11/12

ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC

AND PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
Quarter II – Week 1
Using Critical Approaches in
Writing a Critique

CONTEXTUALIZED LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PUERTO PRINCESA CITY
English for Academic and Professional Purposes – Grade 11/12
Contextualized Learning Activity Sheets (CLAS)
Quarter II – Week 1: Using Critical Approaches in Writing a Critique
First Edition, 2020

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Lesson 1
Using Critical Approaches
in Writing a Critique

MELC: Use appropriate critical approaches in writing a critique such as

formalism, feminism, etc. (CS_EN11/12A-EAPP-Id-f-16)

Objectives: 1. Identify the approaches in writing a critique;

2. Differentiate formalism from feminism; and
3. Use appropriate approaches in writing a critique.

Let’s Explore and Discover

Critiquing can be a way of looking into great perspectives for the betterment of an
organization. This can aid to plan and decide whether to change or improve an idea, and
make a difference.
As a start, study the illustration and the questions below.

1. How would you describe the person in

the picture?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

2. Is it a common job for a woman to be a

welder? Why?
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
_________________________________________

In the past, women would only focus on child rearing and household
chores. However, in the 21st century it is not peculiar anymore for a woman to
do a man’s job and it is already acceptable in the society. The portrayal of the
woman in the picture may serve as a basis for critiquing using a feminist
approach. In this lesson, you will learn the two critical approaches in writing
a critique paper.

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=
Critiquing purposes:
What is a critique?
It is a careful analysis or 1. To evaluate what you have read and
evaluation of a
work/concept which observed
explains how well the 2. To determine the strength and
points are made, what
assumptions underlie the weaknesses of an argument
argument, what issues are 3. To widen your knowledge and
overlooked, and what
implications are drawn understanding of a work/concept
from such observations.

What are the critical approaches to use when writing a critique?

Formalism Feminism

This approach typically

concentrates on advocating
women - their lives, status in
It originates in Russia and its society, identity, and how their
root word “form” targets the characteristics are defined in
Definition aesthetics of language and literature.
other elements in a text as to
its symbols, language, and Feminists are the people in our
structure to hold a “new” society from all walks of life
meaning to the readers. who firmly believe that men
and women are both equal. In
literary writings, women are
considered to advocate their
rights and not only prejudices
and oppressions.

Form means focus or Author’s background refers

emphasis on the properties of to the belief, culture and
the text such as words and philosophies of the writer.
other elements.
Text means the finished Symbols are images used to
product which cannot be convey the rights and roles of
changed. women.
Lens / Focus
Meaning refers to the central Theme means the readers
meaning of the work is best analyze texts that promote
interpreted as how the author stereotyping and gender
used the words and elements inequality bringing women to
as a whole and ignoring other be oppressed in roles, interest
influences. and experiences in a variety of
field in the society.

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 Structure refers to the plot, Influence refers to the outside
figures and other elements forces which affirm how society
coordinate at each other. or even history views women.

Literariness refers to the

words aesthetically unique,
creates timeless, and coherent
meaning.
• How is the work organized
in terms of plot and
structure? • What does the work reveal
about women’s lives?
• What is the relationship of
each part of the work to the • Does the writer’s gender
work as a whole? affect the form and content of
the work?
• Who is narrating?
• How do male and female
• How is the narrator,
characters relate to one
speaking persona, or
another?
character revealed to the
readers? • How do the images of women
in the story reflect
• What do the characters
patriarchal social forces that
Questions represent?
have impeded women’s
• What does the setting
efforts to achieve full equality
reveal?
with men?
• How does it relate to what
• What behavioral expectations
we know of the characters
are imposed on the
and their actions?
characters?
• What makes it symbolic?
• What effect do these
• What kind of language is expectations have?
used in the work?
• How does the marital status
• What tone or atmosphere of a character affect her
can you draw from the decisions or happiness?
work?

Remember: Formalism is more concerned with the form the literary text takes, while
feminism is more concerned with the cultural context of the literary text.

Here are example of paragraphs from a literary review written by Jay M. Maravilla which
shows both formalism and feminist approach.

