Writing a review: structure, opinions and recommendation
A review informs and persuades. It has four parts. 1. A title and an introduction with your overall impression. 2. The main aspects, for example the acting, the costumes and the sound. 3. Your opinion with reasons: pros and cons. 4. A conclusion with a recommendation and a rating written in words (four stars out of five; never use a symbol). Useful phrases: Overall, I really enjoyed …; The best thing about … was …; However, …; Although …; On the one hand … on the other hand …; I would (not) recommend it to …. Review things, places and events (a school canteen, a class trip, a book, a school play), never a named person. The book’s model on page 94 is named by page only; its task (page 95) asks for 60 to 80 words; ours is 70 to 90 (up to 120 if you can).
| Part | What to write | Useful phrases |
|---|---|---|
| title and introduction | the subject and your overall impression | Overall, I really enjoyed … |
| main aspects | two or three things, with reasons | The best thing about … was … |
| pros and cons | one good and one weak point | However, … / Although … |
| conclusion | recommendation and rating | I would recommend it to … Rating: four stars out of five. |
Overall, I really enjoyed this year’s school play, a funny story about a lost school bell. The acting was the best part: the lead actor spoke clearly, and the group scenes were lively. The costumes were simple but clever. However, the sound was too quiet at the back, and the second half felt a little long. Although it was not perfect, the best thing about the evening was the teamwork. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys comedy. Rating: four stars out of five.
Write your own review of 70 to 90 words (up to 120) of a school canteen, a class trip or a book. Use a title, an overall impression, two aspects, one weakness, a recommendation and a rating in words. Do not name a person.