SHS

Applied Subject

English for Academic and

Professional Purposes

Quarter 1
Module 5: Outlining and
Critical Writing
 Day 1

Pretest

Directions: Read the items carefully and write the letter of the correct answer (15
points).
1. It enables the writer to produce a guide in writing an essay.
A. Paraphrasing B. Planning C. Outlining D. Summarizing

2. This outline uses sentences in arranging the main and sub-points of the topic.
A. Topic Outline C. Paragraph Outline
B. Sentence outline D. None of them

3. This outline uses words and phrases in arranging the main and sub-points of the
topic.
A. Topic Outline C. Paragraph Outline
B. Sentence outline D. None of them

4. Which statement is not true about outlining?

A. It is a vague plan of writing a text.
B. It gives direction to the writer in writing an essay.
C. It prevents a writer from being stuck when performing the actual writing of
an essay.
D. Both B and C

5. Which shows the correct order in creating an outline?

I. Search and II. Decide III. Identify IV. Organize V. Identify

gather what kind of your main your your main
information outline to be topic information categories
about your used using your and
topic chose outline subcategories
style

A. I-II-III-IV B. II-III-V-IV C. III-I-II-V-IV D. IV-III-II-I

{For numbers 6-10, refer to the table below.}
I. Significance of developing oral communication to English
II. The benefit in the development of typing skills
III. Advantage of familiarity to online searching
IV. Students in early years must develop typing skills, searching information online
and speaking English.

6. Which of information above is a thesis statement?

A. I B. II C. III D. IV

7. What is the topic presented in the table?

A. Importance of typing skills C. Various skills significant for a child
B. good effects of communication to children D. None of them

8. Which of the following shows the correct arrangement of the information above?
A. Thesis statement: Item IV B. Thesis statement: Item III
Body paragraph 1: Item II Body paragraph 1: Item I
Body paragraph 2: Item III Body paragraph 2: Item IV
Body paragraph 3: Item I Body paragraph 3: Item II
C. D.
Thesis statement: Item II Thesis statement: Item III
Body paragraph 1: Item III Body paragraph 1: Item IV
Body paragraph 2: Item IV Body paragraph 2: Item I
Body paragraph 3: Item II Body paragraph 3: Item II

9. Which of the following serves as a supporting detail for item I?

A. Being able to chat with other persons at an early age is greatly beneficial.
B. Mother tongue should be prioritized since it represents the culture of
Filipinos.
C. Learning to communicate in English medium enables the student to be ready
for higher level of education and job opportunities.
D. Both A and C

10. Which statement is not true based on the information given?

A. Being able to type in a keyboard at an early age is significant most especially
that time now requires competence on online platforms.
B. The ability to speak in English and practice it at an early age benefit the child
especially for the job opportunities in the future.
C. A child’s capability to search for necessary information like searching in
Google greatly helps him or her to be introduced to what further education
looks like.
D. None of the above
{For numbers 11-15, refer to the text below.}

I. Introducing research most especially in senior high school is commendable since

it enhances students’ comprehension and writing skills.

II. Being able to read variety of texts from electronic or non-electronic sources
enhances students’ comprehension.
A. In reading related literature and studies, summarizing or paraphrasing
important ideas enhances students’ capability to understand a reading
material.
B. Moreover, during oral defense, student’s answers reflect on how he or she
understand the research created

III. In creating research, the collaboration of the idea of any authors and writers
themselves depicts more exposure to critical writing.
A. Even in the introduction, writing the major elements like nature of the topic,
setting and the aims of the study is already a good springboard for the
development of writing.
B. In the creation of the later part of research, rewording and interpreting results
intends to use a higher level of writing skills since using own words,
summarizing, paraphrasing is applied.

11. What type of outline is presented above?

A. Topic Outline C. Paragraph Outline
B. Sentence outline D. None of them

12. Identify the thesis statement of the outline.

A. Being able to read variety of texts from electronic or non-electronic sources
enhances students’ comprehension.
B. Introducing research most especially in senior high school is commendable
since it enhances students’ comprehension and writing skills.
C. In creating research, the collaboration of the idea of any authors and writers
themselves depicts more exposure to critical writing.
D. None of the above
13. Which sentence/s is/are included in the body paragraphs?
A. Introducing research most especially in senior high school is commendable
since it enhances the students’ comprehension and writing skills.
B. Being able to read variety of texts from electronic or non-electronic sources
enhances students’ comprehensions.
C. In creating research, the collaboration of the idea of any authors and writers
themselves depicts more exposure to critical writing.
D. Both B and C

14. This sentence supports this idea: Writing research develops writing skills.
A. Moreover, during oral defense, student’s answers reflect on how he or she
understand the research created.
B. Introducing research most especially in senior high school is commendable
since it enhances students’ comprehension and writing skills.
C. In reading related literature and studies, summarizing or paraphrasing
important ideas enhance students’ capability to understand a reading
material.
D. None of the above

15. Which idea is TRUE based on the outline given?

A. Doing research needs requires work collaboration.
B. Doing research should be removed from the curriculum.
C. Creating research greatly improves student’s understanding to reading
materials
D. Both A and C
 Lesson

1 Outlining

What I Need to Know

After completing the module, you are expected to:

➢ enumerate the types of outline;

➢ outline texts in various disciplines; and
➢ write a reflection on the importance of outlining.

