Berlinian critique utilizes a semiotic heuristic that is based loosely on Derridean binaries. Students identify key terms from a text or image, then list the binary opposites of those terms, noting which of the binaries is presented as positive and which as negative. Students use this list to analyze and evaluate the reasons, motivations and conditions behind the binaries' positioning. They are encouraged to take into account the larger social, cultural, economic, and political implications of the binaries. Finally, the students personalize the analysis, evaluating the reasons for the binaries and their implications. I encourage students to discuss why they accept, reject, or negotiate the binaries they analyze.