SH1635

Book and Film Review

I. Book Review
a. Definition
A book review is a short piece of text describing what the book is about, the
intentions or aims of the author in writing the book, whether the aims were
successfully achieved or not, how it is written and whether it suits a certain
readership, and how does it compare to other comparable works in the same field.
a descriptive and critical or evaluative account of a book.

b. Steps in writing a book review

1. Scan the books preliminaries
Before beginning to read, consider the following:
Title - What does it suggest?
Preface - Provides important information on the author's purpose in writing
the book and will help you to determine the success of the work.
Table of Contents - Tells you how the book is organized and will aid in
determining the author's main ideas and how they are developed -
chronologically, topically, etc.

2. Read the text

Record impressions as you read and note effective passages for quoting. Keep these
questions in mind:
What is the general field or genre, and how does the book fit into it? (Use
outside sources to familiarize yourself with the field, if necessary.)
From what point of view is the work written?
What is the author's style? Is it formal or informal? Does it suit the intended
audience? If a work of fiction, what literary devices does the author use?
Are concepts clearly defined? How well are the author's ideas developed?
What are areas covered/not covered? Why? This helps to establish the book's
authority.
If a work of fiction, make notes on such elements as character, plot, and
setting, and how they relate to the theme of the book. How does the author
delineate his characters? How do they develop? What is the plot structure?
How accurate is the information in the book? Check outside sources if
necessary.
If relevant, make note of the book's format - layout, binding, typography, etc.
Are there maps, illustrations? Do they aid understanding?
Check the back matter. Is the index accurate? What sources did the author
use - primary or secondary? How does he make use of them? Make note of
important omissions.
Finally, what has the book accomplished? Is further work needed? Compare
the book to others by this author or by others. (Use the listing in the
bibliography.)

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3. Consult additional sources

Try to find further information about the author - his/her reputation, qualifications,
influences, etc. - any information relevant to the book being reviewed and could
help to establish the author's authority. Knowledge of the literary period and of
critical theories can also be helpful to your review. Your professor and/or reference
librarian will be able to suggest sources to use.

4. Prepare an outline
Carefully review your notes and attempt to unify your impressions into a statement
that will describe the purpose or thesis of your review. Then, outline the arguments
that support your thesis. Your arguments should develop the thesis in a logical
manner.

5. Write the draft

Skim your notes again; then, using the outline as a guide and referring to notes when
necessary, begin writing. Your book review should include the following:

A. Preliminary Information - the complete bibliographic citation for the work

ie. title in full, author, place, publisher, date of publication, edition
statement, pages, special features (maps, color plates, etc.), price, and
International Standard Book Number or ISBN.

Example:

Rory Maclean
Under the Dragon
Travels in a betrayed land
London: Harper Collins, 1998
224pp. $37.50
0 00 257013 0

B. Introduction - Try to capture the reader's attention with your opening

sentence. The introduction should state your central thesis, and set the tone
of the review.

C. Development - Develop your thesis using supporting arguments as set out in

your outline. Use description, evaluation, and if possible, explanation of
why the author wrote as he/she did. Use quotations to illustrate important
points or peculiarities.

D. Conclusion - If your thesis has been well argued, the conclusion should
follow naturally. It can include a final assessment or simply restate your
thesis. Do not introduce new material at this point.

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6. Revise the draft

A. Allow some time to elapse before going over your review, to gain
perspective.
B. Carefully read through the text, looking for clarity and coherence.
C. Correct grammar and spelling.
D. Verify quotes for proper footnoting.

II. Film Review

a. Definition
Film reviews are assessments of the aesthetic, entertainment, social, and cultural merits
and significance of a current film or video. Reviews tend to be short to medium length
articles, often written by a single staff writer for a particular publication. In most cases,
the chief aim of a review is to tell the reader whether the film is worth seeing or buying
on DVD (Film Reviews, 2010).

b. How to Write a Film Review

1. Drafting your review
A. Start with a compelling fact of opinion on the movie.
Comparison to relevant event or movie
Review in a nutshell
Context or background information
B. Give a clear, well-established opinion early on.
C. Back up your opinion with specific evidence.
D. Move beyond obvious plot analysis.
Cinematography
Tone
Music and Sound
Acting
E. Bring you review full-circle in the ending.
2. Studying your source material
A. Gather basic facts about the movie.
B. Take notes on the movie as you watch it.
C. Analyze the mechanics of the movie.
D. Watch it one (1) more time.
3. Composing your review
A. Create an original thesis based paragraph on your analysis.
B. Follow your thesis paragraph with a short plot summary.
C. Move into your analysis of the movie.
D. Use plenty of examples to back up your points.
E. Give it some personality.
F. Wrap up your review with a conclusion.
4. Polishing your piece
A. Edit your review.
B. Proofread your review.
C. Publish or share your review.

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c. Parts of a Film Review

Although there is not a set formula to follow when writing a film review, the genre does
have certain common elements that most film reviews include.
1. Introduction
In the opening of your review, provide some basic information about the film. You
may include films name, year, director, screenwriter, and major actors. - Your
introduction, which may be longer than one paragraph, should also begin to
evaluate the film, and it should allude to the central concept of the review. A film
review does not have to contain a thesis or main claim, but it should focus on a
central analysis and assessment.
2. Plots Summary
Remember that many readers of film reviews have not yet seen the film. While you
want to provide some plot summary, keep this brief and avoid specific details that
would spoil the viewing for others.
3. Description
While the plot summary will give the reader a general sense of what the film is
about, also include a more detailed description of your particular cinematic
experience watching the film. This may include your personal impression of what
the film looks, feels, and sounds like. In other words, what stands out in your mind
when you think about this particular film?
4. Analysis
In order to explain your impression of the film, consider how well the film utilizes
formal techniques and thematic content. How do the films formal techniques
(such as cinematography, editing, mise-en-scne, lighting, diegetic and non-
diegetic sound, genre, or narrative) affect the way the film looks, feels, and sounds
to you? How does the thematic content (such as history, race, gender, sexuality,
class, or the environment) affect your experience and interpretation? Also, do the
formal techniques work to forward the thematic content?
5. Conclusion/Evaluation
The closing of your film review should remind the reader of your general thoughts
and impressions of the film. You may also implicitly or explicitly state whether or
not you recommend the film. Make sure to remind the reader of why the film is or
is not worth seeing.

References:
Book Review. (n.d.). Retrieved on August 5, 2010 from http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/book%20review
Book Review. (n.d.). Retrieved on August 5, 2010 from http://www.sunrisepage.com/library/breviews.htm
Book Reviews. (2016). Retrieved on August 5, 2016 from http://guides.library.queensu.ca/bookreviews/writing
Domagsang, A. (2016). Exploring Literature and Grammar: Reading and Writing Skills. Quezon City. Brilliant
Creations Publishing Inc.
Film Review. (n.d.). Retrieved on August 5, 2010 from https://twp.duke.edu/uploads/media_items/film-review-
1.original.pdf
Film Reviews. (2010). Retrieved on August 5, 2010 from
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/filmstudies/filmreviewsintro.html
How to Write a Movie Review. (n.d.) Retrieved on August 5, 2010 from http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-
Movie-Review

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