-this approach views a text as a revelation of its

author’s mind and personality.

-based on the work of Sigmund Freud

-focuses on the hidden motivations of literary

characters.
EXAMPLE
 BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM

-this approach argues that we must take an

author’s life and background into account when
we study a text.

-refers to how the author has direct influence

over the writing.
 BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM

Benefits:

1. Facts about an author’s experience can help a

reader decide how to interpret a text.

2. A reader can better appreciate a text by

knowing a writer’s struggles or difficulties in
creating that text.
 BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISM

Benefits:

3. A reader can understand a writer’s

preoccupation by studying the way they apply
and modify their own life experiences in their
works.
EXAMPLE
 HISTORICAL CRITICISM

-argues that every literary work is a

product of its time and its world.

-meant to verify the historical

authenticity and understand the meaning
of an event that took place in the past.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
 CRITIQUE PAPER
-is a genre of academic writing.

-briefly and critically summarizes

and evaluates a work or concept.

-used to carefully analyze a variety

of works.
Critiques can be used to evaluate:

1. Creative Works- novels, exhibits, films,

shows, images, poetry;

2. Researches- monographs, journal articles,

systematic reviews, theories;

3. Media- News reports, feature articles

 Identify:

1. Criticize- to judge or to evaluate

someone or something

2. Critique- the paper or essay

- the product of
criticizing
3. Critic- the person doing the
criticism
 Functions of being a critic:

1. to introduce the author/work

2. ignite interest on a neglected work

3. Show relationship between ages and

culture
 Functions of being a critic:

4. contribute to better understanding of a

work

5. to make a study on art and it’s

“making”

6. introduce the relationship of art and

life
 Steps to write a critique:

1. Analyze the text

• set out the main purpose of the

author.

• identify the main point that the

author’s book or article.
 Steps to write a critique:

1. Analyze the text

• discuss the arguments that are used to
support the main point and the
evidence that supports them.

• explain the conclusions reached by

the author and how they have been
reached.
 Steps to write a critique:

2. Evaluate the text

• is the argument logical?
• is the text well organized, clear and
easy to read?
• have important terms been clearly
defined?
 Steps to write a critique:

2. Evaluate the text

• are the facts accurate?
• do the argument support the main
point?
• is there sufficient evidence for the
argument?
 Steps to write a critique:

2. Evaluate the text

• does the text present and consider
opposing points of view?

• does the material help you understand

the subject?
 Steps to write a critique:

2. Evaluate the text

• what questions/observations does this

article suggest?

• what does this text make you think

about?
 Steps to write a critique:

3. Write in standard essay

form
 Parts of a critique

I. Introduction

• Define the subject of your critique

and your point of view

• Background to Research
 Parts of a critique

II. Main body

• Begin with a brief summary
describing the project
• Discuss the strengths of the article

• Discuss the weaknesses of the

article
 Parts of a critique
III. Conclusion
• Re-emphasize your argument/point of view

• Make final suggestions and/or positive

and negative criticisms on the book or
article you critiqued

• What questions/observations does the article

suggest?
T HAN
K YOU