What’s New

What is an outline?

An outline helps the writer categorize his ideas from the main topics to the supporting
ideas in order to write a logical paragraph. Essentially, an outline helps prevent a writer
from getting stuck when performing the actual writing of the essay. It also serves as
direction so that the writer will know where to go with the essay. It is a general plan of
what he is going to write.

What are the types of outline?

A. Topic Outline is the arrangement of ideas both the main points and
subpoints of the topic using words and phrases.
 Example:

Thesis Statement
In order to succeed in the classroom, Senior High School students need to use the
available resources in school all throughout their two years stay in school.

I. Know one’s interests

A. Find the right program(s) and/or career field
B. Implement a plan for fulfilling program requirements
C. Know the requirement of the chosen track
1. Verify prerequisites
2. Find times that work
3. Know your teachers
D. Evaluate progress

II. Help with content

A. Study groups
B. Tutoring
1. Remediation/catch up
2. Individual

B. Sentence Outline is the arrangement of main ideas and subpoints of the

topic in sentence form which provides clearer picture of the writer’s thoughts
and purpose in developing the essay. It is more informative compared to the
topic outline.

Example:

Thesis Statement
Good study habits, positive attitude, and time management will help students gain good grades.

I. A student can benefit from good study habit.

A. If he studies regularly, he can utilize his stock knowledge.
B. A student is always prepared for any class activities.

II. Good time management will make the students more productive and organized.
A. A student can accomplish all assigned activities.
B. He submits class requirement promptly.
C. A student will have sufficient time to have advance study.

III. Positive attitude provides positive working environment.

A. A student can work well with his peers.
B. A student feels confident in performing any tasks.
C. A student may feel relax in engaging different tasks be it individually or by groups.
What are the steps in creating an outline?
▪ Identify your main topic.
▪ Search and gather information about your topic.
▪ Decide what kind of outline to be used.
▪ Identify your main categories and subcategories.
▪ Organize your information using your chosen outline style.

What I can do

Directions: Study the words inside the word pool. Complete the text below by
choosing the appropriate words (5 points).

tool element term argument logical

implement organize mind write ideas

An outline is a used to your written ideas about a topic into

order. It is meant to help you establish a structure for a paper you
are going to . It is a way for you to demonstrate the main
(thesis), main points (topic sentences), and main pieces of evidence
you are going to present in a paper before actually writing the paper.
(https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/outlining

What I have Learned

Directions: In two to three sentences, write your takeaway or learnings about outlining
(10 points).
 Day 2

What’s More

Task 1. Directions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow
(5 points each=10 points).

A job interview can often make or break your chances of getting your dream
job. There are several things that you can do in an interview to increase the
possibility of your success such as dressing properly, answering interview
questions thoroughly, and asking good questions at the end of the interview.

1. What could be the main topic of this paragraph?

2. What are the subcategories of the text?

Task 2. Directions: Now, create an outline of the above text using your preferred
style/ type. Remember that the text contains limited information, you can expound it
by gathering more information to make it substantial (20 points).

Task 3. Directions: Read the text on the next page and create a sentence outline (50
points).

