CURSO

Departamento de Educacin
y Ciencia

Escuela Oficial de Idiomas n 2

de Zaragoza

3
INGLS

ACTIVIDAD

SOPORTE


EXPRESIN
ESCRITA

FICHA N

20

AULA DE
AUTOAPRENDIZAJE
WRITING A BOOK / FILM REVIEW
Writing a review of a book or a film is a task you may easily be asked to do. You can tackle it in two
different ways either by writing the review as if it were a composition or by writing it in a worksheet
format, as if you were an expert giving specific technical details of it. Lets study both ways.
When we write or talk, for that matter- about a book or film we mainly use the present simple tense. In
doing so we intend to give life and colour to the telling of the story and we get a dramatic effect which is
similar to that used when telling jokes.
As we do when we write any other sort of composition, the book/film review should be divided in clearly
defined paragraphs, each viewing the book/film from different angles.
Paragraph 1 Introduction to the author and book/film
Title?
Type of book/film?
When was it published/made?
Who does it star?
Who was it written/directed by?
Is it popular/well-known?
Paragraph 2 Introduction to characters and outline of the plot
Where/When does the story take place?
Who are the main characters? What are they like?
What happens? (Just a brief summary, you dont have to rewrite the book / script.)
Paragraph 3 Your opinion of the book/film
How did you enjoy the book/film? In parts? Not at all?
Would you recommend it?
Some of these expressions might help you write a book/film review:
was written/directed by in/ years ago
is based on the life of a notorious bank robber/the authors experiences in
It is based on a book of the same name
tells the story of, and as the story unfolds, we see
It stars X in the title role of Y
It takes place in the city of Z in the 1960s
Its set in rural England at the beginning of 19th century
It is about As relationship with her ex-husband
In the end, B
What we dont learn until the end is that
There are several flashbacks to when he was a child
In my opinion, /I think that/I would recommend
What I liked best was (the way)
What I didnt like was

The technical worsheet format for a book/film review looks like this:
Tittle:
Writer:*
Genre (adventure / action / horror / thriller / war / drama / mystery / sci-fi / fantasy / animation /
biography / history):
Cast:**
Characters:
Setting:
Plot summary:
Personal opinion:
Rating (poor / average / good / excellent / unmissable):
* It only applies to a book review.
** It only applies to a film review.

ASSIGNMENT
Write a review of a film or book you have recently seen/read. Write about 200 words.

Adapted from New Headway upper-intermediate, students Book, OUP, p.36

O.U.P. This material may only be used for individual study; multiple copying and distribution are prohibited