Review Writing

Mastering Writing Reviews

A review may be about a book, magazine, film, play, or concert, but it may also be about, for example, an exhibition.

Structuring Your Review

• Title - The review should start with the title, and there are several ways to write it.

• 1. Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the product or service being reviewed.

• 2. Main body paragraph 1: Summarize your overall opinion of the product or service. Discuss specific criteria, such as performance, design, and value.

• 3. Main body paragraph: Support your opinions with specific examples and evidence + Description of positive aspects and/or weaker points 

• 4. Conclusion: Wrap up your review by restating your overall opinion and providing a final recommendation.

Multiple Choice

How many paragraphs in a review?

• 6

• 5

• 3

• 4

Writing Engaging Introductions

• Grab attention: Start with a captivating hook or intriguing question.
• Provide context: Briefly explain the subject and its significance.
• State your thesis: Clearly state your opinion or main point.
• Preview the content: Give a brief overview of what will be covered in the review.

Engage Readers' Attention

Trivia: A captivating hook or intriguing question at the beginning of a review is crucial to grab readers' attention. It sets the tone for the review and entices readers to continue reading. By creating curiosity, it increases the chances of the review being read and shared. So, remember to start with a captivating hook to engage your audience!

Main body

Organize the content of your review according to a logical plan, so that each paragraph fulfils a specific role. The examiners will pay attention to whether the structure of your review is followed by some deeper thought and proper organization.

For example, if you’re reviewing restaurants, your first paragraph might be about the exterior, location, and first impressions. The second paragraph can focus on the description of the interior and the service you had to deal with. The third one, which could also be the longest, could describe in detail the culinary side of the restaurant, the dishesand ingredients from which they are prepared, as well as prices.

The first body paragraph

Paragraph (1) can give a short summary of the reviewed material. Give a brief overview — plot, setting, actors, and general idea.

Paragraph (1): The narrator is a seven-year-old girl, Lisa who, with her parents and two older brothers – Lasse and Bosse, lives in one of the houses. Lisa describes the daily life of the children in Bullerby which – contrary to what one might think when imagining life in a small, remote village – is far from boring. The children have plenty of funny ideas, which often lead to amusing adventures.

Second/and or third body paragraph
Second and/or third body paragraphs

• Use evidence: Support your points with facts, examples, and data.
• Be specific: Provide specific details to back up your claims.
• Cite sources: Include references to give credibility to your review.
• Use quotes: Include quotes from experts or other sources to strengthen your arguments.
• Stay objective: Present a balanced view by considering both positive and negative aspects.

Multiple Select

What are some ways to engage the reader?

• Rhetorical questions

• Idioms

• Addressing the reader

• Using quotations

Open Ended

Now summarise this list using the other expressions:

orange juice / milkshakes / iced tea

Multiple Select

How can you address the reader?

• ...., my dear reader,....

• Using "you"

• Dear Sir or Madam,

• Hi,

Multiple Choice

Does the writer answer all four points asked for in the task?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

Are there any negative comments made about the holiday?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Select

What are the two phrases used to introduce the writer's own experience?

• When I was there

• The evening meals are simple

• During my stay

• I wouldn't recommend Teen Village to couch potatoes

• Teen Village in s southern Spain is the perfect holiday destination for you

Multiple Choice

Which tense is used to describe the writer's own experience? 

• Present tense

• Past tense

• Future tense

• Present perfect

• Past perfect

Multiple Choice

Which tense is used to describe the hotel in general? 

• Present tense

• Past tense

• Future tense

• Present perfect

• Past perfect

Multiple Select

In which paragraphs does the writer recommend the holiday?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Multiple Select

What kind of teenager does the writer recommend it to?

• Someone who would enjoy staying in a beautiful place with lots of exciting thing to do

• Someone who loves comfortable wooden bungalows

• Someone who loves relaxing around the fire, chatting and playing guitar

• Someone who is an energetic party animal

• Meat or fish lovers

Your review should include facts and opinions. Read the following description and then choose the adjectives that describe opinion and the one describing a fact. ​

Which kind of afjectives always comes first?​

Multiple Choice

Which kind of adjectives comes first?

• adjectives of opinion

• adjectives of facts

Now complete these descriptions of a summer camp for teenagers by writing two adjectives​

Open Ended

a(n) ______   ______ location

Open Ended

______   ______ food

Open Ended

______   ______ camp leaders

Open Ended

______   ______ activities

Use Conditional Sentences in Your Writing

There are many kinds of conditional sentences in English but they can be divided in Real and Unreal:
0 + 1 - real possibilities, results in the present or in the future

2 - unreal conditional, refers to the present

3 - unreal conditional, refers to the past

Multiple Choice

The machine starts if you … the lever on it.

• pulls

• pulled

• pull

Multiple Choice

If there … no sunlight, plants don’t produce fruit.

• is

• am

• are

Multiple Choice

When Things Go Wrong With Conditional Sentences

Have you ever heard someone say, “If I would have”?

• so wrong

• correct

• only for conditional type 1

• only for conditional type 2

Multiple Choice

1. We can win the championship, .......................... we avoid bad injuries.

• providing

• unless

Multiple Choice

2. We can hold the party in the garden ............................. it doesn't rain.

• as long as

• unless

Multiple Select

I will wait at the hospital in case he needs help.

'In case' is used:

• correctly

• incorrectly

Multiple Select

Which are synonyms of 'providing'?

• provided that

• unless

• as long as

• if not