Although literary criticism has traditionally been contrasted with science, argumentation is presented that progress in literary criticism may occur in a way similar to progress in science. Normal ...science works within a paradigm, a problem-solving method implied by a theory, to specify & to make exact the theory which began as a vague, but explanatorily powerful hypothesis. Progress is cumulative in the gathering of data & solving of problems within the paradigm. Eventually problems unsolvable within the paradigm are encountered. At this point, a noncumulative revolution occurs which completely replaces the old paradigm & theory with a new theory & paradigm. The new theory explains the problems solvable under the old paradigm & the new problems encountered. Normal cumulative progress resumes within the new paradigm gradually specifying the new theory. Within literary criticism, the replacement of the Literature-as-Special-Language Theory by the Literature-as-Imitation-Speech-Act Theory is revolutionary, & critical problem solving is occurring which serves as cumulative progress within the paradigm. This new theory considers literature not as a special type of language, but as a special utilization of language. D. Leffler.
Reviews various approaches to critical response/evaluation, including New Criticism and belletrism, and discusses the relationship between grading and responding. Asserts that a teacher's response to ...students' written efforts offers the student a repertoire of critical values and a model of critical reading. (MM)
