Review Writing

1
Review Writing

• Task
• Write a sentence that contains the word review.
• Im going to see Star Wars because the review was
  excellent.
• After yet another bad review, the restaurant will
  be permanently closing its doors.
• Mr Brown will be reviewing my progress in the
  meeting.
• Reading reviews, help me to decide which book to
  read next.

2
What and where?

• Regardless of its context a review, always
  contains somebodys own point of view or opinion.
• A review is a critical understanding of a book,
  film, a piece of music or CD, a television
  programme, play, etc.

3
Review this review...whats good and bad about it?

• Hot Reviews. Star Wars is back
• Yes you heard it right the final Star Wars film
  was released yesterday and I went along to see
  what the fuss was about. The final Star Wars film
  Revenge of the Sith was again made by the famous
  George Lucas and this end chapter in the Star
  Wars saga blew it out with a bang. With amazing
  graphics and loads of fight scenes revenge of the
  Sith promises to be the best yet.
• All the characters are back such as Anakin
  Skywalker played by Hansel Christian, Obi One
  Kanobi played by Ewan McGregor and the famous
  Yoga.
• The sum up of the story is basically Anakin
  turns to the dark side with the help of the
  chancellor and Padama is pregnant with twins. The
  story comes to an end with a dramatic finish but
  youll have to wait and see it to find out more.
• This film promises to get you excited and on
  the edge of your seat throughout with the only
  weakness knowing that there will be no more. Grab
  your ticket and get zoomed in galactic adventure.
  Enjoy.

4
Did you spot the good and the bad? It would have
been awarded a grade A!

• Hot Reviews. Star Wars is back
• Yes you heard it right the final Star Wars film
  was released yesterday and I went along to see
  what the fuss was about. The final Star Wars film
  Revenge of the Sith was again made by the famous
  George Lucas and this end chapter in the Star
  Wars saga blew it out with a bang. With amazing
  graphics and loads of fight scenes revenge of the
  Sith promises to be the best yet.
• All the characters are back such as Anakin
  Skywalker played by Hansel Christian, Obi One
  Kanobi played by Ewan McGregor and the famous
  Yoga.
• The sum up of the story is basically Anakin
  turns to the dark side with the help of the
  chancellor and Padama is pregnant with twins. The
  story comes to an end with a dramatic finish but
  youll have to wait and see it to find out more.
• This film promises to get you excited and on
  the edge of your seat throughout with the only
  weakness knowing that there will be no more. Grab
  your ticket and get zoomed in galactic adventure.
  Enjoy.

5
The format

• A suitable and engaging heading
• An introduction
• Paragraphs that discuss areas of the subject. In
  particular positive and negative areas.
• Eye-catching subheadings for paragraphs could be
  used.
• A conclusion that gives an overall opinion and
  final recommendation.
• You may need to give a star rating.
• You will need include facts. For example, the
  name of the book and its author.

6
Language

• Standard English
• Superlatives and words that bring the review to
  life.
• If the review is formal then use 3rd person.
• If it is informal then use 1st person.
• Be clear, the audience want to hear your opinion.
  
• Adapt a confident tone and consistent viewpoint.
• Blend facts with your opinions
• You may want to compare the book, film, CD, etc
  that you are reviewing with one from a similar
  genre.
• Qualifying and cause and effect connectives

7
Audience Pick out the words that tell you who
the audience is. Will this effect your choice of
language?

• Write a review of a film that you really enjoyed
  or really disliked, for teenaged readers. Base
  your work on a film that you have actually seen.
• Write a review of a book that you have read
  recently. Your review is intended for a teenage
  magazine. This may be a book that you enjoyed,
  one you disliked, or one you have mixed feeling
  about.

8
Audience Pick out the words that tell you who
the audience is. Will this effect your choice of
language?

• Write a review of a film that you really enjoyed
  or really disliked, for teenaged readers. Base
  your work on a film that you have actually seen.
• Write a review of a book that you have read
  recently. Your review is intended for a teenage
  magazine. This may be a book that you enjoyed,
  one you disliked, or one you have mixed feeling
  about.

9
Purpose?

• To entertain and recommend
• Reviewing requires you to break a topic down then
  to write a lively and authoritative account that
  is well judged,carefully considered and
  entertaining for its audience.

10
Review donts!

• Dont sound patronising or condescending.
• Dont get confused, it will make the audience
  confused as well.
• Dont sound unsure of yourself, an audience wont
  be convinced if they cant trust you.
• Remember its quality not quantity, think of a
  time you have felt bored by the (yawn!)
  l-e-n-g-t-h and d-e-t-a-i-l (yawn!) of a review
  or explanation!

11
Over to you! Plan both tasks and then have a go
at completing one of them.

• Write a review of a music CD or downloaded album
  you have listened to recently. It will appear in
  a magazine aimed at teenagers.
• FLAP

• Write a review of a book you have recently read.
  It will appear in the Review section of the
  Sunday Times.
• FLAP