WRITING REVIEWS

Source:
Wyson, J.D., 2016. English for Academic and Professional Purposes. Vibal Group.

www.vendasta.com
 Teacher’s note
Dear students,
At the end of the unit, you should be able to:
● form opinions based on facts;
● cite specific sources to support claims;
● present ideas convincingly;
● raise legitimate, contrary views in an appropriate manner;
● apply the principles of writing effective reviews or critique;
and
● write an objective/balanced review or critique of a work of
art, event, etc.
 Teacher’s note
One of the most common types of papers that you will be asked to
write is a review or a critique. In such a requirement, you are
expected to come up with an honest and critical evaluation of a
work of art, place industrial design, or any item that your professor
will ask you to examine. In doing so, you should not merely express
your opinions arbitrarily. Rather, you have to train yourself how to
support your views with substantial facts and arguments in order
to convince your readers of your work’s credibility and validity. To
help you fulfill such a task, we will be dealing with reviews and
critiques in great detail in the following discussions. You will also
be guided on how to write an effective review or critique.
 Examining
Restaurant and Film
Reviews Entrepreneur
 Lesson outcome
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
- define what a review is
- enumerate the characteristics of an effective review
- Identify the main impression presented in a review
- examine how the details included in a review
support the author’s main impression; and trace the
structure of a review
 Introduction
When you are asked to write a review, you called upon
to pass judgment on a certain food, film, restaurant,
product, or almost anything that can be procured so that
the reader of your work would be able to make more
informed decisions as consumers. The key to writing an
effective review is putting oneself in the shoes of the
consumer and try to think in his or her terms; “Am I going
to enjoy the product, movie, or experience?”
 Introduction
For a review to be credible, its writer should be able to
come up with criteria for evaluating what is being
reviewed. By doing so, you will be able to present your
claims in am more objective manner, thus lending more
credibility to your work. For this reason, the main
impression espoused by a review should be based on
accurate observations. Otherwise, readers might think
that the claims it presents are arbitrary; they may be
valid, as far as the author is concerned, but they may not
necessarily be true for everyone else.
 Restaurant
Review

Food or restaurant critic

suggests critical, evaluative
stance that often involves
some kind of rating system
about a restaurant’s overall
service and performance.

www.restaurantclicks.com
 The title of the selection
serves as a hook. It should be
interesting enough to draw The first paragraph
the attention of your readers. provides sufficient
background information

Café Flora: Not so about the restaurant

being reviewed.

‘Flowery’ After All

by: Camille Anjena Curitana
 The second paragraph serves as a pivotal point
in the selection. It serves as a transition from the
presentation of background information about
the restaurant to the author’s general
impression.
This general impression also serves as the thesis
statement of the review as it is the basis of the
critique presented at the body of the paper.
The title of the selection
serves as a hook. It should be
interesting enough to draw
the attention of your readers.

Café Flora: Not so

‘Flowery’ After All
by: Camille Anjena Curitana
 The third paragraph marks the beginning of the critique

Café Flora: Not so proper. Note that concrete and specific details serve as the
support for the general impression to make the review as

‘Flowery’ After All

objective as possible.

by: Camille Anjena Curitana

Café Flora: Not so
‘Flowery’ After All
by: Camille Anjena Curitana
 A review usually discusses
both the positive and the
negative facets of the item
being reviewed. Normally,
however, the positive
points are presented first
to serve as a climatic or
anticlimatic purpose.

Café Flora: Not so

‘Flowery’ After All
by: Camille Anjena Curitana
A recommendation may also
be given towards the end of
the review of help the
establishment improve the
services it offers.

Café Flora: Not so

‘Flowery’ After All
by: Camille Anjena Curitana
Some reviews also provide a
rating to help readers gauge
the quality of the product or
services provided by an

Café Flora: Not so

establishement,

‘Flowery’ After All

by: Camille Anjena Curitana
A closer look at the
restaurant review
Entrepreneur
 It should begin with…
- the background information about the establishment
being reviewed in only three to five sentences long
- the review can begin sharing his or her general impression
in the next paragraph. This impression will serve as the
main idea or the thesis of the entire review.
 In the process of evaluation...
- a review should employ a certain set of criteria by which
both the reviewer and the reader can gauge the quality of
the item being reviewed.
 A writer may want to examine
the following areas:
1. Taste and food preparation
a. Do the dishes they offer taste good?
b. Is there something unique about how the food is
prepared?
c. Is the preparation appetizing both to the eye and the
palate?
2. Ambiance
a. Will the customers feel relaxed or jubilant when eating
at the restaurant?
b. Does the restaurant feature a certain theme?
 A writer may want to examine
the following areas:
3. Service
a. Are the chefs, waiters, and waitresses friendly?
b. Do they cater well to the customers’ demands?
c. Are they able to serve food efficiently?
4. Value of money
a. Are the prices reasonable?
5. Cleanliness
a. Is the restaurant as well as its kitchen tidy?
b. Will customers need to worry if the food they are eating
is safe?
 Movie Review
A movie review may use the
same structure used in
writing a restaurant review.
The main difference between
the two will be on the criteria
that will be used in
evaluating it.
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Sample Movie Review
A witty title once more opens the
selection to capture the readers’
attention

A synopsis of the film is found in

the first paragraph to give the
readers an idea of what it is about.
Be careful, though, not to divulge
the ending so as not to spoil your
readers’ viewing experience. In the
case of this review, though, a hint is
given about what the film’s ending
would be since the author critiques
its very plot. Unless this is the case,
never give the ending away.
The author’s general impression
is found in the second
paragraph. Before this is
introduced, transitional ideas are
provided to ensure the
coherence of the piece.

The paragraphs three to five

constitutes the body of the piece.
Note that in this particular
review, the author evaluated the
film in terms of acting,
production design, and plot.
Other criteria for reviewing may be employed depending on
what the author believes to be the most salient aspects of the
film. Just like in the restaurant review, the the first who points
show the strengths of the film, while the third one discusses an
point for improvement.
The author presents her overall evaluation of the film at the last
paragraph. At times, a recommendation may also be given. Its
purpose is to inform the readers of the kind of audience who are
more likely to enjoy the film. In this case, no recommendation is
given probably because she feels that watching the film may not
be enjoyable for almost anyone.
A closer look at the
film review
Entrepreneur
 A writer may want to examine the
following areas and select only two or
three items to focus on
1. Plot
a. Is the sequence of the events logical and entertaining?
b. Are there twists and turns in the story?
c. What storytelling techniques were used in the film?
2. Acting
a. Were the actors and actresses in characters?
b. Are their acting compelling?
c. Do they project their voices well?
3. Cinematography
a. Are the shots able to contribute to the overall mood or
theme the author wishes to convey?
 A writer may want to examine the
following areas and select only two or
three items to focus on
4. Musical score
a. Does the background music contribute to the beauty of the story?
5. Special effects
a. Were there special effects in the movie?
b. Were these special effects appropriate?
c. Are they aesthetically pleasing?
6. Editing
a. Were the scenes logically arranged?
b. Are there unnecessary scenes in the movie?
7. Script
a. Were the lines uttered in the movie characters of how people would
act in the given context?
b. Are these lines original and catchy, or are they a cliché.