Scoring Guide:
Clarity of the thesis statement 15 points
Logical presentation of the main and subcategories 20 points
Effective conclusion 15 points
In recent years, many people have become increasingly aware of the need for physical
fitness. Almost everywhere people turn, whether it is to a newsstand, television or billboard,
advice for improving health bombards them. Although much of this advice is commercially
motivated by those eager to sell vitamins and natural foods, some of it, especially that which
advocates a regular exercise program, merits serious attention.
Such a program, if it consists of at least thirty minutes three times a week, and if a person’s
physician approves it, provides numerous benefits. Regular exercise releases tension,
improves appearance, and increases stamina. The first of these benefits, the release of
tension, is immediate.
Tension builds in the body because of an over-accumulation of adrenaline produced by
stress, anxiety, or fear. Doctors agree that performing calisthenics or participating in an
active sport such as tennis or volleyball for thirty minutes releases tension. If a person
swims, jogs or rides a bicycle for half that time, he or she should sleep better at night and
have a better temperament the next day. In addition, after the release of tension, petty
irritations and frustrations should be less troubling. For example, an employee upset by the
day’s work and by traffic congestion may rush home, argue with the family, and eat
excessively. Taking about thirty minutes to release frustrations through physical exercise
could help him or her to avoid this behavior. Planned physical exercise, therefore, can
eliminate, or at least control, tension. An improved appearance, which is a second benefit
of regular exercise, is not as immediately apparent as a better disposition.
Exercise takes perhaps a month or longer to show its results in a trimmer, firmer figure.
Improvement, however, will come. A person who is ten pounds overweight, for instance,
may be able during this time to burn away most excess fat and to tighten muscles, thereby
reshaping the physique.
Having improved muscle tone and even posture, he or she will wear clothes more
attractively and comfortably. Combined with a sensible diet, an exercise program will also
improve a person’s skin tone. This improved appearance will provide confidence and
favorably impress others. In addition to the self-confidence engendered by an improved
appearance, increased physical strength produces stamina.
A stronger, healthier body is obviously more capable of working harder and, in fact, of
withstanding normal fatigue than a tense, weak one. A worker who exercises should be
able to complete a forty-hour week and still retain enough energy for mowing the grass,
painting the garage, or cleaning windows. Similarly, the student who goes to school, keeps
house, and perhaps works part time should accomplish tasks efficiently. Equally important,
this stamina helps to ward off illnesses such as colds and influenza. Altogether, improved
endurance is one of the most important benefits of a regular exercise program. Although
easy solutions to the goals of losing weight and achieving an attractive, energetic body
saturate the media, acquiring these benefits is not easy. The rewards, however, are fully
worth the effort of an established exercise program that makes a person feel relaxed, look
healthy, and have adequate strength for strenuous as well as routine activities.
Source:
http://prinzingbrightonkc.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/8/8/22884712/example_5-
paragraph_essay.pdf
 Post Test

Directions: Write the letter of your answer (15 points).

1. It helps the writer to organize ideas from the main topic down to its supporting
details for a logical paragraph.
A. Paraphrasing B. Planning C. Outlining D. Summarizing

2. It is a type of outline in which the main points and subpoints of the topic are arranged
in words and phrases.
A. Topic Outline C. Paragraph Outline
B. Sentence outline D. None of them

3. It is a type of outline in which the main points and subpoints of the topic are arranged
in sentences to provide clearer picture of the writer’s thoughts and purpose.
A. Topic Outline C. Paragraph Outline
B. Sentence outline D. None of them

4. Which statement is TRUE about outlining?

A. It is a vague plan of writing a text.
B. It gives direction to the writer in writing an essay.
C. It prevents a writer from being stuck when performing the actual writing of
an essay.
D. Both B and C

5. Which of the following is/are step/s in creating an outline?

A. Identify your conclusion
B. Decide what kind of words to be used
C. Search and gather information about your topic
D. Both A and B

{For numbers 6-10, refer to the items below.}

I. Peer’s role in choosing a strand

II. Personal interest in choosing strand
III. Choosing a strand in senior high school revolves around the influence of peers,
family members and personal interest
IV. The role of family members in choosing a strand
6. Which of the items is the thesis statement?
A. I B. II C. III D. IV

7. What is the main topic of the items above?

A. Different influences in choosing a strand
B. Personal motivation in choosing a strand
C. The role of parents in choosing a strand
D. None of the above

8. Which of the following shows the correct arrangement of the items?

A. Thesis Statement: Item II B. Thesis Statement: Item III
Body Paragraph 1: Item III Body Paragraph 1: Item I
Body Paragraph 2: Item II Body Paragraph 2: Item IV
Body Paragraph 3: Item IV Body Paragraph 3: Sentence II

C. D.
Thesis Statement: Item II Thesis Statement: Item III
Body Paragraph 1: Item III Body Paragraph 1: Item IV
Body Paragraph 2: Item IV Body Paragraph 2: Item I
Body Paragraph 3: Item II Body Paragraph 3: Item II

9. Which of the following details support/s Item I?

A. A previous classmate’s choice of strand motivates the student to choose
similar strand.
B. A family member’s work greatly influence to the decision of the student in
choosing a strand.
C. A student’s talent guides him in deciding what strand to choose in senior
high school.
D. Both A and C

10. Which statement is TRUE based on the items?

A. Financial problem primarily plays a role in a student’s decision.
B. An assessment contributes to the student’s decision in choosing a strand.
C. The location of the school is one of the major considerations before the
student chooses a strand.
D. None of the above
{For numbers 11-15, refer to the outline below.}

I. A student’s success after graduation can be attributed to two factors: perseverance

and open-mindedness.

II. Being able to withstand over the odds and uncertainties is a commendable trait
for a student to succeed.
A. The best example is reapplying for any job even if rejected multiple times.
B. Even during employment, an employee’s tolerance over work pressure
determines his longevity in a company.

III. In the process of exploring the real world, the graduate’s ability to accept
mistakes and relearning or unlearning things are vital.
A. The person’s adaptive ability in the workplace is an indicator to succeed.
B. Additionally, for a sustainable work experience, an employee must adapt and
learned novel ideas from the colleagues.

