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How to Write a Literature Review | Guide, Examples, & Templates

Published on January 2, 2023 by Shona McCombes . Revised on September 11, 2023.

What is a literature review? A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources on a specific topic. It provides an overview of current knowledge, allowing you to identify relevant theories, methods, and gaps in the existing research that you can later apply to your paper, thesis, or dissertation topic .

There are five key steps to writing a literature review:

  • Search for relevant literature
  • Evaluate sources
  • Identify themes, debates, and gaps
  • Outline the structure
  • Write your literature review

A good literature review doesn’t just summarize sources—it analyzes, synthesizes , and critically evaluates to give a clear picture of the state of knowledge on the subject.

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Table of contents

What is the purpose of a literature review, examples of literature reviews, step 1 – search for relevant literature, step 2 – evaluate and select sources, step 3 – identify themes, debates, and gaps, step 4 – outline your literature review’s structure, step 5 – write your literature review, free lecture slides, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions, introduction.

  • Quick Run-through
  • Step 1 & 2

When you write a thesis , dissertation , or research paper , you will likely have to conduct a literature review to situate your research within existing knowledge. The literature review gives you a chance to:

  • Demonstrate your familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context
  • Develop a theoretical framework and methodology for your research
  • Position your work in relation to other researchers and theorists
  • Show how your research addresses a gap or contributes to a debate
  • Evaluate the current state of research and demonstrate your knowledge of the scholarly debates around your topic.

Writing literature reviews is a particularly important skill if you want to apply for graduate school or pursue a career in research. We’ve written a step-by-step guide that you can follow below.

Literature review guide

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Writing literature reviews can be quite challenging! A good starting point could be to look at some examples, depending on what kind of literature review you’d like to write.

  • Example literature review #1: “Why Do People Migrate? A Review of the Theoretical Literature” ( Theoretical literature review about the development of economic migration theory from the 1950s to today.)
  • Example literature review #2: “Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines” ( Methodological literature review about interdisciplinary knowledge acquisition and production.)
  • Example literature review #3: “The Use of Technology in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Thematic literature review about the effects of technology on language acquisition.)
  • Example literature review #4: “Learners’ Listening Comprehension Difficulties in English Language Learning: A Literature Review” ( Chronological literature review about how the concept of listening skills has changed over time.)

You can also check out our templates with literature review examples and sample outlines at the links below.

Download Word doc Download Google doc

Before you begin searching for literature, you need a clearly defined topic .

If you are writing the literature review section of a dissertation or research paper, you will search for literature related to your research problem and questions .

Make a list of keywords

Start by creating a list of keywords related to your research question. Include each of the key concepts or variables you’re interested in, and list any synonyms and related terms. You can add to this list as you discover new keywords in the process of your literature search.

  • Social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok
  • Body image, self-perception, self-esteem, mental health
  • Generation Z, teenagers, adolescents, youth

Search for relevant sources

Use your keywords to begin searching for sources. Some useful databases to search for journals and articles include:

  • Your university’s library catalogue
  • Google Scholar
  • Project Muse (humanities and social sciences)
  • Medline (life sciences and biomedicine)
  • EconLit (economics)
  • Inspec (physics, engineering and computer science)

You can also use boolean operators to help narrow down your search.

Make sure to read the abstract to find out whether an article is relevant to your question. When you find a useful book or article, you can check the bibliography to find other relevant sources.

You likely won’t be able to read absolutely everything that has been written on your topic, so it will be necessary to evaluate which sources are most relevant to your research question.

For each publication, ask yourself:

  • What question or problem is the author addressing?
  • What are the key concepts and how are they defined?
  • What are the key theories, models, and methods?
  • Does the research use established frameworks or take an innovative approach?
  • What are the results and conclusions of the study?
  • How does the publication relate to other literature in the field? Does it confirm, add to, or challenge established knowledge?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?

Make sure the sources you use are credible , and make sure you read any landmark studies and major theories in your field of research.

You can use our template to summarize and evaluate sources you’re thinking about using. Click on either button below to download.

Take notes and cite your sources

As you read, you should also begin the writing process. Take notes that you can later incorporate into the text of your literature review.

It is important to keep track of your sources with citations to avoid plagiarism . It can be helpful to make an annotated bibliography , where you compile full citation information and write a paragraph of summary and analysis for each source. This helps you remember what you read and saves time later in the process.

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To begin organizing your literature review’s argument and structure, be sure you understand the connections and relationships between the sources you’ve read. Based on your reading and notes, you can look for:

  • Trends and patterns (in theory, method or results): do certain approaches become more or less popular over time?
  • Themes: what questions or concepts recur across the literature?
  • Debates, conflicts and contradictions: where do sources disagree?
  • Pivotal publications: are there any influential theories or studies that changed the direction of the field?
  • Gaps: what is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?

This step will help you work out the structure of your literature review and (if applicable) show how your own research will contribute to existing knowledge.

  • Most research has focused on young women.
  • There is an increasing interest in the visual aspects of social media.
  • But there is still a lack of robust research on highly visual platforms like Instagram and Snapchat—this is a gap that you could address in your own research.

There are various approaches to organizing the body of a literature review. Depending on the length of your literature review, you can combine several of these strategies (for example, your overall structure might be thematic, but each theme is discussed chronologically).

Chronological

The simplest approach is to trace the development of the topic over time. However, if you choose this strategy, be careful to avoid simply listing and summarizing sources in order.

Try to analyze patterns, turning points and key debates that have shaped the direction of the field. Give your interpretation of how and why certain developments occurred.

If you have found some recurring central themes, you can organize your literature review into subsections that address different aspects of the topic.

For example, if you are reviewing literature about inequalities in migrant health outcomes, key themes might include healthcare policy, language barriers, cultural attitudes, legal status, and economic access.

Methodological

If you draw your sources from different disciplines or fields that use a variety of research methods , you might want to compare the results and conclusions that emerge from different approaches. For example:

  • Look at what results have emerged in qualitative versus quantitative research
  • Discuss how the topic has been approached by empirical versus theoretical scholarship
  • Divide the literature into sociological, historical, and cultural sources

Theoretical

A literature review is often the foundation for a theoretical framework . You can use it to discuss various theories, models, and definitions of key concepts.

You might argue for the relevance of a specific theoretical approach, or combine various theoretical concepts to create a framework for your research.

Like any other academic text , your literature review should have an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion . What you include in each depends on the objective of your literature review.

The introduction should clearly establish the focus and purpose of the literature review.

Depending on the length of your literature review, you might want to divide the body into subsections. You can use a subheading for each theme, time period, or methodological approach.

As you write, you can follow these tips:

  • Summarize and synthesize: give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole
  • Analyze and interpret: don’t just paraphrase other researchers — add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of findings in relation to the literature as a whole
  • Critically evaluate: mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources
  • Write in well-structured paragraphs: use transition words and topic sentences to draw connections, comparisons and contrasts

In the conclusion, you should summarize the key findings you have taken from the literature and emphasize their significance.

When you’ve finished writing and revising your literature review, don’t forget to proofread thoroughly before submitting. Not a language expert? Check out Scribbr’s professional proofreading services !

This article has been adapted into lecture slides that you can use to teach your students about writing a literature review.

Scribbr slides are free to use, customize, and distribute for educational purposes.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • Sampling methods
  • Simple random sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Cluster sampling
  • Likert scales
  • Reproducibility

 Statistics

  • Null hypothesis
  • Statistical power
  • Probability distribution
  • Effect size
  • Poisson distribution

Research bias

  • Optimism bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Implicit bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Anchoring bias
  • Explicit bias

A literature review is a survey of scholarly sources (such as books, journal articles, and theses) related to a specific topic or research question .

It is often written as part of a thesis, dissertation , or research paper , in order to situate your work in relation to existing knowledge.

There are several reasons to conduct a literature review at the beginning of a research project:

  • To familiarize yourself with the current state of knowledge on your topic
  • To ensure that you’re not just repeating what others have already done
  • To identify gaps in knowledge and unresolved problems that your research can address
  • To develop your theoretical framework and methodology
  • To provide an overview of the key findings and debates on the topic

Writing the literature review shows your reader how your work relates to existing research and what new insights it will contribute.

The literature review usually comes near the beginning of your thesis or dissertation . After the introduction , it grounds your research in a scholarly field and leads directly to your theoretical framework or methodology .

A literature review is a survey of credible sources on a topic, often used in dissertations , theses, and research papers . Literature reviews give an overview of knowledge on a subject, helping you identify relevant theories and methods, as well as gaps in existing research. Literature reviews are set up similarly to other  academic texts , with an introduction , a main body, and a conclusion .

An  annotated bibliography is a list of  source references that has a short description (called an annotation ) for each of the sources. It is often assigned as part of the research process for a  paper .  

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How to Write a Book Review in 3 Steps

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How to write a book review in 3 steps.

How to Write a Book Review in 3 Steps

If the idea of reading for free — or even getting paid to read — sounds like a dream come true, remember that it isn’t a pipe dream. There are many places aspiring book reviewers can read books for free, such as Reedsy Discovery — a new platform for reviewing indie books. Of course, if you’re giving serious thought to becoming a book reviewer, your first step should be learning how to write a book review. To that end, this post covers all the basics of literary criticism. Let’s get started!

The three main steps of writing a book review are simple:

  • Provide a summary: What is story about? Who are the main characters and what is the main conflict? 
  • Present your evaluation: What did you think of the book? What elements worked well, and which ones didn’t? 
  • Give your recommendation: Would you recommend this book to others? If so, what kinds of readers will enjoy it?

You can also download our free book review templates and use it as a guide! Otherwise, let’s take a closer look at each element.

Pro-tip : But wait! How are you sure if you should become a book reviewer in the first place? If you're on the fence, or curious about your match with a book reviewing career, take our quick quiz:

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How to write a review of a book

Step 1. provide a summary.

Have you ever watched a movie only to realize that all the good bits were already in the trailer? Well, you don’t want the review to do that. What you do want the summary to do is reveal the genre, theme, main conflict, and main characters in the story — without giving away spoilers or revealing how the story ends.

A good rule of thumb is not to mention anything that happens beyond the midpoint. Set the stage and give readers a sense of the book without explaining how the central issue is resolved.

Emily W. Thompson's review of The Crossing :

In [Michael] Doane’s debut novel, a young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery with surprising results.
An unnamed protagonist (The Narrator) is dealing with heartbreak. His love, determined to see the world, sets out for Portland, Oregon. But he’s a small-town boy who hasn’t traveled much. So, the Narrator mourns her loss and hides from life, throwing himself into rehabbing an old motorcycle. Until one day, he takes a leap; he packs his bike and a few belongings and heads out to find the Girl. Read more...

Here are a few more reviews with well-written summaries for you to check out. The summary tend to be the longest part of the book review, so we won’t turn this post into a novel itself by pasting them all here: Le Cirque Navire reviewed by Anna Brill, The Heart of Stone reviewed by Kevin R. Dickinson, Fitting Out: The Friendship Experiment reviewed by Lianna Albrizio.

Non-fiction summary tip: The primary goal of a non-fiction summary is to provide context: what problems or issues has the book spotted, and how does it go about addressing them? Be sure to mention the authors of the title and what experience or expertise they bring to the title. Check Stefan Kløvning’s review of Creativity Cycling for an example of a summary that establishes the framework of the book within the context of its field.

Step 2. Present your evaluation

While you should absolutely weave your own personal take of a book into the review, your evaluation shouldn’t only be based on your subjective opinion. Along with presenting how you reacted to the story and how it affected you, you should also try to objectively critique the stronger and weaker elements of the story, and provide examples from the text to back up your points.

To help you write your evaluation, you should record your reactions and thoughts as you work your way through a novel you’re planning on reviewing. Here are some aspects of the book to keep in mind as you do.

Your evaluation might focus heartily on the book’s prose:

Donald Barker's review of Mercenary : 

Such are the bones of the story. But, of course, it is the manner in which Mr Gaughran puts the bones back together and fills them with life that makes “Mercenary” such a great read. The author’s style seems plain; it seems straightforward and even simple. But an attempt at imitation or emulation quickly proves that simple it is not. He employs short, punchy sentences that generate excellent dialogue dripping with irony, deadpan humour and wit. This, mixed with good descriptive prose, draws the characters – and what characters they are – along with the tumultuous events in which they participated amidst the stinking, steaming heat of the South American jungle, out from the past to the present; alive, scheming, drinking, womanising and fighting, onto the written page.

You can give readers a sense of the book by drawing comparisons to other well-known titles or authors:

Laura Hartman's review of The Mystery of Ruby's Mistletoe :

Reading Ms. Donovan’s book is reminiscent to one of my favorite authors, Dame Agatha Christie. Setting up the suspects in a snowbound house, asking them to meet in the drawing room and the cleverly satisfying conclusion was extremely gratifying. I can picture Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot nodding at Ms. Donovan saying “Well done!”

Not everyone’s tastes are the same, and you can always acknowledge this by calling out specific story elements in your evaluation: 

Kevin R. Dickinson's review of The Heart of Stone :

Whether you enjoy Galley’s worldbuilding will depend heavily on preference. Galley delivers information piecemeal, letting the characters, not the author, navigate the reader through Hartlund. A notable example is the magic system, an enigmatic force that lacks the ridge structures of, say, a Brandon Sanderson novel. While the world’s magical workings are explained, you only learn what the characters know and many mysteries remain by the end. Similar choices throughout make the world feel expansive and authentic.

Non-fiction evaluation tip: A book’s topic is only as compelling as its supporting arguments. Your evaluation of a nonfiction book should address that: how clearly and effectively are the points communicated? Turn back to Stefan’s critique for an example of a non-fiction critique that covers key takeaways and readability, without giving away any “big reveals.”

Step 3. Give your recommendation 

At the end of the day, your critique needs to answer this question: is this a book you would (or wouldn’t) recommend to other readers? You might wrap up by comparing it to other books in the same genre, or authors with similar styles, such as: “Fans of so-and-so will enjoy this book.” 

Let’s take a look at a few more tips:

You don’t need to write, “I recommend this book” — you can make it clear by highlighting your favorable opinion:

Following in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac and William Least Heat-Moon, Doane offers a coming of age story about a man finding himself on the backroads of America. Doane’s a gifted writer with fluid prose and insightful observations, using The Narrator’s personal interactions to illuminate the diversity of the United States.
Despite his flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany The Narrator on his physical and emotional journey. The unexpected ending is a fitting denouement to an epic and memorable road trip.

Add more punch to your rating by mentioning what kind of audience will or won’t enjoy the book:

Charleigh Aleyna Reid's review of The King of FU :

I would recommend this book to anyone who grew up in the 90’s and would like to reminisce about the time, someone who is interested to see what it was like to be a 90’s kid, or perhaps anyone who is looking for a unique, funny story about someone’s life.

Unless you found the title absolutely abhorrent, a good way to balance out a less favorable book review it to share what you did like about the book — before ultimately stating why you wouldn’t recommend the novel:

Nicola O's review of Secrets of the Sea Lord :

Overall, there are plenty of enjoyable elements in this story and fans of Atlantis and mer mythology should give it a try. Despite this, it does not rise above a three-star rating, and while I had some difficulty pinning down why this is, I concluded that it comes from a surprisingly unsophisticated vocabulary. There are a couple of graphic sex scenes, which is absolutely fine in a paranormal romance, but if they were removed, I could easily imagine this as an appealing story for middle-schoolers.

Non-fiction recommendation tip: As with fiction book reviews, share why you did or didn’t enjoy the title. However, in one of the starkest divergences from fiction book reviews it’s more important than ever that you mention your expectations coming into the non-fiction book. For instance, if you’re a cow farmer who’s reading a book on the benefits of becoming a vegetarian, you’re coming in with a large and inherent bias that the book will struggle to alter. So your recommendation should cover your thoughts about the book, while clearly taking account your perspective before you started reading. Let’s look once more at Stefan’s review for an example of a rating that includes an explanation of the reviewer’s own bias.

Bonus tips for writing a book review

Let’s wrap up with a few final tips for writing a compelling review.

  • Remember, this isn’t a book report. If someone wants the summary of a book, they can read the synopsis. People turn to book reviews for a fellow reader’s take on the book. And for that reason...
  • Have an opinion. Even if your opinion is totally middle-of-the-line — you didn’t hate the book but you didn’t love it either — state that clearly, and explain why.
  • Make your stance clear from the outset. Don’t save your opinion just for the evaluation/recommendation. Weave your thoughts about the book into your summary as well, so that readers have an idea of your opinion from the outset.
  • Back up your points. Instead of just saying, “the prose was evocative” — show readers by providing an actual passage that displays this. Same goes for negative points — don’t simply tell readers you found a character unbelievable, reference a certain (non-spoiler) scene that backs this up.
  • Provide the details. Don’t forget to weave the book’s information into the review: is this a debut author? Is this one installment of a series? What types of books has the author written before? What is their background? How many pages does the book have? Who published the book? What is the book’s price?
  • Follow guidelines. Is the review you’re writing for Goodreads? For The New York Times ? The content and tone of your review will vary a good deal from publication to publication.
  • Learn from others. One of the best ways to learn how to write a great review is to read other reviews! To help you out with that, we’ve published a post all about book review examples .

