You are going to play the role of a product reviewer.
What does this mean? It means, on a very basic level: argue for or against this product. To do that, remember the basic structure of an argument: assertion, evidence
and, in this case, criteria. You should include some or all of the following elements we’ve discussed in class:
1. Opinion (ideally it should be well-written, effective and convincing opinion)
2. Evidence (examples from the product; specific reasons why the product is good or bad)
3. Comparison to other products in this category
4. Your criteria for evaluating such a product
5. Audience/Category (who is this product for? Does it satisfy their criteria? Is it trying to be in one category [high class restaurant, serious drama] but actually
in another [low quality food, comical dialogue]?)
6. Research (how well did this product sell? Do people like it? What are some details behind how the product/restaurant came into being?)
7. Remember that hook (a hook is always great in almost any type of article, quashing the need for a generalized intro and pulling me right into the review itself)
Bias—remember to avoid bias. If you chose something you already knew you loved or hated, this will be more challenging for you. If you need to, take some time to think
and write out some either positive or negative things that are the opposite of how you plan to ultimately review the product.
Authority—it is difficult to write a good review that is very single-minded or focused on just one idea or one element. The more of these elements you use the more
authority your final review will seem to have.
Research
Finally, you must include at least two sources on a works cited page.
I’ll give you a few examples of what research means in a review. These are just examples—you can find other ideas.
– Are you reviewing a book? Find some statistics on its sales, or find out whether this category of book is less or more popular than it used to be and why, and cite
your source. Say you’re doing twilight; find out whether critics think it’s poorly or well written, and cite your source, or find out that Stephenie Meyer is a Mormon,