Chapter 11 Reviews: Evaluating Works and Performances.

Chapter 11

Reviews: Evaluating Works and Performances

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 11 | 2

What is a review?

• A review is an evaluation, or a statement of judgment, based on someone’s analysis.

• It often includes a recommendation (buy this product, skip that movie, promote this person, don’t bother to buy that CD).


Making evaluations

• This is a skill we all use everyday…at home, school, and work.

• What cereal should I buy: Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Stars, or Cheerios?

• Is that new Spider-Man movie any good?• What kind of car should I buy?


Real-world examples

Let’s look at the types of reviews you might find in the “real world.”


Movie reviews

• Newspapers, magazines, and Web sites review movies.

• They often use the star rating system, ranging from 1 to 5.

• Remember Siskel & Ebert’s thumbs up or down?


Music reviews

• Print, television, and Web sources also review music.

• The new CDs• Live performances or concerts• Musicals


Reviews of products

• Consumer Reports reviews the performance of products.

• This includes cars, hair dryers, PCs, and microwaves.

• You can find reviews on the Web and television as well.


Performance reviews

• Another kind of review is the performance review, when your boss evaluates how well you are doing your job.

• Usually done annually, it is tied to raises and promotions.


What is the evaluation based on?

• It is not based on just your opinion!• You must use criteria, or standards, that are

appropriate, and fit what you are reviewing.• So don’t use criteria for a musical on

Broadway for an action film (“I didn’t like the dance numbers in Lord of the Rings—well, okay, there weren’t any!”).


What influences your audience?

• Your credentials (education, background, qualifications)

• Your attitude (fair or biased)• Your criteria (good fit?)• Your presentation (lively or boring?)


We expect evaluations to be:

• authoritative • persuasive• a planned, coherent, reasoned argument• using appropriate criteria (standards)• supported by reasons, evidence, and examples


Examples in the text

Music reviews• Frere-Jones, “1979,” pp. 355-358• Pareles, “The Case Against Coldplay,”

pp. 358-360


Examples in the text

Movie review• Holden, “After 20 Years,” pp. 361-362


Discussion questions

• What criteria is the author using for his or her evaluation?

• What assumptions are made?• What evidence does the writer present to

support his or her ideas?• What did you think of the essay? Did you

agree or disagree with the writer, and why?


Ethics of writing

• See page 364.• Reviewers aren’t neutral. • They have a responsibility to readers to

present information accurately.


Ethics of writing, cont’d

Partisan reviews• Jones, pp. 364-367, reviews for

GameCritics.com• Common Sense Media, pp. 368-369, is a non-

profit organization that reviews media.


Visual design

• Look at the layouts on pages 371.• Here we see the use of the ratings system in

the real world.• What about the layout makes you want to read

the review?


Writing assignment

• Pick something you know about or find interesting and write a review.

• Look at the 13 subject examples on pages373-374.

• Your instructor will let you know whether your class will be doing this particular assignment, and provide you with additional guidelines.


Peer commentary

• See pages 381-385 for sample peer commentary on the working draft of a review.


Student Companion Website

• Go to the student side of the Web site for exercises, chapter overviews, and links to writing resources for this chapter:http://college.hmco.com/pic/trimbur4e

http://college.hmco.com/pic/trimbur4e

Chapter 11 Reviews: Evaluating Works and Performances.

Documents