Writing book reviews can be a rewarding experience! As a book-lover yourself, it’s a great opportunity to help guide readers to their next favorite title. If you’re just getting started as a reviewer and could use a couple more tips and nudges in the right direction, check out our comprehensive blog post on how to become a book reviewer . And if you want to find out which review community is the right fit for you, we recommend taking this quick quiz:

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

Finally, if you feel you've nailed the basics of how to write a book review, we recommend you check out Reedsy Discovery , where you can review books for free and are guaranteed people will read them. To register as a book reviewer, simply go here !

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How to Write Critical Reviews

When you are asked to write a critical review of a book or article, you will need to identify, summarize, and evaluate the ideas and information the author has presented. In other words, you will be examining another person’s thoughts on a topic from your point of view.

Your stand must go beyond your “gut reaction” to the work and be based on your knowledge (readings, lecture, experience) of the topic as well as on factors such as criteria stated in your assignment or discussed by you and your instructor.

Make your stand clear at the beginning of your review, in your evaluations of specific parts, and in your concluding commentary.

Remember that your goal should be to make a few key points about the book or article, not to discuss everything the author writes.

Understanding the Assignment

To write a good critical review, you will have to engage in the mental processes of analyzing (taking apart) the work–deciding what its major components are and determining how these parts (i.e., paragraphs, sections, or chapters) contribute to the work as a whole.

Analyzing the work will help you focus on how and why the author makes certain points and prevent you from merely summarizing what the author says. Assuming the role of an analytical reader will also help you to determine whether or not the author fulfills the stated purpose of the book or article and enhances your understanding or knowledge of a particular topic.

Be sure to read your assignment thoroughly before you read the article or book. Your instructor may have included specific guidelines for you to follow. Keeping these guidelines in mind as you read the article or book can really help you write your paper!

Also, note where the work connects with what you’ve studied in the course. You can make the most efficient use of your reading and notetaking time if you are an active reader; that is, keep relevant questions in mind and jot down page numbers as well as your responses to ideas that appear to be significant as you read.

Please note: The length of your introduction and overview, the number of points you choose to review, and the length of your conclusion should be proportionate to the page limit stated in your assignment and should reflect the complexity of the material being reviewed as well as the expectations of your reader.

Write the introduction

Below are a few guidelines to help you write the introduction to your critical review.

Introduce your review appropriately

Begin your review with an introduction appropriate to your assignment.

If your assignment asks you to review only one book and not to use outside sources, your introduction will focus on identifying the author, the title, the main topic or issue presented in the book, and the author’s purpose in writing the book.

If your assignment asks you to review the book as it relates to issues or themes discussed in the course, or to review two or more books on the same topic, your introduction must also encompass those expectations.

Explain relationships

For example, before you can review two books on a topic, you must explain to your reader in your introduction how they are related to one another.

Within this shared context (or under this “umbrella”) you can then review comparable aspects of both books, pointing out where the authors agree and differ.

In other words, the more complicated your assignment is, the more your introduction must accomplish.

Finally, the introduction to a book review is always the place for you to establish your position as the reviewer (your thesis about the author’s thesis).

As you write, consider the following questions:

  • Is the book a memoir, a treatise, a collection of facts, an extended argument, etc.? Is the article a documentary, a write-up of primary research, a position paper, etc.?
  • Who is the author? What does the preface or foreword tell you about the author’s purpose, background, and credentials? What is the author’s approach to the topic (as a journalist? a historian? a researcher?)?
  • What is the main topic or problem addressed? How does the work relate to a discipline, to a profession, to a particular audience, or to other works on the topic?
  • What is your critical evaluation of the work (your thesis)? Why have you taken that position? What criteria are you basing your position on?

Provide an overview

In your introduction, you will also want to provide an overview. An overview supplies your reader with certain general information not appropriate for including in the introduction but necessary to understanding the body of the review.

Generally, an overview describes your book’s division into chapters, sections, or points of discussion. An overview may also include background information about the topic, about your stand, or about the criteria you will use for evaluation.

The overview and the introduction work together to provide a comprehensive beginning for (a “springboard” into) your review.

  • What are the author’s basic premises? What issues are raised, or what themes emerge? What situation (i.e., racism on college campuses) provides a basis for the author’s assertions?
  • How informed is my reader? What background information is relevant to the entire book and should be placed here rather than in a body paragraph?

Write the body

The body is the center of your paper, where you draw out your main arguments. Below are some guidelines to help you write it.

Organize using a logical plan

Organize the body of your review according to a logical plan. Here are two options:

  • First, summarize, in a series of paragraphs, those major points from the book that you plan to discuss; incorporating each major point into a topic sentence for a paragraph is an effective organizational strategy. Second, discuss and evaluate these points in a following group of paragraphs. (There are two dangers lurking in this pattern–you may allot too many paragraphs to summary and too few to evaluation, or you may re-summarize too many points from the book in your evaluation section.)
  • Alternatively, you can summarize and evaluate the major points you have chosen from the book in a point-by-point schema. That means you will discuss and evaluate point one within the same paragraph (or in several if the point is significant and warrants extended discussion) before you summarize and evaluate point two, point three, etc., moving in a logical sequence from point to point to point. Here again, it is effective to use the topic sentence of each paragraph to identify the point from the book that you plan to summarize or evaluate.

Questions to keep in mind as you write

With either organizational pattern, consider the following questions:

  • What are the author’s most important points? How do these relate to one another? (Make relationships clear by using transitions: “In contrast,” an equally strong argument,” “moreover,” “a final conclusion,” etc.).
  • What types of evidence or information does the author present to support his or her points? Is this evidence convincing, controversial, factual, one-sided, etc.? (Consider the use of primary historical material, case studies, narratives, recent scientific findings, statistics.)
  • Where does the author do a good job of conveying factual material as well as personal perspective? Where does the author fail to do so? If solutions to a problem are offered, are they believable, misguided, or promising?
  • Which parts of the work (particular arguments, descriptions, chapters, etc.) are most effective and which parts are least effective? Why?
  • Where (if at all) does the author convey personal prejudice, support illogical relationships, or present evidence out of its appropriate context?

Keep your opinions distinct and cite your sources

Remember, as you discuss the author’s major points, be sure to distinguish consistently between the author’s opinions and your own.

Keep the summary portions of your discussion concise, remembering that your task as a reviewer is to re-see the author’s work, not to re-tell it.

And, importantly, if you refer to ideas from other books and articles or from lecture and course materials, always document your sources, or else you might wander into the realm of plagiarism.

Include only that material which has relevance for your review and use direct quotations sparingly. The Writing Center has other handouts to help you paraphrase text and introduce quotations.

Write the conclusion

You will want to use the conclusion to state your overall critical evaluation.

You have already discussed the major points the author makes, examined how the author supports arguments, and evaluated the quality or effectiveness of specific aspects of the book or article.

Now you must make an evaluation of the work as a whole, determining such things as whether or not the author achieves the stated or implied purpose and if the work makes a significant contribution to an existing body of knowledge.

Consider the following questions:

  • Is the work appropriately subjective or objective according to the author’s purpose?
  • How well does the work maintain its stated or implied focus? Does the author present extraneous material? Does the author exclude or ignore relevant information?
  • How well has the author achieved the overall purpose of the book or article? What contribution does the work make to an existing body of knowledge or to a specific group of readers? Can you justify the use of this work in a particular course?
  • What is the most important final comment you wish to make about the book or article? Do you have any suggestions for the direction of future research in the area? What has reading this work done for you or demonstrated to you?

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Reviews are critical appraisals published either online or in a newspaper or magazine. Traditionally, a review was of a book, concert, film or perhaps television show.However, now they are increasingly used online for far more purposes, including rating and assessing purchases, tradespeople, restaurants, venues, and events.

This page describes how to write a good review: that is, one that other people find helpful in considering whether to purchase, view, read or visit. It explains what you should include, the tone you should aim to achieve, and also what you should leave out.

What is a Review?

The term ‘review’ can be used in several different ways.

For the purposes of this page, we mean a critical appraisal of something , whether a book, television programme, online purchase, or holiday.

Review vs. Literature Review

The term ‘review’ is also used in writing for a literature review. This is a scan through the existing literature on a topic, to identify the current state of knowledge, and find a gap to research.

There is more about that in our page Researching and Writing a Literature Review .

The purpose of a review is to advise others whether to visit/buy/watch/read/otherwise engage with the subject of your review. It can also be used by businesses to see how they can improve.

It follows that a good review is one that other people find helpful in making their decision, or that helps the business to improve.

In writing a review, you should therefore consider what information people need to make that decision.

There is more about this in our page on Know Your Audience .

Tips for Writing a Good Review

1. describe the experience.

Don’t be tempted to just say ‘This was fine’. Describe the experience.

More helpful reviews provide more information, so that readers know what they might experience—and can judge for themselves.

One-word reviews: don’t

A review that simply says ‘great’, ‘no problems’ or ‘avoid’ is not helpful, because it does not give any context. Was it busy? Was it quiet? How can readers judge whether their experience will be similar?

Take time to provide a bit of context and a bit more information, to help your readers.

2. Make your recommendation clear

Readers look at reviews to help them decide whether to visit, buy, read, watch, attend or even date! This is the main takeaway from any review.

A good review therefore makes the writer’s recommendation very clear.

Some review sites allow you to leave a star rating—but even with that, make sure that you sum up by giving a recommendation at the start or end of what you write.

3. Give the reasons for your recommendation

A recommendation is useful—but it is not enough on its own. People want to make their own decisions, drawing on other people’s experience.

Explain the thinking and reasons behind your recommendation to support that process.

For example:

I don’t recommend this top. I often buy from here, and the sizing usually works well for me, but this one was a very strange shape, and really didn’t fit well.

This tells readers that:

  • You have experience of this shop, and you have bought from there before.
  • That even if they have also shopped there before, and the fit is usually good, this may not be suitable.

4. Offer an alternative if possible

If you are not recommending something, it can be helpful to readers to offer an alternative that might work better.

I didn’t like this film for [reasons]. I wanted to see it because other reviewers said it was like [second film]. However, if you like [second film], I recommend watching [third film] or [fourth film] instead, as I think they are more [amusing/family-friendly/scary/other reason].

This gives readers somewhere else to look—and also tells them whether their taste is likely to chime with yours.

“Not his/her best”

Some of the most useful reviews are those from people who are very familiar with a particular writer/film-maker. They can offer a comparison with other books or films by the same person—and therefore point readers/viewers towards something they may prefer.

5. Don’t be relentlessly negative—aim for constructive feedback

Almost nothing is completely negative, or irredeemable.

If you are leaving a customer review, especially if it is mostly negative, try to be constructive in your feedback. Suggest what could have been better, and how things could have been improved.

If it just wasn’t to your taste, then make that clear—and recognise that this is not the fault of the venue/writer/anyone else.

This book is well-written, but it’s not really my taste. I have a bit of an on-off relationship with this genre, and this one was definitely ‘off’ for me. If you love the genre, you’ll probably love the book, because it’s fairly typical. However, if you’re looking for something a bit different, then maybe look elsewhere.

The approach you should be aiming towards is respectful , especially if you can’t be nice.

Even if you didn’t like it, other people might—and you are often talking about someone’s livelihood here. Assume they were doing their best, and give them the option to improve.

Should reviews be funny?

Is a good review funny?

Some of the best-known reviews—the ones that go viral—are wildly funny. Google sugar-free gummi bears review for some samples.

Many such reviews have been viewed thousands of times, and upvoted thousands of times. They get attention—which is good—and they are helpful to potential buyers—also good.

Can you write a good review that is also funny? Clearly the answer is yes.

Is funniness essential to a good review? No.

All that is necessary for a good review is that it provides the right information to help people make their decision.

6. Be specific and honest

Many reviews that go viral do so because of the response from the subject of the review. At this point, it becomes clear that the review writer was either lying, or feeling extremely entitled when they visited and/or wrote the review.

Always be specific about what you experienced—and always be truthful.

For example, it is unhelpful to say “ That was the worst customer service I have ever experienced! Don’t go!

Instead, you might say:

“ We were kept waiting for 30 minutes for a table, despite having made a reservation some days ago. The waiting staff then took ages to take our order. The restaurant was extremely busy, but I don’t think that’s an excuse – you shouldn’t have that many covers if you can’t serve them all, and you certainly shouldn’t allow people in if you don’t have a table free. ”

Being truthful also means not exaggerating. If you say you were waiting for 30 minutes, make sure that you really were waiting for that long!

7. Don’t include personal information—either yours or theirs

It is a very bad idea to include your own personal information in a review, or anything about individuals at the business—and you also shouldn’t include any information about any other business either.

This means no plugs for a neighbouring restaurant, or your own catering business, or anything like that. It also means not mentioning any employees by name—even if you say something very positive about them.

It is also a very bad idea to leave reviews about somewhere you have worked on any site except something like Glassdoor.

8. Proofread your review to check it makes sense

You should always proofread something that is intended for publication. This includes reviews.

Check your review over before you hit ‘post’ or ‘send’. Look for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure that the sentences are kept fairly short.

If you are leaving a review on a website, copy your text into a word processing package, and use the spellcheck and grammar check tools before posting.

Better still, write it in a word processing tool first, so you can read it over more easily.

There is more about this in our page on Proofreading and Editing .

Reviews are for two purposes: to help other people decide whether to read, visit, watch, attend or buy, based on your experience, and to provide businesses with feedback that will help them to improve.

If what you are saying will not achieve either of those, then DON’T SAY IT.

Continue to: Understanding and Interpreting Online Product Reviews Offering Constructive Criticism

See also: Writing for the Internet How to Complain, Effectively Clarity in Writing

Oxford House

  • How To Write A Review: Cambridge B2 First

How to Write a Review - Cambridge B2 First | Oxford House Barcelona

  • Posted on 24/07/2019
  • Categories: Blog
  • Tags: B2 First , Cambridge Exams , FCE , First Certificate , Resources to learn English , Writing

Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 minute time limit. Part 1 is always an essay . Part 2 is where you can get a bit more creative. You might, for example, be asked to write a letter, a report or a review, all of which have their own style and set guidelines.

When writing a review it can be difficult to know where to start. But don’t be afraid! We are here to help you every step of the way.

Remember a review could be for a book, a film, a magazine, a restaurant or even a product .

Three steps to writing a great review

Let’s start with something simple. Imagine. You turn over the page to your writing part 2 and you see this question:

How to write a review - Cambridge B2 First | Oxford House Barcelona

Question taken from Cambridge Assessment English website . (Feb 2018)

Step One: Make a plan

The first thing to do is to make a plan, just like we did in our B2 First essay guidelines .

Think of a book you read in which the main character behaved in a surprising way. This could be surprising in a good way, where the character does something amazing and helps somebody. Or maybe there’s a twist at the end and the character does something really shocking. Either way take some time to really think about your choice.

E.g. I’m going to choose The Great Gatsby, because I had to read the book 3 times when I was at school and I’ve seen the film so I feel like I know it really well .

The structure

Next, think of the structure. Consider all the parts of the question and use that to help organise your review. Make notes about the following:

  • An interesting title
  • A catchy introduction
  • A summary of the plot
  • A surprising moment
  • Your recommendation

Remember you’re going to want to separate these with clear paragraphs that are going to help the examiner read to the end without getting a headache.

You also need to consider the tone and how the review should sound to the reader. Remember this is for a magazine. Think about all the magazines you like to read. You want to sound chatty and grab the reader’s attention, but not bore them to sleep. Think semi-formal but friendly!

Useful Vocabulary

Now brainstorm some useful vocabulary for your chosen book, including lots of adjectives. Avoid using boring adjectives like good or bad . It’s much more exciting to say ‘amazing’ and ‘disappointing’ or ‘ terrific ’ and ‘terrible’ .

Here’s some more useful vocabulary to get you started:

superficial / deceptive / fascinating / unbelievable / rich / lonely / kind / reserved/ to be set in / to be written by / prosperity / characters / jazz age / protagonist / atmosphere / author / chapter / ending / fictional towns / prohibition / novel / on the outskirts / sad story.

Your next step is to think of some linking phrases. These are going to help tie together your thoughts and bring your review to life!

  • Overall if you like…
  • I was pleasantly surprised by…
  • In fact…
  • What I disliked the most was…
  • The book contains…
  • As well as…
  • This well-written book…
  • Unbelievably…

Step Two: Write it

Once you have a solid plan, writing your review should be easy!

First start with an interesting title. E.g. The Unexpected Anti-Hero. It relates to both the book that’s being reviewed and the question. It’s also short and snappy .

Next write an engaging introduction. Maybe start with a rhetorical question, for example:

Are you a fan of the Jazz Age? Then this is the book for you!

Or a general statement about the book that will hook the reader:

The Great Gatsby is a classic, with many twists and turns.

You could also give some background information. Here we use the past simple:

The Great Gatsby was written by F.S.Fitzgerald and is set in prosperous Long Island in 1922.

The second paragraph should summarise the plot (note – we usually describe a story in present tense ):

Gatsby is a mysterious character, he has big extravagant parties, and we never know if we can trust him.

