Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what Questions:

the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from 1. Before whom did
the text. In heaven, the blades of grass
Blade of Grass Some little blades of grass stand?
By: Stephen Crane Stood before God. 2. What question is
"What did you do?" asked of the little
Then all save one of the little blades
blade?
Began eagerly to relate
The merits of their lives. 3. What did each
This one stayed a small way behind, one relate?
Ashamed. 4. Did the little
Presently, God said, blade know any of
"And what did you do?" his good deeds?
The little blade answered, "Oh my Lord, 5. Did the rest of the
Memory is bitter to me,
For, if I did good deeds,
blades of grass
I know not of them." enjoy relating the
Then God, in all His splendor, story of their lives?
Arose from His throne.
"Oh, best little blade of grass!" He said.
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what Questions:
the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from 6. Was God pleased
the text. In heaven,
with the little blade?
Blade of Grass Cite the lines that
Some little blades of grass
By: Stephen Crane Stood before God. answer the
"What did you do?" question.
Then all save one of the little blades 7. Why was the little
Began eagerly to relate blade ashamed of
The merits of their lives. himself? Prove by
This one stayed a small way behind, citing that the little
Ashamed. blade was ashamed
Presently, God said, of himself.
"And what did you do?" 8. What did God call
The little blade answered, "Oh my Lord, the little blade?
Memory is bitter to me, 9. Who do you think
For, if I did good deeds, are the blades refer
I know not of them." to in the poem?
Then God, in all His splendor, 10.Where does the
Arose from His throne. story take place?
"Oh, best little blade of grass!" He said.
Cite Textual Evidence Fruit bearing tress I planted Questions:
MY DEAD TREE Almost every day they are watered 1. To whom is the
By: Eric P. Miso In God’s hands they are ushered author speaking?
For them to grow as I wanted 2. What happens in
One day I was very frustrated the poem?
3. What is the tone of
To find one them almost dead
the story? What word
Somebody must have struck its head choices from the
Making myself helpless and worried story support your
I almost cried and truly was answer?
discouraged 4. Based on this
Thinking to disregard what I have poem, what would
started you say about the
Why should I bother to care? poet's personality?
For the crazy little ducks these don’t What is
matter his message about?
5. What message is
Had I known who did this terrible
the poet trying to get
thing across to the reader?
I should have told him my pain Why is this an
I just whisper it to the heavens important message
That He may take good care of them. for you?
 PURPOSEFUL
WRITING IN THE
DISCIPLINE
Here starts the
lesson!
 WRITING A BOOK REVIEW OR
ARTICLE CRITIQUE
What is a Book Review or Article Critique?
A book review or article critique is a specialized form of academic writing in which a
reviewer evaluates the contribution to knowledge of scholarly works such as academic
books and journal article. It is a critical assessment, analysis, or evaluation of a work.
However, take care not to equate the word “critique” to cynicism and pessimism. As an
advance form of writing, it involves your skills in critical thinking and recognizing
arguments. A book review or article critique is different in movie review that you see in a
newspaper. Although movie reviews involve the analysis of one’s work, they are written
for a general audience and primarily aim to offer a persuasive opinion. An academic book
review or article critique, on the other hand, addresses a more specific audience and
usually offers a critical response to a published scholarly work. Moreover, book review
must not be mistaken for book reports. Book reports focus on describing the plot,
characters, or idea of a certain work.
What is a Book Review?
- A book review is a description and a critical evaluation of a
book. It gives a summary of the content and assesses the value of
the book focusing on the book's purpose, contents, and authority.

- Reviews generally range from 500 – 2000 words, but may be

longer or shorter

What is the purpose of a Book Review?

-The purpose of the book review is to clearly and succinctly convey
the contents and value of the material to an audience that is
unfamiliar with it.
What is the importance of a Book Review?
- Book reviews give books greater visibility and a greater
chance of getting found by more readers. On some websites,
books that have more book reviews are more likely to be shown
to prospective readers and buyers as compared to books with
few or no book reviews.
How Write a Book Review
Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is
about. ...

