- Structure of critical or evaluative reviews
- Title and presentation
- Summary
- Comment or critical assessment
- Strategies for the preparation of evaluative reviews
- References
The evaluative or critical review is an academic and journalistic genre that consists of the detailed description of a scientific or artistic work.
The purpose is to make known to the reader the details of said work, as well as the author's opinion about it, with technical and stylistic indications.
In journalistic reviews, professionals specialized in each subject - cinema, literature, gastronomy - are those who analyze and value the works or creations.
When it comes to academic work, they are generally professors, doctors or professionals with experience in the field of research.
For a review to be of value to the reader, the writer must have experience and knowledge of the subject.
It is also essential that whatever the opinion or judgment expressed by the author, there is an argument.
Otherwise, it would stop being a review to be an opinion piece where the author tries to convince the reader of his subjective points of view.
Structure of critical or evaluative reviews
Title and presentation
The technical data is released and the item to be reviewed is introduced: a novel, a film, a series, a scientific investigation, etc. It is about placing the reader before the subject of the review.
Summary
The plot of the work / study reviewed is developed. That is, the reader is told what to find if he decides to access the original element.
In any case, the author must try not to reveal elements of the plot that destroy the curiosity and suspense that a movie or novel should arouse in the public. This requires the technique and resources of journalism.
Comment or critical assessment
This is the part in which the critic, based on his knowledge and experience, technically analyzes the subject of the review. It is vital that whoever is evaluating has elements to compare with.
That is only obtained through previous experience or acquired knowledge. It is not about convincing the reader of a personal point of view, but about making understand what it is and how it is described.
Strategies for the preparation of evaluative reviews
1- Study the structure of the work and its technical specifications: duration / length, author / authors, genre, objectives (especially if it is a scientific work) and other aspects that may be useful.
2- Read or carefully view the subject of the review, making technical notes and personal evaluations about the development of the element that is being analyzed.
3- Review all the annotations once the viewing is finished. Then, do a filtering and a schematic exposition.
This will be developed in the form of an article. At this point it is necessary to prioritize the elements that we have.
4- Write an argued conclusion that helps the reader to orient themselves to the item outlined.
It must be impartial and measured, without the critic's opinions, tastes or personal preferences intoxicating the final result. It is about orienting the reader, not directing her towards a certain pre-fabricated opinion.
References
- Literary Reviews. The Writing Center. UNC College of Arts & Sciences, at writingcenter.unc.edu
- How to become a reviewer for a scientific journal on CellPress, at crosstalk.cell.com
- How to review a paper on Science, at sciencemag.org
- Structure of a Critical Review on University of Sydney (UNSW), at student.unsw.edu.au
- How to Write a Film Review on ThoughtCo. at www.thoughtco.com