The third paragraph is where we introduce the surprising moment and reveal what the main character did and why it was surprising:

  • The most shocking part is when…
  • I couldn’t believe it when…
  • It was so surprising when…

In the fourth paragraph, give a recommendation! Here the examiner wants to hear your overall opinion. It can be something simple:

  • I strongly recommend..

Or something more inventive:

  • I wouldn’t read the novel again because…
  • Everyone should read this immediately!

But don’t forget to say why!

Step Three: Check it

Now you have your winning book review it’s time to check for all those little (and big) mistakes.

Make sure you check:

  • You’ve answered all parts of the question.
  • It is easy to read.
  • Your spelling is correct.
  • You’ve used the 3rd person(s).
  • You have used punctuation.
  • There’s a variety of nouns and adjectives.
  • Pick a book you know quite well! Whether it’s Harry Potter or The Hunger Games , make sure you have lots to say about it!
  • Don’t be afraid to give both negative and positive opinions!
  • Experiment with using first person and try addressing the reader with ‘you’.
  • Read lots of real authentic reviews online, anything from holidays to music concerts, exhibitions to video games!
  • Remember to put some of your own personality into your review. Have some fun with it and good luck!

Follow the links for some excellent phrases and vocabulary for other types of reviews.

Restaurant Reviews

Film Reviews

TV / Theatre Reviews

Exhibition & Concert Reviews

Here are some more sample questions for you to practice on your own:

How to write a review - Example I - Cambridge B2 First | Oxford House Barcelona

Choose one and post your reviews in the comments section.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Twist (n): : a sudden change in a story that you do not expect..

Chatty (adj): having a friendly style.

Avoid doing something (v): to intentionally not do something.

Terrific (adj): excellent.

Snappy (adj): concise.

Hook (v): to catch.

adj = adjective

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8 Hidden Benefits of Being Bilingual

  • By: oxfordadmin
  • Posted on 17/07/2019

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How To Write A Review In English?

Writing

Writing a review can be a great way to share your experiences and opinions with others, whether you’re reviewing a product, service, restaurant, movie, or book. Reviews can also be a valuable resource for people trying to make purchasing or entertainment decisions. However, it can be challenging, especially if English is not your first language. This article will tell you how to write a review and provide helpful tips, including valuable vocabulary and phrases for positive and negative reviews.

Types of Reviews: 4 Main Categories to Write About

In the modern world of the Internet, we can hardly do anything without reading other people’s opinions. So we visit websites like the well-known  TrustPilot to find companies and products we can trust. And you don’t have to be a critic to write a good review. It is enough to share your honest opinion about what you want to discuss. But before doing it, let’s see the main types of reviews you can write. 

  • Product reviews. It includes every physical item you can buy, use, and review afterward – for example, clothes, make-up products, electronics, household appliances, etc. 
  • Service reviews. This category includes different services – hotels, restaurants, airlines, beauty salons, cars and  apartment rentals , etc. 
  • Entertainment reviews. You can share your thoughts about concerts, festivals, galleries, museums, movies, games, etc. 
  • App and program reviews. As you can guess from its name, you can review online applications, video games, software, etc. 

We can continue this list indefinitely, but you have already got the point. You can share your thoughts about anything. But today, we want to tell you how to write a great review. And we will start with some general tips that can help you be honest and respectful when sharing your opinion about things you like or dislike. So keep reading to find out more.

Practical Tips for Writing a Good Review

Even if you don’t like the product you will review, you still need to be respectful and polite. To achieve this, we’ve prepared a list of useful tips that will help you master any review, regardless of your  proficiency level  or attitude toward the things you discuss. Here are some of them.

  • Be honest. Your review should be a fair reflection of your experience, whether it was positive or negative. Avoid exaggerating or downplaying it, and try to provide an objective assessment of the product or service.
  • Use specific examples and details to support your opinion. It will make your review more informative and credible.
  • Avoid being too vague or too specific. Be descriptive enough to give readers an idea of what to expect, but avoid going into unnecessary detail.
  • Write for your audience. Consider your audience and what they might be looking for in a review. For example, if you’re leaving a comment on a restaurant, your audience might be interested in the food, atmosphere, and service.
  • Edit and proofread your review. Check for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure your text is easy to read.

Now that you know how to write great reviews and remain polite and respectful, it is time to discuss some grammar. And the first thing we will explore is the general structure of any review. It will simplify your life and help you easily share your thoughts about anything.

The General Structure for Writing a Review

So, you’ve decided to write a review, but you have no idea where to start and how to end it. If it’s familiar to you, keep reading. Below, you will find an indicative structure suitable for different types of reviews. 

  • Start with an introduction that gives an overview of what you’re talking about and sets the stage for your review. You can provide some background information and context if necessary.
  • Describe the product, service, or experience that you’re reviewing. This is where you can submit more detailed information about the features, benefits, and drawbacks.
  • Share your opinion about the product or service. Here you can honestly assess what you liked and disliked and why.
  • Wrap up your review with a conclusion, summarizing your main points and providing a final recommendation. You can also suggest who might benefit from the product or service, or who might want to avoid it.

These are some general tips on how to give a review. And now, it is time to be more specific. We’ve already mentioned that reviews can be positive or negative. But what is the difference between them? Let’s find out together.

All You Need to Know About Positive and Negative Reviews

Positive reviews are generally written when you got some good experience with the product or service you are discussing. The tone of such a review is primarily upbeat and enthusiastic, and the purpose of it is to share the positive aspects of the product or service with others. 

On the other hand, we write negative reviews to discuss a bad experience with something. These reviews sound more critical and sometimes frustrating or angry. They are usually made to warn others about the adverse aspects of the product or service. Negative thoughts often highlight the product or service’s flaws, poor quality, or lack of value for money.

When writing a review, it’s essential to remember that both positive and negative reviews can be helpful to others, as long as they are honest and informative. So, whether you like or dislike the product, focus on providing specific examples and details to support your opinion, and be respectful and fair in your assessment.

How To Write Good Reviews: Useful Phrases

To make this article even more valuable, we’ve provided you with some common phrases you can use for writing reviews. Here are the expressions and sentences suitable for introductions, descriptions, and sharing a personal opinion. 

  • I recently tried out… 

This phrase is an excellent way to start a review, whether it is positive or negative. As we said, it is always better to start with the introduction, and this sentence will immediately show your readers what product you’re talking about. For example: 

I recently tried out the new Maybelline mascara and was surprised by its quality. 

I recently tried this overhyped application, which wasn’t as good as I expected. 

  • I had high hopes for this product, and I was/wasn’t disappointed. 

This phrase is another excellent choice if you still don’t know how to write review introductions. You can use it for both good and bad experiences. For example:

I had high hopes for this serum, and I wasn’t disappointed. My skin has never been clearer. 

I had high hopes for the new season of Game of Thrones, and honestly, I was slightly disappointed. 

  • The quality of the product/service is exceptional. 

Now it is time to move to the next stage of our review – description. This phrase suits positive experiences when complimenting a product or service. For example:

I visited the Boho restaurant yesterday, and I was impressed. The quality of the service and food is exceptional. 

We stayed at this hotel years ago, but I still remember that the quality of service was exceptional.

  • I was impressed by the attention to detail. 

This phrase is also suitable for the description part of the structure. And, as you can guess, it is ideal for positive reviews on physical products, apps, or entertainment. For example:

I’ve recently visited a new gallery in New York and was impressed by the attention to detail. 

I’ve installed this app recently and was impressed by the attention to detail.

  • In my opinion, this product/service is… 

How do I write a review based on my personal experience? Start with this phrase! It will show the readers that you only share your thoughts and don’t try to impose your opinion on someone. For example:

In my opinion, this restaurant is terrible. I was shocked by the rude service and tasteless food.

In my opinion, this app is perfect for those who are trying to learn English. 

Best Ways to Respond to the Review

Now you know how to write reviews about anything. But what if you are the person who receives these opinions? Of course, we can’t forget about business owners or product creators. Here is a list of useful phrases you can use to respond to both positive and negative reviews. 

  • Thank you for taking the time to leave a review.
  • We appreciate your feedback.
  • Thank you for choosing our business.
  • We’re sorry you had a negative experience with our service. We want to learn more about what happened so that we can improve.
  • We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed our product. We take pride in providing high-quality products to our customers.
  • We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused during your visit. We strive to provide a positive experience for all of our customers.
  • We’d like to make things right. Please contact us directly to discuss how we can make this up to you.
  • We’re currently working on improving the issue you’ve mentioned. Thank you for bringing it to our attention.
  • We’d like to offer you a discount or free service to make up for any inconvenience caused.
  • We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.
  • Thank you again for your feedback. It helps us improve our business.
  • We appreciate your patronage and look forward to seeing you again soon.

These simple sentences show that you care about your business, whether you provide  travel services or create mobile software. People always like companies that listen to different opinions and try their best to meet customers’ needs. 

Learn the Best Review Writing Tips with Promova

One of the most important things about writing reviews in English is to make them grammatically correct and easy to read. In addition, you must have strong writing skills in order to effectively express your ideas and avoid misunderstandings. So how do you write a review if you are not yet fluent in English? In this case, you might need some professional help.

If you still struggle to find the best language learning platform to practice your English level, we are happy to help you. With Promova, you can find many solutions depending on your studying goals, fluency level, and other factors. Let’s see some of the most valuable things on the Promova website.

  • Personal and group lessons. Our team of professional tutors is happy to help you master English and enjoy your studying process at the same time. All you need to do is pass a fluency test to determine your English level and start learning immediately. 
  • Promova app . If you want to study alone, you can install a modern application available for iOS and Android devices. It is the best solution for learning on the go and practicing anywhere and anytime you want. 
  • Conversation Club. Promova offers a free Conversation Club for those who aim to practice speaking. Here, you can discuss interesting topics and master your communication skills with exciting people worldwide. 
  • Promova blog . And, of course, don’t forget to check our blog! It is where you can find dozens of articles on various topics that will be helpful in your studying journey. 

As you can see, there are many things to choose from. Hence, don’t waste any more minutes! Instead, go to the official Promova website now, and find the best language-learning solutions. 

All in all, writing reviews is a great way to share your thoughts and learn about other people’s experiences. We hope this article helped you find out how to do a review, the main types of them, and the most common phrases you can use in further discussions. And to help you with some practice, we want to ask you to do one thing. Please write a short review of your favorite restaurant or any other place you’ve visited recently. We will be happy to read it (and, who knows, maybe even see the area after it).

What are some common pitfalls to avoid when writing a review?

You need to avoid some common mistakes to make your review reliable and quality. It includes using complex language and professional jargon that can be hard to understand for most readers, sharing irrelevant or misleading information, using inappropriate language, and being too subjective. Another common pitfall is being too general and not providing any details.

How to make a review look more trustworthy?

The best thing you can do is to be honest when sharing your experience. Don’t under- or overestimate the product or service you are discussing and add some proof to support your opinion. Also, ensure your review is straightforward and contains no grammar errors. It will help you sound more professional.

Should I be a professional critic to review a product or service?

No, you don’t! You can write a review about anything as long as you are honest and objective. The only thing to remember is to share your experience and don’t discuss things that you haven’t tried or used before. But, of course, you need to warn your audience that your review is only your personal opinion and you are not positioning yourself as a professional critic.

Can my review contain jokes and personal thoughts?

Yes, it can, but only when relevant to the context. In some cases, including some short jokes can be great, especially in the introduction – it helps to set up the tone of your review. But don’t overuse it because it can lead others not to take your review seriously.

Comentarios

The New York Times

The learning network | thinking critically: reading and writing culture reviews.

The Learning Network - Teaching and Learning With The New York Times

Thinking Critically: Reading and Writing Culture Reviews

“Broadway Boogie-Woogie” and other Mondrian paintings at the Museum of Modern Art blend symmetry with a tensile volatility.<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/arts/design/mondrians-paintings-and-their-pulsating-intricacy.html"> Related Review</a>

Language Arts

Teaching ideas based on New York Times content.

  • See all in Language Arts »
  • See all lesson plans »

In this lesson, we invite students to explore the cultural offerings around them — from architecture to books, dance, fashion, film, food, music, theater, TV and video games — and write reviews about what they experience. We use Times models along with advice from current Times critics to help them through the process.

You might teach this lesson, or aspects of it, to get students ready to enter our Review Writing Contest (Oct. 22 – Nov. 24, 2015). It could also fit into an ELA or journalism curriculum as an exercise in learning to write vividly and persuasively for a real audience. In fine arts classes, it could encourage students to explore new forms of culture, or teach them to better observe and communicate what is important about work they are already studying.

Materials | Advice from Three New York Times Critics (PDF), “Reading Reviews With a Critical Eye” Worksheet (PDF), Student Review Contest Rubric (PDF)

Movie Review: ‘The Martian’

The Times critic Manohla Dargis reviews “The Martian.”

Understanding the Genre

Ask your students, How do you choose what movie to see, book to read or video game to play?

Before tackling their own reviews, students should consider the role the genre plays in their lives in general. Invite them to discuss the following questions:

  • Do you ever read reviews of movies, music, books, games, restaurants or anything else? How much do they determine whether you will or won’t choose to experience something?
  • Have you ever reviewed something online? What was that like?
  • Where are you most likely to read reviews? Do you tend to turn to professional critics, like those you find writing for The Times and other newspapers, or do you tend to read user reviews on sites like Amazon, Yelp, GoodReads or Rotten Tomatoes?
  • Is there any difference between professional reviews and the kinds of user reviews you find on those sites? Why do newspapers pay critics to write about culture? What role do you imagine New York Times critics in particular play in shaping public opinion about the things they review?
  • What responsibility do you think reviewers of all kinds have to the subjects they are reviewing, or to their readers?

Clockwise from top left: Oscar Wilde, T. S. Eliot, Matthew Arnold, Randall Jarrell, Lionel Trilling and Walt Whitman. <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/books/review/LitCritBackPage-t.html">Related Article </a>

The Role of Criticism in Our Culture

If you would like to delve further into the role that criticism plays in the culture at large, you might invite students to begin with one or more Times essays on the topic.

For instance, in “ Is Everyone Qualified to Be a Critic? ” Adam Kirsch argues “Everyone, upon encountering a work of art, has some kind of response. In this sense, everyone really is a critic.” In the same Bookends column, however, Charles McGrath makes the case that “If we insist on taste and discernment, then the number of valuable and useful critics dwindles pretty drastically.”

A 2010 edition of the Sunday Book Review asked six essayists to consider the question: What is the role of the critic today?

Sam Anderson writes:

I like to think of the new world order (the iPocalypse, whatever) not as a threat to criticism — or not only as a threat — but as an opportunity. It will cure critics, of necessity, of some of our worst habits. For one thing, we can no longer take readers’ interest for granted. This should create a healthy sense of urgency — it should prevent critics, in other words, from producing the kind of killingly dull reviews that seem intended for someone trapped in a bus shelter during a giant rainstorm, circa 1953. This is not an approach we can get away with today, when every reader is half a second away from doing 34,000 other things.

And Katie Roiphe writes:

I have seen students rush out to buy “Anna Karenina” because an essay by James Wood made them feel that Tolstoy was essential. If it’s even just these couple of students, alone on planet Earth, who have read that essay and rushed out, those couple of students are to me sufficient proof of the robustness and purpose of the eloquent critic, of his power to awake and enlighten, of his absolutely crucial place in our world.

An accompanying feature, “ Masters of the Form, ” asks “Does criticism even matter?” and answers that question with a collection of quotes from eminent writers defending the genre, for example, this one from Oscar Wilde:

To the critic the work of art is simply a suggestion for a new work of his own, that need not necessarily bear any obvious resemblance to the thing it criticizes. The one characteristic of a beautiful form is that one can put into it whatever one wishes, and see in it whatever one chooses to see; and the Beauty, that gives to creation its universal and aesthetic element, makes the critic a creator in his turn, and whispers of a thousand different things which were not present in the mind of him who carved the statue or painted the panel or graved the gem.

As students read one or more of these pieces they might consider:

  • Is everyone qualified to be a critic?
  • Does the proliferation of user-generated review websites eliminate the need for professional critics?
  • Do sites like Amazon, Yelp and Rotten Tomatoes threaten the very genre of literary and artistic criticism?
  • Does criticism even matter?

The rapper Kendrick Lamar released his highly anticipated album “To Pimp a Butterfly” a week ahead of schedule. <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2015/03/18/arts/music/kendrick-lamar-emboldened-but-burdened-by-success.html">Related Review</a>

Note to Teachers on an Organizing Structure for This Lesson

Before continuing, decide what your students will be writing, since each of the next steps will be determined by that.

Do you want them each to choose their own piece to experience and review? Or, will they all be reviewing the same work, such as a whole-class novel? You could also have them each review different works from the same genre — photography exhibits, say, or classical music. Or, students could divide themselves into groups based on a common interest, so that one group is reviewing restaurants, another architecture and a third video games.

If you would like them to participate in our review-writing contest , we ask that students choose a piece that is both new to them and of personal interest, since part of our goal is to encourage teenagers to explore culture on their own. However, the logistics are up to you: Groups of students can choose to experience the same piece, as long as that piece is both new and compelling to everyone in the group.

