ItVriiing: Ile yie h/s

o A reviewis a brief descriptionof a book,film, play, Choose the correct [Link] sentence
album, restaurant,PC game, etc. A review gives is about a film, a concert, a book, a festival,
the main pointsof the plot, event,etc includingthe a music CD, a school play,a console game?
writer's comments/recommendation.
. Whenwriting a review,considerthe tensesyou shoulduse Despite being a(n) amateur/professional
for each [Link] describingthe plot, present performance,
it waswell-acted
andvery entertaining.
tensesshould be [Link] include more It is set/situated in the English
countrysidein the
than one [Link] a new topic is introduced,begin | 920s.
a new [Link] recommendationor judgement
shouldbe included in the [Link] give good JamesMcAvoyportrays/acts the quietaccountant
reasonsto supportyour comments/opinions. who is transformedinto an assassin.
o The style of a review can be formal or informal 4 The albumis sureto be a bestseller/chart topper.
dependingon the intendedreader. 5 It has great designfeatures,superb pictures/
Useful language graphics and is reallyfun to play.
Background It was the worst live performance/appearance
I haveeverseenand I wasvery disappointed.
The film/story is set in ...; This well-written/informative/
It was a fun occasion/occurrence with food.
fascinatingbook ...; This original first noveValbum...; The
musicand competitions- a greatday out for all
film/ book tells the storyof ...; The book/novelwaswritten by
. .; The film is directedby ...; The work is basedon ...; It is
the family.
a comedy/horrorfilmilove story. Read the [Link] is each review
Main points of the plot about? Which is part of a letter?
The plot focuseson ...;The storybegins/concerns/is about . .;
The plot has an unexpectedtwist ...; The film reachesa
dramaticclimax...; The plot is (absolutely)thrilling/(rather) The stageshow was fantastic
boring. and the atmospherewas
Generalcommentsand opinion brilliant but the sound quality
was [Link] is to
It is rather confusingAondsloflboring.;The castis excellent/
say,he does not sing well live.
wealdawful/unconvincing.; The script is clever/dull/exciting.;
The audiencemade up for it
It has a tragicisurprising/dramaticend.; It is beautifully/
poorly/badlywritten.; It doesn't come acrossas ...; The , though by singing along to every
ne of his songs.
arrangements are simple/effective/complicated.;rich/dull
sound;catchytune;featuresa varietyof musicalinstruments;
powerfuVweakvoice
You should definitely get this game. It's just the
sort of thing you'll like. It's got lots of action,5 skill
levelsand hidden [Link] can play as a hero
F- or a villain. I just know you'll love it. I just can't
,.,t, stop playing it.
lntroduction
Para.I Background(setting,type of story,
characters)

Main Body Wanted is an action adventure

Para.2 Mainpointsof the plot/event,etc film that follows the
Para.3 Generalcomments transformation of Wesley
Gibson, a quiet accountant,
Conclusion into an assassintrained to kill by
a secret fraternity so he can take revenge for his
father's death. It is a beautifully acted and fast-
paced thriller with lots of explosions and guns co-
starringAngelina Jolie. One for the boys!

148 MODULE5
 LV
r i ti, t1: Itevievv sS'

a) Read the rubric, underline the key words and a) Read the extract from a
answer the questions. restaurant review and
replace the words in bold
Your schoolmagazine hasaskedstudentsto submitreviews with words from the list.
of booksthey haveread [Link] reviewgiving . helpful . comfortable. colourful
a briefsummary/of the plot andsayingwhy you think other . modern . impressed. delicious
peoplemaylike it. . varied . quick
I Who is goingto readyour reviewl
2 Which tensesshouldyou usel
3 How couldyou recommendid

b) Read the model. Complete

the paragraph plan. How
does the writer
recommend the book?

NorthernLights, the first book of His Dark

Materialstrilogyby PhilipPullmanis a fantasy
adventure for [Link] is set in a parallel
universewhere everyone'ssoul is an animal b) Read the extract from a
thatfollowsthem everywhere calleda daemon.
theme park review and
Themaincharacteris LyraBelacqua,an orphan
livingat JordanCollege,Oxford. insert adjectives/adverbs
from the list to make it
Lyra becomesinvolvedin a seriesof strange
more interesting.
eventsthat she unintentionally sets in motion
when she savesher uncle'slifeby [Link] . enjoyable. gentle . relatively
best friend, Roger, is kidnapped by people . traditional. sensational
known only as 'gobblers' who are . wide . exciting
experimenting on childrenand theirdaemons.
Lyrajoinsforceswitha raceof peoplecalledthe
Gyptiansto try and rescue all the stolen
[Link] her journey to the north, she
becomesfriendswith a warriorpolar bear, a
witchand a sky pilot and usesa compassthat
[Link] finds out that her
mother,MrsCoulter,is in chargeof the gobblers
and discoversthat her uncle. Lord Asriel. is
reallyherfather.
The book is a well-written fast-paced
[Link] heroine is inventiveand
[Link] is an epic story with many
memorablescenesthat feed the imagination
thoughsomepartsare a littlegloomy.
The ridescateredto a rangeof agegroups
Overall,lfoundthisbookto be highlyenjoyable
and included thrill rides such as
and entertaining. Althoughit was a littledark in
parts,it is a thrillingstorythat takesyou on an rollercoastersaswellasotherridessuchas
excitingmagicaladventurewhich makes you merry-go-rounds anda [Link]
eagerfor the sequel. [Link] stallsand sideshows offered
funfor allthe familywith gamesof skilland
gamesfrom timesgoneby.

vooure
s_[l
 Qrr
ItVrttitr{,1:
IIe vietvs

a) Compare and contrast the two models.

