review in essay writing

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Guide: How to write a review essay

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Subject area(s): Types of essay
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Published: 6 December 2019*
Last Modified: 25 July 2024
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A review essay examines a piece of writing, a film, or some other form of art. However, it differs from a literary essay in a couple of key ways. A review essay is evaluative, meaning that its purpose is to tell the reader whether the work is good or not and whether it is recommended. Unlike a literary essay, a review essay is not written for someone who is already familiar with the work in question. Instead, the audience for a review essay is someone who is wondering whether to spend their time and money on the work reviewed. A review essay may contain more plot summary than a literary essay, but it shouldn’t give away any major revelations or the ending.

Read Sample Reviews

Reading sample reviews is an essential step in understanding how to craft a compelling review essay. Reviews are common in journalism , and examples of reviews of everything from movies to video games to computer software and more can be found online. Reading a few reviews of films and books from major publications such as nationally known magazines or large city newspapers can be a good way to get a sense of what is expected in a review essay. Observing how professional reviewers structure their critiques and the types of language they use can provide valuable insights.

Characteristics of a Good Review Essay

A good review essay will place the work in some sort of context. For example, a good review of a movie about traveling circus people would briefly mention other movies about traveling circus people and how this film compares with those others or how it fits into the overall picture of traveling circus people that film has presented over the years. In a literary essay, this might be the whole point of the paper, but in a review essay, it would only be a paragraph or two. The introduction or the paragraph just after the introduction is a good place for this context. Providing context helps readers understand the significance of the work and its place within a broader genre or category.

Subjectivity and Standards

A review essay is somewhat subjective, but it still needs to have standards and examples to demonstrate its points. It needs to give some reasons that the work is good or bad and it needs to support those reasons. This will help the audience decide whether to follow the reviewer’s advice. For example, if the reviewer claims that the plot is implausible, they should provide specific examples of plot points that stretch credibility. This blend of subjective opinion and objective evidence is crucial for a persuasive review.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement for a review essay should make an evaluation of the film and explain why the writer has made that evaluation. Here’s an example:

“Sideshow on the Road” is a terrible movie about traveling circus people with poor acting, an implausible plot, and a boring, talky script.

The body of the review would then expand on these reasons to convince the reader to avoid the film. A strong thesis statement sets the tone for the review and provides a clear direction for the argument.

The review itself should use specific examples from the work to illustrate the reviewer’s point. For example, if the reviewer has complained about the poor acting in the movie, they might describe a scene in which a character learns a loved one has died and seems to have no reaction at all. The boring, talky script might be illustrated by explaining that the characters spend a full ten minutes arguing about whether they took a wrong turn. Using detailed examples not only supports the reviewer’s arguments but also gives readers a vivid picture of the work’s flaws or strengths.

Review essays may be formal or informal and may be more or less personal. Depending on the style of the review, “I” may or may not be used. More informal reviews may use humor, sarcasm, and personal stories to highlight points about the work in question. Formal reviews should avoid these devices. With tone, it’s important to stay consistent. If a formal tone is chosen, it should be maintained throughout the piece, and the same is true for an informal tone. The tone of the review should match the audience and the purpose of the review.

Expanding on Characteristics of a Good Review Essay

To further elaborate, a good review essay does more than just summarize the plot or describe the characters; it delves into the artistic elements that make the work unique. This can include the director’s style in a film, the narrative techniques used in a book, or the visual aesthetics in a piece of art. Discussing these elements helps readers appreciate the craftsmanship involved and understand why certain aspects of the work may or may not succeed.

Comparative Analysis

Including a comparative analysis can enrich a review essay. For instance, comparing the film “Sideshow on the Road” to other movies about traveling circuses can highlight its unique or derivative aspects. This comparison can be brief, but it helps situate the work within its genre and provides a benchmark for evaluation. Mentioning how this film stacks up against classics like “Freaks” or more recent films like “Water for Elephants” can give readers a clearer sense of its quality and originality.

Audience Consideration

Understanding the intended audience for the review is crucial. A review aimed at casual moviegoers might focus more on entertainment value and accessibility, while a review for film enthusiasts might delve deeper into cinematography, acting, and thematic depth. Tailoring the review to the audience ensures that the evaluation is relevant and engaging.

Detailed Examples

Providing detailed examples is essential for a convincing review. If the reviewer mentions that the film has poor acting, they should describe specific scenes where the acting falls flat. For instance, they might describe a pivotal emotional scene where the lead actor fails to convey the necessary intensity, leaving the audience unmoved. Similarly, if the plot is deemed implausible, the reviewer should point out specific plot twists or developments that defy logic or seem forced.

Maintaining Objectivity

While a review essay is inherently subjective, maintaining a degree of objectivity is important. This means acknowledging any potential biases and striving to provide a balanced evaluation. For example, if the reviewer dislikes a particular genre, they should still recognize elements that fans of the genre might appreciate. This balanced approach enhances the credibility of the review.

In conclusion, writing a review essay involves evaluating a piece of writing, film, or art to help readers decide whether it is worth their time and money. By reading sample reviews, understanding the characteristics of a good review essay, developing a clear thesis statement, and providing detailed examples, reviewers can craft compelling and informative essays. The tone of the review should be consistent, and the reviewer should strive to balance subjective opinion with objective analysis. Including context, comparative analysis, and maintaining audience consideration further enriches the review, making it a valuable guide for potential audiences.

By following these guidelines, writers can produce review essays that are both engaging and informative, offering readers a thorough understanding of the work being reviewed and aiding them in making informed decisions.

