Lesson Plan #12 - Comparison of Book Review and Arts/Entertainment
Article
Note: We recommend that you print this guide
and distribute it to your students.
BOOK REVIEW.
The book report follows a basic
structure:
Introduction:
In the opening paragraph, the writer offers a description of
the book and explains why reading this book was a positive or
negative experience. This is the reviewer's thesis.
Body of the critique: In the next few paragraphs of the essay, the
reviewer sets out to prove that thesis. If the book was excellent,
the reviewer will focus on the elements that make it work so
well, including characters, scenes, dialogue, description, pace,
plot line, and theme. If the book was flawed in some way, the
reviewer will try to establish that by offering evidence of those
flaws.
Conclusion:
the writer leaves the reader with an overall opinion of the book
and a recommendation on whether or not the book is worth reading.
The reviewer may discuss some of the thoughts and feelings he
or she was left with after reading this book.
ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT ARTICLE
The review follows a basic structure
of a book/cd review, which can be used to critique any kind of
artistic activity whether it's a book or writing of any kind,
live performance (dance, music or theatre), recorded music (cds),
or visual art.
Opening paragraph:
the reviewer offers a description of the book, cd, play, movie
or concert and explains whether it was a positive or negative
experience to watch, read or listen to it. This is the reviewer's
thesis or the main argument they would like to make about this
work.
Body of the review
( next few paragraphs): the reviewer sets out to prove that thesis.
If the book or movie was excellent, the reviewer will focus on
the elements that make it work so well, including characters,
scenes, dialogue, description, pace, plot line, and theme. If
it was flawed in some way, the reviewer will try to establish
that by offering evidence of those flaws. The same is true for
music-- if the reviewer says this is a group's best album in
years, then he or she needs to offer some reasons and some examples
of why this is true.
Conclusion:
the writer leaves the reader with an overall opinion of the work
in question and a recommendation on whether or not the book,
movie or cd is worth their time and money. The reviewer may discuss
some of the thoughts and feelings he or she was left with after
this work.
TIPS ON WRITING ARTS/ENTERTAINMENT ARTICLES
- Don't re-tell the entire story when you
are reviewing a play, novel or movie. You can usually give the
reader a sense of what the plot is in a few sentences. Then,
move on and explore the way the writer handled the story and
what the writer did to make the characters and story come alive.
- Don't tell the reader that the play was
great, the concert was boring or the book was exciting. Show
them what you thing by giving examples and offering reasons for
your opinion.
- Compare and contrast the book/cd/play)
in question to others in its genre to give your reader a sense
of how it stacks up. If you are reviewing a cd by a new singer/songwriter,
you may want to compare their music to an artist that your readers
will be familiar with.
- Do a little research about the artist
to give yourself a better sense of who they are and why they
write, paint or sing.