Practice, write & improve, b2 first (fce) review: writing guide.
We will use the example FCE review topic below:
You see this announcement in your college English-language magazine.
Book reviews wanted Have you read a book in which the main character behaved in a surprising way?
Write us a review of the book, explaining what the main character did and why it was surprising. Tell us whether or not you would recommend this book to other people.
The best reviews will be published in the magazine.
Write your review (140-190 words)
The first thing you need to do is to underline a description part -in other words, just find what needs to be described.
Secondly, find a discussion part – in other words, try to find the specific points you need to comment on in your text.
Finally, find the target reader so you know exactly who you are writing for and who is going to read your review.
You see this announcement in your college English-language magazine. (our readers)
Book reviews wanted Have you read a book in which the main character behaved in a surprising way? (to describe)
Write us a review of the book, explaining what the main character did and why it was surprising. ( to comment)
Now we have all three elements we need to write a great review:
You need to describe: Book in which the main character behaved in a surprising way
You need to answer/discuss:
Who is the target reader: college English-language magazine.
We know now that the target readers are students, teachers and probably parents so the writing style should be neutral or informal.
We don’t need to be too formal because after all some of the readers are students, but we also don’t want to be too informal as some of the readers are teachers and parents.
Now we can start building our structure and writing a review.
The review should start with the title, and there are few simple ways to write it:
Title (book): Dark Souls by Stephen King (by) Title (restaurant): Taco Bell in London – a review (a review)
We will use this title in our guide : TITLE : Time Machine by Adam Smith
Tip : Nothing prevents you from writing something more unique but it has to point to what you are going to review.
The other function of your introduction is to engage the reader . You can do it by asking a question.
Make your introduction at least 2 sentences long.
INTRODUCTION: What would you do if you could travel back in time? Most people would probably meet their great-great-grandparents or watch how the amazing pyramids in Giza were built, but Tom Lee, the main character of the novel Time Machine by Adam Smith finds himself in a completely unexpected situation and he has to make a very difficult decision that will change history as we know it.
– question
– details about the book and main character
The body paragraphs are the main parts of your review so they should be the longest and carry most of the information. Also, here you describe the points you’ve found in (Step 1)
You can use idioms , and phrasal verbs – neutral/informal language is appropriate for your target reader – students and teachers.
See the example below, in which we dedicated one paragraph to one point.
[Who is the main character and what did he do? – describe]
Tom, a teacher in a little town in Rotherham, finds a mysterious time portal in the back of a ragged diner which takes him back to the year 1935. He soon realises that every time he goes through the portal he gets to the exact same point in the past. Eventually, he makes the unexpected decision to stop Michael James Newton from brutally killing President John F. Kennedy on 22.11.1963.
[Why it was surprising? – comment]
It seems to me that Tom could choose many other and more personal things to do, but he decides to try and change history to a degree that he cannot predict . In my opinion , that came definitely unexpected an d if I were in his position I probably wouldn’t even consider a task this far-reaching.
– own opinion
– descriptive/interesting vocabulary
– relevant details about the main character and book
TIP: What if you don’t read books? Don’t waste your time looking for a to match your review. it doesn’t have to be real! And yes that may sound difficult: you have to invent a book and then write a review about your invented book! So instead take a you like, take a you like and transform them into books. That’s simple! |
Finally, we need to make a recommendation because after all, that’s the only reason why anyone would read a review they want to know what the reviewer thinks about the book , film or restaurant .
A good final paragraph of a review does exactly two things
CONCLUSION: I definitely recommend “Time Machine” to everyone who has already read some of Adam Smith’s novels as well as to those who like stories with twists and turns around every corner plus you get some modern history on top of that. For me, it was absolutely worth reading and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Full review.
Time Machine by Adam Smith
What would you do if you could travel back in time? Most people would probably meet their great-great-grandparents or watch how the amazing pyramids in Giza were built, but Tom Lee, the main character of the novel Time Machine by Adam Smith finds himself in a completely unexpected situation and he has to make a very difficult decision that will change history as we know it.
