Assess your subject and consider how to present it to your readers.

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Once you have made a preliminary choice of a subject, consider how you can frame or reframe it so that readers will be open to your evaluation. To do this, consider first how you regard the subject and what your readers are likely to think. Use the following questions and sentence strategies as a jumping-off point. You can make the sentences you generate your own later, as you revise.

Ways In

WHAT DO I THINK?

WHAT DO MY READERS THINK?
List those qualities of your subject that you like and dislike, or list its strengths and weaknesses or advantages and disadvantages.
  • What makes[good/bad] is, , and .
  • Although is stellar in [these ways], it falls short in [these other ways].
What genre or kind of subject is it?
  • The is a [name genre or category of subject, such as romantic comedy or horror movie].
  • It is an innovative [name category in which the subject belongs] that combines elements of and .
  • [Subject] is rather unconventional for a [name category in which your subject belongs].
What criteria or standards of judgment do you usually use to evaluate things of this kind?
  • I expect to be or .
  • I dislike it when are .
How does your subject compare to other examples of the genre?
  • Compared to [other subjects], has the [best or worst] [name trait].
  • The Is like [a comparable subject] in that both [are/do/make] , but this subject is [more/less] .
  • Whereas other [comparable subjects] can be [faulted/praised for] , this subject .
 Who are your readers, and why will they be reading your review? Is the subject new or familiar to them?
  • My readers are and are probably reading my review [to learn about the subject or to decide whether to see it, play it, or buy it].
  • My readers will probably be familiar with the subject [and may have heard or read others’ evaluations of it]. They may be curious to know what I think because.
How might factors such as the readers’ age, gender, cultural background, or work experience affect their judgment of the subject?
  • [Older/Younger] readers are [less/more] likely to .
  • People who work in or who are familiar with may be [more/less critical, or apply different standards] to a subject like this one.
What criteria or standards of judgment do you expect your readers to use when evaluating subjects of this kind? What other examples of the genre would they be familiar with?
  • I expect readers to share my criteria.
  • If they [like/dislike] [comparable subject], they are sure to like/dislike .
  • Judging [this kind of subject] on the basis of is likely to surprise readers because they probably are more familiar with and .