IB English A Lang & Lit Purpose and Audience of Reviews Notes

Identifying a Review: Structural and Stylistic Clues

1. Reviews have a recognisable structure and a consistent set of conventions. Checking for these features is the fastest way to confirm a text type in the exam.
2. Named subject under evaluation: reviews name their subject (a film, book, album, restaurant, exhibition) clearly in the headline or opening paragraph, often with an implicit or explicit verdict attached.
3. Star rating or score: many published reviews include a numerical score or star rating that delivers the overall verdict before the body is read; even without a score, the evaluative tone is sustained throughout.
4. Evaluative language throughout: reviews are dense with evaluative adjectives such as stunning, disappointing, masterful, tedious, and innovative; if nearly every paragraph carries a charged adjective, the text is very likely a review.
5. Comparison to other works: reviewers frequently compare their subject to other works in the same genre or by the same creator, establishing a frame of reference and signalling expertise to the reader.

Structural Features

1. Headline with the work's name: the headline usually names the work being reviewed and often encodes the overall verdict in miniature, for example "A Bold Gamble That Pays Off" or "Style Over Substance."
2. Byline: the reviewer is named, which assigns personal authority and accountability to the verdict.
3. Rating or score: many published reviews include a star rating, letter grade, or numerical score to signal the verdict at a glance before the reader begins the body text.
4. Description then evaluation: the review moves between describing what is in the work and evaluating how well it succeeds; strong reviews interweave both throughout rather than separating them into distinct sections.
5. Verdict: most reviews close with a clear overall judgement, an explicit recommendation or condemnation, that gives the reader a definitive answer.

Language Features

1. Evaluative vocabulary: adjectives and adverbs that carry a positive or negative charge (masterful, gripping, formulaic, tedious) are the primary language tool of criticism; analysing their connotations is the core exam skill.
2. Specific reference as evidence: strong reviews cite specific scenes, lines, or passages to support their verdict; vague reviews make claims without evidence and are less persuasive as a result.
3. Register: a broadsheet film review uses measured analytical prose; a popular magazine review may be informal and conversational; an academic literary review may be highly specialised, and register signals what kind of authority the reviewer claims.