A critical appraisal of a book, play, film, etc. written to be published in a newspaper or magazine is called a review. It is an opinionated account of the facts about a work. Often, review contains a rating of the work.
A Review:
• is formal in register
• provides facts about the work (author / director, themes, plot, genre,..)
• gives assessment of the writer on the work.
• does not summarise or reveal the story. It doesn’t spoil the suspense.
How to write
• Your review in response to the examination question is expected to be in four or five paragraphs
• Read the question and the comments in the speech bubbles and identify the problem to be discussed
• Your review is basically a response to the problem to be discussed from your point of view. Consider the facts about the work as required to develop and discuss your opinion.
• You are expected to respond to the alternative opinion from your own stand point.
Sample Question
Students of your class went to watch a movie as part of your magazine activity.
Here are two comments from your friends on film.
• I felt it gives us ideas for life.
• I don’t like action films
Write a review of the film for your school magazine giving your view.
Paragraph 1 - Introduction
Start with a generalised statement, Give one or two sentences of basic facts (including basic line of plot and theme) of the work and give a review statement (your opinion on the discussion problem set by speech bubble)- 3 or 4 sentences
Paragraph 2 - Outline the work
Give an outline of the work in a way that supports your review statement. State the basic thread of plot, characters and themes. (Don’t reveal the climax or catastrophe.)
Paragraph 3 - Develops additional supporting point
Explain additional points to support your review statement. Start with a topic sentence, justify that point with facts or logic in two sentences and summarise the point in last sentence of the paragraph.
Paragraph 4 - Responds to the alternative opinion
State the alternative opinion and its reason. Then give your response to it, not changing your view.
Paragraph 5 - Conclusion
Give a brief summary of the discussion above and repeat your review statement in modified vocabulary or in paraphrase.
