© Boardworks Ltd 20141 of 71 of 7 © Boardworks Ltd 2014

Writing a ReviewYear 7: Writing

Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page

Accompanying worksheet

Flash activity. These activities are not editable.

Web addressesExtension activities

Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation

© Boardworks Ltd 20142 of 7

Learning objectives

2 of 7 © Boardworks Ltd 2014

Understand the purpose of a review

Learn what to include in a review

Learn how to structure a review

Explore the importance of justifying your opinions

© Boardworks Ltd 20143 of 7

Introduction

If you’ve ever read a book, watched a TV show, seen a film, gone to the theatre or played a computer game, then the chances are that you have told someone about it – you have given a review.

© Boardworks Ltd 20143 of 7

© Boardworks Ltd 20144 of 7

What’s a review for?

The first purpose is to tell your readers a little about the plot or subject matter of a book, play, film, etc.

The second purpose is to advise them whether the book, play, film, etc. is any good.

A review normally falls into two main parts: a short description or summary of the item under discussion, followed by a section in which the writer expresses(and justifies) his or her opinion of its quality.

The best way to see how reviews work is to read a few. Try looking online at The Guardian, or leafing through

newspapers and magazines.

A review has two purposes:

© Boardworks Ltd 20145 of 7

The summary

© Boardworks Ltd 20146 of 7

Snow White thought she had found refuge from her wicked stepmother at the

house of the seven dwarves, but…

The summary

Can you finish off these summaries?Add no more than one extra sentence to each.

Now write a summary for a book, play or film of your choice, using no more than fifty words.

The downtrodden servant of her ugly sisters, Cinderella had a

miserable life – until…

Read these part-finished summaries of famous tales:

© Boardworks Ltd 20147 of 7

Use of adjectives

To convey your opinion clearly to the reader, you will need touse a range of adjectives.

Think of a book you have read recently, on your own or as a class. Give three adjectives to describe:

the best passage in the novelthe worst passagethe central character(the protagonist)the novel as a whole.