Which seems more appropriate to you?
Whv?

b) Which model:
. uses a variety of adjectives?
. is informal in style ([Link] sentences,
contractions,colloquiallanguage) ?
. doesnt give reasonsfor its recommendationl
. usessimplelinkingwords?
. doesnt haveparagraphs?

COLDPLAY: VIVA LA VIDA

VivalaVida by Coldplay is a fantasticCD and rn€l! poSS:l', :"
COLDPLAY:VIVALA VIDA
their best to date. There are ten main tracks and twc :,:r-
Coldplay'slatest CD Viva la tracksto enjoy, each one offeringsomethingunique
Vidais [Link] the wholealbumtakesa new directionfor the band anc
ten main tracks and two titlesuggests,there is a Hispanicinfluence.
bonus [Link] CD's first The CD's first single, VioletHill, is an anti-warprolesr s:r :
singleVioletHillisreallygood. with a soft beat and a steady rhythm. The rich sounc :ri -,*
Viva la Vida is the second titlesong and second single,Vivala Vida,is interest-,: a- :
single and it is reallygood, unexpected. Actually, so is the whole album. ',',':- --
[Link] of Londonis a unusualblend of moody instrumentalsand techno s:r-- r:
reallycatchytune.I reallyliked in a mixture of emotional songs and cheerful --,r-+
thissong!lt was my favourite. Cemeteriesof London starts off softly with dark lyn::s r- :
I alsolikedLoversin [Link] lots of atmosphereand then changestempo into a :=;'
remindedme of the Far East. tune that will have you singingalong with it. Then Lc.,:'.
This album is alreadyin the Japan is a melodicsong with a rich sound and an in'-e- : .
top ten in the UKandthe USA. from the Far East.
lf I were you, I wouldgo out
This album has alreadyreachedthe top ten in both :-E -,L,,
and buythisCD rightaway!
and the USA album charts and is not about to stoc :-e",
Coldplaywill continueto captivateaudiencesall cr'?- -:
world with their unique sound and alternativerock :--e..
definitelyrecommendthat you buy this CD. lt's a rJ- :
any collection.

2 Look at Model [Link] is each paragraph about?Think of another way to recommend =r 3

3 Think of your favourite CD.

. What is its name? . Which are the bestsongs?
. Who is it by? . How wouldyou recommendit?
. How manysongshasit gotl
. What is the albumabout?

Answer the [Link] your answers to tell the class.

:rnl
I CUI vooules
I
I
 Read the film review below and put the paragraphs into
the correct [Link] is each paragraph about?
o Discuss& Write
Writing #eviews

a) Read the rubrics, underline

s"
the key words and answer
the questions.

The Dark Krrfght Your Englishteacher has asked

your classto write a review of a
film they haveseen [Link]
best one will be publishedin the
f, The film is a fantastic film full of spectacularchases
"*,on school [Link] your
and amazing special [Link] actors, in particular
review including details about
Ledger,give magnificentper{ormancesand the directingis
the characters and plot and
first class. whether you recommend it.
B| | The Dork Knightis the latest Batmanfilm in which he joins
forces with the chief of police and the DA to fight a bank An English language magazine
robber who callshimselfthe [Link] is directedby has asked its readers to send in
reviews of their favourite
Christopher Nolan and stars Christian Bale as Batman/
books. Write your review
Bruce Wayne, Gary Oldman as Lt Jim Gordon, Aaron
giving details about the main
Eckhartas DA Harvey Dent, MaggieGyllenhaalas assistant characters and the story. Say
DA RachelDawes,the woman Batmanloves,and the late why you like it and make a
Heath Ledgeras the Joker. recommendation.

il Thisfilmis a [Link] will keepyouon the edgeof your I What does each rubric ask you to
seat and haunt you long after it's [Link] miss it! write?
Dl-l Set in Gotham City, the story starts right where Batmon 2 Who is goingto readyour pieceof
Beginsleft off. BruceWayne teams up with writing?
Lt Gordon and DA, Harvey Dent to rid 3 What paragraphplanwill you follow?
the city of organisedcrime,but a new 4 How wouldyou recommendit?
criminal mastermind who calls
himselfthe Joker starts a reign of b) Choose one rubric and write
a review.
terror and brings chaos to the
city. The five main characters
weave in and out of a
6- Swap papers and evaluate your
complex and unforgettable
partner's piece of writing. Use
story which twists and the following checklist.
turns to an ultimate
showdown between Cxecrlrsr Fon REVIEWS
good and evil. -:.:.iai:iitii:::l:f ii:ix:X*::iti::::1tx:i;i:i!!!i{lii::}:1.
. Does the piece of writing answer
: the rubricl
. ls the review divided into paragraphs?
;
. What paragraph plan has been r
:
followedl
. ls the style appropriate?
. Has a wide rangeof vocabularybeen
used?
. Are there any grammar/structural
mistakes?
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