- A clearly identified "voice" in your writing
- A weaving of the objective and subjective
- A strongly worded, unambiguous summary of your opinion
- A well-developed multi-point argument supporting your opinion
- Complete listing of key FYI details
- Factual accuracy on all points.
- Mechanical soundness on all points. Weak grammar and usage weakens the piece as a whole. Readers do not respect the opinion of a writer who hasn't mastered his or her own craft.
Here are some tips on how to write it:
- Reviews, like columns and editorials, are one of the few places in newspapers and magazines in which the writer can express an opinion. In fact, including a strongly worded opinion is required for a successful review.
- Many things are fair game for a review: films, television shows, music (DVDs and concerts), theater, books, art exhibits, architecture, restaurants, and so on.
- When writing a review, keep in mind that at this point in your education, you do not have to be an expert, just an engaged and informed member of the reading public. In other words, you don't have to be William Faulkner to review a book, just a person who appreciates good literature.
- A successful review should be a melding of the subjective and the objective. Include factual information that cannot be disputed alongside your opinions.
- Explain early in your article what you are reviewing. This may sound obvious, but sometimes writers begin their reviews with lengthy rhetorical discourses supporting their yet-to-come opinion, but the reader doesn't know what the heck the review is about. Delayed leads are fine, but don't delay your news peg past the third or fourth graph.
- Clearly state all the so-called FYI details: for a theater production, include where time, dates and location of the play, as well as how the reader can get tickets.
- A simple organization template of the review is to describe the work of art, first objectively then subjectively. If you are reviewing an art show, for example, you can first describe what a featured picture looks like, its medium, subject, technique. Then, you can describe the effect it has upon you, the feelings (aesthetic or emotional) it inspires, and so on.
- You can and should be negative and critical in a review if that is your honest response. But back up your criticism as specifically as you can. If you say that a restaurant is lousy, describe how the breast of chicken was raw and the waiter rude.
- Always give a few solid examples, as you would for all good writing. If you are writing about a comedy, give one good joke. If you are writing about a band, focus on a few specific songs.
- Remember that reviewers are still journalists, and accuracy remains Rule No. 1. Get every detail correct, which is very easy with Internet research. Nothing blows a reviewers credibility faster than his or her writing a gross factual error. Check all FYI scrupulously. Spell all names correctly.
- If possible, see a performance once for fun, then a second time for work.
- The purpose of a review is simply to help your readers decide if they want to spend their money or time on this event or artwork. Keep in mind always that your loyalty is not to the actors, author, artist, chef, architect or anyone else who worked so hard. Your loyalty is to your reader.