Writing a review · Rédiger un compte rendu
What a review does
- A review is about something you tried — a film, a place, a product.
- It describes the thing and gives your opinion of it.
- Balance description and opinion — do not do only one.
“I liked it” is a review with the furniture missing.
Ce qu'une critique fait
- Une critique porte sur quelque chose que vous avez essayé — un film, un lieu, un produit.
- Elle décrit l'objet et donne votre opinion à son sujet.
- Équilibre description et opinion — ne faites pas seulement l'un ou l'autre.
« I liked it » est une critique dont le mobilier manque.
A good review should…
A review balances description and opinion.
Support your opinion
- Give reasons for what you think.
- Use examples from your experience.
- Say clearly why it was good or bad.
An opinion stands on a reason and an example
Soutenez votre opinion
- Donnez des raisons pour ce que vous pensez.
- Utilisez des exemples tirés de votre expérience.
- Expliquez clairement pourquoi c'était bien ou mal.
Une opinion repose sur une raison et un exemple
Praise, criticism or balance? · Louange, critique ou équilibre ?
Reviews need all three voices — pure praise is an advert, pure criticism is a rant.
Support your opinion with reasons and ___ from your experience.
Examples make your opinion believable.
End with advice
- Shape: introduce → describe and evaluate → recommend.
- Finish with a clear recommendation.
- Write for a general reader, in a friendly style.
Terminez par des conseils
- Structure : introduire → décrire et évaluer → recommander.
- Terminez par une recommandation claire.
- Écrivez pour un lecteur grand public, dans un style amical.
A review should end with a clear recommendation.
Yes — tell the reader whether to try it.
Write one sentence recommending (or not) a film you have seen, and give a reason.
Example: 'I recommend this film because the story is exciting.'
A review ends with a clear ____, telling the reader whether to try it.
A recommendation turns the evaluation into useful advice.
A mini review, annotated
- "Noodle House on Park Road looks tiny — six tables, steamy windows. The hand-pulled noodles are the real deal: springy, fresh, and under £5. Service slows at lunchtime, though. Go early, and go hungry."
- Describe (tiny, steamy) → evaluate (the real deal, springy) → admit a weak point (service slows).
- The weak point makes the praise believable — a review with zero criticism reads like an advert.
- The last line is the recommendation, short enough to remember.
Mini-critique annotée
- « Noodle House on Park Road looks tiny — six tables, steamy windows. The hand-pulled noodles are the real deal: springy, fresh, and under £5. Service slows at lunchtime, though. Go early, and go hungry. »
- Décrire (tiny, steamy) → Évaluer (the real deal, springy) → Admettre un point faible (service slows).
- Le point faible rend les louanges crédibles — une critique sans aucune critique ressemble à une publicité.
- La dernière ligne est la recommandation, assez courte pour être mémorisée.
Match each aspect of a film to a comment that fits it.
Review one aspect at a time — each gets its own precise comment.
Which review sentence supports its judgement with a specific example?
The last sentence names a judgement and the precise feature that caused it.
A recommendation should fit the evidence and evaluation in the review.
The advice follows from the strengths, weaknesses and intended audience; it should not contradict the middle.
- A review describes AND gives an opinion.
- Support opinions with reasons and examples.
- End with a clear recommendation.
- Une critique décrit ET donne une opinion.
- Soutenez vos opinions avec des raisons et des exemples.
- Terminez par une recommandation claire.