GCSE
WRITING A REVIEW ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Writing a review – tasks:
What is being tested? Definition:
⦐ Your engagement with the reader, the quality of your A review is an evaluation of a given topic. If you are
✎ Write a review for a teenage magazine of
a book, film or TV programme/series that
ideas and how well you present them. asked to write a review, you must give a range of you have enjoyed in the last year and why it
⦐ Your ability to be evaluative when writing. personal opinions on the given subject. might appeal to others of your age.
⦐ Your ability to use sentencing, grammar and
vocabulary.
✎ Write a review of your school or college
Things to consider when writing a review: based on your experiences there.
A good review not only gives information about
Structuring a review: the topic, but also gives a range of well supported ✎ Write a review of a book, CD or film of your
personal views and opinions. choice.
1. Give your review a title. Use something interesting
or catchy if you’re able to. Think about:
2. Start with a focused opening paragraph outlining ⦐ how you feel about the topic and why – give strong
the topic and your overall opinions. opinions and add details to explain how you feel
3. Include two or three main paragraphs in which you ⦐ the strengths and weaknesses you are able to share Making vocabulary lists helps to improve
include more details and ideas about the strengths with your reader your vocabulary range:
and weaknesses of the topic. ⦐ including a range of details/facts or evidence to
4. Conclude your review. Sum up your views and give support your ideas Positive: interesting, vivid, engaging, colourful,
an overall recommendation/rating. ⦐ including specific details (names of people, places, imaginative, captivating, mesmerizing, fascinating,
actors, songs, etc.) as this makes your review more remarkable, inventive.
credible and interesting Negative: dull, bland, dreary, tedious, uninspiring,
⦐ including a clear conclusion in which you draw lackluster, tired, superficial, awkward,
together your views and give a final opinion/overview uncomfortable, embarrassing, painful.
Planning your content:
⦐ whether your review will be positive or negative.
Before you begin, read the task carefully. It is really
helpful if you plan out what you want to cover. Ask Next steps:
yourself questions to help generate some ideas for TOP TIPS:
your work. Read a range of different reviews in your own
★ Stay focused – constantly weigh up the thing you time. Write down what works well. Are there any
1. What is the topic? are reviewing. techniques that you can copy?
2. What do I know about it? ★ Use comparisons to add more weight to your points.
★ Use parenthesis (extra information in brackets) to Work through some sample tasks and write a plan
3. What are my views about it? add extra opinions and a clear viewpoint. of what you might include.
4. What do I like/dislike/appreciate? ★ Think about your tone – confide in the reader so
5. Can I compare it to something similar? they trust you.
Read your teacher’s feedback when you next write
6. Do I want others to watch/read it?
★ Ask questions and then make the answer seem like
a review. What do they think you need to do to
the only option.
improve?
★ Give plenty of reasons to support your opinions.