Gucci glasses were oversize ’70s shape combined with rhinestones and flowers from ’50s. <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/fashion/gucci-milan-fashion-week.html">Related Review</a>

Reading Model Times Reviews to Understand the Form

Depending on your purpose for this lesson and how you’ve organized your class, assign students to work alone, in pairs or in small groups to read model reviews and discuss them.

You can pick from our list of Times reviews below, or, via Times search , find your own based on students’ interests or reading levels. Or, go beyond The Times to read reviews in a local or school paper, or on a favorite website. At the bottom of this post we list a number of other sources, including places to find reviews written by teenagers.

If your students use Times search, they can look for reviews of works that have mattered to them growing up — whether “ The Fault in Our Stars ” or “ Call of Duty .” Or, they can simply explore the current Arts section to find new reviews they would like to read.

The list below is, of course, just a start:

Book Reviews

  • Scary New World | Review of ‘The Dead and the Gone’ and ‘The Hunger Games,’ by John Green
  • New! Improved! Shape Up Your Life! , by Dwight Garner
  • Just a Book? No, More Like a Trusty Companion , by Dwight Garner
  • Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set a Watchman’ Gives Atticus Finch a Dark Side , by Michiko Kakutani
  • An Epic Showdown as Harry Potter Is Initiated Into Adulthood , by Michiko Kakutani
  • Children’s Bookshelf: Halloween , by Maria Russo
  • Watch Your Language , by Maria Russo
  • ‘Gone Girl': The Lies That Buoy, Then Break a Marriage , by Janet Maslin
  • 1951 ‘Catcher in the Rye’ Review | Aw, the World’s a Crumby Place , by James Stern

<a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/11/12/dining/restaurant-review-dumpling-galaxy-in-queens.html">Related Review and Slide Show</a>

Restaurant Reviews

  • As Not Seen on TV | Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar in Times Square , by Pete Wells
  • Don’t Mess With My Bacon, Egg and Cheese , by Pete Wells
  • Dumpling Galaxy in Queens , by Pete Wells

Music Reviews

  • A December Surprise, Without Whispers (or Leaks) | Beyoncé’s New Album Is Steamy and Sleek , by Jon Pareles
  • Review: Panda Bear’s Bloops and Swirls Usher In Another CMJ Music Marathon , by Jon Pareles
  • Review: A. R. Rahman, Full of Bollywood Hits at the Beacon , by Jon Pareles
  • Kendrick Lamar, Emboldened, but Burdened, by Success , by Jon Caramanica
  • A Farewell to Twang: Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ , by Jon Caramanica
  • Benjamin Grosvenor, Boy Lord of the Piano, Takes Carnegie Hall , by David Allen

Movie Review: ‘Inside Out’

The Times critic A.O. Scott reviews “Inside Out.”

Movie Reviews

  • Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ Finds the Joy in Sadness, and Vice Versa , by A.O.Scott
  • In ‘The Martian,’ Marooned but Not Alone , by Manohla Dargis
  • ‘Boyhood': From Baby Fat to Stubble: Growing Up in Real Time ,by Manohla Dargis
  • ‘Selma': A 50-Mile March, Nearly 50 Years Later , by A.O.Scott

Mike Hale reviews the Fox series “Empire.” <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/arts/television/empire-returns-second-season-fox.html">Related Article</a>

  • Jaws Open, Monster Storm Hits East Coast | ‘Sharknado 2,’ the New York Edition, Airs on Syfy , by Neil Genzlinger
  • ‘Empire’ Returns for Its Second Season, Still Juicy With Melodrama , by Mike Hale
  • On ‘Scream Queens’ and ‘American Horror Story,’ Being Scary Is Terrifying , by Neil Genzlinger

Video Game Reviews

  • Grand Theft Auto V Is a Return to the Comedy of Violence , by Chris Suellentrop
  • Where Wordplay Trumps Swordplay | Video Game Review: Game of Thrones — Iron From Ice , by Chris Suellentrop

Theater Reviews

  • ‘Hamilton,’ Young Rebels Changing History and Theater , by Ben Brantley
  • Missionary Men With Confidence in Sunshine: ‘The Book of Mormon’ , by Ben Brantley
  • Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Hamlet’ , by Ben Brantley
  • ‘Fun Home’ and Other Quests for Self , by Ben Brantley
  • In ‘Elements of Oz,’ Smartphones Enhance a Celebration of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Film , by Charles Isherwood
  • In ‘Be More Chill,’ a Nerd Finds Popularity in a Sci-Fi Pill , by Charles Isherwood

“The Rise of Sneaker Culture” opens Friday and runs through Oct. 4 at the Brooklyn Museum.

Art, Architecture, Fashion and Dance Reviews

  • A Soaring Emblem of New York, and Its Upside-Down Priorities | Flawed 1 World Trade Center Is a Cautionary Tale , by Michael Kimmelman
  • Gucci’s 600 Years of Inspiration , by Vanessa Friedman
  • Picasso, Completely Himself in 3 Dimensions , by Roberta Smith
  • Mondrian’s Paintings and Their Pulsating Intricacy , by Roberta Smith
  • Sneaker Culture at the Brooklyn Museum , by Ken Johnson
  • Art That Lets You Walk on Water , by Carol Vogel
  • Ballet Hispanico at the Joyce Theater , by Gia Kourlas
  • New York City Ballet’s ‘Jeux’ Lets Sara Mearns Shine , by Alastair Macaulay

Excerpt: ‘Polaris’

Tiler Peck and New York City Ballet dancers in Myles Thatcher’s “Polaris,” with music by William Walton, costumes designed by Zuhair Murad and lighting by Mark Stanley.

Questions to Think About While Reading

Ask students to answer the questions below, reproduced on this student handout (PDF), before sharing their observations and opinions with their groupmates.

  • What is being reviewed?
  • What factual or explanatory information does the reviewer provide to inform the reader about the subject? How does he or she avoid “spoilers,” if that is relevant to the review?
  • What is the reviewer’s opinion of the subject? How do you know?
  • What supporting evidence or details does the reviewer provide to support her or his opinion?
  • What do you notice about how the reviewer structured the review and organized her or his ideas?
  • Do you think the review is informative? Is it entertaining to read? Does it make you want (or not want) to experience the subject? Explain.
  • Underline or highlight a few lines from the review to share with your group that illustrate the critic’s approach to her or his subject.

The newly opened 1 World Trade Center in Manhattan, at 1,776 feet, is officially the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/11/30/nyregion/is-one-world-trade-center-rises-in-lower-manhattan-a-design-success.html">Related Review</a>

The Writing Process: Advice From Times Critics

In this handout (PDF), and in quotes excerpted from it below, we share advice three Times critics offer students who are crafting reviews.

Jon Pareles , who writes about popular music, Maria Russo , who reviews children’s books, and Neil Genzlinger , who writes about TV, talk about the importance of knowing your audience, about the challenge of melding an experience and ideas into words, and about a critic’s responsibility to both the subject and to readers.

As students read, have them annotate with the goal of pulling out at least five pieces of advice they think will be useful as they begin to write their own reviews. They can then discuss those as a class.

The Writing Process

Step 1 | Brainstorming: What do you want to review?

Finding the right subject to review is essential. Students should pick something that they feel strongly about, and that they will be able to experience in person.

Students might brainstorm subjects by discussing or writing about questions like these, then compiling ideas on the blackboard or online as a whole class.

  • Look at the list of subjects The New York Times reviews, below. What are the categories that interest you most?
  • What can you choose for this project — whether a movie, a concert, a show, a local restaurant or art exhibit, a book you’d like to read or a game you’d like to play — that you would both enjoy and know you can experience in person?
  • Which of these do you think other students would most enjoy reading about?
  • What recent creative work have you had a strong reaction to in the past, either positive or negative?

For the purposes of our Student Review Contest , students can choose from anything The Times reviews:

  • books (fiction, nonfiction and children’s books)
  • video games
  • music (albums and events, popular and classical)
  • architecture
  • restaurants

<strong></strong>Pete Wells reviews Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar in Times Square. <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/dining/reviews/restaurant-review-guys-american-kitchen-bar-in-times-square.html">Related Article</a><a href="//www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/dining/reviews/restaurant-review-guys-american-kitchen-bar-in-times-square.html"><br /></a>

Step 2 | Experiencing and Taking Notes: What Is Your Reaction and Why?

Once your students choose their subjects, they need to experience it as critics. Jon Pareles explains that complex task:

Reviews are where an experience meets ideas. You go to a concert, a movie, an art exhibition, a restaurant, and it makes you think. Maybe the experience is a catalyst for a brand-new idea; maybe it crystallizes something you’ve been thinking about for a while. It becomes something worth writing about. The job of the reviewer is to get both the experience and the ideas into words — and into proportion. In some ways, a review is the same as reporting: The facts have to be correct and presented in a coherent way. And in some ways, a review is very different from reporting: Your subjective experience and your reactions — intellectual, emotional, visceral — are a big part of it.

Even before students get started, they may want to think about what kinds of details matter in their reviews. They’re most likely used to analyzing literature in English class, so elements like plot, character and tone in a book review might make sense to them. But even though they have eaten in restaurants, students may not have thought analytically about all the qualities that make for a good dining experience beyond the food itself — the service, the restaurant decor, the menu and the presentation of food.

Remind them to take notes as they go on whatever it is they are experiencing, concentrating on the details they notice. They are likely to remember overall impressions and opinions when ready to write, but the details that bolster them can get lost. Tell them to write down as much down as they can without note-taking getting in the way of the experience itself.

Video Game Review: Grand Theft Auto V

Rockstar Games’ newest installment of Grand Theft Auto is set in a fictional version of Los Angeles.

Step 3 | Writing a Draft: How do you get started?

There is no specific formula for writing a review — and that’s what makes a good review so interesting to read. Mr. Pareles explains:

The best criticism merges the details of the individual experience — the close-up — with a much broader picture of what the experience means. It’s not just about that concert or art exhibit. It’s about how to listen or how to look. It’s about changing the perception your readers will bring to the next experience because your ideas awakened theirs. Yes, that’s a tall order. You need to select your details. You need to make sure your ideas are clearly expressed. You need the writing itself to be engaging, to be worth that reader’s attention. It can be serious, a little poetic, even funny — whatever communicates the ideas.

But if we are going to suggest any place to start, it would be to think about your audience first. Neil Genzlinger says he always keeps these two things in mind: 1) Who am I writing this for? and 2) Who is the movie, video game, etc. that I’m reviewing made for?

Ms. Russo offers some general suggestions: “The first job when writing a review – what you will usually do at the top in the first few paragraphs – is to make it clear you know what the book was about, you understand the book, you understand what the author was trying to do.” But she cautions, “You don’t want to give away the entire plot. This is a big rule of reviewing. It’s true for movies, TV, but especially for books. People get really angry about spoilers. Readers like to be able to be surprised by the turn of events.”

Ms. Russo also points out something we think is especially important for students to know:

As far as I can tell, teachers often give a lot of rules about stuff like transition sentences and topic sentences. The writing can be really cut and dried that way. When you’re writing a review, you should think of it as a literary form. Literary criticism is an old and storied literary genre in itself. You should feel that you can be creative. You can make your sentences start with unexpected words. You can make short paragraphs. You can create lists in there if you want. You can really play around with the form, in a way that your teachers sometimes don’t let you, but you should feel free to do because writing a book review is purely about the pleasure and excitement of reading. You don’t have to prove anything to your teacher, you just have to express your own passions, opinions and perceptions.

Ask students, Who are you writing for? What will they already know about the genre and the individual work? How can you “express your passion” and have fun with the form?

In her new album, “1989,” Taylor Swift takes on the rest of mainstream pop. <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2014/10/26/arts/music/taylor-swift-1989-new-album-review.html">Related Review</a>

Step 4 | Revising and Editing: How can I make review as informative and entertaining as possible?

We recommend students handing their drafts to a teacher, classmate, friend or family member to get reactions. Did the writer describe too little or give away too much? Did he or she assert an opinion clearly and provide details to support it?

As students revise, they can use our Student Review Contest Rubric (PDF) to help.

Step 5 | Publishing: How can you share your opinions with the world?

We believe a review should have an audience beyond a teacher. We encourage students to submit to our Review Contest before the Nov. 24, 2015 deadline. But we also think reviews can get out into the world in other ways: school newspapers, student blogs, bulletin boards and websites such as Teen Ink .

One thing we noticed when we searched the Web for sources of teenage reviews? There aren’t many. So if your students enjoyed this assignment, they might even consider starting their own school or community site for reviews by and for people their age.

A Few More Resources for Teaching, Finding and Writing Reviews

21stCenturyLit.org | Review Writing: Writing Film & Restaurant Reviews

Mensa for Kids | Book Review Writing

BookTrust | Tips for Writing Book Reviews

School Library Journal | Young Adult Reviews

Teen Ink | Reviews

This resource may be used to address the academic standards listed below.

Common Core E.L.A. Anchor Standards

1   Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

1   Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

2   Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

3   Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured event sequences.

4   Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

5   Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.

6   Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

10   Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

1   Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

2   Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.

3   Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening.

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2 Ways to Write a Review on Google

Last Updated: December 23, 2023 Fact Checked

Using Google on a Computer

Using google maps on mobile, using google maps on a computer, google review template and examples, expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. 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 605,913 times. Learn more...

Did you just have the best steak of your life? Did you just experience the worst service at your local bar? Was the tour you just took informative and fun? Let the world know! You can review almost any service using Google Reviews. This wikiHow article teaches you how to write reviews on Google using a computer or your Android or iPhone.

Things You Should Know

  • You can leave a review on Google using your computer or the Google Maps app on your phone or tablet.
  • If you're using a phone, open the place you want to review in Google Maps, then tap the star rating under "Reviews".
  • If you're using your computer, click "Write a review" when you search for the place in Google Maps, then leave your review.

Step 1 Search for the product you want to review using Google.

  • Some general manufacturer names like "Flonase" won't work, but specific product names, like "Flonase Sensimist" will. If you don't know the name and brand of the product you want to write a review about, you shouldn't write the review because you could end up writing a review for a similar, but not the same, product!
  • This method works for reviewing movies, products, and places!

Step 2 Click Write a review.

  • Depending on the type of review, you may or may not see a Add Photos button.

Step 5 Tap Post.

  • If you want to add photos or videos from your phone, tap Add photos & videos below the text box.

Step 7 Tap Post.

  • If you want to read your review, you'll find it by opening Google Maps, then go to Contribute > View your profile .
  • To delete a review in Google Maps, go to Contribute > View your profile > See all reviews > ⋮ (Android) or … (iPhone/iPad) > Delete review . [1] X Research source

Step 1 Go to https://www.google.com/maps...

  • A new window will open.

Step 4 Click the stars you would rate the place.

  • Click Add photos if there are pictures on your computer, in Google Drive, or in Google Photos that you'd like to include.

Step 6 Tap Post.

  • If you want to read your review, you'll find it by opening Google Maps on your computer, then going to ☰ > Your contributions > Reviews .
  • To delete a review in Google Maps, go to ☰ > Your contributions > Reviews > ⋮ > Delete review . [2] X Research source

writing review about

Video . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

  • If your review isn't posting, then it may not follow Google's review policy . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
  • Tap or click the thumbs-up icon to "like" a review from someone else. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you see an inappropriate review, tap or click the three-dot menu icon next to the review and select Report . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

writing review about

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Tips for writing great reviews

Writing great reviews will increase the likelihood that your review will get published, and helps others discover the places that are just right for them. Here are a few tips:

  • Be informative and insightful: Be specific and relevant to the place you’re reviewing, and describe what other visitors are likely to experience. Highlight what makes the place special, and try to share something unique and new. 
  • Be authentic: Review your own experience, and explain what the place was like and the service you received. Try to be as accurate as possible, and include both the positive and negative aspects of your visit.
  • Be respectful: Business owners often use feedback to improve their offerings. Even if you’re frustrated, make sure your criticism is constructive. Additionally, please avoid profanity.
  • Write with style: Check your spelling and grammar, and avoid excessive capitalization and punctuation. In general, a paragraph is a great length for a review. 
  • Avoid personal and professional information: Do not include the phone numbers or URLs of other businesses in your reviews. Additionally, do not write reviews for places where you are currently or formerly, an employee.
  • Avoid general commentary: Certain locations may become the subject of larger public debate or conversation due to recent news coverage or current events. While we respect and value your opinion, Local Reviews are not meant for social or political commentary. Forums, like blogs or social networks, are much more appropriate for those types of conversations. Please write about your firsthand experience with the place and not general commentary on the place in relation to recent news.

Make sure you’ve also read our review content policy .

So What Do You Think? Writing a Review

So What Do You Think? Writing a Review

  • Resources & Preparation
  • Instructional Plan
  • Related Resources

Teenagers are often outspoken and opinionated. Writing reviews of the literature they read gives them a chance to express their ideas while developing style and voice. This lesson uses discussion of student opinions about yesterday's lunch or a popular TV show serves as an introduction to the genre of reviews. Students then read and analyze conflicting reviews. After examining samples of movie, music, restaurant, and book reviews, students devise guidelines for writing interesting and informative reviews. They then produce their own reviews of the literature they're reading in class. Finally, students compare their ideas and their pieces with published reviews of the same piece of literature. Though this lesson is illustrated with examples from student and professional reviews of Raymond Carver's writing, the techniques can be used with whatever literature students are reading.

