Key Terms
Reviews apply to almost anything
Films, books, TV, restaurants, products, employees, courses, sources for a research paper. The skill transfers across ev
What separates a review
It delivers a clear judgment and often recommends (or does not recommend) the subject to an audience.
Analysis
Detailed examination of the parts of a whole, or the whole itself.
Connotation
Implied feelings or associations with a word. "Cozy" vs.
Denotation
Literal dictionary definition of a word.
Criteria
Standards by which something is judged. Must be relevant to the subject and audience expectations.
Critics
Professional reviewers who publish in established publications and often analyze cultural significance beyond simple jud
Evaluation
Judgment based on analysis.
Genre
Broad category of artistic works sharing similar characteristics (horror, drama, hip-hop, etc.).
Subgenre
Category within a genre (slasher horror within horror; courtroom drama within drama).
Medium
The form (YouTube = video; podcast = audio). Mode: how you interact with it (YouTube = watching; podcast = listening).
Mode
The sensory method of engaging with a work (visual, audio, linguistic, spatial, gestural).
Primary source
The original work being reviewed; the film, book, product, performance, or business you are evaluating.
Secondary source
Someone else's analysis or synthesis of the subject; articles, academic journals, opinion pieces. Used to provide contex
Recap
Summary and discussion of individual TV episodes; popular on sites like The AV Club.