Discuss what you particularly liked about the book. ...

Mention anything you disliked about the book. ...

Round up your review. ...

You can give the book a rating, for example a mark out of
five or ten, if you like!
EXAMPLES
OF A BOOK
REVIEW
Ralph Ellison’s The Invisible Man:
An extremely powerful story of a young Southern Negro, from his late high school days
through three years of college to his life in Harlem.
His early training prepared him for a life of humility before white men, but through
injustices- large and small, he came to realize that he was an "invisible man". People saw in
him only a reflection of their preconceived ideas of what he was, denied his individuality,
and ultimately did not see him at all. This theme, which has implications far beyond the
obvious racial parallel, is skillfully handled. The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing.
The boy's dismissal from college because of an innocent mistake, his shocked reaction to the
anonymity of the North and to Harlem, his nightmare experiences on a one-day job in a
paint factory and in the hospital, his lightning success as the Harlem leader of a communistic
organization known as the Brotherhood, his involvement in black versus white and black
versus black clashes and his disillusion and understanding of his invisibility- all climax
naturally in scenes of violence and riot, followed by a retreat which is both literal and
figurative. Parts of this experience may have been told before, but never with such freshness,
intensity and power.
This is Ellison's first novel, but he has complete control of his story and his style. Watch it.
Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry:
Three-quarters of the way through Lisa Halliday’s debut novel, “Asymmetry,” a British foreign correspondent
named Alistair is spending Christmas on a compound outside of Baghdad. His fellow revelers include cameramen,
defense contractors, United Nations employees and aid workers. Someone’s mother has FedExed a HoneyBaked
ham from Maine; people are smoking by the swimming pool. It is 2003, just days after Saddam Hussein’s capture,
and though the mood is optimistic, Alistair is worrying aloud about the ethics of his chosen profession, wondering if
reporting on violence doesn’t indirectly abet violence and questioning why he’d rather be in a combat zone than
reading a picture book to his son. But every time he returns to London, he begins to “spin out.” He can’t go home.
“You observe what people do with their freedom — what they don’t do — and it’s impossible not to judge them for
it,” he says.

The line, embedded unceremoniously in the middle of a page-long paragraph, doubles, like so many others in
“Asymmetry,” as literary criticism. Halliday’s novel is so strange and startlingly smart that its mere existence seems
like commentary on the state of fiction. One finishes “Asymmetry” for the first or second (or like this reader, third)
time and is left wondering what other writers are not doing with their freedom — and, like Alistair, judging them
for it.

Despite its title, “Asymmetry” comprises two seemingly unrelated sections of equal length, appended by a slim and
quietly shocking coda. Halliday’s prose is clean and lean, almost reportorial in the style of W. G. Sebald, and like
the murmurings of a shy person at a cocktail party, often comic only in single clauses. It’s a first novel that reads
like the work of an author who has published many books over many years.
Anissa Gray’s The Care and Feeding of
Ravenously Hungry Girls:

I am still dipping my toes into the literally fiction pool, finding what works for me and what
doesn’t. Books like The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray are
definitely my cup of tea.
Althea and Proctor Cochran had been pillars of their economically disadvantaged community
for years – with their local restaurant/small market and their charity drives. Until they are
found guilty of fraud for stealing and keeping most of the money they raised and sent to jail.
Now disgraced, their entire family is suffering the consequences, specially their twin teenage
daughters Baby Vi and Kim. To complicate matters even more: Kim was actually the one to
call the police on her parents after yet another fight with her mother.
What is an Article Critique?
- A critique is a systematic way of objectively reviewing a piece of
research to highlight both its strengths and weaknesses, and its
applicability to practice.

- A critique is not (only) a criticism. A critique is a specific style of

essay in which you identify, evaluate, and respond to an author's ideas,
both positively and negatively. It is usually applied to academic sources.

Why is Critique Important for Students?

- Critique allows students to learn from each other and become
accountable for their own ideas. It gives them a glimpse of how the
real world would respond to their work, and insight into what is
working and what needs redrafting.
More Information about Article Critique
• You are expected to engage with the article rather than just
summarize it, by considering its content carefully, and from different
angles. Your critique must be objective, so support it with evidence
rather than instinct or emotion.