Featured Resources

Components of a Review : This handout gives an overview of what is normally included in a critical review.

Review Guidelines : Students can use these guidelines when writing their own critical reviews.

From Theory to Practice

While it's important for students to learn to read and evaluate critical commentary, "Each reader has a right-and even a responsibility-to form his or her own opinions, based on that reader's reading and understanding of a piece of literature, and to be able to support those opinions with solid reasons" (97).

When students express ideas on an author's work that are also noted by critics, "it presents a perfect opportunity to introduce critical commentary naturally into class discussion in order to promote a deeper understanding of the literature" (100).

Further Reading

Common Core Standards

This resource has been aligned to the Common Core State Standards for states in which they have been adopted. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, CCSS alignments are forthcoming.

State Standards

This lesson has been aligned to standards in the following states. If a state does not appear in the drop-down, standard alignments are not currently available for that state.

NCTE/IRA National Standards for the English Language Arts

  • 1. Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.
  • 3. Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).
  • 4. Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
  • 5. Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
  • 6. Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts.
  • 7. Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and nonprint texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
  • 8. Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
  • 9. Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
  • 12. Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Materials and Technology

  • Sample reviews of various types (movie, music, restaurant, book, etc.), both print and online
  • Specific reviews of the literature students are reading
  • Components of a Review
  • Creating Classroom Discussion about Reviews
  • Student Example of a Book Review
  • Review Guidelines
  • Writing a Review Checklist
  • Student Reflection Sheet

Preparation

  • two conflicting reviews of a current movie, television show, or CD with which students are likely familiar.
  • reviews specific to the writer(s) who students are reading. The Stauffer Library Reference and  Book Reviews in the Yahoo! Directory may be helpful in finding those reviews.
  • Make appropriate number of copies of handouts.
  • Test the ReadWriteThink Pinting Press on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tool and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.

Student Objectives

Students will

  • read a variety of different kinds of reviews.
  • determine the qualities and characteristics of an effective review.
  • use critical thinking skills to formulate their own opinions about a writer's work.
  • apply their knowledge to write their own reviews.
  • compare their ideas and their work to that of professional reviewers.

Session One

  • In this first class session, work to generate interest in writing a review-and to convince students that they do have strong and valid opinions.
  • If lunch was "gross," what made it so?
  • If the show was "really funny," why did it make them laugh?
  • Ask students why they go to certain movies, buy specific CDs, or choose to eat in particular restaurants. Encourage them to explore where they get their "recommendations" from.
  • Invite students to share both positive and negative experiences they have had as a result of listening to someone else's opinion.
  • Lead the discussion to a point where students begin to see that word-of-mouth recommendations and published reviews essentially serve the same purpose: to comment on and evaluate a work or an event.
  • Share two conflicting reviews with students.
  • the kind of information included in both reviews.
  • the specific points the reviewers agree and disagree about.
  • any differences in focus between the reviews.
  • which review is more entertaining—and why.
  • which review is more convincing—and why.
  • Ask students to list various kinds of reviews and to suggest where they can find these reviews (newspapers, magazines, journals, and online).
  • For homework, ask each student bring one to three reviews to class.

Session Two

  • In this second session, focus on helping students determine the qualities and characteristics of a good review.
  • the name of what is being reviewed
  • a clear statement of the reviewer's opinion (i.e., a thesis)
  • specific examples that support the reviewer's opinion
  • a particular tone (use of humor, sarcasm, authority, etc.).
  • book reviews may include quotations from the work.
  • restaurant reviews may discuss atmosphere.
  • both music and literary reviews may trace developments in the writer/musician's history.
  • Each small group should choose one review to read to the class along with their own short oral analysis.
  • As a conclusion to the activity, the class as a whole should compile a list on the board or on chart paper of qualities that contribute to a good review. If desired, share the Components of a Review handout, which reviews the parts of a review.
  • The teacher should collect all reviews students brought in for homework for use in future sessions.

Session Three

  • In this third session, work to get students to focus on the particular attributes of a book review in preparation for writing their own reviews of the literature they're reading.
  • Ideally, the teacher should have a selection of book reviews from those collected from students the previous day. In case students have not brought in book reviews, the teacher should have such reviews available. These reviews should be carefully chosen so that their content is accessible to students. It's best if some reviews focus on works students may have read while others are of work unfamiliar to students.)
  • In small groups of three or four, have students examine a book review and break it down into its components to determine how the introduction, the body, and the conclusion allow the writer to make his/her points.
  • Next, students should examine the particular style of their group's review and determine how the writer achieves a unique voice. Each group should try to determine the tone of their review (i.e., pompous and authoritative, humorous, enthusiastic, analytical, etc.) by noting such things as word choice, sentence structure, and use of detail. If students have collected reviews written by the same reviewer, these "elusive" qualities may be easier to spot.
  • Invite a class discussion about how a review combines the informative aspects of straight journalism with the "pizzazz" of personal narrative.
  • Where did your review appear?
  • What do you know about this publication?
  • Who do you think the audience for this publication would be?
  • What would a reader who had read the book take from the review?
  • What would a reader unfamiliar with the book take from the review?
  • By the end of the session, ask students to compile a class list of broad, basic guidelines for writing a review. Example guidelines are also available.
  • Invite students to begin writing the first draft of a review based on the particular piece(s) of literature the class is studying.
  • If students are reading one book, that one work would be the focus of the review.
  • If students are reading more than one work (i.e., a number of short stories, poems, or essays) by an author, the review can cover any or all of this material.
  • Ask students to design a rating system to include with the written review. The system can be as traditional as 1-5 stars or something more creative.
NOTE: Older students tend to get the style and tone of a review quite quickly, while younger students often produce something more like a book report in the early drafts. Writing instruction should be geared to the ability of each class.
  • Use the Writing a Review Checklist as a guide to help students draft and edit their reviews.

Session Four

  • In this fourth session, introduce critical commentary into class discussion.
  • When the students have completed their reviews, invite them to publish their reviews using one of the options on the ReadWriteThink Printing Press . Print them when they are complete.
  • With their final drafts complete, have students read professionally written reviews on the same text and compare their ideas as well as their writing to these reviews. Depending on the accessibility of these reviews, you can collect all published material or students can be assigned this task. (It's for this reason that this aspect of the assignment works best if the writers reviewed are contemporary.)
  • When comparing their reviews with the published pieces, students should find points that are raised in both. This process demystifies critical commentary and allows students to feel comfortable discussing the work of reviewers. For example, one of my students writes of his appreciation of Carver's "deadpan humor."
  • Teachers can use such excerpts to generate lively classroom discussion. If desired, use the this suggestion for creating a classroom discussion.
  • After all students have reacted to each excerpt, invite the class to break into pairs or small groups, with each group responsible for sifting through the material on one of the papers.
  • Finally, have students present conclusions based on their peers' responses to the critical commentary.
  • a classroom bulletin board displaying reviews, accompanied by artwork and photographs of the authors.
  • a class compilation of reviews. Students can use the ReadWriteThink Printing Press to compile their reviews in a reader-friendly format.
  • a class publication with all reviews collected in a booklet, brochure, or binder and saved for future classes who will be studying the same author. This collection can be added to over the years to create an "historical perspective" on a particular works/authors.
  • submissions to print and online publications that seek reviews. (Note: Teen Ink seeks student written reviews on all topics.)
  • writing an individual response to a review to then share with the class.
  • revising and rewriting their own original reviews to address points raised by the professional reviewer.
  • working with a partner and each taking a side in response to a review, with one student proving the reviewer is "right" and the other proving him/her "wrong."
  • When students are comparing different types of reviews, invite them to use the Venn Diagram interactive.

Student Assessment / Reflections

  • Grade the review as a complete writing assignment.
  • As students write and revise their reviews, guide their work with the Review Checklist , a worksheet that outlines the vital features of a good review and asks students to verify that their final review includes these specific features. This checklist can be used by the teacher in evaluating the review.
  • Students can assess their own work and learning by completing a Reflection Sheet that is handed in with the review. As with all reflection sheets, the form should include 4–5 questions that make writers really think about their pieces and the process that led to their creation.
  • Publish student reviews using one of the options listed above to provide further feedback and assessment for students.
  • Calendar Activities
  • Professional Library
  • Student Interactives
  • Lesson Plans

The interactive Printing Press is designed to assist students in creating newspapers, brochures, and flyers.

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How to write a review? | B2 First (FCE)

writing review about

You always have to do two things describe and discuss something, for example, a film , a book , a restaurant , an experience or whatever the task might require you to talk about. Also, you have to make a recommendation at the end of your text.

Unlike an essay a review should be written in an informal or neutral register, this means:

  • you CAN use phrasal verbs ,
  • you CAN use idioms
  • you CAN use contractions
  • you CAN be creative!

Check our Writing Guide below – to see how to write an FCE review in detail.

B2 First (FCE) Review: Structure

Fce, cae, cpe, 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)

Step 1: Briefly analyse the given topic…

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:

  • What did the main character do?
  • Why it  was surprising?

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.

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)

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.

Step 3: Introduction

writing review about

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

Step 4: The body paragraphs (main content) 

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

Step 5: Conclusion / Recommendations

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 

  • it includes a recommendation
  • and a final sentence to round off the review

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. 

See full review…

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.

engxam logo english exams

Check your (FCE) Review

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

Model answer

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

Model Answer 2

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!

B2 First (FCE) Review: Example Topics

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.

Example Topic 2

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.

Example Topic 3

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.

B2 First (FCE) Review: Writing Checklist

writing review about

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:

  • Have I covered all the key information required by the task?
  • Have I written only information which is relevant to the task?
  • Have I developed the basic points in the task with my own ideas?

Communicative Achievement

  • Have I achieved the main purpose(s) of the text (for example, explaining, persuading, suggesting, apologising, comparing, etc.)?
  • Have I communicated a balance of straightforward and more complex ideas?
  • Have I used a suitable style and register (formal or informal) for the task?

Organisation

  • Have I used paragraphs appropriately to organise my ideas?
  • Have I used other organisational features appropriately for the genre of the text (for example, titles, headings, openings, closings, etc.)?
  • Is the connection between my ideas clear and easy for the reader to follow? (For example, have I used appropriate linking words, pronouns, etc. to refer to different things within the text?)
  • Are the ideas balanced appropriately, with suitable attention and space given to each one?
  • Have I used a wide range of vocabulary?
  • Have I avoided repeating the same words and phrases?
  • Have I used a range of simple and more complex grammatical structures?
  • Have I correctly used any common phrases which are relevant to the specific task or topic?
  • Is my use of grammar accurate?
  • Is my spelling accurate?

More than Practice Tests

B2 first (fce) review: tips.

writing review about

  • Make sure you have at least 4 paragraphs.
  • Choose an appropriate title.
  • The introduction will talk about what’s being reviewed.
  • Use a relaxed , friendly , chatty style.
  • You can use contractions such as I’m, I’ve etc..
  • Use a new paragraph for each point you want to make.
  • In the concluding paragraph give your opinion.

B2 First (FCE) Review: Grammar & Vocabulary

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”.

B2 First (FCE) Review: Useful Phrases & Expressions

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.

Giving background

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…..

Expressions that introduce a contrast

On the plus side,…  On the down side,… On the one hand,…  On the other hand,…

Recommending

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

B2 First (FCE) Review: Frequently Asked Questions

Who will read the review.

Your review will be read by readers of a magazine.

What is the purpose of the review?

The review is intended to give information to the reader which will help them decide whether to attend the event themselves.

What style should I use?

Use a style similar to an article that is likely to interest the reader.

What information should I include?

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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Would you pass B2 First (FCE)?

writing review about

Kate Bojkov

30+ good reviews examples: copy & paste ideas to collect positive reviews.

Positive reviews examples: copy and paste ideas that businesses can use to collect positive reviews and improve customer satisfaction.

positive reviews examples copy and paste ideas

Do you take activities that motivate your customers to leave reviews for your product or service?

If the answer is No, you need to become aware of the importance of positive reviews. This post about positive reviews examples copy and paste ideas is here to help you, so your customer reviews will become one of your most important marketing tools.

Not only do reviews provide critical information about your company’s performance, but they also show future clients what their experience will look like.

In this article, you will learn the importance of positive reviews and the most popular platforms for leaving reviews.

What is a Review? And What Makes a Positive Review?

Positive review examples by industries, how to respond to positive reviews, 5 most popular platforms for online reviews, online reputation management widgets for your positive reviews, why are positive reviews important, faq about positive reviews, key takeaways.

Reviews represent evaluations of a company, product, or service, that customers write.

They’ve usually had some experience with this company, including a purchase, use, or a conversation with their customer service team.

In their review, customers usually describe their experience, how the company treated them, talk about the quality of the product, and say whether they’d recommend this company or not.

Companies regularly collect feedback from customers and post reviews on their websites . Customers can also leave reviews on some websites specialized for review collection.

But what makes a positive review?

A positive review expresses overall satisfaction with a product, service, or experience, highlighting specific aspects the reviewer enjoyed or found beneficial. It often includes personal experiences, constructive feedback, and recommendations for others. Written in a genuine tone and well-structured format, a positive review helps guide potential customers and provides valuable insights to businesses for improvement.

What is an example of a positive review?

An example of a positive review is one that highlights the strengths and positive aspects of a product, service, or experience. It typically includes specific details about what the reviewer enjoyed or appreciated and often provides a recommendation for others to try it out.

For instance:

“I recently dined at [RestaurantName] and was thoroughly impressed by both the exquisite cuisine and the impeccable service. The menu showcased a variety of innovative dishes, blending bold flavors and beautiful presentation. The attentive and knowledgeable staff ensured that our meal was a memorable one, providing excellent recommendations and ensuring our satisfaction. I can’t recommend [RestaurantName] enough for a fantastic dining experience.”

FYI : Embed Google reviews widget automatically on your website and provide authentic user-generated reviews, increasing trust for more sales. Try it now.

Image

Embed Google Reviews in seconds.

Automatically generate and embed Google reviews and use AI reviews management tools to help you unlock your website’s sales potential.

Getting customers to write positive reviews about your company is very beneficial but can also be challenging.

That’s why you should take some action to encourage your customers to write reviews. One of the ways to motivate them is to show them positive examples for your industry.

In this article, we’ve included positive review examples for 10 different businesses.

Finding positive review response examples shouldn’t be difficult if you own a hotel. You can go to Booking and see the reviews of the highest-rated hotels.

Check out these reviews for L’oscar Hotel in London:

positive feedback for a hotel

So, you can see here that positive hotel reviews contain information about the staff, reception, parking, rooms, and services.

Here are positive review examples you can send your customers:

“The staff was great. The receptionists were very helpful and answered all our questions. The room was clean and bright, and the room service was always on time. Will be coming back! Thank you so much.” Example
“I recently had the pleasure of staying at [HotelName], and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, the staff went above and beyond to ensure my comfort and satisfaction. The luxurious accommodations, coupled with exceptional service, made my stay truly memorable. The hotel’s prime location made exploring the city a breeze, and I can’t wait to return to [HotelName] on my next visit. Highly recommended!” Example
“My stay at [HotelName] was nothing short of spectacular. The hotel’s elegant design, combined with its top-notch amenities, made for a truly relaxing and enjoyable experience. The attentive and courteous staff catered to my every need, ensuring that my stay was as comfortable as possible. With its convenient location and outstanding service, [HotelName] has quickly become my go-to choice for accommodations whenever I travel to the area. 5 star!” Example

TripAdvisor is a great place to find positive restaurant reviews.

Let’s see some 5 star review examples of La Maison d’a Cote, a restaurant in Montlivault, France.

online review for a restaurant

Normally, a positive restaurant review contains comments about the food, the chef, the service, and the atmosphere.

Here are good reviews examples to copy and send:

“My husband and I went for dinner in restaurant X and really enjoyed the atmosphere. The food was fresh and delicious, and the best part was that the chef sent us a dessert they had created that day. We were delighted.” Example
“My dining experience at [RestaurantName] was truly exceptional. From the moment we entered, the welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff made us feel right at home. The menu offered a delightful array of dishes, each expertly crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Every bite was a culinary delight, and I can’t wait to return to [RestaurantName] to explore more of their delicious creations. Highly recommended!” Example
“If you’re looking for a phenomenal dining experience, look no further than [RestaurantName]. Their menu is a culinary masterpiece, offering an incredible selection of dishes that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive, making every visit a true pleasure. I’ve dined at [RestaurantName] several times and have never been disappointed – it’s truly a must-visit destination for any food lover.” Example

Many eCommerce websites are out there, so we decided to look for positive shoe store reviews.

