CRITICAL Review

Adapted from Irina Malinina

Review

A REVIEW may be about a book, magazine,

film, play, or concert, but it may also be about,
for example, an exhibition.
Review

The review may employ narrative, as well as

descriptive and evaluative language, and a range of
vocabulary relating, for example, to literature and the
media such as cinema or TV.
CPE Writing Task
A magazine of book reviews has invited readers to send in
reviews of a book which pleasantly surprised, or disappointed
them. Write a review, describing the plot of the book and saying
how it differed from your expectations of it and compare it with
other books in this genre.

Write your review.

A CRITICAL Review

To be critical does not mean to criticize in a negative

manner. Rather it requires you to question the
information and opinions in a text and present your
evaluation or judgement of the text.
Structure of a critical review
• Introduction
• Summary
• Critique
• Conclusion
 Review. Introduction.
“The world is not a wish-granting factory.” That line,
from “The Fault in Our Stars,” is undoubtedly true, and
it is also true that the movie, like the book before it, is
an expertly built machine for the mass production of
tears. Directed by Josh Boone with scrupulous respect
for John Green’s best-selling young-adult novel, the
film sets out to make you weep — not just sniffle or
choke up a little, but sob until your nose runs and your
face turns blotchy. It succeeds.

(By A.O.Scott, The Guardian, June 2014)

I have never seen anything quite like “Eleanor & Park.”
Rainbow Rowell’s first novel for young adults is a beautiful,
haunting love story — but I have seen those. It’s set in 1986,
and God knows I’ve seen that. There’s bullying, sibling
rivalry, salvation through music and comics, a monstrous
stepparent — and I know, we’ve seen all this stuff. But
you’ve never seen “Eleanor & Park.” Its observational
precision and richness make for very special reading.

(By J.Green The Guardian, March 2013)

Review. Introduction.
• “The world is not a wish-granting factory.” That line…
• I have never seen anything quite like “Eleanor & Park.”
Hooks
• A personal experience or idea:
Now, however, when I feel discouraged by my problems, I
overcome this by trying to remember my years at boarding
school.

• A quotation
A Czech proverb tells us, “Do not protect yourself by a fence, but
rather by your friends”
Hooks
• A question
Have you ever wished that you were an only child?

• Surprising information
Americans make up five per cent of the world’s population, but
use 26 per cent of the world’s energy.
Review. Stage 1. Introduction.

• “The world is not a wish-granting factory.” That line…

• I have never seen anything quite like “Eleanor & Park.”

The title, the genre, the author, what makes it so special

/ the way it affects the audience / emotions it calls
forth.
Review. Stage 2. Summary.
• What is the plot of the book/film?
• Who are the main and minor characters?
• Historical context
• What happens to the characters?
• What is the conflict of the story?
• Where does it take place?
• Who tells the story? Whose viewpoint do we see?
• What is the main theme?
Review. Stage 2. Summary.

The main character is Hazel Grace Lancaster, a

teenager who has lived most of her life with
the metastatic thyroid cancer she expects will end it
very soon. She falls in love with Augustus Waters
known as Gus, a fellow “cancer kid” who has lost
part of his leg to the disease but who has been
healthy since then and is determined to lead “an
extraordinary life.”
 Review. Stage 2. Summary
As played by Shailene Woodley, a gifted actress grabbing
hold of her moment with both hands, Hazel is witty,
compassionate and as lovely as a day in June. Gus,
meanwhile, is such a handsome bundle of chivalry, positive
energy and impish self-deprecation that we may swoon
over him even before Hazel does.
Review. Stage 3. Critique.
The critique should be a balanced
discussion and evaluation of the
strengths, weaknesses and notable
features of the text/film/etc

AND/OR

You address the points outlined in the

task:
CPE Writing Task

A magazine of book reviews has invited readers to

send in reviews of a book which pleasantly
surprised, or disappointed them. Write a review,
describing the plot of the book and saying how it
differed from your expectations of it and compare
it with other books in this genre.

Write your review.

Review. Critique.
You can choose how to sequence your critique. Here are
some examples to get you started:

• Most important to least important conclusions you make

about the text.

• If your critique is more positive than negative, then

present the negative points first and the positive last.

• If your critique is more negative than positive, then

present the positive points first and the negative last.
 Review. Critique.
There’s real visual dynamism in the film, with a strong backbone of rhythmic editing to
intersperse Paul’s journey with oblique visions of a cloudy future. The production and costume
design, too, are austerely beautiful, particularly its dragonfly warplanes and octagonal concrete
palaces. Chalamet is well backed by a strong supporting cast, from Stellan Skarsgård as head of
the warlike Harkonnens to a heroic battle-hardened soldier played by Jason Momoa. Engrossing
and frustrating in equal measure, Dune is the first instalment of what may prove to be a science-
fiction Lord of the Rings; a mega-budget world-building fantasy on a huge scope. What hampers
the film most is the concept of its serialisation: while it’s a compliment to say that I wished it
would continue after over two hours, it simply fizzles instead, offering a half-hearted conclusion
in service of setting up a sequel.

(By C. Newland, inews.co.uk, October 2021)

Review. Conclusion.
• Restate your overall opinion of the text.
• Briefly present recommendations.
 Review. Conclusion.

“Eleanor & Park” reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in
love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a
book.”
Review. Useful Language.
• The novel describes how …
• The plot focuses on …
• The action takes place in …/ The film is set in ….
• The narrator tells the story through …
• Mrs Bennet represents …
• Throughout the novel the author …
• The novel is as much about … as it is about …
• I believe that …
• Moby Dick is as much about revenge and madness as it is
about the power of nature.
• Most of the action takes place on board the ship.
• The plot focuses on the childhood experiences of young Pip.
Structure of a critical review
(280-320 words)
• Introduction
• Summary (the plot, main characters, what they do and why, the
setting, the conflict / the collision between the protagonist and
antagonist, etc)
• Critique (a discussion and evaluation of the strengths,
weaknesses and notable features of the text/film/etc)
• Conclusion
• The critics didn’t hesitate to
pick - shivers down my spine.
• The hero’s dying words sent
- in the aisles.
• The comedian’s jokes
brought - hatchet job on it.
• It took me all of my holiday - holes in the actor’s
to wade
performance.
• The singers were all great,
- of our seats.
but the young soprano stole - through that novel
• The play was so funny, it had - the show.
the audience rolling
• The film was really exciting
- the house down.
and kept us on the edge
• The critic hated the book and
did a
• The critics didn’t hesitate to pick holes in the actor’s
performance.
• The hero’s dying words sent shivers down my spine.
• The comedian’s jokes brought the house down.
• It took me all of my holiday to wade through that novel.

• The singers were all great, but the young soprano stole the
show.
• The play was so funny, it had the audience rolling in the aisles.
• The film was really exciting and kept us on the edge of our seats.
• The critic hated the book and did a hatchet job on it.