• When you engage in a critique you are demonstrating to your

marker that:
• You have read extensively
• You can identify the particular strengths and weaknesses of those
readings
• You can identify different positions and perspectives in the readings
• You are developing the skills and knowledge to engage with the experts
• You are joining in a broader academic debate about an article's merits
 HOW TO MAKE AN  Create a legend for your
ARTICLE CRITIQUE markings. Create a unique symbol
to differentiate between parts of the
1. Reading Actively text that might be confusing,
 Read through the article once to important, or inconsistent.
get the main idea. The first time you
read through an article, you should  Take some longer notes during
simply try to understand the overall subsequent readings. In addition to a
argument that the author is making. legend, it is helpful to take notes
when expanded thoughts come to you
as you read
 Mark up the text as you read  Develop a preliminary concept for your
through it again. It is sometimes critique. Form a vague opinion of the piece
helpful to use a red pen to make your in question. Evaluate the author's overall
argument after you have read the article
markings stand out.
through two or three times.
 2. Gathering Evidence • Notice if the author cites
untrustworthy evidence.
● Question whether the writer's
overall message is logical. Test the
• Dig deep. Use your existing
hypothesis and compare it to other
knowledge, educated opinions, and
similar examples.
any research you can gather to either
• Search the article for any biases, support or disagree with the author's
whether intentional or article.
unintentional. If the author has
anything to gain from the conclusions • Remember that a critique doesn't
demonstrated in the article, it's have to be entirely positive or
possible that some bias has been negative
demonstrated.
 3. Formatting your • Present your arguments in a well-
Critique reasoned, objective tone. Avoid
writing in an overzealous or
● Begin with an introduction that obnoxiously passionate tone.
outlines your argument. The
introduction should be no more than
two paragraphs long and should lay • Conclude your critique by
out the basic framework for your summarizing your argument and
critique. suggesting potential implications.
• Provide evidence for your argument in
the body paragraphs of your critique.
EXAMPLES
OF A
ARTICLE
CRITIQUE
Critique Paper for the National Museum of
Anthropology
As a student and as a Filipino citizen, knowing the Visiting the National Museum of
history of our culture and how our civilization began Anthropology gave me an excitement
gives me an idea with how Filipinos are living and to look for. The Museum lies across the
how Filipinos are culturally inclined with each other. National Museum of Natural History
The diversity of the Filipinos from the old culture to at the vicinity of Luneta Park in the
the present future is probably why innovation City of Manila, Philippines. While I
happens within the community. Looking back at the was walking my way towards the
old pieces of information towards anthropology can
museum, I immediately noticed the
be an honor for us. The thoughts of seeing how
improvement or change has happened throughout
well-maintained facility of the building
the years are tantalizing. Having new knowledge The paintings were intact and the
about how the previous civilization worked its way architecture looked semi-modem. The
to how it is right now can give the people more ideas coconut trees near the building gave it
which may lead to theories that can lead to actual a natural look. As I walked inside the
facts which can be used for further studies. building, the security in the facility is
Appreciation within culture may lead to diversity of as the same as other national museums
the social norms within the old and present era located within the vicinity.
"The Policies and Achievements of the Government and Regeneration of the Filipino“ By:
Manuel L. Quezon CRITIQUE PAPER
Being a President of a country is a hardworking one, and a challenging one, because it's up to you what would be the scenario in
your country. You will be the one to manage your country. In the year, 1935 to 1945 Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina he was became
the President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. He was born on August 19, 1878. He was the first Filipino to head a
government of the entire Philippines. He have been considered the second President of the Philippines, after Emilio Aguinaldo.
Being a President for him is a challenging one because he had been faced a lot of problems that try of what he can do to solved
those problems.
The speech of Manuel L. Quezon is considered to be a interesting one. In the speech of our past President he
highlight this one trait of Filipinos which is about the bad attitude and manners of the Filipino. He compare the
attitude of our ancestors up to the present, in our generation. He didn't intend to offend or to bring the citizens of
Philippines down but he wants to point the wrong doings. He wants to tackle of what he want to change about the
manners of the Filipinos in our generation. And he want to preserve of what our ancestors attitude have, and he
want for us to inherit it. In the speech that he delivered he pointed about the claims; claims of fact, claim of value
and claim of policy. Claim of fact referred about a quantifiable assertion, or a measurable topic. They assert
something that existed, exists or will exist based on data. It usually answer the question "what". Claim of value is
about, assert something that can be qualified. They consist of arguments about moral, philosophical, or aesthetic
topics. These types of topic try to prove that some values are more or less desirable compared to others. They
make judgements. Claim of policy posit that specific actions should be chosen as solution to a particular problem.
They begin with a word "should", "ought to" or "must". They defend actionable plans, usually answer the question
"how". In the first stanza of Manuel L. Quezon speech he said that " National strength can only be built on
character" and that is an example of claim of fact, because we will have a progressive nation if we have a good
character. Because good character is equivalent to a good country. Also, in the first stanza of his speech, you can
find an example of claim of policy, "We must find the flaws, if there be any, in our concept of individual and
community life, as well as in our character, and proceed at once to remedy them "I can say that this is an example
of claim of policy because from the word "must" and it answered the question "
MAIN PARTS OF A
BOOK
II. SUMMARY
REVIEW/ARTICLE - main point of the article
CRITIQUE - the arguments presented in the article
I. INTRODUCTION - the findings of the article
it includes the ff:
- author's name and the title of the
article
- main point of the author III. CRITIQUE
- a thesis statement that previews the - discuss the strengths and weaknesses of
analysis the article
- state your informed opinions about the
clarity, relevancy and accuracy of the
article using specific examples
When writing a book review 6. What are the contributions of the
or article critique, make sure book or article to the field (e.g.,
to ask the following: language, psychology) it is situated
1. What is the topic of the book or in?
article?
2. What is its purpose? 7. What problems and issues are
3. Who are its intended readers? discussed in the book or article?
4. Does the writer explicitly state
his/her thesis statement? 8. What kind of information (e.g.,
5. What theoretical assumptions (i.e., observation, survey, statistics, and
a scientific/logical explanation historical accounts) are presented in
without evidence) are mentioned in the book or article? How they are
the book or article? Are they used to support the arguments or
explicitly discuss? thesis?
9. Are there other ways of supporting
the arguments or thesis aside from the
information used in the book or
article? Is the author silent about
these alternative ways of explanation?

