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7 I The Best Online Education System in the world
A GOOD CRITIQUE
Marian Baltazar
Class of 1980, University of the Philippines College of Manila
AB Political Science
A good critique is trying to be a helping hand to the writer for the improvement of one’s skills. It is also to
examine one’s work and trying to evaluate it and create some feedback. This only means that a good critique is
reviewing an individual’s work so as to come up with factors and ways as to how to be an effective writer too. A
thorough understanding of what the writer is up to is what a good critique is all about. Apparently, these
means that writers are eager to gain an objective feedback, helpful hints and wide-flung research resources
and that they are committing to help each other climb the rickety ladder to publishing success.
While new writers are joining workshops too, they are often more concerned with their ability to provide a
good critique. More often than not, good critiquing skills come from experience but how could you get hold of
it when in fact you lack the experience on how to learn the fine art of the critique? Maybe you can be guided
by these following steps or few pointers that we could talk about. There will always be that time when you
would want to criticize or even not criticize at all. So, whether you are new or not in critiquing, I think it would
be better if we always try to be positive. So as not to offend the author we should correct or give corrections in
a positive manner.
This holds true even if we want to point out something with the author, we should always do it in a positive
way. The best way to do this is to relate it to ourselves, that is, if ever that thing happens to us too, of course
we wouldn’t want such comments to be given to our work, right? Then we should try to give a constructive
feedback, like checking the sentence structure, if it is too wordy and repetitive. Not only that you have to trust
your instincts too. It only means that you don’t have to be a University graduate to critique well. Even a basic
understanding of grammar and punctuation will help you get started.
Definitely authors who post their work for critique would want an objective feedback. A good critique wouldn’t
have second thoughts in asking about their work. One more thing that is proven advantageous to the author is
by means of accepting critiques of their own work. In so doing, authors gain valuable insight and experience.
Moreover, by critiquing the work of others, authors are able to hone their writing skills and at no monetary
cost at all.
Apparently, it only shows that critiquing proves to be a reciprocal tool for authors. Authors submit their work
for critique and in return critiques are required to offer their critiques as well. Over-all we could say that a good
critique benefits both the writer and the critique.
Questions for discussion:
1. How could one be a good critique?
2. Do you get to criticize others work too? How do you do it?
3. Do you agree that in order to criticize the work of others, one must be a good critique?
4. What is a good critique for you? Explain your answer.
5. Does a good critique need to be optimistic? Why or why not?