by Nancy Boland

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: August 02, 2009

A successful review should be informative and entertaining. Remember three things whilst writing - your audience, the type of review and the purpose of the review. Your readers may be beginners, or advanced specialists so you should write to accommodate the audience. Even short reviews will be successful if they follow a concise, firm structure. This includes an introduction, content description, value assessment (if applicable), a comparison with similar relevant products and a conclusion. Whether you are reviewing a film, book, restaurant, play, music band or fashion brand, a few dos and dont's are always useful.

Do

Be honest

Provide full information on what you are reviewing

Be amusing/humour provides light relief

Research fully

Give basis plot line of book/TV/film/play

Genre/subgenre (romcom)

Accuracy - Always give accurate information. Don't make things up just for effect.

Comment on audience reaction (play/film) etc. Acknowledge others reactions.

Constructive, air criticism (otherwise lose defence of fair comment)

Some form of star rating or at a glance guide.

Do bear in mind who/what you are reviewing (don't be overly critical of arena is non - professional)

Frames of reference (assuming the reader is aware of what you are talking about).

Compare with similar films/other books. This may make the reader form a decision. For example; Tom Cruise, former mission impossible.

Familiarity of references - allows people to make an informed decision. This same idea can be applied to authors and directors.

Film (compare to book). Is it faithful?

When writing about a film - remember to include cinematography, lighting, sound etc. Think about the target audience. If it is a publication specifically relating to film then the audience will expect a higher standard of detail and information regarding all aspects of the feature. If it is a supplement from say, the daily mail, then a lower level of detail will suffice.

Don't

Be biased

Don't waffle (get distracted)

Don't trash for the sake of it. (Don't do it for effect) If something is good, say so. If something is bad, say so.

Don't get too personal. Review the person's performance, not them personally.

Spoilers - Don't give out endings.

This is relevant to films/plays/books and TV. Keep saying, ''I think'' or ''I believe''. State things with confidence. " The film lacks..."

Avoid superlatives. E.g.) Language of marketing and promotions - ''wonderful'',''the best ever'', ''awesome'',''amazing''. Phraseology leaves you with nowhere to go, if everything is amazing. Don't talk down to your readership.

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