Here are customer reviews examples about Couture USA:

good customer feedback for an ecommerce website

So, if you own a shoe store, here are more positive reviews examples for online shopping

“I got a pair of boots from store X and I’m very satisfied. They are high-quality and worth the money. The store also offered free shipping at that price so that’s a plus!” Example
“I recently purchased a [product] from [Store Name], and I couldn’t be happier with my online shopping experience. Their website was user-friendly, making it easy to find the perfect item. The checkout process was smooth, and I received my order promptly. The [product] arrived in excellent condition, exactly as described on their website. I’m thrilled with the quality and will definitely shop at [Store Name] again in the future. Highly recommended!” Example
“I ordered a [product] from [Store Name] last week, and I was amazed at how quickly it arrived. The packaging was secure, ensuring the item was undamaged. The customer service was exceptional, as they kept me updated throughout the entire process. I had a question about the product, and their support team responded promptly and professionally. Overall, my experience with [Store Name] was outstanding, and I can’t wait for my next purchase.” Example
I recently discovered [Store Name] while searching for a specific [product]. Not only did they have the item I was looking for, but their selection was vast, and the prices were competitive. The website was easy to navigate, and the product descriptions were informative and accurate. I was pleasantly surprised by the fast shipping and the care they took in packaging my order. I’m thrilled with my purchase and will continue to shop at [Store Name] for all my [product category] needs. Example

Software Company

Capterra and Trustpilot are the go-to sites for reviews if you’re a software company.

Let’s see some Capterra reviews about the Salesforce Marketing Cloud:

positive reviews examples copy and paste detailed review for a software company

From these reviews, you can see that what’s important with software tools is that they reduce complexity, make things easier for users, and contain features that meet their needs.

So, a positive software review example could look like this:

“The tool X has really automated some of our company’s processes. We now spend less time doing manual work. It’s making [problem] very easy for us. Thanks to its scheduling feature, we don’t need staff to work outside of business hours.” Example
“Working with [SoftwareCompany] has been an absolute pleasure. Their team of skilled professionals is not only knowledgeable in their field but also dedicated to providing top-notch service and support. They took the time to understand our unique needs and developed a tailored solution that exceeded our expectations. I cannot recommend [SoftwareCompany] highly enough for any business seeking innovative software solutions and exceptional customer care.” Example
“If you’re in search of a reliable, innovative software company, look no further than [SoftwareCompany]. Their team of seasoned professionals consistently exceeds expectations, offering cutting-edge solutions and exceptional customer service. They took the time to understand our specific needs and provided a tailor-made solution that greatly improved our operations. We are thrilled with the results and highly recommend [SoftwareCompany] for any software development needs.” Example

Mobile apps are the first thing most people open in the morning (after their eyes).

So, mobile apps need to be user-friendly and consistent with current design standards and contain features that meet their needs.

Here are some Trustpilot reviews for Fundamenta Mobile App Wallet:

positive reviews examples copy and paste more positive reviews for a mobile app

This is ready to copy and paste positive review example if you have a mobile app:

“This app allows me to do [problem] from my smartphone where I want and when I want to. The interface is easy to navigate and I find everything I need quickly. I can’t wait for [feature]!” Example
“I recently started using [AppName] and I couldn’t be more impressed with its functionality and user-friendly interface. The app has made a significant impact on my daily routine, streamlining tasks and providing valuable insights. The developers have clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into creating a top-notch app that caters to its users’ needs. I highly recommend [AppName] for anyone looking to simplify their life and increase productivity.” Example
“[AppName] has quickly become one of my favorite apps, thanks to its sleek design and powerful features. The app’s versatility allows me to stay organized, informed, and connected, all from the convenience of my mobile device. I appreciate the attention to detail and dedication to user satisfaction that the developers have put into [AppName]. It’s truly a game-changer and a must-have app for anyone looking to improve their overall digital experience.” Example

Plastic surgeon

This is a very sensitive topic so people who are looking for a plastic surgeon are always looking for reviews first.

They want to make sure they’re going to the right person and other people’s experiences are very valuable to them.

So, if you’re a plastic surgeon, you definitely need to spend time gathering positive reviews.

Here are some 5 star review examples about Orlando Plastic Surgery Associates on Trustpilot:

amazing feedback from customers

How doctors behave and if the staff makes them feel comfortable is very important for plastic surgeon patients.

So, here’s a copy-and-paste positive review example for plastic surgeons:

“Dr. X is an excellent professional. All staff was kind and made me feel very comfortable. I’m also very satisfied with the final result!.” Example
“I recently had a procedure with Dr. [SurgeonName] at [PlasticSurgeryCenter], and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results. From the initial consultation to post-operative care, Dr. [SurgeonName] and their team provided exceptional support and guidance. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and commitment to patient satisfaction put me at ease throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Dr. [SurgeonName] for anyone considering plastic surgery.” Example
“I had an incredible experience with Dr. [SurgeonName] at [PlasticSurgeryCenter]. Their expertise and skill in plastic surgery are evident from the first consultation to the final results. Dr. [SurgeonName] took the time to understand my concerns and desired outcomes, creating a customized plan that perfectly addressed my needs. The entire team provided outstanding care and support, making my journey a positive and empowering experience. I highly recommend Dr. [SurgeonName] for anyone seeking top-notch plastic surgery care.” Example

People want to make sure they can really relax in a spa center and that it covers all facilities they want to have.

So, they usually read reviews before visiting the spa center themselves.

Here are some positive review examples we found for The Bath House London on Tripadvisor:

read written reviews from happy customers

Here’s our copy and paste positive review example for a spa center:

“The experience was great. The massage was very relaxing and spending a day there was a great idea. All facilities are clean. The choice of saunas/pools is very remarkable.” Example
“My experience at [SpaCenter] was nothing short of amazing. From the moment I arrived, I was warmly welcomed by the attentive staff and enveloped in a serene, calming atmosphere. Each treatment I received was expertly performed, leaving me feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The attention to detail and commitment to providing a luxurious, personalized experience make [SpaCenter] my go-to destination for pampering and self-care.” Example
“If you’re searching for the ultimate spa experience, look no further than [SpaCenter]. Their team of skilled therapists and estheticians provides top-notch treatments tailored to your individual needs, all within a tranquil and inviting environment. I’ve tried several of their services, from massages to facials, and each has left me feeling pampered and renewed. I can’t recommend [SpaCenter] highly enough!” Example

Flower shop

When it comes to flower shops, users care that the flowers are fresh and that the shop has a variety of choices. If the store has delivery, that’s also one more point to add.

Here are some positive flower shop review examples we found on Trustpilot about Maison La Fleur, a flower shop in Miami.

respond to positive reviews

Considering these characteristics here’s a copy-and-paste positive review example if you have a flower shop:

“Flowers were fresh and beautiful. They offered free delivery for orders over $99 which is great. Prices are reasonable for the quality you get.” Example
“I can’t say enough good things about [FlowerShop] and their incredible team. From the moment I stepped into their charming store, I was greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. The staff was attentive, offering expert advice on flower selection and care, and they crafted a gorgeous arrangement that exceeded my expectations. The quality and presentation of their work are truly outstanding, and I will continue to trust [FlowerShop] with all my floral needs.” Example
“I recently ordered a custom flower arrangement from [FlowerShop] for a friend’s birthday, and I was absolutely thrilled with the outcome. The florists took the time to understand my vision and brought it to life with their creativity and expertise. My friend was overjoyed with the stunning bouquet, which brightened her day and made her feel extra special. Thank you, [FlowerShop], for your exceptional service and beautiful creations!” Example

Real estate

Looking for the perfect property can take ages. That’s why people are looking for trustworthy real estate agents who are patient and careful.

Here are some Trustpilot review examples about Crexi, a Los Angeles-based real estate agency:

positive reviews examples copy and paste positive feedback for real estate

As people are mostly talking about specific agents in these reviews, here’s a positive review example to inspire your customers:

“[Name of agent] was very professional. She was patient and showed us 20+ properties until we found the perfect one. She carefully listened to our needs and helped us find exactly what we were looking for.” Example 1
“I recently had the pleasure of working with [AgentName] from [RealEstateAgency], and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. [AgentName] was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and patient as we navigated the home buying process. They took the time to understand our needs and preferences, and found us the perfect home in a great neighborhood. I highly recommend [AgentName] and [RealEstateAgency] for anyone looking to buy or sell a property!” Example 2
“Working with [AgentName] from [RealEstateAgency] was a game changer in our home buying journey. Their dedication to finding the perfect property for us was truly unmatched, and their deep knowledge of the market put us at ease throughout the entire process. [AgentName] was always available to answer our questions, provide guidance, and negotiate on our behalf. We are beyond grateful for [AgentName]’s expertise and support, and we can’t recommend them highly enough!” Example 3

Fertility clinic

A fertility clinic needs to have the most caring and patient staff, offering the best experience for future parents.

This is an example of a positive review for Conception, a fertility clinic in the US.

positive reviews examples copy and paste good reviews for fertility clinic

This review is expected to be emotional, so here’s an idea:

“I had three different appointments at Conceptions, and each time the staff was well informed, friendly, and kind. You could see they really care about their customers. There are no words to thank them enough.” Example
“Our experience with [FertilityClinic] was truly life-changing. The staff was compassionate, professional, and always available to answer our questions or address any concerns. Dr. [DoctorName] guided us through every step of the process, providing us with personalized treatment options and a sense of hope. We are beyond grateful for the care we received at [FertilityClinic] and for the precious gift of our new baby.” Example
“We cannot praise [FertilityClinic] enough for the exceptional care we received throughout our fertility journey. Dr. [DoctorName] and the entire team were attentive, understanding, and always available to address our concerns. Their state-of-the-art facility and cutting-edge treatment options gave us confidence in their ability to help us conceive. Thanks to [FertilityClinic], we are now proud parents of a healthy baby and couldn’t be happier.” Example

Hairdresser or Hair salon

When searching for a hairdresser, it can often be difficult to determine which one would be the best choice for you. Reviews from real customers can provide valuable insight into how satisfied people are with the services they receive. A hairdresser’s Google reviews can help indicate what customers think about a particular business and whether or not they have had a positive experience.

By reading through reviews, potential customers can gain information about the quality of services a hairdresser provides and how friendly and accommodating their staff is.

Furthermore, reviews can help inform people about the prices charged, allowing them to decide when to select a hair salon. Here are a few Google review examples:

hairdresser google review example

Below you can find a list of positive reviews templates for a hair salon:

“I had an incredible experience at [HairSaloon] today! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff was incredibly friendly and attentive. My stylist, [StylistName], took the time to really listen to what I wanted and gave me the perfect haircut. I’ve never felt so pampered and confident leaving a salon before! I’ll definitely be recommending [HairSaloon] to all my friends and family.” Example 1
“The team at [HairSaloon] never ceases to amaze me with their talent and professionalism. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a smile and offered a refreshing beverage. My stylist, [StylistName], went above and beyond to make sure my hair looked fabulous. The head massage during my shampoo session was pure bliss. I can’t wait for my next appointment at [HairSaloon]!” Example 2
“If you’re looking for a top-notch hair salon experience, look no further than [HairSaloon]! From the moment I stepped through the door, I was treated like a VIP. The staff was attentive, the salon was impeccably clean, and the services offered were second to none. My stylist, [StylistName], did a phenomenal job transforming my hair and gave me valuable tips on how to maintain my new look. I can’t recommend [HairSaloon] highly enough!” Example 3

Once you receive all these positive reviews, we compiled a simple review response template you can use to reply to the reviews.

When responding to a positive review, expressing gratitude, acknowledging specific compliments, and emphasizing your commitment to excellent service is essential.

Here is an email template you can use to respond to positive reviews:

“Dear [Customer Name], Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with [Company Name]. We are thrilled to hear that our team provided excellent service during your recent visit, leaving a strong impression. Your constructive feedback is invaluable in helping us improve and continue providing excellent customer service. We truly appreciate your support, and we are grateful when our valued customers like you take the time to leave positive reviews, as this helps us to attract more customers and increases our reputation. We hope to see you again soon! Best regards, [Your Name] [Company Name]” Positive review response template

When responding to positive reviews, it’s important to show gratitude, acknowledge the specific aspects mentioned in the review, and invite the customer to return or recommend your business to others.

Furthermore, knowing how to respond to positive reviews not just via email but moreover on public review sites can make a big difference for your business.

Here are a few positive review responses examples to reply to Facebook or Google reviews:

Review: “The food at [Restaurant Name] was absolutely delicious! The staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. I can’t wait to come back!” Response: “Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the food and our friendly staff made your experience even better. Our team works hard to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for our guests, and your kind words are truly appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you back to [Restaurant Name] soon!” Example 1
Review: “I recently purchased a [product] from [Online Store Name], and the entire process was seamless. The product arrived quickly and was exactly as described. I will definitely shop here again!” Response: “We appreciate your fantastic review and are delighted to hear that you had a seamless shopping experience with us! Our team works diligently to ensure that our products meet your expectations and are delivered promptly. Thank you for choosing [Online Store Name], and we can’t wait to serve you again in the future!” Example 2
Review: “[Service Provider Name] did an amazing job with my [specific service]. The team was professional, efficient, and exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend them!” Response: “Thank you for your glowing review and recommendation! We’re thrilled to hear that our team exceeded your expectations in providing [specific service]. At [Service Provider Name], we strive to deliver professional and efficient service to all our clients. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to working with you again in the future!” Example 3

More positive review responses >

In comparison, here is a template on how to respond to negative reviews:

Subject: [Business Name] Response to Your Review Dear [Reviewer’s Name], First and foremost, we would like to thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your experience with [Business Name]. We genuinely value every review, as it helps us identify areas for improvement and continually strive to provide exceptional service. We are sorry to hear that your experience with us did not meet your expectations. We understand that [mention specific issue(s) raised in the review] can be frustrating, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. At [Business Name], we take all customer concerns seriously, and we are committed to addressing and resolving any issues that arise. To help us better understand and address your concerns, we kindly ask that you contact us directly at [Phone Number] or [Email Address] so we can discuss the matter further. Once again, we apologize for the negative experience and appreciate your feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best regards, [Your Name] [Your Position] [Business Name] Negative review response template

What’s the first place you go to when trying to find a product/service? That’s easy, it’s Google. So, it’s also natural that Google is the best site for online reviews. Google is especially significant if you’re a local business, so make sure you spend time setting up your Google Business profile and making your business discoverable.

2. Facebook

Now that Facebook has such a large user base, it’s also becoming one of the most popular review sites. It’s also simple for users to leave reviews on Facebook—most of them already have an account. This means that, unlike other sites, they don’t need to create an account or log in each time they visit again.

3. TripAdvisor

This is the place where most people go when organizing a trip. So, if you’re a hotel, a restaurant, or own any other business that welcomes tourists, you should pay attention to TripAdvisor. Travelers submit reviews, comments, and upload images, so the advice is pretty reliable and influential.

4. Trustpilot

Trustpilot is a community-driven customer review platform that has become one of the most popular SaaS review sites. Also, businesses worldwide may use Trustpilot to collect consumer reviews, usually in advance after posting them to the company profile. Customers submit product and seller reviews to verified profiles of the company they interacted with.

5. Capterra

Capterra is a rating site that assesses software offered by B2C and B2B firms if you’re a SaaS company. Users can look for software by industry, business, or type. Capterra is one of the most trustworthy review sites for software businesses, so being active on this site can be one of the most important marketing activities for this kind of company.

Once you start collecting reviews at scale, you need an online reputation management widget to manage them effectively.

Here are some suggestions:

EmbedReviews

EmbedReviews provide everything you need to manage your reviews. Collect reviews from sources like Google and Facebook automatically, integrate with an email to ask for more reviews, and showcase them in an interactive way.

Thanks to the simple SEO snippets, drive more traffic to your website and increase sales.

Pick your reviews widget today >

google reviews slider

Yotpo is a review management platform that makes it easy for customers to leave feedback. You can customize widgets and collect data to optimize results.

yotpo

The Trustpilot widget allows you to collect and publish social feeds, user-generated content , campaigns, and reviews on sites, newsletters, and other customer interfaces.

trustpilot widget

Customers browse customer reviews to learn how others use and enjoy your products.

They are also interested in the experiences of others with your customer service team or other employees who might have been helpful.

There are many benefits of showcasing positive reviews about your company or products. Here are some of them:

  • Increase revenues. 95% of customers consult online reviews to find out more about a product they are considering buying. You might write a good product description, but another happy customer is what will persuade them to make the purchase. Having positive reviews will help you increase your sales and revenues by showing customers that others are enjoying your product.
  • Improve company reputation. When you have positive reviews, this proves that you’re a well-established company that is honest and listens to its customers. Having user ratings on a website helps buyers build legitimacy, therefore improving your company’s reputation.
  • Benefit your search engine rankings. Google and other search engines use off-site indicators to determine your business’s relevance, credibility, and reliability. Businesses may leverage reviews as one of the most consistent methods for improving these indicators.

Almost two-thirds of customers believe internet reviews are critical in purchasing decisions.

They’re more inclined to consult Google or Trustpilot for recommendations than ask their friends and family.

