SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Learning Module
in
creative NONFICTION
by: JEPTE C. DAGUM

(week 7 & 8)
(Weeks No.7 & 8)
LESSON 6
EVALUATION OF LITERARY WORKS
Learning competency/ies: Evaluate other’s draft based on: 1. clarity of idea 2.
appropriate choice of literary element 3. appropriate use of the element 4.
effective combination of the idea and the chosen literary element

Objectives
This lesson aims to:

a. assess the written literary works of other authors using simple criteria;
b. relate ones work utilizing the existing fiction or nonfiction narratives; and
c. show appreciation of critiquing the drafts of other authors and writers.

Review
UNMASKING THE QUOTE
Directions:
Read the quote below. On the box, discuss the strong points behind the
concepts of this quote. Then, reason out and give scenarios and situations
why to critique is easier than to appreciate.

“It is easier to criticize than to appreciate.”

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Pre-assessment
1. What are the two most common literary analysis?
a. literary and expository
b. literal and inferential
c. short and long
d. analytical and persuasive
2. It is an analysis of a particular piece of writing.
a. essay
b. editorial
c. critique
d. review
3. What is the aim of critique?
a. summarize the original text
b. analyze how well the points in the article are made
c. prove how flawed the literary work is
d. discuss the content of the literary piece
4. Which of the following states how critiques benefit the writer of the
text being critiqued?
a. Critiques help the writer make his work better.
b. Critiques give the writer concrete ideas for a new text.
c. Critiques encourage the writer to pursue different work.
d. Critiques stimulates critical thinking to the writer.
5. A critique must be written _____________ based on observations of
the text.
a. subjectively
b. objectively
c. emotionally
d. coherently
6. Which of the following follows the correct steps in writing a critique?
I. State a conclusion as well as reasons for it.
II. Read and understand the text.
III. Review the ideas and their flow in the text.
IV. Orient the reader regarding the text.
a. II, III, IV, I
b. II, IV, III, I
c. II, IV, I, III
d. I, II, III, IV
7. Which of the following is considered a good critique?
a. one that discusses only the weakness of the text
b. one that only dwells on the good point of the text
c. one that is objective and does not have any bias
d. one that is subjective and do have biases

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 8. Which of the following is not true about critiquing
a. Critiques benefit only the writer of the original text.
b. Critique writing involves critical thinking and analytical skills.
c. Good critiques state both the good points and the weaknesses
of the text.
d. Critiques follow a certain structure and criteria.
9. Lindsay needs to write a critique of an essay, but she does not know
how. Which of the following should she do?
a. She should write a continuation of the essay.
b. She should analyze the essay.
c. She should rewrite the whole essay
d. She should summarize and paraphrase the essay.
10. Barry is writing a critique, but he is saving trouble with how to
start it. Which of the following should he do?
a. orient readers about the work being critiqued
b. write down the good points of the text
c. start with observations about the text
d. discuss the main points of the text

Introduction
On this lesson, topics like critiquing and the components of evaluating
literary works will be expounded. Critiquing is an important literary skill for
it teaches the students how to view and understand the texts in varied angles.
Critiquing also helps the writers or authors in polishing their crafts in
writing composition for creative nonfiction. Since, it is a complex process and
it encompasses across many subfields in the English language, many critics
spend their time in analyzing bodies of literature because there’s so much to
discover from the stories and pieces that flourished around the world.
Moreover, some components and criteria, as important tools in
critiquing, will also be addressed here. These will guide the critics in
formulating the appropriate method in evaluating and assessing the contents
of the literary text being critiqued. Thus, a critical evaluation does not simply
highlight negative impressions. It should deconstruct the work and identify
both strengths and weaknesses. It should examine the work and evaluate its
success, in light of its purpose.
Assess. Evaluate. Examine. Deconstruct. Weigh in. These concepts
should be put in mind as you critique the fictional or nonfictional works being
written or published.

