Review is a review on a certain product (a book, game, film), designed to produce the impression of it in the target audience. This is a small text (standard volume 1800-3600 signs, one or two A4 pages), containing a review and product analysis. Today we will talk mainly about book reviews.
Types of reviews:
Official - printed in the government or departmental edition on the occasion of the edition of the book of the national importance. Written by the officialese strictly in compliance with all the rules of etiquette, neutral or restrained.
Functional review is written to produce impressions of the book in the light of the specific goals and objectives: to what extent the product is suitable for a particular publisher and series, how successfully it can be sold, whether it covers any specific questions. It is written clearly and effectively, the content is more important than the form.
Informative – is aimed at the potential readers and buyers to help them make a decision – whether it is worth reading or not. It is written in a simple way, you can add a pinch of nice and a modicum of analysis. It is also recommended to add a couple of citations.
An essay on the topic - the argument about the vanity of all things, using the book as a starting point. It should be written in the most beautiful and mysterious way.
Publicist - the author focuses on the issue important for the society. Written bright, hard, biting, always controversial.
Critical – the book (as well as the author) are being carefully examined: what he said, what he wanted to say to attract the attention of readers, who have made a mistake, where and how well that clever-reviewer noticed all this. Basic requirements - follow the logic, not to fall to a mere throwing dung, argue your position. Moreover, make sure that the text of the review contains no errors. You can check samples of our papers.
Private Review - subjective impression of the book, without attempting to objective criticism or analysis. Written in lively colloquial language, jargon and slang are allowed (in all other types of reviews they are not welcome).
What should be written in a review?
Be sure to indicate the authorship, title of the book, for published works - the output data. Mention, whether it is the new edition or the reissue, whether the book has some significant prizes awarded. Describe the genre in form (novel, story, play ...) and content (fiction, fantasy, alternate history ...). Describe the main storyline (but no spoilers!), List the main characters of the scene, the key points of the book. Try to understand and convey to the reader the main ideas of the work (not required, but would be great!). During the process of writing, you can use several approaches: observation from the outside, non-judgmental analysis, critical analysis, debate with the author.
Review which has the size of 1800 characters or less, is intended for discussion of the book only. No thoughts, feelings and philosophizing will fit into the number of characters. Short sentences, a minimum of adjectives and verbal participle phrases, the meaning should be clear with an unambiguous conclusion.
Review of the maximum size of 5400 characters is the ideal format for a relaxing and detailed reasoning of a single work. You can talk about the place of the book in the works of the author, to draw parallels, add your impressions and conclusions, to analyze in detail the advantages and disadvantages of the text.
Review of more than 5,400 characters simply must not dwell on the problems of one book (if, of course, it is not a "Lord of the Rings"). Drag in the literary process and genre trends, compare with similar products, analyze the author's creativity in general, are actively quote the book and share your thoughts. It is impossible to do without them in such a large text.
Skywritingservice.com and http://advice.writing.utoronto.ca have gathered the list of criteria for evaluation.
Criteria For Evaluation
What can be taken into account when evaluating and analyzing the book?
The general impression of the book - whole, scattered, strong, weak, sweet, pathetic.
Plot - how logical it is mixed, whether it is to the point, whether the narrative line is: dynamic, unhurried, overcast, hunted, torn. Does the dynamics of the narrative corresponds to the genre, and the goals set in the book? Does the author trying to "steer the plot," bending the logic of events in favor of the plan?
Heroes - how detailed and reliable they are described, if their psychology is natural enough, thus they could behave like that in the given circumstances? Whether these characters are interesting to the reader, whether they cause empathy or disgust?
Language and style - all in, as well as in the context of the problem.
Reliability in general and in detail. Does the law of nature and science are violated in the book, were there time such uniforms at the specified?
Psychology of relationships - whether the characters have the internal motivation for actions and whether they are sufficient, whether they behave unexpectedly, or follow the standard reactions. All these factors should be mentioned in your review.
The main idea of the text - whether it is ethical, intelligent, original? What book teaches the reader what would it want to say to him?
Display - if the author was able to implement his plan explicitly? Can the reader see the cave of dragons or cutting spaceship? Is it possible to isolate the idea of the author of the text at first reading?
Originality - how banal is the idea of the author, where has he borrowed the quotes, parodies, paraphrases? If it seems that the book opens a new genre or direction – you should certainly mention this.
Errors and mistakes - catch fleas and present them to the public. Of course, if we are confident that the author is mistaken, not deliberately distorting the events and realities. Yet it happens that unprofessional Editor worked on the book.
Public value – mark the moments in the text that are useful, for example, for patriotic education and national identity, describe the complex ethical issues and choices.
Extra literary advantages - for example, the historical, ethnographic or social value. Mediocre written book may be of interest as a source of information, for example, about the life and customs of a fighter pilot or ladies of the court of Catherine the Great.
The demand - whether it raised the actual topic, whether it is of interest to society, to what audience the book is designed.
Place the books in the literary process - as a particular work is related to the other in its genre, which represents the trend develops or terminates.
Your feelings – whether you like it or not, what kind of feelings and thoughts were evoked by this book? Whether you would like to buy it or to leave it in the home library.
It is not necessary to analyze all the items, select those that are important for us at the moment. It will make your review individual, interesting, and written to the point. We unceasingly work on improvement of our services. We know for sure how to write a perfect book or film review. All you have to do is to place an order on our site and our professional writers will surprise you with their knowledge! You are welcome to our site!
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