Tom, a teacher in a little town in Rotherham, finds a mysterious time portal in the back of a ragged diner which takes him back to the year 1935. He soon realises that every time he goes through the portal he gets to the exact same point in the past. Eventually, he makes the unexpected decision to stop Michael James Newton from brutally killing President John F. Kennedy on 22.11.1963.
It seems to me that Tom could choose many other and more personal things to do, but he decides to try and change history to a degree that he cannot predict. In my opinion, that came definitely unexpected and if I were in his position I probably wouldn’t even consider a task this far-reaching.
I definitely recommend “Time Machine” to everyone who has already read some of Adam Smith’s novels as well as to those who like stories with twists and turns around every corner plus you get some modern history on top of that. For me, it was absolutely worth reading and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
B2 first (fce) review: model answers, model answer 1.
You have seen this notice in your school library:
REVIEWS NEEDED We want to buy some new books for the library. Have you read a good book in English recently? Write us a review of a book you enjoyed, explaining why you liked it and why you think it would be a good choice for the school library.
We will use your reviews to help us decide which books to buy
THE THIEVES OF OSTIA
„The thieves of Ostia‟ by Caroline Lawrence is the first in a series of books entitled„The Roman Mysteries‟ and I think it‟s an absolute must for the school library.
The book is set in the Roman port of Ostia nearly two thousand years ago. It tells the story of Flavia and her three friends, and their attempts to discover who has been killing the dogs of Ostia and why. It‟s full of mystery and excitement, and the plot has many twists and turns, which make you want to keep reading.
The book is aimed at ten – to twelve – year – old native English speakers, but it is very popular with older children and would be ideal for teenagers studying English. What‟s more, it gives a fascinating insight into life in Roman times, so readers learn about history as well as improve their language skills.
After finishing „The Thieves of Ostia‟, students will want to borrow further books from the series. By buying it, then, the library would be doing a lot to encourage students to read more in English
You have found the following advertisement online:
RESTAURANT REVIEWS WANTED!
Have you been to a great restaurant lately? If so, send us an honest review of the restaurant explaining what you liked and disliked of the place as well as its location, staff and how it looks on the inside.
We will publish the first 20 decent reviews we get!
Foster’s Hollywood
Being a huge fan of traditional American fast food and restaurant styles, it’s no wonder that my favourite restaurant in Granada is Foster’s Hollywood.
Located smack in the middle of the city, this fast-food chain serves a wide variety of mouthwatering, American dishes at a reasonable price. These range from typical Tex-Mex nachos or French fries to more elaborate meals like traditional, homemade Bourbon steak. And if you’re hungry, it’s the perfect place to go, as their servings are absolutely huge!
Another cool thing about this place is its magnificent decor. If you’re a film buff, you will quickly fall in love with this place, since all the walls are covered in famous movie posters! Apart from that, it’s got a spacious dining hall, super friendly staff and an outdoor terrace which is absolutely fantastic on summer nights!
The only negative thing I can say is that it is right next to a gym, which sometimes makes me feel guilty for eating so much!
Nevertheless, Foster’s Hollywood offers delicious meals in an unbeatable atmosphere, so you should definitely give it a try. I promise you won’t regret it!
Example topic 1.
Your teacher has asked you to write a review for a book you have read recently. The best reviews will go in the school magazine. Review the book giving your opinion and say whether or not you would recommend it.
Your teacher has asked you to write a review for a film you have seen recently on DVD or at the cinema.The best reviews will go in the school magazine. Review the book giving your opinion and saying whether ornot you would recommend it.
At school, you are building a tourist website in English. Your teacher has asked you to write a review of arestaurant you have eaten at in your town. Review the restaurant giving your opinion and saying whetheror not you would recommend it.
After writing your text, you can check it yourself using the writing checklist below.
How to do that? Simply check your text/email by answering the questions one by one:
Communicative Achievement
Organisation
B2 first (fce) review: tips.
The grammar and vocabulary that you need unfortunately depend heavily on the type of question you get.
One thing you can do though is to make sure your grammar and vocabulary are related to the tasks . So for example, if you are writing a review about a film make sure your vocabulary is related to films.
