Here, we will look at how to write a review.

Writing a review

Ever read a book?

Watched a TVprogramme?

Watched a film?

Seen a play?

Played a computergame?

Then the chancesare that you have

told someone about it – you have given

A REVIEW

Terminology

Summarizing

Summarizing

Can you finish off these summaries?

A little girl, dressed in red, visit her Granny but ends up…

Setting up on their own was not going to prove easy for three little pigs. They end up…

Now summarize a story or film you know well, in no more than 30 words.

Opinion

Opinions are often made to sound like facts.

Read these opinions.

No one could deny that this is an appalling film.

This is undoubtedly Rowling’s best book yet.

This classic book has stood the test of time.

The phrases that are highlighted make it appear that the statements are true and factual, rather than just the writer’s opinion.

Can you think of any other phrases that do the same sort of job?

Opinion

Planning a review

You are now going to plan and write your own review.

Choose a book to review.

You will find it helpful if you organize your review into different areas. There is no set order for a review, but here are some of the areas you might consider:

opening plot setting characters favourite/worst parts message/moral.

The opening

Does it set the scene? What are your first impressions? Is it exciting? Moody? Atmospheric? Gripping? Can you predict what is going to happen?

On the next few slides there will be questions on different areas. Choose at least three questions from each area and answer them about your chosen book. The answers on each area will form the basis for each paragraph of your review.

Planning a review

The plot

Remember do not give away the ending!

Is it believable? What type of story is it? E.g. horror, adventure etc.Is there an exciting climax? Are there any surprises or twists?Is it easy to understand?

Planning a review

SettingWhen is the story set? Is it described well? What sort of atmosphere is created? How? Where does it take place?

CharactersDescribe the main characters. What problems does the main character have? Which characters do you like or dislike? Why? How does the main character develop/change? Are the characters well-described/acted?What do the characters learn?

Planning a review

MiscellaneousWhat are the best/worst parts? Is there a message to be learned? Can you compare this with other works? Is there anything different/special about this work?

Quotations

This is where you copy a little bit from the text in order to prove or support a point you are making.

You should remember three things when using quotations:

keep them short and relevant

copy them accurately

use quotation marks. “ ”Reviews often start with an exciting quotation to interest the reader. Remember to keep quotations relevant to the review.

Tips

Imagine you need a good, effective quotation about the witches in Macbeth. You want it to show how different and scary they are. Which of these would you choose?

“What are these, So wither’d and so wild in their attire…? “Speak if you can: what are you?” “The earth hath bubbles, as the water has, And these are of them: whither are they vanish’d?”

Which did you choose? Why? They are all relevant – they focus on how different the witches are. The last one mentions the witches vanishing, which is particularly strange.

Quotations

Writing your review

Now you are ready to write your review. You should have plenty of notes and ideas. You must now write them up. You might use a structure like this one:

Details of the book/authorStriking quotationSummary of plot and openingDiscussion of charactersComment on setting/atmosphereDescribing favourite parts/similarities with other worksConcluding comment/message/overall opinion.

EXTENSION: See if you can find another review (perhaps on the Internet) of the book you have reviewed. Compare it with your own.