According to Bright Local Consumer Survey 2022:

  • 89% of consumers are ‘highly’ or ‘fairly’ likely to use a business that responds to all of its online reviews.
  • More consumers use Google reviews to evaluate local businesses than ever before. In 2021, 81% did, but in the year before that, just 63% did.
  • The percentage of people ‘never’ reading reviews when browsing local businesses has fallen from 13% in 2020 to just 2% in 2021.

latest reviews statistics

All these reviews statistics confirm the importance of online reviews in making purchasing decisions.

Let’s see the most common platforms where customers leave their reviews.

Generating reviews can be beneficial for many segments of your business. Here are some of them: – Boost your sales by allowing potential customers to read positive experiences from people who have already bought from you. – Improve brand image by highlighting reviews with positive experiences. – Increase your SEO ranking by showing Google you’re a relevant brand.

There are many ways to get more reviews, including: – Rewarding people who leave reviews – Motivating people with positive reviews examples – Follow up with customers to ask about their experience – Try to improve the experience of people who left negative reviews

A good review has the following characteristics: – It contains enough details – It’s consistent and doesn’t contain contradictory statements – It’s honest and shows genuine emotions – It clearly communicates the customer experience

In a positive review, consider including the following elements: 1. Mention your recent visit or interaction with the business. 2. Highlight specific product or service aspects that impressed you, such as excellent service, a personal touch, or a strong impression. 3. Provide any relevant context or personal experiences to help other potential customers understand the value of the product or service. 4. Offer a recommendation based on your positive experience, which can contribute to the business’s SEO ranking and increase sales for new business opportunities. 5. Remember to always write unique, genuine, and personal reviews that accurately reflect your own experience.

Yes, responding to negative reviews is crucial for maintaining a positive online reputation and demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction. By addressing the concerns raised in the review and offering solutions, you can show potential customers that you value their feedback and are dedicated to improving your products or services. Additionally, responding to negative reviews gives you an opportunity to resolve any issues and potentially turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal one.

5-star positive reviews typically highlight exceptional experiences with a product or service. These reviews often praise aspects such as outstanding customer service, high-quality products, or a pleasant overall experience. Here are three examples of 5-star reviews for a hotel: “Unforgettable 5-Star Experience at [Hotel Name]: From the warm, welcoming staff to the luxurious amenities, my stay at [Hotel Name] exceeded all expectations.” “A True Home Away from Home – [Hotel Name]: The staff went above and beyond to make my stay comfortable and enjoyable, and the facilities were top-notch.” “Exceptional Service and Luxury at [Hotel Name]: The attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction made my stay at [Hotel Name] truly memorable.”

When commenting on a 5-star review, expressing gratitude for the positive feedback and acknowledging the specific praises mentioned in the review is essential. Here’s an example of how to comment on a 5-star hotel review: “Thank you for your kind words and wonderful 5-star review! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay at [Hotel Name] and had a memorable experience. Our team works hard to provide exceptional service and amenities, and receiving such positive feedback is always rewarding. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable stay in the future.”

In summary, here is what you should do in order to get positive reviews from your customers:

  • Create a clear process to send and receive reviews
  • Make sure you are addressing all of the issues that come up in reviews
  • Use positive reviews as social proof on your website and marketing materials
  • Regularly check in with customers to see if they’re happy with your product or service
  • Respond quickly to negative reviews and take corrective action if necessary
  • Never stop trying to improve the customer experience.

You can not control what customers say about you, but if you have done everything you can to make sure they’re happy, then you’re more likely to get positive reviews.

When customers take the time to leave you a positive review, it is important to show your appreciation.

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Co-Founder of EmbedSocial and Head of Growth. A previous owner of a Facebook Partner Company and a digital marketing agency. Marketing API geek and a Call of Duty fan.

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How to Generate Good Customer Reviews: 7 Customer Feedback Examples and What They Can Teach Us

Using examples of seven good customer reviews, we equip you with the know-how to set the tone of future customer feedback.

Drew Wilkinson

Have you ever searched for step-by-step instructions on how to delete a Google review?

If you read a negative review of your business and feel your stomach churn, you are not alone.

On the flip side, when a customer gushes over your company publicly, are you liable to do your happy dance?

The highs and lows of customer feedback are all too real. The problem is that most businesses focus on the former. 

We are here to tell you that you can do more than prevent bad reviews: You can generate positive ones too.

In this article, we provide you with examples of good reviews and what they can teach us.  We also equip you with the know-how to set the tone of future reviews.

Good Customer Reviews Impact Your Bottom-Line

We wrote recently about how Google reviews help your Google rankings , and how to automate the ask. All you really need to know is that a staggering 9 out of 10 customers read reviews before deciding to purchase from you. 

There is a ton of research that goes a step further and attempts to quantify reviews actual dollar value. One such study by the Harvard Business Review found , “a one-star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue.” On the other hand, only 2.5 percent of consumers trust businesses with overall ratings of 2.0 stars or less. If 97% of potential customers skip over your business, it’ll be hard to keep the lights on.

Customer Feedback Examples 

If you want to generate more positive reviews, it helps to know what an excellent review really looks like. You might be thinking, “Duh, I know this already, people say nice things about my business.”

There is more to it than a five-star rating. While the exact characteristics of good reviews vary by industry, there are certain fundamental elements that great reviews have in common. It’s worth taking note of them. You need to know what the end goal looks like if you want to achieve it.

1. Detailed, Specific, and Honest

A useful review includes enough detail to give others a feel for what happened. Potential customers want to know more than that someone else was happy. They want to know what exactly they liked so that they can gauge whether it aligns with their own preferences. Just compare this review of a Dominos…

writing review about

To this review…

An example of a good customer review that is very detailed

Which review is likely to influence someone with an intense pizza craving? A five-star rating and “good pizza” is not bad, but it doesn’t have the same impact. A review doesn’t have to be the length of War and Peace, but an honest, detailed, and specific recollection goes a long way to building credibility.

2 . Calls-Out Stellar Customer Service

70% of U.S. consumers say they’ve spent more money to do business with a company that delivers excellent service. It’s not surprising then that a good review will shed a positive light on your customer experience.

An added bonus is if a review makes particular note of your staff or even calls out an employee by name:

writing review about

3. Provides Constructive Criticism

One less-heralded benefit of reviews is the feedback they provide you with. Ideally, a review also outlines areas of possible improvement. This constructive criticism is not only helpful to you. It also gives customers a sense of their “worst-case” scenario.

They want to know what can go wrong to understand just how much it will matter to them. Take this review:

An example of a customer review that provides good constructive feedback

If a customer doesn’t care about the restaurant’s food presentation, then it won’t bother them. If they do, and they decide to come anyway, then at least it won’t come as a surprise. Not only will they be less likely to complain, but they will also be more likely to focus on the positives they expected.

4. Features Images

Marketers use a fancy word for images in reviews: User-generated content. If you are not a fan of marketing jargon, it basically means that your customers include pictures of your product in action or your business’s premise. These “real-life” images provide an in-depth and authentic feel to any review. 

An example of a great customer review that includes images

How to Generate Good Customer Reviews & Feedback

Now that you have a solid understanding of both the importance of good reviews and actual examples of real reviews, it’s time to focus on generating more of them.

There are a lot of different ways that you can help control the narrative in your reviews, but here are three critical areas you can’t ignore.

1. Provide Exceptional Customer Service

If you’ve paid attention thus far, you know that we already called out the importance of customer service. It might go without saying, but the number one way you can generate overwhelmingly positive customer reviews is by focusing on customer service. 

Empower your staff to go above traditional standards—and beyond canned responses—to deliver personal customer support. A genuinely warm and human experience prompts loyalty like nothing else. 

writing review about

2. Harness Your Social Channels

It’s incredibly rare that anyone would pick up the phone and call you up with feedback. Instead, your customers take to social media to talk about you. That’s why it’s essential to harness your most public-facing customer service touchpoint and join in on the conversation. 

With the right approach, you can turn it into a goldmine of positivity. Encourage customer feedback and positive interactions with fun hashtags and quick responses, and most importantly, have fun.

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This does not apply solely to customers post-purchase, but at every single point on the customer journey. Your tone and voice in this interaction will help guide your customers, so expect it to be reflected back in their reviews.

3. Reply to Positive Customer Reviews

Certain people believe that the higher-purpose of customer service is to turn an angry customer into a happy one. In this light, there lies an opportunity in every negative review.

While there is value in this, it can risk a mindset that ignores the power of good reviews too, and the need to respond to them. Positive reinforcement is the core concept here.

Happy customers need to be heard just as much as unsatisfied ones. This shows anyone thinking of leaving a review that they will be heard and that their feedback matters to you. 

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Good Cutomer Feedback is Essential for Your Business

Whether you want to get reviews on Amazon or Facebook, repeat after me, “customer reviews are under my control.” Reviews are just another element of your company.

When you focus on excellent customer service , you create the reviews you want. You can also determine the tone and voice of the customer by reflecting it in your engagement with them, primarily in-person and through your social channels.

There is, unfortunately, no exact science. But when you see consistently excellent reviews roll in, you know you have the right formula.

Drew Wilkinson

Drew Wilkinson

Drew Wilkinson is the Head of Marketing at SimpleTexting. Drew has more than a decade of experience managing successful integrated marketing programs to build brands, raise awareness, and generate demand.

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Writer, Mother, Ex-Wife: Leslie Jamison Is a Self in ‘Splinters’

In her powerful new memoir, the author examines a life composed of conflicting identities — and fierce, contradictory desires.

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This illustration shows the fragmented face of a young woman with brown hair, as though reflected in a mirror that has broken into a dozen shards.

By Charles Finch

Charles Finch is the author, most recently, of “What Just Happened,” a chronicle of 2020.

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SPLINTERS: Another Kind of Love Story , by Leslie Jamison

We live in a golden age of autobiographical women’s writing. Real equality in publishing is still elusive, but the straight male inner world that was so meticulously, relentlessly documented in prizewinning books of the past century, from Roth to Styron to Ford, has been forced at last from its position of unchallenged supremacy. In its place has arisen a group of brilliant women, inclusive of trans women, with their own ideas for the form, among them Maggie Nelson, Eula Biss, Valeria Luiselli, Margo Jefferson, Alison Bechdel, Rachel Cusk, Carina Chocano — and Leslie Jamison.

Jamison, now 40, is the author of a new memoir called “Splinters.” It tells the story of her divorce and first years as a single mother. In her previous books, the finest of which remains “ The Empathy Exams ” (2014), Jamison often used hybrid forms, crossing autobiography with journalism and essays; in “Splinters,” however, as if the urgency of motherhood has retired the need for those inflecting techniques, she tells her tale straightforwardly.

Nevertheless, her true subject has stayed intact: the tormented ambiguity of all action, ethical and aesthetic and personal, and the consequent divisions of the self, what Virginia Woolf called the “ butterfly shades ” of consciousness. “One piece of me said, It’s unbearable ,” Jamison writes about being apart from her baby. “The other piece said, It’s fine . Both pieces were lying. Nothing was fine, and nothing was unbearable.”

As “Splinters” begins, Jamison and her husband, “C,” are in the initial stages of their separation: “At drop-offs, as I stood with the baby in the stroller beside me, he called from the vestibule, Why don’t you eat something, you anorexic bitch. Or he said, Don’t you [expletive] talk to me. When I said, Please don’t speak to me like that, he leaned closer to say, I can speak to you however I [expletive] want.” In another drop-off scene he spits at her.

This is bitter proof of how monstrous love can turn. But Jamison, whose powerful mind is geared toward dialectic, finds as ballast for that injury an immense, nuanced, often physical hope in her newborn daughter. “Sometimes I felt the baby belonged to me absolutely,” she writes. “Sometimes when she lay sleeping beside me in her bassinet, I ran my fingers along my scar in the darkness: the thick stitches, the shelf of skin above like an overhang of rock. It was just a slit that led to my own insides, but it felt like a gateway to another world. The place she’d come from.”

Soon, Jamison returns ambivalently to teaching (“I never felt doubled. I felt more like half a mother, half a teacher”) and begins seeing new men (whom, like “C,” she calls by distancing nicknames — “the tumbleweed,” “the ex-philosopher” — as if to declare the privacy of her reflections from them). “Splinters” is about how she is fragmented — splintered — into these different selves. “Part of me yearned for my daughter,” she writes. “But another part of me wanted only to be a woman on an open highway — with her feet on the dashboard and a man’s hand on her thigh.”

The recent high-water mark for this kind of book is probably “ I Love You but I’ve Chosen Darkness ” (2021), by Claire Vaye Watkins, a blazing comet of an autobiographical novel, which is also about motherhood. “Splinters” doesn’t possess its energy or drive; Jamison’s “The Recovering” (2018), a dense and courageous book about her alcoholism, did, but this is a more cautious, mercurial project.

Perhaps that’s because it shows an author in transition, not just a person. Jamison’s excellent prose has always retained the aura of the M.F.A. — the sacral feelings about writing as a vocation, the incredibly careful similes, as if a firing squad awaited each one in judgment. In some lines of “Splinters” (“That summer, I was invited to a literary festival on Capri”) this style threatens to give way under the weight of the book’s scarcely acknowledged privilege. Yet at other times, Jamison finds a voice that is wilder, angrier, funnier, free. “Lush milk nights and rumpled clothes,” she writes with fraught joy, in one of the many moments in “Splinters” that act as a passport directly into the experience of motherhood, “chapped lips and soaked bras.”

For a long time, “woman writer” was an epithet in literary culture. Jamison and her peers are something much subtler: writers investigating womanhood as a category in the world, a way of being perceived, a set of challenges and fears. In part, the subject of this beautiful, bittersweet memoir is the pressure of that task. “It’s true that I didn’t want her to be away from me, even for a moment,” Jamison writes of her daughter during her hospital stay after giving birth. “But it’s also true that once she was gone, I pulled out my laptop.”

SPLINTERS : Another Kind of Love Story | By Leslie Jamison | Little, Brown | 263 pp. | $29

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Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

In Lucy Sante’s new memoir, “I Heard Her Call My Name,” the author reflects on her life and embarking on a gender transition  in her late 60s.

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Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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This Is Me … Now: A Love Story review – JLo’s bombastic ode to love and herself

Star’s self-funded big swing is a mix of over-produced music videos and self-help advice but showcases her undeniable screen magnetism

I t might not have scored her the Oscar nomination she deserved ( and hungered for ) but Jennifer Lopez’s canny, all-guns-blazing performance in Hustlers was still a validating win for an actor, and a fanbase, who sorely needed one. Lopez had been the best thing in a cascade of increasingly middling movies, her career defined by the inability to take a risk, to be unlikable or messy or inelegant, and so the star’s rougher, more interesting edges had been sanded down to nothing.

Her latest project is, in a way, all risk, something that’s become front and centre of her recent press tour, when Lopez revealed that her $20m big bet – a hokey, hard-to-define cinematic accompaniment to her new album – is self-funded. While it might not feel like money well spent from afar (this is surely not a film intended for a wide audience), it’s less about what we get from watching it and more about what she seems to have got from making and co-writing it. This would usually be how one describes the worst kind of vanity project and while there are certainly a lot of markers here, the whole endeavour is far too harmless and far too proudly sentimental to fully deserve such a traditionally mean-spirited definition.

This Is Me … Now: A Love Story is a lot of things. It’s part visual album, part “warts-and-all” autobiography, part animated Puerto Rican myth, part sci-fi epic, part celebrity satire and part self-help exercise. It’s inarguably too many parts to make something that feels whole, a chaotic and rushed journey through the mind of a megastar who prefers to keep her real self in the shade (her staggeringly candid, yet briefly ruinous, Movieline interview from 1998 remains the most honest and funny representation of her we’ve ever seen). Lopez plays herself as she glides from therapy sessions with Fat Joe (lol), hangouts with her beautiful yet concerned friends, a string of unsuccessful relationships and musical sequences that riff on everything from Silo to Cloud Atlas to Singin’ in the Rain. All of this is overseen by the Zodiac Council, watching and judging from above, allowing for definitely-not-shot-in-the-same-room cameos from Jane Fonda, Post Malone, Keke Palmer and Trevor Noah among others. We hear new songs from her album, a sequel to 2002’s This Is Me … Then, and we allegedly learn more about Lopez’s thoughts, fears and anxieties in an on-her-terms tell-all that really doesn’t tell us all that much.

Lopez’s 2022 doc Halftime , hinged on the lead-up to her Super Bowl performance, was one of the more entertaining pop star docs of late. It was still airbrushed and tightly micromanaged of course, but gave just about enough reality for us to feel as if the walls had been briefly lowered, if only by the smallest of whiskers. The closest we get here is Lopez admitting she loves too hard and too much (OK), the film existing for the most part because of her reunion with Ben Affleck, who appears as a Fox News-adjacent pundit Rex Stone (OK!), her real-life happy ending requiring an on-screen equivalent. What’s positioned as sly self-awareness is mostly just a recital of facts – Lopez has been married four times, Lopez is a serial monogamist, Lopez is addicted to romance etc.