The myth has this recurring theme of a battle between chastity (Daphne) and
sexual desires (Apollo) which is also reflected in the text of the story Lirio, with Lirio
(chastity) and (sexual desires) Itik Lugay. With this, Lirio, the story has elevated itself
into a status of classic through the use of classical themes that appeals very well to the
masses. Its pathos is very successful because people can easily relate to this type of
storyline.

The tragic heroine’s hamartia, being not able to speak amidst all conflicts, adds
more to the dramatic irony being evoked by the story. In its sublime entirety, the
allusions created this depth in exploring the human nature, while honoring the ancient
texts. The story also explores the wonderful world of MAGIC REALISM.

Remember: The 1st paragraph is an example of formalism while the 2 nd paragraph is an

example of feminist approach. The underlined clauses and sentences show the focus of each
approach.
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 Let’s Practice
Activity 1
Directions: Identify the approach that shows formalism or feminism in each given
situation. On the blank before each number, write FO if it is Formalism and FE if
Feminism.

______1. Poems by E. E Cummings are usually written in small letter case and contain
a lot of punctuation.
______2. Alyssa wrote a blog about the movie, Alladin. She looked at how Princess
Jasmine effectively portrayed her character as a strong willed woman.
______3. Harry Potter’s series adopted in movies have magnificent use of visual and
sound effects which contribute to the cinematic appeal to the viewers.
______4. Dan Brown’s authored numerous novels like Angels and Demons, and Lost
Symbol which according to Kim is very descriptive in nature.
______5. Mario evaluated an artwork looking at the lines, forms, colors, and texture the
artist used.

Activity 2
Directions: Identify the critical approach (formalism or feminism) used in each passage.
Write your answer on the blank before each number.

APPROACH PASSAGE
Lady Macbeth is stronger, more ruthless, and more ambitious
than her husband, Macbeth. At one point, she wishes that she were not
a woman so she could murder by herself. This Shakespeare’s play
implies that women can be as ambitious and cruel as men, yet social
____________1. constraints deny them the means to pursue these ambitions on their
own.

(Source: SparkNotes Editors, Lady Macbeth, SparkNotes.com. 2005, accessed December

17, 2020, https://tinyurl.com/ladymacbethfeminism.)
The song, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, has the repetition of the
word twinkle which contains connotation and denotation. It would
notice the first person speaker of the poem. He would note the use
of simile in the fourth line (like a diamond in the sky). He would note the
refrain of the first two lines in lines fifth and sixth, and he would mark
____________2. the meter and the rhyme scheme. Once the poem was literarily
dissected, then the reader can consider how those elements work
together to create the meaning of the poem as a whole.
(Source: enotes, Literary Criticism, enotes.com. 2020, accessed December 19, 2020,
https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-formalist-criticism-196827.)
In the short story, "The Story of an Hour", the writer revealed a
deep rooted problem women faced in marital relationships. She often
depicted women in unequal roles in their marriages. Moreover, she
plotted the idea that women were oppressed through unhappy
____________3. marriages. Through this, she voiced that marriages were institutions
that put restraints upon women.
(Source: Deb Contreras, Feminist View of Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour",
owlcation.com. 2018, accessed December 19, 2020,
https://tinyurl.com/feminismapproach.)
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 Reflect on this…
How do you use each kind of critical approaches?

Let’s Do More

Activity 1
Directions: Identify the differences between formalism and feminism by checking the
box opposite each statement that corresponds to your answer.

STATEMENT FORMALISM FEMINISM

1. This approach concentrates on revealing the
characteristics of women in literature.
2. It disregards culture and the background of the
author.
3. It considers the author and his/her culture
influences in the text
4. This approach respects the author’s words
and/or how his perspective is presented on the
text should be accepted by readers.
5. It highlights sexual stereotypes.
6. The rhyming of words, harmony, and rhythm
convey the true meaning of the text.
7. It is known as new critics.
8. The identity of women is reflected in the text.

Activity 2
Directions: Write a short critique (1-5 sentences) about Wonder Woman using a
feminist approach. Use the guide questions below.

