Guidelines for

Writing the
Reaction
paper/Review/
Critique
○ Value Communicated
■ Sound critical judgment
■ A fair and balanced assessment of situations or events, people and
things
○ Basic Content
■ Ranges from an off-hand gut reaction, favorable or unfavorable,
merely expressive of emotion to a more rational impersonal
critical analysis that seriously communicates some value, ethical
or moral, some hidden or forgotten truth, and some aesthetic
delight
■ May take the form of a reflection, an appeal, a protest, a tribute or
denunciation, a speculation
■ In general, the content would include the following topics:
1.) For human situations:
a.) A brief description of the event
b.) People involved, their roles and contributions
c.) Other driving forces, in the open or hidden and
unsuspected
d.) Implications and consequences
e.) Assessment and prognostication
f.) Some offered solutions
2.) For cultural affairs, people, works, performances:
a.) The central purposes of the event or product
b.) The means, devices, strategies employed to achieve
the purposes
c.) An evaluation of the achievement: success or failure
d.) The significance (if any) beyond mere entertainment of
the event or product in ethical and/or aesthetic terms,
its timeliness and/or timelessness
o Modes of Ordering (Any of the following
■ From the event/performance/artifact/work presented and
described/narrated in themselves to the writer’s critical evaluation
of the entire event, show or work in a sequence of its elements
■ Discussion that intersperses critical comments between mention or
description of the details of the event, show or work
■ From a cover statement giving an over-all judgment of the event,
show or piece to a discussion of each angle, aspect or element of
the event, show or work illustrating or providing evidence for the
evaluative cover statement
○ Basic qualities of a Good Reaction Paper
■ Gives a fair and balance social commentary
■ Provides relevant and accurate factual information on the
situation
■ Exhibits by means of thorough and in-depth analysis an
appreciation of context (including time, place, people,
involvement, their motivation, and actuations)
■ Makes a clear distinction, through language, between what
is actual and what is probable or possible
■ Exhibits a deep sense of humanity and an understanding of
the human situation even while expressing disapproval or
disagreement most intensely
○ Basic Qualities of an Adequate Critical Judgment
■ Provides accurate and relevant information on the event, show, or
work
■ Exhibits full appreciation of the purpose behind the event, show,
or work
■ Shows a clear understanding of the means (strategies, techniques,
devices, etc.) and their appropriateness and power in achieving the
purpose
■ Exhibits fairness and balance in the judgment made
■ Projects incisive and profound insights into its (1) analysis of the
event on artifact, (2) interpretation of the underlying meaning or
significance of the event or artifact, and (3) appreciation of the
values “(moral and/or aesthetic) unfolded in every detail of the
event or artifact