11. What type of outline is presented above?

A. Topic Outline C. Paragraph Outline
B. Sentence outline D. None of them

12. What is the thesis statement of the outline?

A. The person’s adaptive ability in the workplace is an indicator to succeed.
B. Being able to withstand over the odds and uncertainties is a commendable
trait for a student to succeed.
C. A student’s success after graduation can be attributed to two factors:
perseverance and open-mindedness.
D. None of the above

13. This/these sentence/s support/s this claim: Success is determined through

open-mindedness.
A. The best example is reapplying for any job even if rejected multiple times.
B. Even during employment, an employee’s tolerance over work pressure
determines his longevity in a company.
C. Additionally, for a sustainable work experience, an employee must adapt and
learned novel ideas from the colleagues.
D. Both A and C
14. This/these sentence/s support/s this idea: Success is determined
through perseverance.
A. The best example is reapplying for any job even if rejected multiple times.
B. Even during employment, an employee’s tolerance over work
pressure determines his longevity in a company.
C. The person’s adaptive ability in the workplace is an indicator to succeed.
D. Both A and B

15. Which idea/s does/do not represent any information from the outline?
A. Success is determined by your family background.
B. Success can be attained by consistent persistence to trials.
C. Success is not limited to one’s idea rather, adapting to new ideas of others.
D. Both B and C

Day 3

Pretest
Directions: Read the items carefully and write the letter of the correct answer (15
points).
1. Which of the following does not evaluate works?
a. Critique c. Reaction Paper
b. Review d. Project Proposal
2. Which of the following is true about a reaction paper?
a. A reaction paper is a paper that evaluates a scholarly work.
b. A reaction paper is a foundation of a proposed project.
c. A reaction paper is not applicable in evaluating an artwork.
d. A reaction paper should range not more than 100 words.
3. What is the usual length of a reaction paper, review, or a critique?
a. 100-150 words c. 200-750 words
b. 150- 200 words d. 400-1000 words
4. What approach in evaluating a reaction paper, review, or a critique concerns
with differences between economic classes and implications of a capitalist
system?
a. Reader response criticism c. Formalism
b. Marxist Criticism d. Feminism
5. What approach in evaluating a reaction paper, review, or a critique focuses on
how literature presents women as subjects of socio-political, psychological, and
economic oppression?
a. Reader-Response Criticism c. Formalism
b. Structuralism d. Feminism
6. What approach in evaluating a reaction paper, review, or a critique claims that
literary works contain intrinsic properties and treats each work as a distinct work
of art?
a. Reader response criticism c. Formalism
b. Structuralism d. Feminism
7. Which of the following is not an aspect of Formalism when criticizing a literary
work?
a. Unity in the Work
b. Author’s technique in resolving contradictions within the work
c. How culture determines gender
d. Relationship of the form to the content
8. Which of the following is not considered as an approach in writing a reaction
paper, review, and critique?
a. Psychological criticism c. Gender criticism
b. Bilingualism d. Marxist criticism
9. Andy was tasked to critique an artwork as to how imageries and symbolisms
represent economic classes. What approach should Andy use?
a. Marxist Criticism c. Gender Criticism
b. Feminism d. Formalism
10. Jam has always been an advocate in lifting women’s role in the society. He
wanted to critique a page who keeps on underestimating women. What
approach should he use?
a. Marxist Criticism c. Gender Criticism
b. Feminism d. Formalism
11. What do you call an approach in writing a reaction paper, review and critique
that is mainly concerned with the reviewer’s reaction of the work?
a. Marxist Criticism c. Gender Criticism
b. Reader response criticism d. Community Engagement
12. Why is writing a reaction paper, review, and a critique important?
a. It purely summarizes a literary work.
b. It is a way to criticize or “bash” the author of the paper.
c. It critically assesses, analyses, or evaluates different works.
d. It helps you show off on how good you are in criticizing.
13. Which of the following is not true about the structure in writing a reaction paper,
review, and critique?
a. There is no prescribed structure in writing a review, but it should not
have a conclusion.
b. There is no prescribed structure in writing a review, but the following
section are commonly present: Introduction, Description, Analysis/
Interpretation and Conclusion/Evaluation.
c. The review or personal assessment about a work being evaluated
should be around 75% of the paper.
d. Both B and C
 14. In writing a critique of academic researches and articles, at least how many
percent should compose the conclusion of the paper?
a. 50% c. 78%
b. 10% d. 13%
15. Which of the following is not true in critiquing an artwork or other media?
a. Make sure to use speculative words such as evoke, create, appear,
and suggest.
b. Presume that the reader has not yet seen the material you are
reviewing.
c. Describe the material in simple terms to help your audience visualize
it.
d. Assume that the readers already saw the material you are reviewing.

Lesson
Writing a Reaction
2 Paper, Review, and a
Critique

What I Need to Know

After going through this lesson, you are expected to:

a. define reaction paper, reviews and critiques;

b. determine different critical approaches in writing a reaction paper, review, and
a critique; and
c. write a reaction paper, reviews, and critiques.

