Summary of 9-1 GCSE English Language: REVIEW Writing (NEW and UPDATED 2017!)

Main Ideas and Concepts

• Purpose of a Review:
  • A review expresses an opinion about a film, book, or other media.
  • It should engage the target audience, which in this case is teenagers.
• Exam Structure:
  • Students will encounter two non-fiction texts in the exam, one of which may be a review.
  • The review should be lively and entertaining, reflecting the interests of teenage readers.
• Content Guidelines:
  • Discuss the plot without revealing the ending.
  • Focus on strong opinions—either films you love or hate.
• Review Structure:
  • Catchy Title: Create an engaging title that hints at the review's content.
  • Star Rating: Include a rating (e.g., out of five stars).
  • Introduction: Start with an engaging hook to capture interest.
  • Plot Summary: Briefly describe the plot without spoilers.
  • Body Paragraphs:
    • Three paragraphs, each discussing a different aspect of the film (e.g., acting, visuals, music).
    • Each paragraph should focus on one point, consisting of four to five sentences.
  • Critique: Include a brief paragraph on one aspect you did not like.
  • Conclusion: End with a recommendation on whether to watch the film.
• Stylistic Techniques:
  • Use DEFOREST techniques: Direct address, Emotive language, Facts, Opinions, Rhetorical questions, Statistics, and Rule of three.
  • Incorporate interesting adjectives and varied sentence structures to enhance writing quality.
• Planning:
  • Spend a minute planning your review before writing.
  • Include a quick outline of points to cover, ensuring a clear structure.
• Examples and Tips:
  • The speaker provides a detailed example of a review for the film "Arrival," demonstrating the application of the discussed structure and techniques.
  • Emphasizes the importance of proofreading for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Detailed Instructions (Methodology)

• Structure Your Review:
  • Title: Catchy and relevant.
  • Star Rating: Clearly indicated.
  • Introduction: Use a rhetorical question or direct address.
  • Plot Summary: Brief and engaging, avoiding spoilers.
  • Three Body Paragraphs:
    • Discuss one positive aspect per paragraph (e.g., acting, visuals, music).
    • Use four to five sentences for each point.
  • Critique Paragraph: Mention one negative aspect briefly.
  • Conclusion: State whether the film is worth watching.
• Use Stylistic Devices:
  • Implement DEFOREST techniques throughout your review.
  • Use varied sentence starters and lengths for engagement.
  • Include interesting adjectives to describe your opinions.
• Planning:
  • Take a couple of minutes to outline your review.
  • Ensure clarity and logical flow in your writing.

Featured Speakers/Sources

• The speaker in the video appears to be an educator providing insights for GCSE English Language students.
• The video references a website for additional resources: bpcenglish.wordpress.com">bpcenglish.wordpress.com.

Notable Quotes

— 06:53 — « Do you love action-packed and dramatic movies? Luckily for you, Arrival is one of the best films of 2016. »

— 07:55 — « The way the film looks is beautiful and magnificently magical. »

— 08:13 — « The soundtrack to the film will stay with me forever; I didn't think it was possible for music to scare, excite, and entertain you all at once. »

— 08:31 — « Although I loved the film, one minor downfall was that it was too long. »

— 09:48 — « Arrival is out of this world. »

Category

Educational

Video