How

 to  do  an  ASL  Literature  Critique  for  Stories  with  

Handshape  Constraints  
 
What  is  a  critique?  
A  critique  is  an  oral  or  written  discussion  strategy  used  to  analyze,  describe,  and  
interpret  works  of  art.    Critiques  help  students  hone  their  persuasive  oral  and  writing,  
information-­‐gathering,  and  justification  skills.  
 
Below  is  a  sample  set  of  focus  questions  for  an  storytelling  critique  related  to  two  
major  areas  of  storytelling  criticism:  analysis,  and  evaluation.    
 
Analysis  
Identify  what  you  consider  to  be  strengths  and  weaknesses  of  the  storyteller's  
delivery  and  story  choices:  
• Succession  Principle  
o Present  alphabet/number  in  successive  order  
o Rhythm/frequency  succession  
o Careful  transition  between  letters  
o Order  of  presenting  two  lettered  or  number  handshapes  
• Minimal  Deviations  
o How  many  and  how  much  deviation?  
o Deviation  Violation  #1:  Changing  the  handshape  of  the  letter/number?  
o Deviation  Violation  #2:  Changing  the  sign  to  fit  the  handshape?  
• Use  of  Cohesive  Devices  
o Use  of  space  /  role  shifts  
o Direction  of  eye  gaze  
o Use  of  gestures  and  body  movement  
o Voice:  consistency  and  conversational  style  
o Deployment  of  3  P’s:  pacing,  pausing,  and  phrasing  
o Use  of  facial  expressions  
o Use  of  classifiers  
• Storyline  
o Story  has  to  make  sense?  
o Clear  introduction  and  conclusion?  
 
Evaluation  
Present  your  opinion  of  the  work's  strength  and  weakness:    
• What  the  story’s  strength  and  weakness  and  why?  
• Compare  this  work  to  other  storytellers  you  saw  in  class.  
• Did  you  like  it  or  not?  Why?