What’s New

Reaction Paper, a Review, and a Critique

A reaction paper, a review, and a critique are specialized forms of writing in which
a reviewer or reader evaluates any of the following:
▪ A scholarly work (e.g. academic books and articles)
▪ A work of art (e.g., performance art, play, dance, sports, film, exhibits)
▪ Designs (e.g., industrial designs, furniture, fashion design)
▪ Graphic designs (e.g., posters, billboards, commercials, and digital
media)
The length of a reaction paper, review, critique usually ranges from 250-750 words. They
are not simply summaries but are critical assessments, analyses, or evaluation of different
works. As advanced forms of writing, they involve your skills in critical thinking and
recognizing arguments. However, you should not connect the word critique to cynicism and
pessimism.

Reviewers do not simply rely on mere opinions; rather, they use both proofs and logical
reasoning to substantiate their comments. They process ideas and theories, revisit and
extend ideas in a specific field of study and present an analytical response to a book or
article.

Critical Approaches in Writing a Critique

There are multiple ways one can critique and analyze a certain material. You can critique a material
based on its technical aspects, its content, its approach to gender, your reaction as an audience, or
how it is significant to social structure and class struggle.
1. Formalist Criticism emphasizes the form of a literary work to determine its meaning, focusing
on literary elements and how they work to create meaning.
▪ Examines a text as independent from its time period, social setting, and
author’s background. A text is an independent entity.
▪ Focuses on close readings of texts and analysis of the effects of literary
elements and techniques on the text.

Two Major Principles of Formalism

▪ A literary text exists independent of any particular reader and, in a sense, has
a fixed meaning.
▪ The greatest literary texts are “timeless” and “universal.”

Sample Formalist Technique of Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

The distinct “literariness” in this text is determined by his usage of theme, and style to relay the story
in an easily comprehensible way. Villa’s style in writing Footnote to Youth could be attributed and compared to
the works of Anton Chekov, a legendary Russian fictionist. Footnote to Youth, as classified by the researcher,
is distinctly a Chekovian short story due to its Chekovian point of view expressing the thought that the look of
life in literature should be in all its banality, all the tragic comedy and refuse to make judgment. Villa refuses to
condemn the characters that he made. He only narrated the actions of the
character as they are and leave them to speak for themselves. What Villa did is to bring to light the tragic
events in the story and let the reader judges the merits of the characters’ worth. Footnote to Youth could be
said to portray the philosophy of realism.

Realism in literature attempts to describe life without any kind of idealization or romantic notions wherein
human life and social conditions are presented in its actual state [20]. Footnote strictly adheres on the fidelity
of life and to the actuality of its representation in the literature. The setting, the theme and the characters are
all realistic and does not exaggerate nor flaunts hyperbolic events to bridge the imagination of readers to the
meaning of the story. As to the symbolisms used in the story, the recurring cycle of Youth, Love and Life are
emphasized. In the story, it happened to Dodong and recurred to Blas. Villa artistically stressed this cycle
twice in the story. Youth is characterized in the story as the time of fancy, immaturity, vigor, aggression, and
freedom. Youth also possess this uncanny habit of being reckless and irresponsible in their actions. Most of
their doings are mandated by the drive to be always happy and free. However, their irresponsible merriment
often constitutes with thoughtless means of actions leading to unfavorable results.

Villa had repeatedly emphasized the interconnection of Youth, Love and Life as a cyclical
occurrence. They are the elements that make up the person’s being. What one attains in Life is a byproduct
of his actions in Youth and Love.
 2. Feminist Criticism is concerned with the role, position, and influence of women
in a literary text.
▪ Asserts that most “literature” throughout time has been written by
men, for men.
▪ Examines the way that the female consciousness is depicted by
both male and female writers.

Four Basic Principles of Feminist Criticism

▪ Western civilization is patriarchal.
▪ The concepts of gender are mainly cultural ideas created by
patriarchal societies.
▪ Patriarchal ideals pervade “literature.”
▪ Most “literature” through time has been gender-biased.

Sample Feminist Technique of Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