So include words like “s cripts, director, cast, plot, setting, special effects, and stunts”
If you want to mention who directed the film or who played the part of a certain character then make sure you use the passive “The film was directed by Y”. “The the protagonist was played by X”.
If you are talking about an experience and you need to describe the experience then make sure you use narrative tenses because obviously this experience happened in the past.
This means you need to use the past simple, the past continuous and the past perfect. For example “I checked into the hotel at 10 am. I had been travelling all night and was feeling exhausted. The hotel staff were very welcoming and made me feel at home”.
We will finish it with some useful vocabulary mostly used to organize information. Although it is taking a shortcut, if you learn several expressions for each paragraph in each type of text that could be on your exam, you will certainly be able to create a very consistent and well-organized text.
This show stars… The play is directed by… The film is about… It‟s set in………. The story is based on (a book…) It‟s about….. There are many memorable characters including …. The main theme of the film is…..
On the plus side,… On the down side,… On the one hand,… On the other hand,…
Overall, I‟d recommend… All in all, the film was… I wouldn‟t hesitate to recommend… I wouldn‟t encourage anyone to … I would recommend this film to anyone. Although I enjoyed it, I would not recommend it for…. It‟s one of the best (shows) I’ve ever seen. Although I am not normally keen on (musicals),I am glad that I decided to go. The (film) lifts you out of your everyday life
Who will read the review.
Your review will be read by readers of a magazine.
The review is intended to give information to the reader which will help them decide whether to attend the event themselves.
Use a style similar to an article that is likely to interest the reader.
Give essential information about the story, cast, band members, etc. Say what you like and didn‟t like about the performances. Make a recommendation to the reader about whether or not they should go.
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Subject: English
Age range: 7-11
Resource type: Other
Last updated
23 May 2021
Creative Commons "Sharealike"
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Excellent success criteria. Thank you this saved me a lot of time.
Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user
I was able to adapt this easily for my class. Saved me a lot of time THANK YOU!
Just another rather over simplistic chart some specific questions related to the book would be helpful. I would not pay for this. Nice try.
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How to Write a Book Review: Consider a Book's Promise. A book makes a promise with its cover, blurb, and first pages. It begins to set expectations the minute a reader views the thumbnail or cover. Those things indicate the genre, tone, and likely the major themes. If a book cover includes a lip-locked couple in flowing linen on a beach, and ...
Book Review Writing Tips Checklist Subject: Have students use this checklist as a guide when writing a book review. This checklist was adapted from Step 2 of Write a Book Review With Rodman Philbrick: A Writing With Writers Activity by Angela Bunyi for her Writing Book Reviews: Online and Beyond! l esson plan. Created Date: 11/29/9998 7:00:00 PM
In 10 Steps to a Great Book Review. Read the Entire Book. Take Notes of Said Book. Give an Idea of the Book Outline. Don't Forget the Author. Evaluate the Book Thoroughly. Don't Beat Around the Bush. Don't Be Afraid of Adverse Feedback. Support Your Views.
Blog - Posted on Thursday, Nov 11 The Only Book Review Templates You'll Ever Need Whether you're trying to become a book reviewer, writing a book report for school, or analyzing a book, it's nice to follow a book review template to make sure that your thoughts are clearly presented.. A quality template provides guidance to keep your mind sharp and your thoughts organized so that you can ...
Step 1: Planning Your Book Review - The Art of Getting Started. You've decided to take the plunge and share your thoughts on a book that has captivated (or perhaps disappointed) you. Before you start book reviewing, let's take a step back and plan your approach.
1. Start with a couple of sentences describing what the book is about. But without giving any spoilers or revealing plot twists! As a general rule, try to avoid writing in detail about anything that happens from about the middle of the book onwards. If the book is part of a series, it can be useful to mention this, and whether you think you'd ...
Book reviews are a special form of academic writing. They have well-known structures with familiar components. Here, Emeritus Professor James Hartley of the School of Psychology, Keele University, UK, consulted with academics on writing the perfect book review and presents a potential checklist for book reviewers.
