Movie Review Writing Assignment: Lone Survivor

Assignment #1: Review
For your first assignment, you will write a critical review of a work, performance, or experience of your choice. a movie review. Your review, however, should be timely; typically, you want to find something that was released or experienced within the last year. You also want to be sure that you can meaningfully review the material/experience, so avoid selecting material that would require more attention than you can meaningfully address within in 3 double-spaced pages. Although the accompanying rubric will break down how you will be graded on this assignment, below are several tips to keep in mind as you work on your review:
1. Context. One of the most difficult aspects of this assignment will be finding the right balance between, on the one hand, providing background information about the material/product/experience you are reviewing and, on the other hand, making sure that your review is more evaluative than informative. That is, you want to be sure that you are putting your review in some context, but you also want to avoid giving so much background detail that your evaluation gets buried or delayed until the end of your review. Assume that you are addressing a general audience who has some familiarity with what you are reviewing, but who are not experts either. When adding contextual detail, try to make it relevant to your evaluation.
2. Evidence. Effective reviews do not just assert their opinion; they support their evaluation through concrete evidence. Keep in mind that ranting about how much you hate something—or, alternately, raving about how much you love it—will not convince your audience, as it will seem they are only reading a subjective reaction, not a thoughtful review. Whether you are largely negative or positive in your review (or mixed), you need to explain how you reached your verdict. If an actor is poorly cast for a role, explain why. Rather than simply state that a musician is a strong lyricist, give an example from a song. You'll have to be selective here, as you obviously won't have space to discuss every scene in a play, every item on a menu, or every song on an album. Instead, select several exemplary items and discuss those thoroughly.
3. Style and Organization. Aim for a style that is engaging and approachable, but one that is also thoughtful and informed. Avoid clichés, unnecessary jargon, and the passive voice. Give your piece a catchy title. You want a clear organizational spine to your review, but you also want to approach what you are reviewing from multiple angles. Rather than discuss what you are reviewing through only microscopic detail, or conversely through broad generalizations, try alternating between close detail and broader concerns throughout your piece.