LESSON 5

CRITICAL APPROACHES IN WRITING CRITIQUE, REVIEW,

AND REACTION PAPER.

 It is the act of closely examining and judging the

media. When we examine the media and
REVIEW, REACTION, AND CRITIQUE PAPER
various media stories, we often find instances of
Review paper - is a succinct review of a specific topic media bias. Media bias is the perception that
that provides sufficient and in-depth interpretation and the media is reporting the news in a partial or
synthesis of published work. prejudiced manner.
 Media bias occurs when the media seems to
Reaction paper - is a form of paper writing in which the push a specific viewpoint, rather than reporting
writer expresses his ideas and opinions about what has the news objectively. Keep in mind that media
been read or seen. bias also occurs when the media seems to
Critique paper - summarizes and judge the book, ignore an important aspect of the story.
journal article, and artwork, among other sources.

-these papers include a critical evaluation of the item VI. Structuralism

under reflection. And an expanded version of a  It focused on how human behavior is
reaction paper. determined by social, cultural and psychological
CRITICAL APPROACHES IN WRITING A CRITIQUE- structures. It tended to offer a single unified
REVIEW-REACTION PAPER approach to human life that would embrace all
disciplines. The essence of structuralism is the
1.Formalism belief that “things cannot be understood in
2. Reader-response isolation, they have to be seen in the context of
3.Feminism “things cannot be understood in isolation, they
4.Marxist Criticism have to be seen in the context of larger
5.Media Criticism structures which contain them.
6. Structuralism  For example, the structuralist analysis of
Donne’s poem, Good Morrow, demands more
I. Formalist criticism: focus on the relevant genre, the concept of
 emphasizes the form of a literary work to courtly love, rather than on the close reading of
determine its meaning the formal elements of text.
 focus on the elements, structure and principles
that govern a certain text, artworks, movie,
book, poems, etc.
II. Reader response
 is concerned with the reviewer's rection as an
audience of literary work.
 only your reaction as a reader.
 reader's role cannot be separated from
understanding of the text.
 criticism is focused on the message of a text.
 How do you feel after reading the story? What
are the lessons you learned from the story?
III. Feminist criticism
 focuses on how literature presents women as
subjects of socio-political, phsychological, and
economic oppression.
 tends to reveal the patriarchal aspects of our
culture.
IV. Marxist Criticism
 concerned with the differences between
economic classes.
 attempts to reveal the ultimate source of
people's experience is the socio-economic
system.
V. Media Criticism
LESSON 6: 5. Compose an outline.
WRITING A BALANCED REVIEW, REACTION AND
6. Construct your paper.
CRITIQUE PAPER
If you need to write a Review Paper but don't know
I. How to write a Reaction/Response Paper
where to start, keep some of these:
Reaction Paper
* Choose a topic that is not too broad and not too
Is a form of paper writing in which the writer expresses narrow for the type of review you would like to write. If
his ideas and opinions about what has been read or you want to write a shorter review, pick a narrower
seen. topic. But if you are going to write a longer review or
you'd like to explore a more general area of interest,
Reaction paper is evaluated due to the writer's
choose a topic that is wide enough so that you will be
communication skills and only then due to the writer's
able to find enough articles to discuss.
communication skills and only then due the unique
ideas and the content. III. How to write a Critique Paper

Reaction Paper Critique Paper

comprises the following: analyzes and evaluates the worth of a piece of literature
and/or other art forms.
1. Introduction - the writer states the main
premise Critique papers should consist of four main parts:
2. Body - the writer expresses his ideas
1. Introduction
3. Conclusion - summarizes the results
2. Body
4. List of citations and sources
3. Conclusions
Despite the fact that you are writing about your
4. List of citations and sources
reactions, thoughts and impressions, you still need to
The process of writing a critique will entail the
follow an appropriate structure. so, make sure to:
following:
1. Read the material carefully.
1. A critical commentary on the quality of the text
2. Mark interesting places while reading/watching.
2. The strengths and weaknesses of the text
3. Write down your thought while reading/watching.
3. A discussion of the thesis and major argument of the
4. Come up with a thesis statement.
material, including the worthiness of the arguments for
5. Compose an outline.
the thesis
6. Construct your paper.
4. A discussion on the organization and style of the book
II. How to write a Review Paper
5. The values and assumptions of the critique writer
Review Paper 6. Clear language and writing style

summarizes the current state of knowledge of a

The following checklist will serve as a guide for writing
particular topic. It may also present the current state of
a critique:
action implemented to the recent progress of
1. Summarize the text briefly.
development of a particular topic or policy.
2. Present the major points in the selection.
Review Paper should consist of four general sections: 3. Do you agree with these ideas? Why or why not?
4.Does the author substantiate his/her points
1. Introduction satisfactorily withinformation, logic, and
2. The body of the paper examples?
3. Conclusion and future directions 5. Are there special features about this text that interest
4. Literature cited or disturb you, such as
Despite the fact that you are writing about your unusual information or new ways of looking at an issue?
reactions, thoughts and impressions, you still need to 6. Are there questions raised for you in this text that the
follow an appropriate structure. So make sure to: author does not answer?
1. Read the material carefully. 7. If you have read other sources on the same general
2. Mark interesting places while reading/watching. topic, how does the text differ
3. Write down your thought while reading/watching. from that of the others?
4. Come up with a thesis statement. 8. Are there any additional comments you should
include in order to make the essence
of this text understood by someone reading your
review?
The Critique Format for Fiction/Literature

Introduction

• name of author and work

• brief summary/description of work as a whole

• focusing sentence indicating what element you

plan to examine

• general indication of overall significance of work

Body

 objective description of a major point in the

work

 detailed analysis of how the work conveys an

idea or concept

 interpretation of the concept

 repetition of description, analysis,

interpretation if more than one major concept is
covered

Body

 literal description of the first major element or

portion of the work

 detailed analysis

 Interpretation

 literal description of second major element

 detailed analysis

 interpretation (including, if necessary, the

relationship to the first major point and so on

Conclusion

 overall interpretation

 relationship of particular interpretations to

subject as a whole

• critical assessment of the value, worth, or

meaning of the work, both negative and
positive

Conclusion

• overall interpretation of the elements studied

• consideration of those elements within the

context of the work as a whole

• critical assessment of the value, worth,

meaning, or significance of the work, both
positive and negative