Present a commentary/critique on a

chosen creative nonfictional text

representing a particular type or
form using a teacher-made
nonfiction commentary model.
(HUMSS_CNF11/12-IIb-c-17)
PRESENTING A
COMMENTARY/CRITIQUE
NONFICTIONAL TEXTS CAPTURED Directions: Identify what is
being described in each sentence. Choose your answer from
the types of nonfictional texts.

1. The writer constructs a true story about a time or period in his/her life,
one that had significant personal meaning and a universal truth. The
writer composes the story using the first person “I.”
2. It is short for web log which refers to an online diary that looks like a
web page.
3. It is an old canon of Literature, dealing with nature writing, adventure
writing, exploration writing, guide books etc.
NONFICTIONAL TEXTS CAPTURED Directions: Identify what is
being described in each sentence. Choose your answer from
the types of nonfictional texts.

4. The writer composes his/her life story, from birth to the present, using
the first person “I.”
5. It uses technique of journalism (such as interviews and reviews) in order
to look outside of the straight forward, objective world that journalism
creates.
6. It is an emerging form of creative nonfiction which refers to published
oral or written “first-hand accounts” which the witnesses wrote
NONFICTIONAL TEXTS CAPTURED Directions: Identify what is
being described in each sentence. Choose your answer from
the types of nonfictional texts.

7. It is an analytical practice of describing a real or imaginary scene,

thoughts and adding a personal reflection.
8. It gives a description about a particular topic, or describes the traits and
characteristics of something or a person.
9. It is a detailed description or account of a person’s life.
NONFICTIONAL TEXTS CAPTURED Directions: Identify what is
being described in each sentence. Choose your answer from
the types of nonfictional texts.

10. Like a pen-and-ink drawing, it acts as a cameo or miniature life story.

11. It is a kind of biographical narrative which focuses on a particular facet
of the featured person’s life as well as requires research and couple of
interviews. 12. It is a quotidian or day to day record of the specific events
that have transpired in the life of its author and is ideally kept on a daily
basis.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CREATIVE
NONFICTIONAL TEXTS?
 As a major literary genre, creative nonfiction has also
many literary types and forms. It can be divided into three
broad categories namely: biographical narratives,
autobiographical narratives, and various kinds of personal or
informal essays (Aguila, et.al, 2017).

There are also special types which include travel, nature

and food writing. Recently new forms of creative nonfiction
have emerged worldwide and these are testimonio, the blog
and Facebook status report.
Here are the definitions of the common forms of nonfictional
texts:
1. Biographical narratives can be classified according to their length,
scope, amplitude into the full-length biography, profile, the character
sketch and the interview story.

a. Biography is the accurate representation of the life story from

birth to death of an individual written by one person for another person,
along with an effort to interpret the life so as to offer a realistic impression
of the subject. b. Profile concentrates on a single aspect of the
featured, city, institution, or person’s life.
c. Character Sketch is shorter than a profile and can be described
as cameo or miniature life story.
d. Interview story zeroes in on one particular facet of the featured
person’s life and can be a product of meeting between a writer
(interviewer) and his or her subject (the interviewee).
2. Autobiographical narratives range from intimate writings made
during life that were not necessarily intended for publication (including
letters, diaries, journals, memoirs, and reminiscences) to the formal
autobiography.

a. Autobiography is an account of one’s own life, generally a

continuous narrative of major events. The writer composes his/her life
story, from birth to the present, using the first person “I.”
b. Memoir -uses multiple scenes/stories as a way of examining a
writer's life (or an important moment in a writer's life). It can be written in
a fragmentary or dispersed style, like a mosaic or montage of small-scale
narratives.
c. Diary - is a quotidian or day to day record of the specific events
that have transpired in the life of its author and is ideally kept on a daily
basis.
d. Journal -contains personal details regarding impressions and
opinions of the journal writer concerning certain intriguing incidents or
issues that have come up and how specific persons have affected him/ her
3. Personal or Informal Essays allows one to explore a topic through
the lens of his/her own, personal experiences, reflections, ideas, and
reactions.