For fiction: consider plot, character, setting and theme. For nonfiction: consider focus and factual information. For poetry: consider style, language, and theme. Yes No. Is quoted and/or paraphrased material included to support the points and reactions toward the work? Yes No.
Here are some simple steps to writing a book review that is sure to communicate to others how much you love your latest read (or don't!). yes, please! 1. Include an Image of the Cover. The image draws in your fellow reader. Yes, they are judging the book by the cover, so choose a good image, rather than one that's blurry or fuzzy.
1. Read a Book and Take Notes. The first phase of composing a book review involves reading it and taking notes on key points. Start by attending closely to the preface and introduction sections because most authors describe the reasons for writing, their views, and the perspectives of any contributors here.
The order of the items on the checklist is not meant to suggest that they should be addressed in this sequence in your review. A checklist is a list of things that need to be done, it is not a suggestion for a review layout. Checklist for Writing Book Reviews. 1- Have you told the reader about the genre and style? Whether it's a fun, easy or ...
Use this brilliant checklist in order to help children learn how to write a book report (KS2). Sign in to leave a review. The list of questions provides children with tools to guide them writing a book review or proofreading their book review or a peer's book review. This is very useful for my students at grade 4 and 5.
A general guideline is that the longer the book, the longer the review, and a review shouldn't be fewer than 100 words or so. For a long book, the review may be 500 words or even more. If a review is too short, the review may not be able to fulfill its purpose. Too long, and the review may stray into too much plot summary or lose the reader's ...
8. "thoughts while reading" reviews. These are almost like vlogs. You take the reader with you on your experience of reading the book. This is a fun way to review books if you want to showcase your feelings/thoughts, especially if the book has a lot of plot twists or invoked a ton of feelings in you.
Book Review Checklist. Reading Leave a comment 3,155 Views. I remember having to write book review reports and so whether you're writing them for a school homework assignment or to meet a professional deadline, here's a Book Review Checklist to make sure you don't miss anything out. Use to make sure that you've got everything covered ...
Make your peer review feedback more effective and purposeful by applying these strategies: Be a reader. Remember you are the reader, not the writer, editor, or grader of the work. As you make suggestions, remember your role, and offer a reader's perspective (e.g., "This statistic seemed confusing to me as a reader.
Peer review expectations and requirements will vary between different subject areas and article types, which is why we've prepared a number of different checklists to guide you through the process. First, read our guide to writing your review report then, choose the most appropriate checklist for the work you've been asked to review.
Step 2: Title The review should start with the title, and there are few simple ways to write it: imagine you're reviewing a book you can write: [Title] by [Author]; if you were reviewing a restaurant you could write: [name of the restaurant] - a review; Title (book): Dark Souls by Stephen King (by) Title (restaurant): Taco Bell in London - a review (a review)
Age range: 7-11. Resource type: Other. File previews. docx, 15.16 KB. Checklist for peer/self-assessment for writing a book review. Used in Y5/6. Creative Commons "Sharealike". Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.
This writing checklist includes the key parts of a book review and is perfect for your Level 3 learners to self-assess or use as a guide when writing. Use it as an independent checklist, for peer review, or as teacher marking criteria. Using a checklist like this allows students to self-monitor their work and check that they have included the key features of a style in their writing, without ...
Writing a Book Review Checklist. 2 reviews. Age 7-11 Reading and Writing Writing Aids. How does this resource excite and engage children's learning? A handy ESL checklist for the key features of a book review. Show more. Related Searches.
Read. The checklist for writing a book starts with reading, because unfortunately it's very hard to be a good writer if you don't also read. Take a look at the biggest, most popular, books in your preferred genre and see what they're doing that people like so much. Read through books that aren't as popular and see what they could improve.
These handy My Book Review Checklist Bookmark act as a great reminder for children when writing their book reviews. With prompt questions that they can refer to and think about as they read, they are sure to write some fantastic reviews. Finished reviews could be displayed in the classroom, book area or even the library to get others hooked on a book! We have a few different styles on site ...