Untitled Flashcards Set

EACTION PAPER

The definition

A reaction paper is the response of a writer about another piece of work.

The purpose of the reaction paper is to discuss the piece of work, evaluate its merit, and recommend it to others.

The features

The reaction paper is divided into two major parts:

Summary

Reaction

SUMMARY

The summary should contain the following.

Title and author of the work

Highlights of the main points

Direct quotes for illustration of the

main points

Objective and factual approach to the summary

REACTION

The reaction discusses the emotions the writer felt about the piece of work, the contribution of the work to the topic or research area, and the evaluation or judgement of the piece itself

The structure

Introduction

Reaction

Conclusion

Introduction

The introduction should contain the summary of the work. The topic sentence should include the author and the title of the work.

The summary should be concise, and it should omit specific details that may seem irrelevant to discuss in the paper itself.

Example:

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel is a Mexican novel about a girl named Tita and her life as the youngest daughter who just wants to love a man. However, family tradition prohibits her from having a happy life, as she is obligated to take care of her mother while her eldest sister marries the love of her life, Pedro. The book takes the readers on a journey throughout Tita's years of caring for her mother and the rest of her family, pining for Pedro and cooking for entertainment. The novel contains some magic that brings the storyline to life, because without those tidbits, Tita's recipes and anecdotes would not be as exciting without that extra factor of the story.

Reaction

The reaction is the second part of the paper and usually contains three main ideas to support the thesis statement of the writer.

These main ideas should then be supported by the text itself, whether using direct quotations or paraphrased material.

Example

Like Water for Chocolate is a great novel. The story of Tita fulfills its purpose: the audience relates to a woman who just wants to be happy. She is the heroine, but she is not allowed to live the life she wants, because tradition dictates that Tita should prioritize her mother and her family over her own happiness. What makes the story sadder is that her elder sister, Rosaura, marries Pedro. The emotional connection between Tita and her audience is a strong one, because she is relatable but they would never wish her fate on themselves. At the end of the story, the audience cheers for Tita, because despite all the hardships through the years, she is successful, as anyone would want for a friend, even if she is found in a book.

Conclusion

The conclusion should contain a summary of the thesis statement and main ideas with a recommendation of the text for other readers. No new ideas should be presented in the reaction paper.

Example

Like Water for Chocolate is truly an excellent novel, and high school students should read it. Though it is already considered a literary classic, it is still timeless, because the core of the storyline and the experiences of the heroine are familiar to many. If only love could really be achieved through magic and food.

In a Nutshell

A reaction or response paper is the response of a writer about another piece of work.

The reaction paper is divided into two major parts: the summary and the reaction.

The structure of the paper contains three parts: the introduction integrated with the summary, the reaction, and the conclusion.

Lesson 1: Features and Structure of a Critique Paper

Critique Paper

The definition

A critique is a form of academic writing that critically evaluates a work or text.

A critique can be used to analyze any number of works and texts. These include, but are not limited to, novels, movies, poems, journal articles, news reports, and feature articles.

The purpose

To gauge the usefulness or contribution of the work to its field.

To gauge the work's strengths and weaknesses.

To help us develop a deeper understanding of the work's subject area and any related fields.

To help us understand the purpose, intended audience, development of argument, structure of evidence, and creative style of a work.

The preliminary

Content

Organization

Style

Correctness

CONTENT

In content, consider the topic.

Is it an appropriate, important, or interesting study, especially considering the field it is in?

Is it broad or specific?

How is the topic developed?

Are its arguments clear enough?

Does it have sufficient examples and evidence?

ORGANIZATION

For organization, look at how the work is begun and concluded.

Are the introduction and conclusion talking about the same idea?

Is the thesis mentioned or implied?

How is the work structured or ordered to develop the idea? Is it successful or confusing?

STYLE

You can analyze the tone of the work (What tone does the work have? Is it satirical, humorous,

reflective, or something else?)

You can look at how the paragraphs are written (Are the kinds of information or narrative styles varied?)

Style can refer to individual sentences (Are they varied in style and length? Is the word choice appropriate and interesting?)

CORRECTNESS

Correctness refers to grammar, punctuation, and spelling for written works, and the addition of the elements and the form for other works.

The structure

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Introduction

Typically, the introduction is short, and it should do the following:

Name the work being critiqued and indicate the date it was made as well as the author or creator's name

Describe the main idea, thesis statement, or purpose of the work.

Explain the context of the work being critiqued.

Example:

Juan dela Cruz, a senior high school student, conducted an experiment comparing the effects of rubbing alcohol, plain soap, and antibacterial soap when used to wash hands. He wrote a paper titled

"Washing Our Hands: Which Method Is the Best?" wherein he talked about the findings of his experiment, and it was published on March 16, 2020. He wanted to find out which of the three would be most effective in removing germs and bacteria from our hands, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the research paper effectively discusses the pros and cons of these handwashing techniques, and it was written in a time when it is very relevant.

Body

Summary

Critical Evaluation

Summary

The summary should briefly enumerate and explain the main points and objectively describe how the creator portrays these by using varied techniques, styles, media, characters, or symbols.

Critical Evaluation

The critical evaluation is the longest part of your critique. It should give a systematic and detailed assessment of the different elements of the work.

Evaluate how well the creator was able to achieve his or her purpose through these elements.

Here are some key critical questions that you can ask when writing your critical evaluation:

Who is the creator? Is the work presented objectively or subjectively?

What are the aims of the work? Were the aims achieved?

What techniques, styles, or media were used in the work? Are they effective in portraying the purpose?

What assumptions underlie the work? Do they affect its validity?

What types of evidence or persuasion are used? Has evidence been interpreted fairly?

How is the work structured? Does it favor a particular interpretation or point of view? Is it effective?

