HOW TO WRITE A REVIEW
You can review basically anything if you find the right outlet for it, but the
best way to present your thoughts depends on what you’re writing about
and who your audience is. But with most types of reviews, there’s a
simple structure you can stick to in order to help you get started:
A star rating may be the first thing most people see, but when people
skim your review, they’ll probably check the bottom for an idea of
whether or not you’d recommend the meal, album, hike, or movie to
others. You could also include a short explanation.
You start with Paragraph 1- Introduction
In the introduction you :
– make your review more interesting with personal comments
– mention the title, the type of the book/ play/ film/etc, the setting
(when/where), the theme, the main characters, etc
Phrases you can use in the introduction:
* This well-written/ informative / fascinatng/ thought-provoking book is…
* The film/ book/ play/ etc. is set in….. / tells the story of…../ is based
on…..
* The film/ play starts …../ is directed by…../ is the sequel to…..
Comparing and contrasting
*… is even better than …
*… is (not) nearly as good as …
*… is twice as good as …
*… is the best I have ever seen / read / been to. in comparison with …
*One of the strongest / weakest things about …
*In contrast, … / On the other hand, …
REMEMBER: A review is a special type of article written for publication
in a magazine, newspaper, etc giving a brief description and evaluation
of the film, book, play, TV/ radio programme, etc . It may be formal or
semi-formal in style, depending on its intended readership, and is usually
written using present tenses.
In the 2nd and 3rd Paragraph you :
– include the main points of the plot ( without revealing the ending), and
evaluate such features as the acting, writing style, directions, characters etc.
– you can also add what you learnt, found out from the book, etc
Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:
Describing a book / film / TV programme
* … is set in …
* The main character is …
* It tells the story of …
* The plot / dialogue / acting / characterisation is …
Giving an opinion
* The only criticism I would make is that …
* What I really loved about … is …
*To me, … seemed …
* … was … from start to finish.
+ exceptional / good value / gripping / lively / memorable / perfect /
realistic / stunning / superb / well-written / -acted / -cooked etc.
— disappointing / dreadful / dull / inadequate / poor / predictable / sub-
standard / unconvincing / unimaginative / uninteresting
Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:
To explain the plot:
* The plot revolves around …involves …/focuses on …/has an
unexpected twist.
* The story begins with …/unfolds / reaches a dramatic climax when …
Evaluating various features:
* The play/film/series has a strong/star-studded/mediocre cast.
* The acting is
moving/powerful/excellent/weak/disappointing/unconvincing.
* The plot is gripping/dramatic/fascinating/suspense-filled/fast-moving.
far-fetched/predictable/ confusing/dull /unimaginative.
* The script/dialogue is touching/witty/hilarious/boring/mundane.
* It is beautifully/brilliantly/sensitively written/directed.
In the last paragraph you :
– include an overall assessment of the work and/or a recommendation,
usually with justification
– you may also be asked to give reasons why someone should see the
film/ play or read the book, how it has influenced you, etc.
Phrases you can use to end the letter
Making a recommendation
*I would highly / strongly recommend …
* I certainly wouldn’t recommend …
* I strongly advise you (not) to …
* Everyone should see / do / read this … immediately!
* … is not to be missed!
* You should give … a miss!
* Don’t bother reading / seeing / going …
* It is a classic of its kind/ It is sure to be a hit/ best -seller