Footnote to Youth mirrors the Androcentric Culture of the Filipinos which is much frowned
upon by feminism. Androcentric culture is termed as the culture “where men have access
to the world while woman have access only to the house and where the “common humanity”
of women have largely been ignored [23]. This is a culture that feminism strives to avert
advocating that women should be granted with equal opportunity and women’s rights,
interest, and issues shall be promoted. The Androcentric Culture is clearly evident
as portrayed by the two women characters in the story. Villa might be impartial in depicting
the strength and weakness of both female and male characters but the dominating figure
is still irrevocably the males, whereas, the women in this story are characterized as the
lesser persons because of the weakness that they mostly portray. To deeply acknowledge
this claim, a thorough analysis on the roles of each major characters are examined to find
out who between the male and female characters are weak or strong individuals. Dodong
is an assertive son who manipulated his father in bestowing his blessings and permission
for him to marry. Dodong’s father is portrayed as a head of the family and therefore should
be sought for guidance and wise counsel. The patriarchal schema of the story begins from
him and is immensely given prior attention due to the cyclical events that happened even
until to Dodong’s own son. As for the female counterparts, Dodong’s mother is seen only
as a silent figure whose roles alienates her from the outside world. She functions only
inside the home. Teang, Dodong’s wife is easily interpreted as the voiceless and
conforming wife representing further the restrictive role of women in the story. However,
the Androcentric culture depicted by Villa is not a solid accusation that would pin him down
in undervaluing the women’s role. His point of view is the result of traditional influences of
how Filipinos look upon women during Villa’s era in the 1930’s. This view is also apparent
in other culture during this time. Hall further summarized the condition of women in the
19th century when she wrote “The Attribute of Womanhood” by which “a woman judged
herself and was judged by her husband, her neighbors and society, could be divided into
four cardinal virtues, piety, purity, submissiveness and domesticity. Put them all together
and they spelled mother, daughter, sister, wife - woman.” As Williams [24] further
suggested that “if women were strong, physically, or mentally, she was not given the
respect that she deserved. The men at this time wanted their women meek and
undomineering because that was romantic to them.”
 3. Reader-Response Criticism asserts that a great deal of meaning in a text lies
with how the reader responds to it.
▪ Focuses on the act of reading and how it affects our perception of
meaning in a text (how we feel at the beginning vs. the end)
▪ Deals more with the process of creating meaning and experiencing a
text as we read. A text is an experience, not an object.
▪ The text is a living thing that lives in the reader’s imagination.

READER + READING SITUATION + TEXT = MEANING

Two Important Ideas in Reader-Response

▪ An individual reader’s interpretation usually changes over time.
▪ Readers from different generations and different time periods interpret
texts differently.
Sample Reader response criticism Technique of Footnote to Youth by Jose Garcia Villa

Footnote to Youth accentuates the nature of teenage marriage to impress upon the youth its
entailing difficulties. The title itself bears a stern reminder about the pitfalls of an unrequited
and unplanned love to the youth who most oftentimes fall prey to the disillusion of love. The
story is very rich and vivid in its direct portrayal about a family life laden with hardships and
melancholy as a result of early marriage. It is a warning; it is a caution to the youth of today
whose rising number of pregnancy is alarmingly increasing. This story gives the reader an
overview of a married life built on flimsy dreams and youthful love. Teenage marriage is
characterized as the marriage of either a bride or groom “under 20 years old”. Footnote to Youth
tells the two unpleasant marriages in the lives of Dodong and Blas. The lines ‘he wanted to
marry, he was seventeen,” is a strong indication that Dodong married so young. On the other
hand, Dodong was confronted with a dilemma “when Blas was eighteen” and asked permission
to marry. With the similar incident that happened between father and son, the hardship in life
is not farfetched. Teenage marriage serves as a signal of the impending hardships that will
soon follow in the life ahead. The result of unwise decisions by Dodong led him to have a
regretful and unfulfilling life. “Dodong whom life had made ugly,” is Teang’s sentiment in her
kind of life as a result of her teenage marriage with Dodong. Dodong accepted this fate knowing
that he had made this fatal mistake in life, but his fears were reawakening when he realized
that Blas is about to make the same mistake that he had committed. For he knew in his heart
that “Blas was very young. The life that would follow marriage would be hard.” Dodong and
Blas sealed their fate to have an arduous life brought about by teenage marriage.

4. Marxist Criticism emphasizes economic and social conditions. It is based on

the political theory of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
▪ Concerned with understanding the role of power, politics, and
money in literary texts
▪ Marxist Criticism examines literature to see how it reflects
▪ The way in which dominant groups (typically, the majority) exploit
the subordinate groups (typically, the minority)
▪ The way in which people become alienated from one another
through power, money, and politics
Remember: We should always keep our focus on the text and use these critical
approaches to clarify our understanding of a text and develop an interpretation of it.
We will never look at a text STRICTLY from one standpoint or another, ignoring all
other views.

What I have learned

Directions: Based on the lesson, write four essential points in evaluating a
work (5 points each=20 points).
▪
▪
▪
▪

Lesson Structures and the

3
Guidelines in Writing a
Reaction Paper, Review and
Critique

What I Need to Know

After going through this lesson, you are expected to:

a. determine the structure of a reaction paper, review, and critiques;

b. apply the guidelines in writing a reaction paper, reviews and critiques in your
own paper;
c. evaluate a movie review based on the rubrics provided; and
d. write a reaction paper, a review, or a critique.
 What’s New

Structure of a Reaction Paper, Review, or Critique

You have to follow a logical organization and structure for your reaction paper or review
to be able to present your critical evaluation effectively.

