Guidelines for Writing the Reaction Paper/Review/Critique2

1. Value Communicated
a. Sound critical judgment
b. A fair and balanced assessment of situations or events, people and
things
2. Basic Content
a. Ranges from an off-hand gut reaction, favorable or unfavorable, merely
expressive of emotion to a more rational impersonal critical analysis
that seriously communicates some value, ethical or moral, some hidden
or forgotten truth, and some aesthetic delight
b. May take the form of a reflection, an appeal, a protest, a tribute or
denunciation, a speculation
c. In general, the content would include the following topics:

1.) For human situations:

a.) A brief description of the event
b.) People involved, their roles and contributions
c.) Other driving forces, in the open or hidden and
unsuspected
d.) Implications and consequences
e.) Assessment and prognostication
f.) Some offered solutions
2.) For cultural affairs, people, works, performances:
a.) The central purposes of the event or product
b.) The means, devices, strategies employed to achieve
the purposes
c.) An evaluation of the achievement: success or failure
d.) The significance (if any) beyond mere entertainment of
the event or product in ethical and/or aesthetic terms,
its timeliness and/or timelessness

All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means -
electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2016
 3. Modes of Ordering (Any of the following):
a. From the event/performance/artifact/work presented and
described/narrated in themselves to the writer’s critical evaluation of the
entire event, show or work in a sequence of its elements
b. Discussion that intersperses critical comments between mention or
description of the details of the event, show or work
c. From a cover statement giving an over-all judgment of the event, show
or piece to a discussion of each angle, aspect or element of the event,
show or work illustrating or providing evidence for the evaluative cover
statement
4. Basic qualities of a Good Reaction Paper
a. Gives a fair and balance social commentary
b. Provides relevant and accurate factual information on the situation
c. Exhibits by means of thorough and in-depth analysis an appreciation of
context (including time, place, people, involvement, their motivation,
and actuations)

d. Makes a clear distinction, through language, between what is actual

and what is probable or possible

e. Exhibits a deep sense of humanity and an understanding of the human

situation even while expressing disapproval or disagreement most
intensely
5. Basic Qualities of an Adequate Critical Judgment
a. Provides accurate and relevant information on the event, show, or work
b. Exhibits full appreciation of the purpose behind the event, show, or work
c. Shows a clear understanding of the means (strategies, techniques, devices,
etc.) and their appropriateness and power in achieving the purpose
d. Exhibits fairness and balance in the judgment made
e. Projects incisive and profound insights into its (1) analysis of the event on
artifact, (2) interpretation of the underlying meaning or significance of the event
or artifact, and (3) appreciation of the values “(moral and/or aesthetic) unfolded
in every detail of the event or artifact”

All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means -
electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2016
 All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means -
electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office. First Edition, 2016