10. What is your overall reaction to

the work?
Guidelines in Writing a
Book Review or Article
Critique 4. Focus on discussing how the book
treats the topic and not a topic itself.
Start your sentences with phrases such as
1. Read the article or book to be
“this book presents…’ and “The author
reviewed carefully to get its main argues…”
concept.
5. Situate your review. This means that
2. Reread it to get the arguments being your analysis should be anchored be
presented. anchored on the theories presented by
the book or article writer.
3. Relate the content of the article or
book to what you already know about 6. Examine whether the findings are
adequately supported or not.
the topic. This will make you more
engaged with the article or book.
9. Discuss how the same topic is 11. Examine the connections between
explained from other ideas and how they affect the
conclusions and findings.
perspective. Compare the
writer’s explanation of the topic 12. Show your reactions to the
to another expert from the same writer’s idea and present an
field of study. explanation. You can either agree or
disagree with the ideas, as long as you
10. Point out other conclusion or can sufficiently support your stand.
interpretations that the writer
missed out. Present other ideas 13. Suggest some alternative
methods and processes of reasoning
that need to be examined.
that would result in a more
conclusive interpretation.
In writing a review/critique you must:
(1) provide a summary of the contents of the contents of the
piece of writing under review;

(2) provide a general evaluation of the text;

(3) discuss each point you want to make about the text; and

(4) conclude by telling the readers if the text is worth

reading or not. In addition, you must polish your writing by
considering the properties of a well written text.