Writing a review
IntroducedWhat 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.
A good review should…
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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
Praise, criticism or balance?
Reviews need all three voices — pure praise is an advert, pure criticism is a rant.
Support your opinion with reasons and ___ from your experience.
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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.
A review should end with a clear recommendation.
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Yes — tell the reader whether to try it.
Write one sentence recommending (or not) a film you have seen, and give a reason.
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Example: 'I recommend this film because the story is exciting.'
A review ends with a clear ____, telling the reader whether to try it.
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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.
Match each aspect of a film to a comment that fits it.
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Review one aspect at a time — each gets its own precise comment.
Which review sentence supports its judgement with a specific example?
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The last sentence names a judgement and the precise feature that caused it.
A recommendation should fit the evidence and evaluation in the review.
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The advice follows from the strengths, weaknesses and intended audience; it should not contradict the middle.
A full exam answer
Exercise 6 task: Write a review of a café or restaurant for the school website. Describe it, say what is good and less good, and say whether you recommend it.
Noodle House, Park Road
Noodle House looks tiny from the street: six tables, steamy windows and a queue at the door. Don't let that put you off.
The hand-pulled noodles are the real deal. They are springy and fresh, and a large bowl of beef noodle soup costs under £5, which is excellent value for students. The staff are friendly, and the menu has pictures, so ordering is easy even if you have never tried hand-pulled noodles before.
There is one weak point. At lunchtime the café fills with office workers, and service slows down badly; we waited twenty minutes for our food.
Overall, Noodle House is the best cheap meal near our school. Go early, go hungry, and order the soup. Four stars out of five.
- Content: description, strengths, one weakness and a clear recommendation, all for student readers.
- Language: precise evaluative words (springy, excellent value), a semi-formal tone and a memorable final line.
- A review describes AND gives an opinion.
- Support opinions with reasons and examples.
- End with a clear recommendation.