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 Content
Closer Look on Critiquing

A critique is a genre of academic writing that briefly summarises and

critically evaluates a work or concept. Critiques can be used to carefully
analyse a variety of works such as:
 Creative works like novels, exhibits, film, images, poetry
 Research like monographs, journal articles, systematic reviews,
and theories
 Media like news reports and feature articles
In critiquing, the important guideline is to give an honest, constructive,
and polite assessment of the writing. All comments should be about the words
written, not about the person writing them.

According to Nordquist (2016), a critique is a formal analysis of a text,

production, or performance – either one’s own or someone else’s. Critiques
differ from review in that critiques offer more depth to their analysis.

Before you start writing, it is important to have a thorough

understanding of the work that will be critiqued. You have to, study the work
under discussion, make notes on key parts of the work, develop an
understanding of the main argument or purpose being expressed in the work,
and consider how the work relates to a broader issue or context.
A typical critique have the following template: introduction (It must be
brief [less than 10% of the word length]), summary (Briefly summarise the
main points and objectively describe how the creator portrays these by
using techniques, styles, media, characters or symbols. This summary
should not be the focus of the critique and is usually shorter than the critical
evaluation), critical evaluation (This section should give a systematic and
detailed assessment of the different elements of the work, evaluating how well
the creator was able to achieve the purpose through these.), conclusion (This
is usually a very brief paragraph that contains the statement, summary,
circumstances and recommendations for the improvement of the work), and
reference list (Include all resources cited in your critique.)

Two Steps to Follow

First Step
Overall Impressions: Evaluate the work as a reader.
A. Content
 Does it open with something that captures your attention and
makes you want to keep reading?
 Does the pace seem appropriate for the type of information being
covered?
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  Can you clearly identify the subject or the main idea?
 Is the main idea supported by evidence, anecdotes, interviews,
viewpoints, or some other method?

B. Audience
 Is it clear who the target audience is for the book, article, or
essay?
 Is the tone, language, and reading level appropriate for the
audience?

C. Format
 Is it following standard submission guidelines for the type of
work, or it tailored towards guidelines of a specific market?
 Is it organized logically, so the reader can follow the development
of the topic or progression of the events?
 Is it following standard submission guidelines for the type of
work, or it tailored towards guidelines of a specific market?
 Is it organized logically, so the reader can follow the development
of the topic or progression of the events?

Second Step
The Mechanics: Evaluate the work for structural strengths and weaknesses.

A. Structure
 Were paragraphs and sentences appropriate in length for the type
of information presented?
 Would varying their length add interest or adjust the pace more
effectively?
 Does the choice of words feel appropriate?
 Is the information presented in a way that the target audience
will find it easy to understand?
 Does the conclusion summarize the main points effectively, or
bring the work to a satisfying end?
B. Grammar
 Are there obvious mistakes in grammar and spelling?
 Are there too many cliché’s in the narrative or dialog?
C. Extras
 If there are sidebars, charts, graphs, pictures, or other supporting
documents, do they support the premise, theme, arguments, or
hypothesis?
 Are they formatted properly and annotated in the body of the
work?

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 Self-Check Activities
THE KWL CHART
Directions: Assess your prior and recent learning about critiquing through the
use of KWL Chart. Be critical and fill-out the necessary information as needed.

K W L

(What I know about (What I want to learn (What I had learned

critiquing?) about critiquing?) about critiquing)

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 Key Concepts
 A critique is a genre of academic writing that briefly summarises and
critically evaluates a work or concept. Critiques can be used to carefully
analyse a variety of works such as creative works, research, and media.
 There are two steps to follow in critiquing: first is the overall impression
and the second is the mechanics.
 The overall impression includes the content, audience, and format.
 The mechanics includes the structure, format, and extras.
 The typical critique paper have the following template: introduction,
summary, critical evaluation, conclusion, and reference list.

