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EL 30
LEARNING MODULE 4
Course/Subject
LITERARY CRITICISM
Module Overview
Each theory has its own principles used by critics in understanding and in-depth study of a literary piece.
FINAL
Second Semester 2021-2022
BSED/BEED 2nd Year
WEEK 13- 16
Chapter 2 (WRITING THE ;ITERARY CRITICISM PAPER)
Learning Outcomes

a. Identify the elements necessary for a literary criticism paper;

b. Apply the structure and techniques in writing a literary criticism paper; and
c. Write an original critique paper addressing problems in critical theory.

VALUES INTEGRATION
 Integrity witnesses of faith, upholds our Claretian principle and lives a moral and dignified
life.
 Excellence strives for perfection and holiness, pursues academic excellence in achieving
holistic transformation.

OVERVIEW:
In this module, you will be taught how to write a literary criticism paper by first learning
the elements, structure and techniques and apply this skill through practice. As you go through, you will
be asked to write your own literary criticism paper.

Literary Criticism
ACTIVITY: Let’s do |1
These
Activity 1. WHAT’S IN MY MIND
Supply the major ideas with words related to writing a criticism paper in the given spaces.

Topic

Writing a
Purpose Criticism Format
Paper

Assessment

ANALYSIS: Let’s
Analyze

Activity 2. What’s In?

Complete the following sentences.
1. In writing a literary critic paper, one must consider _______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.
2. Make sure that the topic is __________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ .
3. A certain format must be ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.
4. In every literary work, there must be a purpose which _____________________________
_________________________________________________________________________ .
5. One strategy for writing a criticism paper is to make an assessment on ________________
_________________________________________________________________________.

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 ABSTRACTION: Let’s
Add to What You WRITING THE LITERARY CRITICISM PAPER
Know

Literary criticism refers to the act of interpreting and studying literature. One reader writes down his or
her views on what a particular work of literature means so that others can respond to that interpretation.
The critic’s specific purpose may be to make value judgments on a work, to explain his or her
interpretation of the historical or biographical information. The critic’s general purpose, in most cases, is
to enrich the reader’s understanding of the literary work. Critics typically engage in a dialogue or debate
with other critics using the views of other critics to develop their own points. Unfortunately, when critics
assume that their readers are already familiar with previous criticism, the argument may be difficult to
follow.

The Writing Process

To critique a piece of writing is to do the following:

 describe: give the reader a sense of the writer’s overall purpose and intent
 analyze: examine how the structure and language of the text convey its meaning
 interpret: state the significance or importance of each part of the text
 assess: make a judgment of the work’s worth or value

Formatting a Critique
Here are two structures for critiques, one for nonfiction and one for fiction/literature.
The Critique Format for Nonfiction
Introduction
name of author and work
general overview of subject and summary of author's argument
focusing (or thesis) sentence indicating how you will divide the whole work for discussion
or the particular elements you will discuss
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
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

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
literal description of the first major element or portion of the work
detailed analysis
interpretation

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 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 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

You may not be asked in every critique to assess a work, only to analyze and interpret it. If you
are asked for a personal response, remember that your assessment should not be the expression of an
unsupported personal opinion. Your interpretations and your conclusions must be based on evidence from
the text and follow from the ideas you have dealt with in the paper.
Remember also that a critique may express a positive as well as a negative assessment. Don't
confuse critique with criticize in the popular sense of the word, meaning “to point out faults.”

Tips for writing using literary criticism

1. Some ideas to consider when thinking about a topic

 Character
 Setting
 Plot
 Theme
 Dialogue
 Imagery
 Figures of speech
 Tone
 Rhyme/Rhythm
 Point of View
 Metaphor
 Historical, political, geographical context
 Critical lens/Literary theory (feminist, postcolonial, psychoanalytic,etc.)
2. Make sure your topic has sufficient supporting evidence within the text.
3. Make sure you are analyzing something that is debatable/arguable (meaning it is not immediately obvious
within the text), so that your analysis will provide the evidence to support your point.

