Reviewing Movies and Books

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Reviewing Movies and Books
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Section One An Argument

• The general characteristics of an argument are as
  follows
• 1) A claim is made.
• 2) Support for claim is presented.
• 3) A warrant is present.
• 4) Language appropriate to the reader and the
  situational context is used.
• For more detailed information on arguments,
  please see Section 1 and Section 2.

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Section TwoReviews

• The general characteristics of a review are as
  follows
• 1) Shows the relationship between values and
  judgments.
• 2) Says something (the subject) is good, bad, or
  in between based on a system of clearly-defined
  criteria.
• 3) Has a structure controlled by three elements
  the nature of the subject to be evaluated, the
  judgment, and the criteria.

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Section ThreeDoing a Review

• Persuasive evaluations are often called reviews.
• Unlike a critical analysis (like your Paper 4) a
  review is usually informal.
• While some reviews give quotations from the
  movies/books that are their subjects, quotations
  are optional and citations are unnecessary.
• However, like critical analyses, reviews have a
  basic structure that should always be followand
  are based on a system of clearly-defined
  criteria.
• The review you write for Section 9 will consist
  of four paragraphs an introduction, two body
  paragraphs, and a conclusionall of which cover
  specific information from the movie/book that you
  choose.

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Movie Reviews Structure

• I) Introduction In the first sentence, identify
  the title of the movie and the name of the
  director. List the stars. Give the setting.
  Summarize the plot. Do not give your judgment to
  until the end.
• II) Body 1 Talk about all main characters.
  Evaluate the performances of the actors who play
  them. Emphasize their importance to the movie as
  a whole.
• III) Body 2. Talk about the film itself. How good
  a job does the director do? (How does it flow?).
  What about the writer? (How good is the
  dialogue?). How about the cinematographer? (Good
  special effects?).
• IV) Conclusion Give your judgment. Single out
  the main reasons for your response.

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Book Reviews Structure

• I) Introduction In your first sentence identify
  the title of the book and the name of the author.
  Give the setting. Summarize the plot. Give the
  genre (literary, spy thriller, biography, etc.).
  Say something about the general style. Do not
  give your judgment until the end.
• II) Body 1 Talk about the narrator (Participant
  or observer?). Talk about the protagonist and
  antagonist and about all the main characters
  (Flat or round, static or dynamic?). What is
  their importance to the plot?
• Body 2 Talk about how the book is put together.
  You should cover dialogue, description,
  narration, and plot.
• Conclusion Give your judgment. Single out the
  main reasons for your response.

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A Final Word

• Remember you are writing this essay to earn a
  grade of A or B. This means that your essay
  must be written clearly, correctly, and according
  to the structure laid out in this presentation.
• Also remember that you must choose one of the
  books or movies on the lists contained in Section
  9. Reviews of books or movies not on these lists
  will not be read.
• Finally, remember that your essay must be
  received by 5 p.m. on the last day to submit
  work. Late essays will not be read.