Reviews: Form
Reviews: Form
Form and Structure
- A review should have a clear layout making it easy for the reader to understand the key points.
- Reviews often start with an introduction detailing what they are reviewing, followed by body paragraphs examining various aspects, ending with a conclusion summarising the overall opinion.
- Paragraphs in a review should be focused and organised around a single point or aspect of what is being reviewed.
Language and Tone
- Effective reviews use descriptive and evaluative language to help the reader imagine the experience and understand the reviewer’s opinion.
- The tone should be informal yet informed, so the reader trusts the reviewer’s opinion but also feels engaged.
- Subjective language is important in conveying the reviewer’s experience, and objective language should be used when stating facts about what is being reviewed.
Providing Information
- Reviews must provide essential details about the subject reviewed (e.g., title, author, director, year released, genre, etc).
- While giving impressions and opinions, the review should avoid extensive plot details or spoilers, especially for book and film reviews.
- Comparisons to other, similar items or experiences can be helpful for readers to understand the review context.
Expressing Judgement
- An effective review clearly states the reviewer’s opinion or verdict but supports this with reasoning and evidence.
- Reviews often use a rating system (e.g., stars, marks out of ten), which provides a quick, easy-to-understand overall assessment.
- It is vital to be honest but fair, and criticism should be constructive, explaining how something could be improved.
Audience Engagement
- Reviewers should remember their reader’s perspective and provide information that would be useful and relevant to them.
- Use of questions, rhetorical devices, and humour can make a review more engaging and conversational.
- Ending with a recommendation can invite reader interaction and help the audience make a decision based on the review.