Writing+a+Critical+Review+-+Guidelines

=
[|OWL at Purdue - MLA Help] [|Sample Works Cited Page] Sample Review Essay Watch Othello Online Attention Getters Rubric ===== =Writing a Critical Review= A critical review falls naturally into five segments, much the same as a standard five-paragraph essay. The following pieces of information will guide you in your effort to write this critical review. Need to watch Othello? [|Click here].

This paragraph should be constructed along the lines of the introductory paragraph in a five-paragraph essay. It should contain an attention getter, a thesis statement, and a transitional hook as the last sentence of the paragraph. This should move the reader to the first paragraph of the body of the paper.
 * Paragraph 1:**

The second paragraph talks about the principal actor(s)/director. Any information that might be considered pertinent for the reader to know about the principal actor(s)/director should be found here. You may want to consult books, peridicals, other websites, or the program from the play for additional information. A transitional hook to move the reader to the next paragraph should conclude this paragraph.
 * Paragraph 2:**

The third paragraph is a statement of the plot of the play. Here you may want to indicate both the subject and the theme of the play. This could be simply just what the director/playwright is addressing and what they feel about it. Depending on the nature of the play, this information could be a great amount or perhaps very little. Your primary purpose in this paragraph is informing the audience of what he or she will find when he or she sees the play. So, your job is to tell the audience what the play is about, and what the director/playwright thinks about the subject. Keep in mind that this paragraph, like the preceding one, is strictly expository. Your only job here is to inform the viewer as objectively as possible. Once again, a transitional hook to move the reader to the next paragraph should conclude this paragraph.
 * Paragraph 3:**

The fourth paragraph is the "meat" of your critical review. This is where you judge the play. Here it is your opinions that matter, and your reactions to the play. Be sure to include a reference to a professionally written review of the film. Briefly compare/contrast that writer's opinion to your own. [|Wall Street Journal Review] [|Cleveland.com Review] This paragraph is where you give your reactions after viewing. This is where you really display your talent as a writer. The last sentence should once again be a transitional hook letting the reader know that you are about to conclude the critical review.
 * Paragraph 4:**
 * Did you like it or not?
 * Was it worth seeing?
 * Has it anything of value? What?
 * Were there parts that were particularly good or particularly bad?
 * Was the treatment of the theme particularly noteworthy?
 * Did you learn something new by viewing?
 * Is there an aspect of the play that made an impression, either positively or negatively?
 * Does it conflict with another artist's point of view?
 * How did the viewing public receive the play?

The final paragraph should once again be similar to the concluding paragraph in a five-paragraph essay. It should include an allusion to your attention getter, a restatement of the thesis without using exactly the same phrasing you used in the introductory paragraph, a summary of the three body paragraphs, and a final statement that gives the reader signals that your critical review has come to an end. This could be a "call to action".
 * Paragraph 5:**

This critical review should be formatted entirely according to the MLA. This includes parenthetical citations, a Works Cited page, and the format of your paper (header, etc.).
 * MLA Format**