a. Literary Reportage/Journalism is a hybrid between responsible

journalism and imaginative literature uses the techniques of journalism
(such as interviews and reviews) in order to look outside of the straight
forward, objective world that journalism creates. It uses literary practices
to capture the scene/setting of the assignment or the persona of the
person being interviewed.
b. Descriptive essay represents the appearance or essence of
something . It gives a description about a particular topic, or describes the
traits and characteristics of something or a person
c. Reflective essay analyses the significance of a past event
through serious thought or consideration from the vantage point of the
present. It is an analytical practice of describing a real or imaginary scene,
thoughts and adding a personal reflection
4. Special types of creative nonfiction include travel
writing, nature writing and food writing. This can be
illustrated in one form called as travelogue.

a. Travelogue is an old canon of literature, dealing with

nature writing, adventure writing, exploration writing, guide
books etc. It includes the narration of journey undertaken by
the narrator from his/ her point of origin to the eventual
destination. It also entails detailed descriptions of the local
customs, and traditions, the landscape or cityscape, the
native cuisine to historical and cultural landmarks, and the
sights and the sound the visited place has to offer.
5. Emerging forms include Testimonio, Blog, and Facebook
Status Report.

a. Testimonio refers to the published oral or written

“first-hand accounts” which the witnesses wrote themselves or
dictated to a transcriber.
b. Blog, short for web log, is an online diary that looks
like a web page. It is a platform where a writer or a group of
writers share their views on an individual subject.
c. Facebook Status Report
BRING BACK THE
PAST
Directions: Column A
contains statements
which are related to
writing a critique.
Find the terms
referred or defined
by these statements
in Column B.
WHAT IS A CRITIQUE?
 A critique is a short paper, usually about one book or
article. First, it gives a short summary of what has been said
in the article. Then, it looks at the article critically. In
presenting the critical comments, one has to look into the
strengths and weaknesses of the article. A critique can be
positive or negative. However, it is better that the critique
points out to improving the article.
WHY WRITE A CRITIQUE?
 A critique is written to judge the value of the piece. It is
also looking into the content and style of the writer. More so, a
critique looks into other elements such as arguments and
insights that the reader as critique writer might agree or
disagree.
HOW TO WRITE A CRITIQUE?
1.Read the whole book or article thoroughly. Highlight text that you
think important or make notes as you go along. Re-read the article to
make sure that your interpretation of the author’s ideas and arguments
are correct.
2.Think carefully about what you have read and ask yourself
questions about the article. Look into the following:
2.1. What are the main points that the author is trying to make?
2.2. How does the author support those points? What evidences are
being presented?
3. Re-read material to make sure that you have understood the author’s
ideas. 4. Try to summarize what you have read. You may wish to do this
by way of bullet- pointed notes. A spider diagram or mind map. Use
whichever techniques suits you.
5. Think about different points of view:
5.1 How do the author’s ideas compare to other writers of the
subject?
5.2 Do you agree or disagree with the author? You should say why.
This might mean backing up your own views with academic opinion, so you
A CRITIQUE MAY FOLLOW THIS TEMPLATE
Creative nonfictional texts can be categorized into five broad categories namely
(1) biographical narratives, (2) autobiographical narratives, (3) personal or
informal essays, (4) special types, and (5) emerging new forms.

Biographical narratives include biography, profile, character sketch, and interview

story.

Autobiographical narratives include autobiography, memoir, diary, and journals.

Personal or informal essays can be descriptive or reflective in form.

Special types include travel writing, food writing, and nature writing. Travelogue can
be used to describe all these three forms.

Emerging new forms include testimonio, blog, and Facebook Status Report.
A critique is a short summary of what has been said in the article which
includes the discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the article.as
well as points out how to improve the article.

In writing an article critique, one must observe the following steps

namely: (1) Read the whole book or article thoroughly and highlight text
that you think important or make notes as you go along; (2) think carefully
about what you have read and ask yourself questions about the article; (3)
re-read material to make sure that you have understood the author’s ideas;
(4) try to summarize what you have read; and (5)Think about different
points of view

The critique can be written in five paragraphs: (1) introduction which

presents the general ideas/points in the article , (2) presentation of
strengths and weaknesses in terms of content, arguments, evidences,
and writing style, (3) commentary on how you relate to the article, (4)
literariness or the quality of the article to be considered as creative work,
and (5) conclusion or the summary of your impressions on the technical
DIGGING A CRITIC’S BURROW
Directions: Read the article to be reviewed. Complete
the details in the table that follow.