Writing a Review
BasicIntroduce, comment, recommend.
- Review steps: introduce → content → comment → recommend.
- Comment formula: adjective + because + reason.
- Capitalise titles: The Singing Kite.
文體小知識：Book / movie / game review.
§Text Passage
1A Review of 'The Singing Kite'
2I love reading, and I often write a short review after I finish a book. Last week, I read a book called 'The Singing Kite', written by Jack Chan. It is a story book for young readers, with lovely pictures on every page. It is also easy to read, so I finished it in three days.
3The story is about a shy boy who finds an old kite in his grandmother's attic. When he flies it, the kite sings a beautiful song! The song gives him courage to talk to his classmates. However, one stormy day, the kite is blown away.
4The boy searches everywhere and never gives up. He looks in the park, by the river and even on the roof. In the end, he finds the kite on a hill and makes a new friend there.
5The story is exciting, and the pictures are beautiful. The boy's journey is interesting and touching. The middle part is a little slow, but it is never boring. It teaches us to be brave and never give up. It would make a great movie too! I recommend this book to all Primary 5 students, and I give it five stars!
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
A Review of 'The Singing Kite'
《會唱歌的風箏》書評
I love reading, and I often write a short review after I finish a book.
我好喜歡看書，看完一本書之後通常會寫篇短書評。
Last week, I read a book called 'The Singing Kite', written by Jack Chan.
上星期，我讀了本叫《會唱歌的風箏》的書，作者是 Jack Chan。
It is a story book for young readers, with lovely pictures on every page.
這本是寫給年輕讀者的故事書，每一頁都有漂亮的插圖。
It is also easy to read, so I finished it in three days.
還好易讀，所以我三天就看完。
The story is about a shy boy who finds an old kite in his grandmother's attic.
故事是講一個害羞的男孩，在奶奶的閣樓找到一隻舊風箏。
When he flies it, the kite sings a beautiful song!
他放風箏那時，風箏竟然唱起一首好聽的歌！
The song gives him courage to talk to his classmates.
這首歌給了他勇氣和同學聊天。
However, one stormy day, the kite is blown away.
不過，在一個暴風雨的日子，風箏被吹走了。
The boy searches everywhere and never gives up.
那個男孩到處找，一直沒有放棄。
He looks in the park, by the river and even on the roof.
他去過公園、河邊，甚至爬上屋頂找。
In the end, he finds the kite on a hill and makes a new friend there.
最後，他在山頭找回了那隻風箏，還在那裡交了個新朋友。
The story is exciting, and the pictures are beautiful.
這個故事好刺激，插圖又漂亮。
The boy's journey is interesting and touching.
男孩尋找風箏的旅程有趣又感人。
The middle part is a little slow, but it is never boring.
中段有點慢，但一點也不悶。
It teaches us to be brave and never give up.
它教我們要勇敢、不要放棄。
It would make a great movie too!
它拍成電影一定好好看！
I recommend this book to all Primary 5 students, and I give it five stars!
我推薦這本書給所有小五同學，我給它五星！
1Summary 重點摘要
Introduce, comment, recommend.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Opinion piece.
Reading.
Film.
Interesting.
Dull.
Thrilling.
Suggest.
A shape used for ratings.
3Step by step Steps
- IntroThe opening of a review names the work and its author or director. Example: I watched The Lion King. For a book, say I read plus the title; for a film, say I watched. Remember to capitalise every main word of the title. The first sentence states directly what you watched or read, with no warm-up. Adding one sentence about the author or the director makes it more complete, as in It is written by Roald Dahl.
- ContentThe content part briefly introduces the story in one sentence. Example: It is about a young lion called Simba. A review is not a retelling of the whole book; mention only the opening of the plot and leave the ending for the reader to imagine, so do not reveal who wins in the end. About is followed by the theme of the story, and called introduces a character's name. Use the present tense to summarise the plot; this is the convention of reviews even for stories set in the past.
- CommentA comment uses the structure of an adjective plus a reason. Example: It is exciting because the songs are beautiful. Give the judging word first, such as exciting, moving or funny, and then add the reason with because. The adjective must match the reason; a mixed-up pair like boring because it is interesting is wrong. Two or three comments about the plot, the music or the pictures give the review more layers and a higher mark.
- RecommendThe recommendation pattern is I recommend plus the audience, and a star rating can be added. Example: I recommend it to everyone. I give it five stars. After recommend comes a noun or it. Use the pattern I give it four stars, and star takes s with numbers above one, as in five stars. The recommendation and the rating go at the end as the standard closing. You can also say I would recommend it to people who love animals to make the audience more specific.
- Capitalise titlesEvery main word of a book or film title takes a capital letter: The Singing Kite, The Lion King. The rule is to capitalise the first letter of the main words, including nouns, verbs and adjectives. Prepositions, articles and joining words stay small, such as the, of and and, unless they begin the title. When writing, underline the title or use italics. Missing capitals is a common format mistake in reviews, so check each word of the title after writing.
- Rate and recommendThe rating and the recommendation can be combined into the last two sentences. Example: I give it five stars. It is good for children. The stars show the overall judgement; give the rating first and then say who the work suits. After good for comes a group of people, such as children and families. To be more convincing, add one reason, such as The pictures are lovely. Such an ending is complete and practical, and it is the key to a high mark in review writing.
5Worked example Example
Question: How do we write a four-sentence review of a story?
- Step 1: Introduce the work and say what you watched or read, with the main words of the title capitalised — I watched The Lion King.
- Step 2: Sum up the content in one sentence, beginning with It is about — It is about a young lion called Simba.
- Step 3: Comment with an adjective plus a reason with because — It is exciting because the songs are beautiful.
- Step 4: Give a star rating — I give it five stars.
- Step 5: End by naming who should watch or read it — I recommend it to everyone.
- Answer: Sample answer: I watched The Lion King. It is about a young lion called Simba. It is exciting because the songs are beautiful. I give it five stars. I recommend it to everyone.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Structure?
Q2Intro?
Q3Comment?
Q4Recommend?
Q5Tense?
Q6Stars?
8Recap Recap
- Review steps: introduce → content → comment → recommend.
- Comment formula: adjective + because + reason.
- Capitalise titles: The Singing Kite.
- Rating: I give it five stars.
- Close with a recommendation: I recommend it to everyone.