Developing a topic
Try these steps for developing your topic:
Source: Bucks County Community College Tutoring Center:
http://www.bucks.edu/academics/tutoring/handouts/writing/literaryanalysispoetry/
To write an effective thesis statement, start with a general idea and then sharpen your focus.
Step 1: Choose a topic, e.g., the poem “Theme for English B” by Langston Hughes
Step 2: Focus on the topic, e.g., biographical influences in “Theme for English B,”
especially the poet’s race, and how literary critics assess such influences on this
poem
Step 3: Narrow the topic further by posing it as a question.
E.g., How do critics classify Hughes’s poems, especially those that are related to race? How did
Hughes’s experience as an African American man affect his poetry? What elements in the poem reflect
Hughes’s experience as an African American man?
Step 4: Answer the question. The answer is your thesis statement.
E.g., Critics classify Langston Hughes’s work into poems of social and “racial protest” and poems of
racial affirmation” (DiYanni 522-523). “Theme for English B,” however, does not nestle neatly within
either category, as it exudes a more complicated tone of both pride and frustration.

**Notice that this thesis statement proposes an argument and specifies particular literary elements that
will be analyzed to help substantiate or prove the argument.
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 Your thesis statement should be clear and direct and should entice your audience to read further.
Each subsequent paragraph in the body of your paper should support your thesis statement and prove
your claim.

APPLICATION: Let’s
Apply What You
Learned

Activity 3. Outlining
Describe the parts of a criticism paper.
A. Non-Fiction
A Literary Critique
I. Introduction-
II. Body-
III. Conclusion

B. Fiction
A Literary Critique
I. Introduction-
II. Body-
III. Conclusion

Activity 4. Do It Yourself (DIY)

The following is a brief critique paper. Put them in their proper parts.

1. The theme which is confidence and persistence of black Americans in the land of white Americans,
although experiencing inhuman treatment, opened the eyes of the whites to accept the blacks as one with
them in their country.
2. “Telephone Conversation” is a poem written by Wole Soyinka which talks about the discrimination of
Africans in America but through the confidence and persistence of the character, she was able to
convince the landlady to consider her to rent one of her rooms by seeing her first before declining.
3. This poem is a very good example for all of us to realize that every person is unique and is important.
He/She may have differences but he/she too has something good to contribute to the society.

ASSESEMENT

I. Multiple Choice. Write only the letter of the appropriate answer. Use the Activity
Sheet attached.
1. All are purposes of literary critism except.
A. make nature judgement on a work
B. explain his or her interpretation of the historical or biographical information
C. enrich the reader’s understanding of the literacy work
D. persuade readers to act on a certain issue
2. What should a person do when one critizises the piece of writing?
A. describe, analyze, interpret
B. describe, persuade, assess
C. analyze, entertain, react
D. assess, analyze. Entertain
3. What process is done when you make judgement of the work’s worth or value.
A. describe
Literary Criticism
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 B. analyze
C. interpret
D. asses
4. What process is done when you give the reader a sense of the writer’s overall purpose and intent?
A. describe
B. analyze
C. interpret
D. asses
5. What process is done when you state the significance or importance of each part of the text?
A. describe
B. analyze
C. interpret
D. asses
6. What process is done when you examine how the structure and language of the text convey its
meaning?
A. describe
B. analyze
C. interpret
D. asses
7. Why should the name of the outhor always included in the introduction?
A. because you can search his name and he will help you interpret the literacy works.
B. because it will define the period when the piece is written and their situation during that
period.
C.because he is very important, being the author of the pieces, his name should be part
D. because his name will make your interpretation credible.
8. How can you describe a literacy critic?
A. It is the interpretation of the literacy piece
B. It is someone who argues on behalf of an interpretation or understanding of the particular
meaning of a literary text.
C. It is a very impressive paper on a particular literacy piece.
D. It is someone who is very intelligent and a wide reader who is knowladgable of all theories.
9. Why should a critic consider a critical lense?
A. It identifies the critic’s personality
B. It is a guide on how a critic approach his interpretation.
C. It is important because it can provide evidences.
D. It can provide you with thesis statement needed for discussion.
10. What is the purpose of the thesis statement in a critic paper?
A. It shows the general idea of the literary pieces.
B. It tells about the period of the literary piece worked on.
C. It entertains the readers to inspire them to continue reading.
D. It gives the idea of what the argument and elements will be analyze.

II. Essay
1. What distinguishes nonfiction and fiction when writing a critique?

2. How should a critic develop a good topic?

3. How do you describe a good topic?

Congratulations! You are done with this Module! God Bless You! And always Keep safe!

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 LYLANI M. SUELA
Your teacher

REFERENCE:

mc. libguides.com. retrieved March 10, 2021

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 Prepared: Checked and Reviewed:

LYLANI M. SUELA GINA N. DREJE

Instructor Chairperson, COED

Attested:
DAISIDERIA O. SAN LUIS, ED.D
Dean, College of Education and Bachelor of Arts

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