GUIDE QUESTIONS Wonder Woman: A Feminist

Criticism
1. What does the work reveal
about women’s lives? _____________________________________
2. How do male and female _____________________________________
characters relate to one another? _____________________________________
3. How do the images of women in _____________________________________
the story reflect patriarchal social _____________________________________
forces that have impeded _____________________________________
women’s efforts to achieve full _____________________________________
equality with men? ____________________________________

Reflect on this…
How do critical approaches help you in writing a critique?

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 Let’s Sum It Up

Directions: On the blank before each number, write YES if the statement is correct and
NO if it is not.

_________ 1. Formalism is the study of form, structure, and language.

_________ 2. Literariness means language is aesthetically unique and special.
_________ 3. Formalism helps you view the text and its symbols to appear as a new
thought.
_________ 4. Feminist critics believe that women’s rights should be recognized in both
society and literature.
_________ 5. In literary writings, women are considered to advocate their rights and not
only prejudices and oppressions.

Let’s Assess

Directions: Read the items carefully and circle the letter of your answer.

1. The following are the main focus of formalism EXCEPT _____________.

A. Form B. Structure C. Text itself D. External factor

2. What approach focuses on examining own terms within the work itself and the form of
individual parts to shape its effect to the readers?
A. Biographical C. Feminism
B. Formalism D. Structuralism

3. What is the focus or the design of feminist criticism?

A. To analyze the portrayal of a woman in society
B. To influence people and the government to assert rights
C. To show that women can also perform the same as men
D. To uplift women’s rights specifically in voting and/or be at any partisan

4. The patriarchal oriented society is what it intends to dislike ______________.

A. Biographical C. Feminism
B. Formalism D. Structuralism

5. There is no standpoint to view a text as influenced by other field of study or sciences.

What approach this statement intends to convey?
A. Biographical C. Feminism
B. Formalism D. Structuralism

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6. Which of the following ideas DOES NOT tell about the purpose of a critique?
A. To determine the strength and weaknesses of an argument
B. To evaluate what you have read and observed
C. To make judgment based on opinion
D. To widen your knowledge and understanding of a work/concept

7. What statement shows the difference between formalism and feminism?

A. Feminism focuses on rights of women and advocates equality.
B. Formalism gives emphasis to the structure of the literary piece.
C. Formalism is more concerned with the form the literary text takes while feminism is
more concerned with the cultural context of the literary text.
D. Feminism is more concerned with the form the literary text takes while formalism is
more concerned with the cultural context of the literary text.

8. Which question falls under formalism?

A. What tone or atmosphere can you draw?
B. Does the writer’s gender affect the form and content of the work?
C. What behavioral expectations are imposed on the characters?
D. What flaw is presented in the text which somehow affect the gender of the
character/s?

9. The following ideas reveal about the focus in critiquing using the feminist approach
EXCEPT __________.
A. the belief, culture and philosophies of the writer
B. symbols or images used to convey the rights and roles of women
C. the properties of the text such as words and other elements
D. outside forces which affirm how society or even history view women

10. What critical approach is used in this scenario?

Teacher A asked the students to write a review about the

cheer dance competition recently held during the Intramural meet.
Gino wrote that the winner deserves to win because the female
dancers were full of energy and enthusiasm while the males
perfectly executed the whole routine.

A. Feminist B. Formalist C. Marxist D. Structuralist

Thank you for giving your best effort.

Remember, learning is more fun when you do it
with a smiling face and a happy heart!

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 Answer Key
LET’S PRACTICE

1. FO 4. FO 1. Feminism
2. FE 5. FO 2. Formalism
3. FO 3. Feminism

LET’S DO MORE

1. Feminism 5. Feminism
Answers may vary.
2. Formalism 6. Formalism
3. Feminism 7. Formalism
4. Feminism 8. Feminism

LET’S SUM IT UP LET’S ASSESS

1. YE 4. YES 1. D 4. C 7. C 10. A
2. YES 5. YES 2. B 5. B 8. A
3. YES 3. A 6. C 9. C

References
Websites

Contreras, Deb. “Feminist View of Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour.” Accessed
December 19, 2020, https://tinyurl.com/feminismapproach.

Enotes. “Literary Criticism.” Accessed December 19, 2020,

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-is-formalist-criticism-196827.

SparkNotes Editors. “Lady Macbeth.” Accessed December 17, 2020,

https://tinyurl.com/ladymacbethfeminism.

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