Structure for Critiques for Academic Researches and

Articles
Introduction (around 5% of the paper)
▪ Title of the book/article/work
▪ Writer’s name
▪ Thesis statement

Summary (around 10% of the paper)

▪ Objectives or purpose
▪ Methods used (if applicable)
▪ Major findings, claims, ideas, or messages)

Review/ Critique (in no particular order or around 75% of the paper)

▪ Appropriateness of methodology to support the arguments (for books and
articles) or appropriateness of mode of presentation (other work)
▪ Theoretical soundness, coherence of ideas
▪ Sufficiency and soundness ideas of explanation in relation to other available
information and experts
▪ Other perspectives in explaining the concepts and ideas.
▪ It is best to ask the following questions during this part:
a. Does the writer explicitly state his/her thesis statement?
b. What are the assumptions (i.e, a scientific/logical/ literary
explanation without evidence) mentioned in the work? Are they
explicitly discussed?
c. What are the contributions of the work to the field where it
belongs?
d. What problems and issues are discussed or presented in the
work?
e. What kinds of information (e.g., observation, survey, statistics,
historical accounts) are presented in the work? How are they used
to support the arguments or thesis?
Conclusion (around 10% of the paper)
▪ Overall impression of the work
▪ Scholarly or literary value of the reviewed article, book, or work
▪ Benefits for the intended audience or field
▪ Suggestion for future direction of research

For other types of reviews, there is no prescribed structure, but these parts are
commonly seen:

Introduction
▪ Basic details about the material, such as its title, director or artist, name of
exhibition/event, and the like.
▪ Main assessment of the material (for films and performances)

Plot Summary/ Description

▪ Gist of the plot
▪ Simple description of the artwork

Analysis/Interpretation
▪ Discussion and analysis of the work (you may employ the critical approach
here)
▪ It is best to ask the following questions in this part.
a. What aspects of the work make you think it is a success or failure?
b. Were there unanswered questions or plot lines? If yes, how did they
affect the story?
c. Does the work remind you of other things you have experienced
through analogies, metaphors, or other figurative devices? How does
this contribute to the meaning?
d. How does the work relate to other ideas or events in the world and/or
in your other studies?
e. What stood out while you were watching the film or performance?

Conclusion/ Evaluation
▪ Reinforcement of the main assessment
▪ Comparison to a similar work
▪ Recommendation of the material (if you liked it)
Guidelines in Writing a Reaction Paper, Review and
Critique
For articles and journals
▪ Read the work to be reviewed carefully.
▪ Relate the content of the work to what you already know about the topic.
▪ Focus on discussing how the book treats the topic (this book/ work presents
author’s arguments).
▪ Report the type of analysis or mode of presentation.
▪ Suggest points for improvement of the reasoning.
▪ Point out other interpretations that the writer missed out.

For artworks and other media

▪ Use speculative verbs (evoke, create, appear, and suggest)
▪ Make sure to describe it to the reader (do not spoil key events)
▪ Describe the material in simple terms (artworks)

General note:
▪ Did the work hold your interest?
▪ Did the work annoy or excite you?
▪ Did the work prompt you to raise questions to the author?

 Did of
Sample thean
work lead you
Artwork to some realizations?
Critique
 Did the work remind you of other materials that you have read, viewed, or
listened to?

A Critique on George Seurat’s “An Afternoon at La Grande Jette” by Nicholas Orem

The painting shows a group of people standing around a beach or lake. The clothes that
the people are wearing are an older style. The skirts the women are wearing are large,
 and some of the men are wearing top hats. A man is sitting on the front left side wearing
a baseball hat and a sleeveless shirt. There is a woman and a man on the right side, who
are standing in the shade, with some animals around them, including a dog. There are a
number of people sitting around and looking at the water. Some of the women have
umbrellas, although it is not raining. Some of the people are in the shade.
The painting shows a contrast of light and dark colors. The artist creates space by having
the beach and people go back in the painting. There are no real lines in the painting
because it is painted in a pointillist style. The artist shows texture in the dresses and on
the grass.
The artist uses different color values for the clothes and on the grass to show the difference
between the shaded area and sunny area. the painting shows a realistic scene.
I think that the painting is about people gathering around outside on a nice day and looking
at the water. Maybe they are all there on a weekend day. There are lots of people in the
picture, some are sitting down and maybe having a picnic. There are some boats in the
distance on the water and maybe the they are watching a boat race.
I think that this is a good painting because the artist uses a different style to create the
image and uses a lot of different colors. The contrast between the shaded area and the
light area shows that it is a sunny day. The artist uses different colors and values and
creates a unique texture through his style of painting.

What I can do
Direction: Think of four keywords you can associate with the guidelines
provided in making a reaction paper, a review, or a critique. Follow
the graphic organizer below (5 points each=20 points).

