Review Templates
5 posts in this topic.
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The Critique Sandwich Review Template
Brief Explanation: This review is great to leave new members, or to members who seem not to know how to review themselves! You can model this straightforward reviewing method by explaining how to review while writing your own review for them! This review is much more effective if done in a concise and upbeat way, than long, technical or critical.
Greeting
Welcome the member to YWS, introduce yourself, be friendly!
Introduction
Explain that you'll be using the "YWS Critique Sandwich" for your review which is a template many folks on YWS use, that they are also welcome to use! Make sure to leave the link which can be found here: YWS Critique Sandwich Link.
Top Bread - What you liked
Explain what you're doing in this section.
Then offer a few specific areas that you enjoyed, and make sure to explain why. Use direct quotes or direct scenes from their piece. Don't offer more than 3 because you don't want to make reviewing seem impossibly difficult for a new user.
Meat - Where you can Improve
Briefly explain what you're doing in this section, make sure to mention that this is often considered the most important part of the review.
Offer no more than 3 pieces of criticism with tips on how they might improve. Be specific, but encouraging. This is probably not the time to be too technical either, if the writer is a beginner, feel free to link in KB articles so the author might choose to research further if interested.
Bottom Bread - Overall Impressions
Offer an explanation of what you're doing in this section.
Give a summary of the highlights from your review.
If the piece was a poem - offer a short interpretation of the poem.
If the piece was prose - offer a short statement of what you thought of the plot and any points that you were particularally interested in.
Closing
Sign-off and leave the below code so that they can use the same formatting if they want.Spoiler
- Code: Select all
[b]The Review Sandwhich - [url=https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=153&t=57651]Link[/url]
[b]Top Bread - What I liked[/b]
[b]Meat - Where you can Improve[/b]
[b]Bottom Bread - Overall Impressions[/b]
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Poetry Review Template: Question and Answer Model
Greeting
brief greeting, mention why you're reviewing the piece if there's a reason
What happened in this poem?
Asked another way; what was the story or narrative, or if there wasn't a narrative what elements were put together to build the poem?
What did this poem mean to me?
As a reader did you take away a feeling or theme from the piece?
What worked well?
Pick something that you thought the poet did well with, and say why it succeeded. Be genuine!
Where is there opportunity for growth?
Pick an item that the poet might work on to improve, make sure that this is specific and isn't just a grammar/spelling nit-pick. Explain why it would help the poem if this element was improved or expanded.
Closing
give a brief closing, you can offer your WRFF link or an offer to continue dialogue about the review if you'd like to. -
General Prose Review Template:
Things to note:
Sections in this template can go on for multiple paragraphs or can be summarized in a few lines.
Greeting
greet the author!
Grammar mistakes
Did you notice any grammar mistakes? Did some look to be one-off typos? Did others look to be indicative of a larger grammar misunderstanding? With the latter, I'd recommend pointing out one specific instance, explaining how to understand the rule behind the mistake, and then further explain how to fix that instance.
You don't have to point out every mistake.
Characters
How did you feel about the characters? Do you have a favorite? Do you have a least favorite? Are there any inconsistencies in their behavior that you would like to point out? This is a good place to talk about your general perception of the characters, because what you may be envisioning may be different from the author's vision.
Plot
Does the plot make sense? Are there any gaping errors? Are there any logical inconsistencies that need to be pointed out? Do these inconsistencies related to the characters or to the circumstances? If it's yes to all of these, then ask yourself if the plot is engaging and interesting enough to keep you hooked the entire time.
Pacing
Ask yourself, is the pacing to the story steady? Is it coherent? If not, try to pinpoint the sections where the pacing is thrown off.
Atmosphere/Description
Does the atmosphere make sense? Is the tone appropriate for what the author is writing about? Are the descriptions accurate? Do you feel transported into the author's world when you're reading?
Summarize
Summarize the things that you liked, what you would like to see going forward, and maybe pose a few questions to the author about their world.
Ending phrase
Sign off -
Middle Chapters Review Template
A Brief Explanation: This is a review template for reviewing middle chapters of a work that you have not read before.
Greeting
Say hi! I like to explain that I am clearing out the Green Room and apologize for not reading the previous chapters.
Syntax/Line Edits
Go through and mention awkward wording and sentence structure. If they have problems with description, give them some advice there. Just try to help smoothen out the prose.
Characters
Summarize your impressions of the foremost characters. How do they come across? Are they believable?
Plot
Explain your thoughts on the events in that specific chapter. Do they make sense? Is there anything that stands out as fantastic or not so great?
Summary
Tell the author your overall opinion of the chapter and explain your thought process a little. If there is something else that you want to say, mentioning it here works well.
Closing
When you are done, say goodbye and offer your assistance with any questions or clarification that the author may have or need.
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