How to Write a Review for Junior Cycle English

Junior Cycle English · Functional Writing

A review is one of the most enjoyable functional-writing tasks you can be handed. You get to have an opinion. The trick is knowing the difference between telling someone what happened and telling them whether it was any good. This page shows you how to do the second one well.

When It Comes Up

Section B of your exam often asks for a piece of functional writing, and a review is a regular guest. You might be asked to review a book, a film, a game, a gig or a restaurant. Sometimes the question gives you the audience too, such as a school magazine or a website. Read that detail carefully. It tells you who you are writing for.

Whatever the subject, the job is the same. A review gives a judgement. It backs that judgement with reasons. And it ends in a recommendation. Hold those three things in your head and you cannot go far wrong.

Review Versus Summary

This is where marks are won and lost. A summary says what happened. A review says whether it was any good, and why. They are not the same task.

Imagine a friend asks you about a film. If you spend five minutes retelling the plot, you have not answered the question. They wanted to know whether to watch it. A review answers the question your reader is actually asking.

So give a sentence or two of context, then move on. Spend most of your writing on judgement. Students who only summarise lose marks, every time. The examiner has seen the film. They want to hear what you thought.

The Structure

A clear shape keeps you on track. Try this order:

• A hook and what you are reviewing. Open with energy. Name the thing in the first line or two.
• A brief, spoiler-free sense of what it is. Set the scene. Do not give away the ending.
• Your judgement on specific things. Pick out the story, the acting, the food, the atmosphere. Judge each one and give a reason.
• A clear verdict and recommendation. Say what you thought overall, and name who would enjoy it.

That last step matters. A recommendation is not vague. “Fans of slow, thoughtful crime stories will love this; anyone after fast action should look elsewhere.” That is useful. That is a verdict.

Giving a Balanced Judgement

The most convincing reviews are fair. Even a glowing review can name one weakness. Even a harsh one can admit a single strength. That balance makes you sound honest rather than easily pleased or simply cross.

Think about it. If everything is perfect, people stop trusting you. If everything is dreadful, the same thing happens. So praise the acting and then admit the ending felt rushed. Criticise the dull menu but mention the warm welcome at the door. A small concession makes the rest of your opinion land harder.

A Worked Opening

Here is an opening line I might write for a film review:

I went in expecting two hours I would never get back, and walked out wanting to watch the whole thing again. Invented opening for a film review

Notice what that line does. It does not summarise. It gives a judgement straight away. Anyone reading already knows my verdict is positive, and there is a hint of surprise that makes them want to read on. You have set your stall out early. The rest of the review now has a clear job: prove that opinion with reasons.

The Mistakes That Cost Marks

• Summarising instead of judging. Retelling the plot is not a review. Keep context short.
• Spoilers. Never give away the twist or the ending. You will ruin it for your reader.
• No clear verdict. If your reader cannot tell whether you liked it, you have not finished the job.
• Vague praise. “It was good” tells nobody anything. Good how? Say why. A reason is worth ten adjectives.

Using This in the Exam

Keep your register lively and opinionated, but always back your opinion with evidence. Match your tone to the audience the question names.

How to use it: Before you write a single word, decide your verdict and jot down three specific reasons for it. Open with a hook that hints at your judgement, give a brief spoiler-free sense of the thing, then spend the body proving your verdict with those three reasons. Include one honest weakness for balance. Finish by naming exactly who would enjoy it. Verdict first, reasons next, recommendation last.

In Short

A summary says what happened. A review says whether it was any good and why. Give a hook, a brief sense of the thing, a judgement built on specific reasons, and a clear recommendation at the end. Stay balanced, stay opinionated, and never spoil the ending. Decide your verdict before you start, and let every sentence after it do the work of proving you right.