See Project 1, Reviewing a Film, on pages 314-15.
Instructions: Each writer reads his or her paper out loud. After having heard the whole essay, respond to the following questions. Write these out on a separate sheet and give them to the author at the end of class.
- What is the best sentence in the review? Why?
- What is the worst sentence in the review? Why?
- What is the reviewer's angle on the film? Is it interesting enough to sustain a whole review?
- Is the review unified, with a beginning, middle and end that weave a theme (or the angle) throughout the text? Explain. How might the author improve on this?
- Comment on the introduction: Does the writer provide a hook to draw the reader in? Is there enough background information? If not, suggest improvements.
- Is the review stylistically compelling? Offer suggestions to make the review witty/elegant, etc.
- What are the criteria the author is using to make the evaluation? Are these stated or implied? Are they qualitative or quantitative? Are they clear enough?
- Comment on the paper's conclusion. How does it bring closure to the essay? If it needs to be improved, make some suggestions.
- Which section(s) of the essay should the writer focus on for his/her revision? Explain why and offer suggestions.
Sample student film review papers:
- S. Hagen: "Underworld: The Underdone"
- Whitney Jones: "Roger & Me Depicts the American Dream as Shattered"
- Jonathan Krellenstein: "Bowling for Columbine's Causal Argument a Strike"
