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).

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 3 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?

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 4 Real-world examples Let’s look at the types of reviews you might find in the “real world.”

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 5 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?

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 6 Music reviews Print, television, and Web sources also review music. The new CDs Live performances or concerts Musicals

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 7 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.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 8 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.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 9 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!”).

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 10 What influences your audience? Your credentials (education, background, qualifications) Your attitude (fair or biased) Your criteria (good fit?) Your presentation (lively or boring?)

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 11 We expect evaluations to be: authoritative persuasive a planned, coherent, reasoned argument using appropriate criteria (standards) supported by reasons, evidence, and examples

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 12 Examples in the text Music reviews Frere-Jones, “1979,” pp Pareles, “The Case Against Coldplay,” pp

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 13 Examples in the text Movie review Holden, “After 20 Years,” pp

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 14 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?

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 15 Ethics of writing See page 364. Reviewers aren’t neutral. They have a responsibility to readers to present information accurately.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 16 Ethics of writing, cont’d Partisan reviews Jones, pp , reviews for GameCritics.com Common Sense Media, pp , is a non- profit organization that reviews media.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 17 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?

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 18 Writing assignment Pick something you know about or find interesting and write a review. Look at the 13 subject examples on pages Your instructor will let you know whether your class will be doing this particular assignment, and provide you with additional guidelines.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 19 Peer commentary See pages for sample peer commentary on the working draft of a review.

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.11 | 20 Student Companion Website Go to the student side of the Web site for exercises, chapter overviews, and links to writing resources for this chapter: