WRITIN

GA
REVIEW
Book or Movie
Homework: What do you know about REVIEWS?
What The purpose of writing a review is
to incite audience to read or
watch a book or a film. In a
for? review the writer briefly explains
and evaluates the content of a
text, written or oral. In the review
the writer describes the main ideas
and/or facts presented, including
characters, setting, plot, along with
his personal opinion about the
book or movie.
ELEMENTS OF A REVIEW
There are five essential elements of a review
Headline, Introduction, Main Part, Opinion and Conclusion
1. HEADLINE:
The headline or title is essential as it catches the attention
of the reader of your review.

Write an attracting heading, and complement also with the

title of the film o text.

For example:
“Titanic”: a story about love and tragedy
 2. INTRODUCTION:
This paragraph introduces the movie/book you’ve just seen this movie/book. Shares general
facts and information about the film/book such as main topic, type of movie/book, year,
awards and/or the director, among others. You may use expression such as:

• The movie I recently watched is…

• It was published…/It premiered in ….
• The movie/ book main topic is…
The movie I recently watched is Titanic. It
• The book I recently read is… premiered in 1997. It was directed by James
• It was written /directed by …
• It is a ………. book/movie
Cameron. It is a romance and drama movie.
The movie main topic is the love story of Jack
and Rose aboard the Titanic.
3. MAIN PART /summary:
This paragraph provides a brief summary of the plot.  Summarize
Where and when did it take place? (setting), Who are the main
characters? what the story is about (main events).

Example: The movie narrates the love story between Jack and
Rose. It takes place in 1912 aboard the Titanic in the inaugural
trip of the ship, Rose, a rich young woman, and Jack, a poor
young artist, meet and fall in love. However, in the midst of the
trip a catastrophe happens when the ship accidentally crushes
against an iceberg.
 4 OPINION:
• This section is the most important, since here you will give your reasons to read or watch – or
not – the book or movie. Use expression to state your opinion!!!. Focus on elements as:
If it is a book you can review its style (language, vocabulary or ease for comprehension), the capacity to inspire
imagination, the plot, the emotions it triggers, the features of the characters, etc.
If you are talking about a short film you may talk about the actors’ performance, its soundtrack, special effects, and other.

Example: My belief is that the movie is good because

My belief is that the movie is …. because …..
In my opinion, some things I liked about the book/movie are….
From my point of view some weaknesses are….
As to me, If I could change something about the book/movie….
the plot is entertaining. In my opinion, something I
liked about the movie is the emotions it triggers. You
feel excited and also anguish. I also liked the
performance of the actors, they make the story
believable. As to me, something I did not like about
the movie is the performance of Rose, it seems to me
she looks very old for Jack.
5. Conclusion:
In this last paragraph you must either recommend the film/book or advice against
seeing/reading it. Here you must: a)present the moral of the story. B) the audience
you recommend it to (What group of people would like this movie/book?) c) the audience
you would not recommend it to Who would you not recommend it to? C) your final
conclusion (What is your final word on the film/book: Is it good or bad?) and d) a score. (You
can do grades A,B,C,D,F+ or -, stars *** out of *****, numbers 3 out of 5, or
something totally original)

Example: I surely recommend this movie since is good and believable.

I give it 4 stars out of 5. People who loves drama and love would like
this film because it is full of romance and tragedies. However if you
only like happy endings, don´t watch it because it will make you cry.
Also this movie leaves a great moral, which is to be careful as every
thing created by man can be destroyed by nature.
OMG! THE FINAL PROJECT. SO SOON?

LET’S SHARE INSTRUCTIONS

Final Project: Writing a Review
Write a 4 paragraph review in which you evaluate the assigned version of
The gift of the Magi: Written tale or Short film adaptation.
Your written product must include the five elements of a review. (1.
catching heading, 2. introduction, 3. main part, 4. opinion, 5. conclusion)
by addressing the corresponding information of each element.

To state your point of view you must use the expressions learned.

You can include pictures or complements.

To keep in mind
• Deadline: Tuesday, Nov 2nd, 8:00am
• Means: Campus Virtual
• Avoid use of translators (I value more your effort over “perfectly”
executed texts)

Students highlighted in GREEN will review the Written Tale

by O. Henry..

Students highlighted in BLUE will review the Short Film

Adaptation by Caleb Stewart..
ALVAREZ GONZALEZ JUAN CAMILO
ALVAREZ GONZALEZ MARIA CAMILA
ARANGO TORRES LUISA FERNANDA
ARBOLEDA ZAPATA SEBASTIAN HUMBERTO
BARRENECHE HERRERA SEBASTIAN
BOTERO VELASQUEZ ESTEFANIA
CARDONA MONSALVE ALEJANDRA
CASTAÑO GONZALEZ FRANCHESCA
CORTES CANO ANDRES FELIPE
DIAZ RESTREPO LAURA MARIA
GALLON CASTILLO JUAN SEBASTIAN
GREEN: Written Tale by O. Henry..
BLUE: Short Film Adaptation by Caleb Stewart..
GARCES ARIAS ISABELLA
GOEZ PIEDRAHITA YOJANA ANDREA
GONZALEZ CADAVID MANUELA
GONZALEZ MOLINA ELIZABETH
GORDON OUTTEN APRIL DORALBA
JIMENEZ PEÑUELA ORLANDO
MANOSALVA CARDENAS LESLY KATHERINE
MARMOL MONTOYA ESTEFANIA
MOSQUERA GARCIA MANUELA
ORREGO CASTAÑO DAVID STIVEN
ORREGO CORREA DIDIER ANDRES
PALOMINO TAMAYO ANGELA PATRICIA
QUINTERO AGUILAR JUAN MANUEL
SEGOVIA ARENAS MARIA CAMILA
Content (4 points) A headline frames the text. Its appealing for the reader and included the name of the text  

  reviewed.
The introduction provides general facts about the text reviewed such as type of text, main  

topic, type of movie/book, year, author, awards, and/or the director, among others.

The main part gives a brief summary of the plot, the setting, and characters of the story.  

The summary makes sense to a reader who does not know the movie.
The text includes an evaluation by presenting opinions that focus on the strengths,  

weaknesses and changes of the book/movie reviewed. Arguments are strong.

The conclusion provides a clear recommendation and score on the book reviewed.  

Language Use (1 point) Writing is clear, concise, and coherent. Sentences are strong and expressive, with varied  

structure. There are no questions. All language is accurate and used correctly. No errors in
punctuation, spelling, capitalization.