Does the work enhance understanding of key ideas or theories? Does the work engage with key concepts or other works in its discipline?

Example:

Dela Cruz presents the results of his experiment succinctly and clearly, ensuring that many readers can easily access and understand his research. This is important, as his work aims to inform as many people as possible on what type of soap should be used when washing hands, especially in the time of a pandemic. Dela Cruz also presents his methodology and findings fairly, avoiding any sort of bias toward a particular method of handwashing. However, he iS not able to explain how he chose these three particular methods of handwashing for testing. The results of his experiment prove that ordinary or plain soap is best used for washing hands. Despite antibacterial soap appearing to be more powerful and effective on the surface, it has many disadvantages that ultimately place it as less useful than plain soap. The results of dela Cruz's experiment can be backed up by research. A study by Jane Doe (2019) states that antibacterial soap has no proven additional benefits to plain soap. Dela Cruz's results show that using antibacterial soap does not eliminate more germs or bacteria than regular soap. In addition, Doe (2019) also states that antibacterial soap contains chemicals such as triclosan that can be harmful to both the human skin and the environment.

Meanwhile, plain soap or even antibacterial soap is more effective than rubbing alcohol, since it is not capable of killing all kinds of germs, as proven by dela Cruz's experiment. Furthermore, in an infographic released by the World Health Organization (2018), rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers are only quick alternatives to handwashing. If people can wash their hands instead of using rubbing alcohol, it would be much more ideal.

Conclusion

This is usually a very brief paragraph and should include the following:

a statement indicating the overall evaluation of the work

a summary of the key reasons, identified and discussed in the critical evaluation, why this evaluation was formed

recommendations either for the improvement of the work or for other people to read this work, if appropriate

Example:

Overall, Dela Cruz's paper was well-crafted, as he was able to intensively explain why using plain soap is the most effectivevhandwashing method. His experiment was detailed and focused, his analysis of the results was backed up by reliable data, and his paper was very relevant to its context. If it could still be improved, one recommendation would be to explore more methods of handwashing, or at least explain why the three methods discussed were specifically chosen.

In a Nutshell

A critique is a form of academic writing that critically evaluates a work or text.

Before writing the critique paper, one should look into the content, organization, style, and completeness of text.

The structure of the critique paper contains three parts: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion.

Lesson 2: Critical Approaches in Analyzing a Critique

Critical Approaches in Analyzing a Critique

Involves analyzing and evaluating a piece of work with a focus on examining its strengths, weaknesses, and overall effectiveness.

Different critical approaches tend to focus on different parts of a text.

Critical Approaches:

Formalist

Feminist

Marxist

Reader-response

Psychoanalytical

Historical

FORMALIST CRITICAL APPROACH

In the formalist approach, the focus is on the literary elements of a text.

It aims to understand how the various elements of a text, such as symbols, motifs, imagery, and narrative techniques, interact to create meaning.

FEATURES OF FORMALIST APPROACH

• Imagery and figurative language are an important aspect in this approach.

• It is important to analyze the symbolisms and the language used and try to interpret their meaning.

Formalism does not concern itself with any

kind of context outside of the text.

The analysis focuses on the elements of the work.

The text is viewed on its own, with only its elements and how they are used

FEMINIST CRITICAL APPROACH

This approach concerns on the portrayal of characters in the text.

It focuses on the awareness that there exists all kinds of oppression against women in the society.

FEATURES OF FEMINIST APPROACH

• How a work uses its elements to either reinforce or undermine the oppression against women and the harmful gender stereotypes.

• How cultures all over the world can be inherently patriarchal and how these can be portrayed in literature and other works.

• Useful texts are those that are able to subvert the patriarchal standards and show a positive portrayal of men and women.

• A feminist reading could look at how the two characters were treated and characterized equally.

MARXIST CRITICAL APPROACH

This approach is mostly concerned with answering the question "Who does the work benefit?"

It focuses on class differences, economic and otherwise, that are prevalent in a capitalist society.

FEATURES OF MARXIST APPROACH

• It is concerned with how the lower and

working classes are oppressed.

• Conflict between classes leads to

contradictions in social systems that lead to social revolution.

• This cycle of conflict continues because there will always be conflict among the classes.

• These will always be reflected in literature and other forms of expression.

READER-RESPONSE CRITICISM

This approach asserts that the meaning of a literary work arises through the interaction between the reader and the text.

This approach highlights that different readers may interpret the same text in varying ways based on their personal experiences, emotions, and perspectives.

FEATURES OF READER-RESPONSE

• Readers are not passive in their consumption of literature but are active in searching for meaning in the works that they consume.

• The reactions of the consumers of the work are vital to interpreting the meaning of the work.

• The role of the readers is important in understanding literature and other expressions of art.

• Analyze how the meaning is made or reinforced when they interact with the readers.

PSYCHOANALYTIC CRITICISM

This approach explores how unconscious desires, fears, conflicts, and psychological drives of both the author and the characters shape the narrative, themes, and structure of a text.

FEATURES OF PSYCHOANALYTIC

• Psychoanalysis uses terms and concepts in modern psychology in the analysis of literature and other works.

• A prominent figure in psychoanalysis is Sigmund Freud, whose theories explored and attempted to explain concepts like repression, sexuality, wish

fulfillment, and the unconscious.

HISTORICAL APPROACH

This approach emphasizes the relationship between a text and the historical context in which it was created.

It argues that understanding the social, political, cultural, and intellectual environment of the time is essential for interpreting and appreciating a literary work.

FEATURES OF HISTORICAL APPROACH

• The historical approach takes into consideration the social, cultural, and intellectual context that produced the work.

• It includes the author's biographical information.

• This approach requires background research on the author, where they were based, and the time they made the work.