Evaluation
On the box below are some samples of nonfictional pieces from
renowned public figures. Your task is to relate these literary pieces from your
existing compositions (journal and diary). The criteria is also included for you
to follow the right steps in critiquing.

Kurt Cobain Journal Entry The Diary of Anne Frank

Band Member, Nirvana (Excerpts from 7/8/1942- 7/15/1944)
Penned, circa 1992

August 21st 1942: “Now our Secret Anne has truly become
I kind of feel like a dork writing about myself like this as if I secret. Because so many houses are being searched for
were an American pop-rock icon-demi God, or a self- hidden bicycles, Mr. Kugler thought it would be better to have
confessed product of corporate-packaged rebellion, but a bookcase built in front of the entrance to our hiding place. It
I’ve heard so many insanely exhaggerated stories or swings out to its hinges and opens like a door. Mr. Voskuijl did
reports from my friends and Ive read so many pathetic the carpentry work. (Mr. Voskuijl has been told that the seven
of us are in hiding, and has been most helpful.) Now whenever
second rate, freudian evaluations from interviews from my we want to go downstairs we have to duck and then jump.
childhood up until the present state of my personality and After the first three days, we were all walking around with
how I’m a notoriously f—ed up heroine addict, alcoholic, bumps on our foreheads from banging our heads against the
self destructive, yet overtly sensitive, frail, fragile, soft low doorway. Then Peter cushioned it by nailing a towel
stuffed with wood shavings at the doorframe. Let’s see if it
spoken, narcoleptic, neurotic, little pissant who at any
helps!
minute is going to O.D. jump off a roof wig out blow my October 20th 1942: “My hands still shaking, though it’s been
head off or all 3 at once. Oh Pleez GAWD I can’t handle two hours since we had the scare...The office staff stupidly
the success! The success! And I feel so incredibly guilty! forgot to warn us that the carpenter, or whatever he’s called,
For abandoning my true commrades who were the ones was coming to fill the extinguishers. After working for about
fifteen minutes, he laid his hammer and some other tools on
who are devoted who were into us a few years ago. And in
our bookcase (or so we thought!) and banged on our door. We
10 years when NIRVANA becomes as memorable as turned white with fear. He had heard something after all and
Kajagoogoo that same very small percent will come to see did he now want to check out this mysterious looking
us at reunion gigs sponsored by Depends diapers, bald fat bookcase? It seemed so, since he kept knocking, pulling,
still trying to RAWK at amusement parks. Saturdays: pushing, and jerking on it. I was so scared I nearly fainted at
the thought of this total stranger managing to discover our
puppet show, rollercoaster & Nirvana . . wonderful hiding place...”

Criteria
Overall Impressions (content, audience, and format) - 50%
Mechanics (structure, format, and extras) - 50%
Total: 100%

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 Enrichment Activities
EASY ESSAY
Directions: Answer the following essay questions comprehensibly.

1. What is the importance of critiquing the literary works of authors?

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. What is the function of having a well-researched criteria in critiquing
pieces under creative nonfiction?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Bibliography
Books

Solmerano, E.T. et. al (2017). Creative Nonfiction. Fastbooks Educational

Supply. Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines.

Torres, J.V. (2013). Pen as Swords: The Philippine PEN Jose Rizal Lectures.
Solidaridad Publishing House. Ermita, Manila, Philippines

Websites

Frank, A. (1944). The Diary of Anne Frank. Retrieved from:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48855.The_Diary_of_a_Young_G irl.
Retrieval Date; June 20, 2020.

Openshaw, A. (2015). 10 Revealing Diary Entries of Famous Figures. Retrieved

from: https://listverse.com/2015/03/01/10-revealing-diary-and-journal-
entries-of-famous-figures/. Retrieval Date: June 18, 2020

QUT Education. (2019). What is a Critique? Retrieved from:

https://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/write/critique.jsp#:~:text=Writing%20a%
20criti que%20on%20a,of%20evidence%20or%20creative%20style. Retrieval
Date: June 20, 2020

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