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Mastering the Art of Reviews: A Comprehensive Guide

Learn how to evaluate works and performances through insightful reviews. Explore real-world examples, criteria, and audience influences. Uncover the ethics and visual design of writing reviews while enhancing your skills.

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Mastering the Art of Reviews: A Comprehensive Guide

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  1. Chapter 11 Reviews: Evaluating Works and Performances

  2. What is a review? • A review is an evaluation, or a statement of judgment, based on someone’s analysis. • It often includes a recommendation (buy this product, skip that movie, promote this person, don’t bother to buy that CD).

  3. Making evaluations • This is a skill we all use everyday…at home, school, and work. • What cereal should I buy: Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Stars, or Cheerios? • Is that new Spider-Man movie any good? • What kind of car should I buy?

  4. Real-world examples Let’s look at the types of reviews you might find in the “real world.”

  5. Movie reviews • Newspapers, magazines, and Web sites review movies. • They often use the star rating system, ranging from 1 to 5. • Remember Siskel & Ebert’s thumbs up or down?

  6. Music reviews • Print, television, and Web sources also review music. • The new CDs • Live performances or concerts • Musicals

  7. Reviews of products • Consumer Reports reviews the performance of products. • This includes cars, hair dryers, PCs, and microwaves. • You can find reviews on the Web and television as well.

  8. Performance reviews • Another kind of review is the performance review, when your boss evaluates how well you are doing your job. • Usually done annually, it is tied to raises and promotions.

  9. What is the evaluation based on? • It is not based on just your opinion! • You must use criteria, or standards, that are appropriate, and fit what you are reviewing. • So don’t use criteria for a musical on Broadway for an action film (“I didn’t like the dance numbers in Lord of the Rings—well, okay, there weren’t any!”).

  10. What influences your audience? • Your credentials (education, background, qualifications) • Your attitude (fair or biased) • Your criteria (good fit?) • Your presentation (lively or boring?)

  11. We expect evaluations to be: • authoritative • persuasive • a planned, coherent, reasoned argument • using appropriate criteria (standards) • supported by reasons, evidence, and examples

  12. Examples in the text Music reviews • Frere-Jones, “1979,” pp. 355-358 • Pareles, “The Case Against Coldplay,”pp. 358-360

  13. Examples in the text Movie review • Holden, “After 20 Years,” pp. 361-362

  14. Discussion questions • What criteria is the author using for his or her evaluation? • What assumptions are made? • What evidence does the writer present to support his or her ideas? • What did you think of the essay? Did you agree or disagree with the writer, and why?

  15. Ethics of writing • See page 364. • Reviewers aren’t neutral. • They have a responsibility to readers to present information accurately.

  16. Ethics of writing, cont’d Partisan reviews • Jones, pp. 364-367, reviews for GameCritics.com • Common Sense Media, pp. 368-369, is a non-profit organization that reviews media.

  17. Visual design • Look at the layouts on pages 371. • Here we see the use of the ratings system in the real world. • What about the layout makes you want to read the review?

  18. Writing assignment • Pick something you know about or find interesting and write a review. • Look at the 13 subject examples on pages373-374. • Your instructor will let you know whether your class will be doing this particular assignment, and provide you with additional guidelines.

  19. Peer commentary • See pages 381-385 for sample peer commentary on the working draft of a review.

  20. Student Companion Website • Go to the student side of the Web site for exercises, chapter overviews, and links to writing resources for this chapter: http://college.hmco.com/pic/trimbur4e

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