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Education and Communications
Critical Reviews

How to Write an Article Review (With Examples)

Last Updated: August 26, 2024 Fact Checked

Preparing to Write Your Review

Writing the article review, sample article reviews, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,156,310 times.

An article review is both a summary and an evaluation of another writer's article. Teachers often assign article reviews to introduce students to the work of experts in the field. Experts also are often asked to review the work of other professionals. Understanding the main points and arguments of the article is essential for an accurate summation. Logical evaluation of the article's main theme, supporting arguments, and implications for further research is an important element of a review . Here are a few guidelines for writing an article review.

Education specialist Alexander Peterman recommends: "In the case of a review, your objective should be to reflect on the effectiveness of what has already been written, rather than writing to inform your audience about a subject."

Article Review 101

Read the article very closely, and then take time to reflect on your evaluation. Consider whether the article effectively achieves what it set out to.
Write out a full article review by completing your intro, summary, evaluation, and conclusion. Don't forget to add a title, too!
Proofread your review for mistakes (like grammar and usage), while also cutting down on needless information.

Step 1 Understand what an article review is.

Article reviews present more than just an opinion. You will engage with the text to create a response to the scholarly writer's ideas. You will respond to and use ideas, theories, and research from your studies. Your critique of the article will be based on proof and your own thoughtful reasoning.
An article review only responds to the author's research. It typically does not provide any new research. However, if you are correcting misleading or otherwise incorrect points, some new data may be presented.
An article review both summarizes and evaluates the article.

Step 2 Think about the organization of the review article.

Summarize the article. Focus on the important points, claims, and information.
Discuss the positive aspects of the article. Think about what the author does well, good points she makes, and insightful observations.
Identify contradictions, gaps, and inconsistencies in the text. Determine if there is enough data or research included to support the author's claims. Find any unanswered questions left in the article.

Make note of words or issues you don't understand and questions you have.
Look up terms or concepts you are unfamiliar with, so you can fully understand the article. Read about concepts in-depth to make sure you understand their full context.

Pay careful attention to the meaning of the article. Make sure you fully understand the article. The only way to write a good article review is to understand the article.

With either method, make an outline of the main points made in the article and the supporting research or arguments. It is strictly a restatement of the main points of the article and does not include your opinions.
After putting the article in your own words, decide which parts of the article you want to discuss in your review. You can focus on the theoretical approach, the content, the presentation or interpretation of evidence, or the style. You will always discuss the main issues of the article, but you can sometimes also focus on certain aspects. This comes in handy if you want to focus the review towards the content of a course.
Review the summary outline to eliminate unnecessary items. Erase or cross out the less important arguments or supplemental information. Your revised summary can serve as the basis for the summary you provide at the beginning of your review.

Step 6 Write an outline of your evaluation.

What does the article set out to do?
What is the theoretical framework or assumptions?
Are the central concepts clearly defined?
How adequate is the evidence?
How does the article fit into the literature and field?
Does it advance the knowledge of the subject?
How clear is the author's writing? Don't: include superficial opinions or your personal reaction. Do: pay attention to your biases, so you can overcome them.

For example, in MLA , a citation may look like: Duvall, John N. "The (Super)Marketplace of Images: Television as Unmediated Mediation in DeLillo's White Noise ." Arizona Quarterly 50.3 (1994): 127-53. Print. [9] X Trustworthy Source Purdue Online Writing Lab Trusted resource for writing and citation guidelines Go to source

For example: The article, "Condom use will increase the spread of AIDS," was written by Anthony Zimmerman, a Catholic priest.

Your introduction should only be 10-25% of your review.
End the introduction with your thesis. Your thesis should address the above issues. For example: Although the author has some good points, his article is biased and contains some misinterpretation of data from others’ analysis of the effectiveness of the condom.

Use direct quotes from the author sparingly.
Review the summary you have written. Read over your summary many times to ensure that your words are an accurate description of the author's article.

Support your critique with evidence from the article or other texts.
The summary portion is very important for your critique. You must make the author's argument clear in the summary section for your evaluation to make sense.
Remember, this is not where you say if you liked the article or not. You are assessing the significance and relevance of the article.
Use a topic sentence and supportive arguments for each opinion. For example, you might address a particular strength in the first sentence of the opinion section, followed by several sentences elaborating on the significance of the point.

This should only be about 10% of your overall essay.
For example: This critical review has evaluated the article "Condom use will increase the spread of AIDS" by Anthony Zimmerman. The arguments in the article show the presence of bias, prejudice, argumentative writing without supporting details, and misinformation. These points weaken the author’s arguments and reduce his credibility.

Make sure you have identified and discussed the 3-4 key issues in the article.

↑ https://libguides.cmich.edu/writinghelp/articlereview
↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4548566/
↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
↑ https://guides.library.queensu.ca/introduction-research/writing/critical
↑ https://www.iup.edu/writingcenter/writing-resources/organization-and-structure/creating-an-outline.html
↑ https://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_periodicals.html
↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4548565/
↑ https://writingcenter.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/593/2014/06/How_to_Summarize_a_Research_Article1.pdf
↑ https://www.uis.edu/learning-hub/writing-resources/handouts/learning-hub/how-to-review-a-journal-article
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

If you have to write an article review, read through the original article closely, taking notes and highlighting important sections as you read. Next, rewrite the article in your own words, either in a long paragraph or as an outline. Open your article review by citing the article, then write an introduction which states the article’s thesis. Next, summarize the article, followed by your opinion about whether the article was clear, thorough, and useful. Finish with a paragraph that summarizes the main points of the article and your opinions. To learn more about what to include in your personal critique of the article, keep reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No