Guidelines in Making
Reaction Paper,
Review or a Critique
 Day 4

What’s More
Directions: Choose one of the two paintings below and write a two-paragraph
critique. Your output will be graded based on the rubric that follows (100 points).

The Starry Night Planting Rice

Van Gogh Fernando Amorsolo

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+starry+night+painting&tbm=isch&ved https://www.google.com/search?q=painting+by+amorsolo
 A Rubric in Evaluating an Artwork
Excellent Above Average Average Below Average
90 pts
100 pts 80 pts 70 pts

Description Makes a complete Makes a detailed Makes a detailed Descriptions are

and detailed description of description of not detailed or
description of the most of the some of the complete.
subject matter subject matter subject matter
and/or elements and/or elements and/or elements
seen in a work. seen in a work. seen in a work.
Interpretation Forms a Student identifies Student can relate Student finds it
somewhat the literal meaning how the work difficult to interpret
reasonable of the work. makes him/her the meaning of the
hypothesis about feel personally. work.
the symbolic or
metaphorical
meaning and is
able to support
this with evidence
from the work.
Evaluation Uses multiple Uses 1-2 criteria Tries to use Evaluates work as
criteria to judge to judge the aesthetic criteria good or bad based
the artwork, such artwork to judge artwork, on personal taste.
as composition, but does not apply
expression, the criteria
creativity, design, accurately.
communication of
ideas.
Analysis of Student The student The student The student
artwork demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated very
understanding of some awareness satisfactory little awareness of
design elements of basic design awareness of the basic design
using correct art elements and was design elements elements and
terminology and able to describe, and briefly made no effort to
was able to clearly discuss, and described, describe, discuss,
describe, discuss, interpret artwork. discussed, and and interpret
and interpret interpreted artwork.
artwork. artwork.
Source: https://www.rcampus.com/rubricshowc.cfm?code=N6W686&sp=yes&
 Post Test
Directions: Write the letter of your answer (15 points).

1. What do you call a paper that involves skills in critical thinking and
recognizing arguments?
a. Concept Paper c. Reviewer
b. Critique d. Project Proposal
2. What is the usual length of a reaction paper, review, or a
critique? a. 100-150 words c. 200-750 words
b. 150- 200 words d. 400-1000 words
3. What approach in evaluating a reaction paper, review, or a critique
concerns with the differences between economic classes and implications
of a capitalist system?
a. Reader response criticism c. Formalism
b. Marxist Criticism d. Feminism
4. What approach in evaluating a reaction paper, review, or a critique
contains intrinsic properties and treats each work as a distinct work of art?
a. Reader response criticism c. Formalism
b. Structuralism d. Feminism
5. What approach in evaluating a reaction paper, review, or a critique
contends literary works contain intrinsic properties and treats each work as
a distinct work of art?
a. Reader response criticism c. Formalism
b. Structuralism d. Feminism
6. The following are approaches in writing a reaction paper, review, and
critique,
except:
a. Psychological criticism c. Bilingualism
b. Gender criticism d. Marxist criticism
7. Sharniah wanted to write a blog on the author’s background as well as the
time setting of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, what critical approach will
she use?
a. Marxist Criticism c. Gender Criticism
b. Feminism d. Formalism
8. Which of the following is true about a reaction paper?
a. A reaction paper evaluates a scholarly work only.
b. A reaction paper uses both proofs and logical reasoning to
substantiate their comments.
c. A reaction paper is not applicable in evaluating an artwork.
d. A reaction paper should range not more than 100 words.
9. John’s favorite past time during the Enhanced Community Quarantine
(ECQ) was reading different kinds of book. One day, he was reading
Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. He was greatly affected as to
how Hester was being treated due to adultery, what approach in writing a
critique should he use?
a. Marxist Criticism c. Gender Criticism
b. Feminism d. Formalism
10. This approach in writing a reaction paper, review and critique is mainly
concerned with the reviewer’s reaction of the work?
a. Marxist Criticism c. Gender Criticism
b. Reader response criticism d. Community Engagement
11. At least how many percent comprises the conclusion of a critique paper
for academic researches and articles?
c. 20% c. 10%
d. 13% d. 75%
12. It is a type of writing that allows the use of phrases such as “I think” and “I
believe”.
a. Thesis Paper c. Research Paper
b. Reaction Paper d. Summary
13. The text of this critical approach shows its meaning through the elements
of style, imagery, tone, and structure.
a. Marxist Criticism c. Feminism
b. Historical d. Formalism
14. Which of the following is not included in the guidelines of writing a
reaction paper for articles and journal?
a. Read, view, or listen to the work to be reviewed carefully to get
the main topic or the concept presented.
b. Relate the content of the work to what you already know about
the topic.
c. Focus on the topic itself and never how the book treats the topic.
d. Situate your review.
15. What should be considered in writing the conclusion of a reaction paper?
a. Did the work hold your interest?
b. Did the work annoy or excite you?
c. Both A and B
d. None of the above