It’s not the act of raw honesty it thinks it is and it’s certainly not a successful visual album; Lopez’s new songs all sound hopelessly middle-of-the-road – over-produced and under-written, stuck in the early 2000s, a time when her music did have a genuine, exciting electricity. The visuals are similarly dated, summoning the spirit of the sorts of synthetic pop and R&B videos that would litter TRL at the time, green-screened to the point of surreality, a strange place to stay for longer than three minutes, let alone over an hour. The movie exists in a world not of our own, as if Lopez has died and this is what heaven would be for her, digital over-perfection defining a film that’s supposed to be about embracing harsh truths.

There are bizarre pleasures to be had along the way – Lopez watching The Way We Were and mouthing every word of dialogue uttered by her self-confessed idol; Lopez turning a love addicts therapy session managed by Sound of Metal’s Paul Raci into a dance sequence; Lopez concocting an action sequence around a giant steampunk version of her heart as it’s dangerously low on petals; Post Malone flirting with Jane Fonda – but never enough to turn the film into the bizarro trainwreck the trailer might have suggested. It’s not really much of anything in the end, and feels most like a stitched together collection of pre-filmed awards show bits, working best as yet more proof of Lopez’s considerable screen magnetism. She’s a joy to watch, a pro at elevating something that should be beneath her, even when it has come from her own hand. If this is Lopez as she is now, willing to take a certain kind of risk, then let’s hope she’s willing to take more.

This Is Me … Now: A Love Story is on Amazon Prime on 16 February

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'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form .

How to use Copilot Pro to write, edit, and analyze your Word documents

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Microsoft's Copilot Pro AI offers a few benefits for $20 per month. But the most helpful one is the AI-powered integration with the different Microsoft 365 apps. For those of you who use Microsoft Word, for instance, Copilot Pro can help you write and revise your text, provide summaries of your documents, and answer questions about any document.

First, you'll need a subscription to either Microsoft 365 Personal or Family . Priced at $70 per year, the Personal edition is geared for one individual signed into as many as five devices. At $100 per year, the Family edition is aimed at up to six people on as many as five devices. The core apps in the suite include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

Also: Microsoft Copilot vs. Copilot Pro: Is the subscription fee worth it?

Second, you'll need the subscription to Copilot Pro if you don't already have one. To sign up, head to the Copilot Pro website . Click the Get Copilot Pro button. Confirm the subscription and the payment. The next time you use Copilot on the website, in Windows, or with the mobile apps, the Pro version will be in effect.

How to use Copilot Pro in Word

1. open word.

Launch Microsoft Word and open a blank document. Let's say you need help writing a particular type of document and want Copilot to create a draft. 

Also: Microsoft Copilot Pro vs. OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus: Which is worth your $20 a month?

A small "Draft with Copilot" window appears on the screen. If you don't see it, click the tiny "Draft with Copilot icon in the left margin."

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2. Submit your request

At the text field in the window, type a description of the text you need and click the "Generate" button.

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Submit your request.

3. Review the response and your options

Copilot generates and displays its response. After reading the response, you're presented with a few different options.

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Review the response and your options.

4. Keep, regenerate, or remove the draft

If you like the draft, click "Keep it." The draft is then inserted into your document where you can work with it. If you don't like the draft, click the "Regenerate" button, and a new draft is created. 

Also: What is Copilot (formerly Bing Chat)? Here's everything you need to know

If you'd prefer to throw out the entire draft and start from scratch, click the trash can icon.

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Keep, regenerate, or remove the draft.

5. Alter the draft

Alternatively, you can try to modify the draft by typing a specific request in the text field, such as "Make it more formal," "Make it shorter," or "Make it more casual."

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Alter the draft.

6. Review the different versions

If you opt to regenerate the draft, you can switch between the different versions by clicking the left or right arrow next to the number. You can then choose to keep the draft you prefer.

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7. Revise existing text

Copilot will also help you fine-tune existing text. Select the text you want to revise. Click the Copilot icon in the left margin and select "Rewrite with Copilot."

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Revise existing text.

8. Review the different versions

Copilot creates a few different versions of the text. Click the arrow keys to view each version.

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Review the different versions.

9. Replace or Insert

If you find one you like, click "Replace" to replace the text you selected. 

Also: ChatGPT vs. Microsoft Copilot vs. Gemini: Which is the best AI chatbot?

Click "Insert below" to insert the new draft below the existing words so you can compare the two.

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Replace or Insert.

10. Adjust the tone

Click "Regenerate" to ask Copilot to try again. Click the "Adjust Tone" button and select a different tone to generate another draft.

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Adjust the tone.

11. Turn text into a table

Sometimes you have text that would look and work better as a table. Copilot can help. Select the text you wish to turn into a table. Click the Copilot icon and select "Visualize as a Table."

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Turn text into a table.

12. Respond to the table

In response, click "Keep it" to retain the table. Click "Regenerate" to try again. Click the trash can icon to delete it. Otherwise, type a request in the text field, such as "remove the second row" or "make the last column wider."

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Respond to the table.

13. Summarize a document

Copilot Pro can provide a summary of a document with its key points. To try this, open the document you want to summarize and then click the Copilot icon on the Ribbon. 

Also: The best AI chatbots

The right sidebar displays several prompts you can use to start your question. Click the one for "Summarize this doc."

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Summarize a document.

14. Review the summary

View the generated summary in the sidebar. If you like it as is, click the "Copy" button to copy the summary and paste it elsewhere.

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Review the summary.

15. Revise the summary

Otherwise, choose one of the suggested questions or ask your own question to revise the summary. For example, you could tell Copilot to make the summary longer, shorter, more formal, or less formal. 

Also: The best AI image generators

You could also ask it to expand on one of the points in the summary or provide more details on a certain point. A specific response is then generated based on your request.

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Revise the summary.

16. Ask questions about a document

Next, you can ask specific questions about any of the content in a document. Again, click the Copilot icon to display the sidebar. In the prompt area, type and submit your question. Copilot displays the response in the sidebar. You can then ask follow-up questions as needed.

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Ask questions about a document.

More how-tos

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Microsoft to add Copilot AI to OneDrive, but it will cost you

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Microsoft expands Copilot data protection so more users can chat with ease

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Get Microsoft Office Professional for Mac or PC for $60 with this deal: Last chance

Who won the Super Bowl? Usher or Taylor Swift?

At super bowl lviii, the r&b superstar’s maximalist halftime show felt like a victory against the odds.

writing review about

How do you steal the show when you are the show? That was the unprecedented pop culture riddle that Usher found himself stepping into during halftime at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Sunday, the resurgent R&B superstar performing for the biggest audience of his platinum-selling life, yet still trying to draw our collective focus away from the centripetal human attention vortex sitting up in the skyboxes, one Taylor Swift.

It should hurt your brain to be reminded that Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has only lasted five short months considering all the ways in which this omni-romance seems to have damaged everyone else’s — especially the tiny, desiccated brains of right-wing media personalities who believe that a bland crossing of celebrity stars is, in fact, a sinister plot hatched deep inside the Pentagon. For Usher, the perversity of the circumstances transformed his halftime task into something beyond formidable. Without appearing to affirm the whiny grunting of assorted high-profile MAGA zombies, he needed to make society forget that he was the second most famous singer in the building.

So he did it by confirming he was the best, his voice seemingly made out of elastic, silk, smoke and sunshine. You had to listen for it, though. This halftime show was a blitz of retinal maximalism with a meticulous protagonist at its center, singing and dancing with exactitude and purpose, working hard to cram more than a dozen songs into just as many minutes. If you were keeping a tally, the message was clear: Usher has hits. Also: Usher has friends. Alicia Keys appeared for a cute duet of “ My Boo .” Longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri materialized to play hype man. H.E.R. and Will.i.am were there, too. During the shriek-and-boom of his boisterous curtain closer, “ Yeah ,” Usher was flanked by Lil Jon and Ludacris, shouting out his Atlanta stomping grounds to the rest of the planet: “I took the world to the A!”

For Usher, outdoing himself is the only way forward

It goes without saying that Usher had been preparing for this — if not from the moment his singing first turned heads in nearby church pews during his Tennessee childhood, then from his tween years in the Atlanta talent show scene where powerful music biz forces began steering him toward fame as if it were preordained. He became a teenage heartthrob, then a wholly respectable R&B artist, then something of a generational talent with the 2004 release of “Confessions,” a masterstroke of an album about the sloppy geometry of love triangles and the shape of R&B to come.

What happened next? “I’m not in competition with anyone but myself,” Usher told a reporter at the height of “Confessions,” delivering a prophecy that shook out two different ways. In the short term, he fell from pop’s apex, releasing serviceable radio hits and appearing on NBC’s “The Voice.” But in 2021, he turned his focus inward, launching a splashy Las Vegas residency where his ramped-up showmanship became the stuff of enthusiastic digital blab and incessant memes. With smarts and discipline, Usher treated this new hype factory more like a training facility. He was finally in true competition with himself, and night after night, the competition became more exponentially steep. By the end of his “My Way” residency last year, he didn’t sound like he’d been reviving his career so much as perfecting himself.

Usher has more to show for those countless hours of Las Vegas refinement than landing this halftime gig, too. On Friday, he dropped his ninth studio album, “Coming Home,” an expansive and scrupulous trove of R&B songs that allow the 45-year-old to bend his voice in unexpected directions (he channels Billy Joel and Young Thug within the space of a few minutes) and then back toward wholly welcome ones (consistent “Confessions”-era precision). Recounting the soft ache of an amicable breakup on “ Good Good ,” his finely-sculpted phrasing communicates total emotional control. During “ On the Side ,” he’s retracing his signature love triangles, but the edges feel cleaner, the angles sharper. Just about everything else on “Coming Home” sounds every bit as expert, too, but the album ultimately feels playful, every syllable seemingly sung through a smile.

Any of these new songs would have sounded fabulous and fitting at the Super Bowl, too, but Usher stuck to his signatures, supplying some of them in captivating one-two punches. He sang “ Caught Up ” and “ U Don’t Have to Call ” with pulse-hurrying zest (sunshine, elastic). He sang “ Burn ” and “ U Got It Bad ” with elegant gravity (smoke, silk). And by the time he got to the serotonin surge of “ OMG ” he was doing laps around the stage on roller skates — a highlight from his Vegas show; now a highlight in the Super Bowl halftime history books. If it looked like the whole world was sliding beneath his feet it was because he was on top of it.

Everything to know about Super Bowl LVIII

The Chiefs won the Super Bowl, 25-22, over the 49ers as time expired in overtime. Get the details by signing up for our newsletter .

The win: Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl in his six seasons as a starter. While tight end Travis Kelce has commanded much of the spotlight dating Taylor Swift , it was a three-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime that delivered the Chiefs their third championship in five seasons.

Usher’s halftime show: Usher worked hard at the halftime show to cram more than a dozen songs into just as many minutes. If you were keeping a tally, the message was clear: Usher has hits. Also: Usher has friends.

Super Bowl commercials: Here are the best, worst and strangest commercials that played during Sunday night’s big game.

Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift made it to the Super Bowl to support Travis Kelce and the Chiefs from the VIP suite. From conspiracy theories to her jet , Swift seemingly couldn’t avoid the spotlight.

Beyoncé: Beyoncé's ad got the BeyHive buzzing as she released two new songs and announced a new album.

  • Did the NFL edit Alicia Keys’ Super Bowl performance for YouTube? February 12, 2024 Did the NFL edit Alicia Keys’ Super Bowl performance for YouTube? February 12, 2024
  • 2024 Super Bowl commercials: The good, the bad, the unsettling February 12, 2024 2024 Super Bowl commercials: The good, the bad, the unsettling February 12, 2024
  • In a sparkling suit, Taylor Swift by his side, Travis Kelce goes full ‘Elvis’ February 12, 2024 In a sparkling suit, Taylor Swift by his side, Travis Kelce goes full ‘Elvis’ February 12, 2024

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    To write a good critical review, you will have to engage in the mental processes of analyzing (taking apart) the work-deciding what its major components are and determining how these parts (i.e., paragraphs, sections, or chapters) contribute to the work as a whole. Analyzing the work will help you focus on how and why the author makes certain ...

  8. Writing Reviews

    In writing a review, you should therefore consider what information people need to make that decision. There is more about this in our page on Know Your Audience. Tips for Writing a Good Review 1. Describe the experience Don't be tempted to just say 'This was fine'. Describe the experience.

  9. How to Write a Review (with Pictures)

    1 Try out the product or service. In order to write a review, you need to try the product. It seems obvious, but many people still write reviews without much first-hand knowledge of the product. Try it out, take your time, and get to know the product or service adequately enough to be able to speak authoritatively about it. 2 Take notes.

  10. 8 tips for writing great customer reviews

    Tips 8 tips for writing great customer reviews Trustpilot is committed to transparency. Read the Transparency Report 2022 . Detailed, constructive and polite feedback in reviews is valuable input for our online review community, including the businesses reviewed.

  11. How To Write A Review: Cambridge B2 First

    Step One: Make a plan The first thing to do is to make a plan, just like we did in our B2 First essay guidelines. Think of a book you read in which the main character behaved in a surprising way. This could be surprising in a good way, where the character does something amazing and helps somebody.

  12. How to write a review?

    Step 2: Title The review should start with the title, and there are several ways to write it: imagine you're reviewing a book you can write [Title] by [Author]; if you were reviewing a hotel you could write the [name of the hotel] - a review; or you can just write something catchy but it has to point to what you are going to review; Title (book): Green Lantern by Stephen King (by)

  13. How to Write a Review: Review Writing Tips

    How To Write Good Reviews: Useful Phrases Best Ways to Respond to the Review Learn the BestReview Writing Tips with Promova Conclusion Writing a review can be a great way to share your experiences and opinions with others, whether you're reviewing a product, service, restaurant, movie, or book.

  14. Thinking Critically: Reading and Writing Culture Reviews

    Teaching ideas based on New York Times content. In this lesson, we invite students to explore the cultural offerings around them — from architecture to books, dance, fashion, film, food, music, theater, TV and video games — and write reviews about what they experience. We use Times models along with advice from current Times critics to help ...

  15. How to Write a Review on Google: Desktop & Mobile

    Search for the location that you want to review. If there are multiple locations, make sure you have the right one selected (look at the address and make sure it's the one you want to review). 3. Click Write a review. You'll see this in the panel on the left side of the page. Scroll down to find it, then click it.

  16. Tips for writing great reviews

    Create a list of places Writing great reviews will increase the likelihood that your review will get published, and helps others discover the places that are just right for them. Here are a...

  17. Positive review examples + response templates I Birdeye

    One way to ensure customers write detailed reviews is to provide positive review examples for inspiration. Birdeye's research on the impact of online reviews shows that: 68% of customers check online reviews before buying from a local business. 54% of customers write a positive review online after they have a good experience with a local ...

  18. So What Do You Think? Writing a Review

    Overview Teenagers are often outspoken and opinionated. Writing reviews of the literature they read gives them a chance to express their ideas while developing style and voice. This lesson uses discussion of student opinions about yesterday's lunch or a popular TV show serves as an introduction to the genre of reviews.

  19. How to write a review?

    Introduction Identify what you are reviewing ( actors, director etc.. ). Try to catch the reader´s attention (ask a narrative question). 1st body paragraph Describe the book, film, restaurant 2nd body paragraph Comment on the questions you have been asked Conclusion Summarize your review with a recommendation FCE, CAE, CPE

  20. 30+ Positive Reviews Examples: Copy and Paste

    What should I write in a positive review? In a positive review, consider including the following elements: 1. Mention your recent visit or interaction with the business. 2. Highlight specific product or service aspects that impressed you, such as excellent service, a personal touch, or a strong impression. 3.

  21. 10 Examples of Good Reviews for Company

    10 Examples of Good Reviews for Company Business Growth Customer Service Reputation Management Article Updated: 7th November, 2023 No matter how good of a review-based star rating you have on your website it still needs to compare to websites with a well-written review by customers.

  22. 7 Examples of Good Customer Feedback & Reviews

    An added bonus is if a review makes particular note of your staff or even calls out an employee by name: 3. Provides Constructive Criticism. One less-heralded benefit of reviews is the feedback they provide you with. Ideally, a review also outlines areas of possible improvement. This constructive criticism is not only helpful to you.

  23. Book Review: 'Splinters: Another Kind of Love Story,' by Leslie Jamison

    In her powerful new memoir, the author examines a life composed of conflicting identities — and fierce, contradictory desires. By Charles Finch Charles Finch is the author, most recently, of ...

  24. This Is Me … Now: A Love Story review

    Review Now: A Love Story review - JLo's bombastic ode to love and herself Star's self-funded big swing is a mix of over-produced music videos and self-help advice but showcases her ...

  25. How to use Copilot Pro to write, edit, and analyze your Word ...

    iPhone 15 Pro review: Who this upgrade will wow; ... Copilot Pro can help you write and revise your text, provide summaries of your documents, and answer questions about any document.

  26. People are using ChatGPT to write performance reviews

    Performance reviews can win you a raise or get you laid off — and managers and employees alike are turning to ChatGPT to write them.. Why it matters: The sensitive work of writing your own self-assessment, or reviewing the work of an employee who reports to you, has become so daunting or monotonous that some would rather turn it over to AI. What's happening: It's been over a year since ...

  27. Review

    Review by Chris Richards February 11, 2024 at 10:37 p.m. EST Usher performed at the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII halftime show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11.