Review Text

a.   What is the Review Text ?

      Review text is an evaluation of a publication, such as a movie, video game, musical composition, book; a piece of hardware like a car, home appliance, or computer; or an event or performance, such as a live music concert, a play, musical theatre show or dance show.

b.   Purpose of Review Text

      Review text is used to critic the events or art works for the reader or listener, such as movies, shows, book, and others.

c.   Generic Structure of Review Text

      -     Orientation : Background information of the text.

      -     Evaluations : Concluding statement : judgement, opinion, or recommendation. It can consist ot more than one.

      -     Interpretative Recount : Summary of an art works including character and plot.

      -     Evaluative Summation : The last opinion consisting the appraisal or the punch line of the art works  being criticized.

d.   The Example of Review Text

Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix

      I absolutely love the Harry Potter series, and all of the books will always hold a special place in my heart.

      I have to say that of all the books, however, this one was not my favorite.

      When the series began it was as much of a “feel good” experience as a huge mug of hot cocoa. The stories were bright, fast-paced, intriguing, and ultimately satisfying.

      Order of the Phoenix is a different kind of book. In some instances this works you feel a whole new level of intensity and excitement by the time you get to the end. I was truly moved by the last page. Other times the book just has a slightly dreary, depressing feel. The galloping pace of the other books has slowed to a trot here, and parts of it do seem long, as if we’re reading all about Harry “just hanging out” instead of having his usual adventures. Reading in detail about Harry cleaning up an old house, for example – housekeeping is still housekeeping, magical or no, and I’m not very interested in doing it or reading about other people doing it.

      A few other changes in this book – the “real” world comes much more in to play rather than the fantasy universe of the previous books, and Harry has apparently been taken off his meds. I know that he had a lot to be grumpy in this book, especially with being a teenager and all, but the sudden change in his character seemed too drastic. He goes from being a warm-hearted, considerate person to someone who will bite his best friend’s heads off over nothing. It just seemed like it didn’t fit with his character, like he turned into a walking cliché of the “angry teen” overnight. The “real” story seemed to happen in the last 1/3 of the book, and this part I loved. I actually liked the ending (and yes, I cried!) as sad as it was. It packed a punch and it made me care about the story even more. Still a really good book, with some editing it would have been great.

1. Definition of Discussion

Discussion is a text which present a problematic discourse. This problem will be discussed from different viewpoints. Discussion is commonly found in philosophical, historic, and social text.

1. 2.      Generic Structure of Discussion

• Statement of issue; stating the issue which is to discussed
• List of supporting points; presenting the point in in supporting the presented issue
• List of contrastive point; presenting other points which disagree to the supporting point
• Recommendation; stating the writer’ recommendation of the discourse

1. 3.      Language Feature of Discussion

• Introducing category or generic participant
• Using thinking verb; feel, hope, believe, etc
• Using additive, contrastive, and causal connection; similarly, on the hand, however, etc
• Using modalities; must, should, could, may, etc
• Using adverbial of manner; deliberately, hopefully, etc

What is Explanation?

1. 1.      Definition and purposes of Explanation

Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena. Explanation text is to say ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the forming of the phenomena. It is often found in science, geography and history text books.

1. 2.      Generic structure of Explanation

• General statement; stating the phenomenon issues which are to be explained.
• Sequenced explanation; stating a series of steps which explain the phenomena.

1. 3.      Language Feature

• Featuring generic participant; sun, rain, etc
• Using chronological connection; to begin with, next, etc
• Using passive voice pattern
• Using simple present tense

1. 4.      Examples and structures of the text

Making Paper from Woodchips
A general statement	Woodchipping is a process used to obtain pulp and paper products from forest trees.
	The woodchipping process begins when the trees are cut down in a selected area of the forest called a coupe.
A sequenced explanation of	Next the tops and branches of the trees are cut out and then the logs are taken to the mill.
why or how something occurs	At the mill the bark of the logs is removed and the logs are taken to a chipper which cuts them into small pieces called woodchips.
	The woodchips are then screened to remove dirt and other impurities.At this stage they are either exported in this form or changed into pulp by chemicals and heat.
	The pulp is then bleached and the water content is removed.
Closing	Finally the pulp is rolled out to make paper.

What is Explanation?

1. 1.      Definition and purposes of Explanation

Explanation is a text which tells processes relating to forming of natural, social, scientific and cultural phenomena. Explanation text is to say ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the forming of the phenomena. It is often found in science, geography and history text books.

1. 2.      Generic structure of Explanation

• General statement; stating the phenomenon issues which are to be explained.
• Sequenced explanation; stating a series of steps which explain the phenomena.

1. 3.      Language Feature

• Featuring generic participant; sun, rain, etc
• Using chronological connection; to begin with, next, etc
• Using passive voice pattern
• Using simple present tense

1. 4.      Examples and structures of the text

Making Paper from Woodchips
A general statement	Woodchipping is a process used to obtain pulp and paper products from forest trees.
	The woodchipping process begins when the trees are cut down in a selected area of the forest called a coupe.
A sequenced explanation of	Next the tops and branches of the trees are cut out and then the logs are taken to the mill.
why or how something occurs	At the mill the bark of the logs is removed and the logs are taken to a chipper which cuts them into small pieces called woodchips.
	The woodchips are then screened to remove dirt and other impurities.At this stage they are either exported in this form or changed into pulp by chemicals and heat.
	The pulp is then bleached and the water content is removed.
Closing	Finally the pulp is rolled out to make paper.