Writing and Evaluating a Review

The review writing assignment can be used as a practice assignment for experienced or inexperienced staffers - I love to use it with J1's at the end of the year. I also use this assignment as a "write-off" - I have so many staffers that sometimes they compete to be in the publication.

Pre-Writing

Students read the appropriate chapter(s) in their journalism textbooks and develop lists of ten criteria for a good review. We discuss these criteria and apply them to two or three examples of reviews that I share with them. Then, students apply the criteria and evaluate a sample on their own. For each criterion, students are asked to write two or three sentences explaining how the sample review does or does not fulfill that criterion.

First Draft

After we brainstorm possible topics, students write on their own. The student may write a review of a movie, play, book, concert or CD he or she has encountered recently. This review should be at least two pages typed and double-spaced. The drafts go through peer review.

Second Draft

The first drafts are revised based upon the peer review and a self-evaluation. Each student turns in his or her rough draft with the final draft. The final draft is the only one I read. I grade them, and the editors choose the best to be published.

The peer review form and the self-evaluation form can be modified for virtually any assignment - the students love doing them because the forms create a structure for constructive feedback. I love them because I don't have to read poorly written first drafts and because the form and structure of the review or self-evaluation forces students to become more critical readers of their own and others' work.

Grading for the Review Assignment

Compile 10 criteria: 10 points
First draft: 10 points
Peer Review: 10 points
Final draft: 70 points

Scoring Rubric for Review Assignment

Student's Name ________________________________

Part 1: Steps of the Process

_____ Rough Draft (5 points)
_____ Peer Review (5 points)
_____ Second Draft (5 points)
_____ Self-Evaluation (5 points)

Part 2: Content of Final Draft

Clear statement of reviewer's opinion 5 4 3 2 1
Supporting reasons for reviewer's opinion 5 4 3 2 1
Specific examples 5 4 3 2 1
Accurate description of what is being reviewed 5 4 3 2 1
Introduction that grabs the reader's attention 5 4 3 2 1
Meaningful conclusion 5 4 3 2 1
Consistent verb tense 5 4 3 2 1
Consistent third person 5 4 3 2 1
Correct spelling/grammar 5 4 3 2 1
No fragments or run-ons 5 4 3 2 1

Grade: _______

Comments:


Peer Review for Review

Writer's Name ________________________
Reviewer's Name ______________________

Directions
Read the rough draft. Using colored pencils, mark the draft. Answer the questions on this sheet with as much information as possible.

1. Using your first color, underline the reviewer's statement of opinion. Put the reviewer's opinion of the piece in your own words.

 

2. Using your second color, underline the writer's supporting ideas. Put those supporting ideas in your own words in the space below.

 

3. Using your third color, bracket off the examples included in the supporting paragraphs. Summarize the examples in the space provided below and determine whether they fit both the main idea sentences and the opinion statement.

 

4. Using your fourth color, underline the background information. Is there any other information the reviewer needs to include for the reader?


5. Using your fifth color, circle all personal pronouns-subjective, objective and possessive.


6. Using your last color, circle all spelling and grammatical mistakes that you can find.

Self-Evaluation for Review Writers

Writer's Name: _______________________________________

Directions
Read your second draft. Using colored pencils, mark the draft. Answer the questions of this evaluation as honestly as possible.

1. Using your first color, underline your opinion statement. Does it appear within the first two paragraphs of the review?

2. Using your second color, underline your supporting ideas. Put those supporting ideas in your own words in the space below.
Idea 1:
Idea 2:
Idea 3:

3. Using your third color, underline your background information. Is there anything you have left out? Do you have too much background?

4. Using your fourth color, underline vague words and phrases such as "interesting," "dull," "good," "the best." Have you used concrete adjectives and nouns wherever possible? Have you avoided clichès?

5. Using your fifth color, circle all personal pronouns - subjective, objective, and possessive. If you have used "you," "your" or "I," you must be able to justify the second person.

6. Read your introduction. How does it grab the audience's attention?
Have you provided specific information?

7. Read your conclusion. Do you restate your opinion statement? Do you tell the reader what he/she should think at the end?


NOTE: This assignment and forms can be modified for an editorial writing unit.

— Kara Petersen
kpetersen@hanover.k12.va.us


NOTE from webmaster: Additional information on review writing can be found at "Only a Matter of Opinion?"

 
Comments, Complaints, Problems? Please address them to Carol Lange.