Write a review
«Write a review» – part of the English learning path «Cate's Sound Lab»: From reading to writing. You analyse an example review, get to know the four building blocks of a review and typical useful phrases – and at the end you write your own review of a song or a band (80–120 words), with your opinion and your reasons. Level A2–B1.
Das lernst du hier
- I can write a short, structured review of a song or a band (80–120 words).
- I can give my opinion and support it with reasons.
- I know the four building blocks of a review and typical review phrases.
Liechtensteiner Lehrplan (LiLe): FS1E.4.A.1 (Die Schülerinnen und Schüler können verschiedene Texte verfassen (Sachtexte, ästhetische Texte, Texte im Schulalltag, im schriftlichen Kontakt mit Englisch sprechenden Personen).), FS1E.2.A.1 (Die Schülerinnen und Schüler können verschiedenartige Texte lesen und verstehen (Sachtexte, ästhetische Texte, Texte im Schulalltag, Texte im Kontakt mit Englisch sprechenden Personen).), FS1E.5.B.1 (Die Schülerinnen und Schüler verfügen über einen angemessenen Wortschatz, um sich mündlich und schriftlich zu äussern.)
Welcome to «Write a review»!
Reviews are everywhere: under every song in your streaming app, in the comments under music videos, in magazines and blogs. People read them to decide: is this worth my time?
In this module you learn how to write one yourself. You will:
- read and analyse a short example review,
- learn the four building blocks of a good review,
- collect useful phrases for each building block,
- and then: at the end, you will write your own review of a song or a band you like.
Everything you learned in this unit comes together here – your music words, your describing adjectives, and the two small words so and such.
Read: An example review
Read this review of a song. The band and the song are invented – but the review works exactly like a real one.
«Paper Planets» by The Cardboard Comets
«Paper Planets» is the new single by The Cardboard Comets, a young indie band from Bristol.
The song mixes soft keyboard sounds with a powerful chorus. The track starts slowly, almost like a lullaby, but then the drums come in and give it real energy. The melody is so catchy that I hummed it all day after the first listen.
In my opinion, the best part is the singer's warm voice, because it makes the sad lyrics feel hopeful. The only weak point is the long intro.
I would recommend «Paper Planets» to everyone who likes relaxing songs with a little surprise – perfect for a rainy evening.
Check your reading
Frage 1 von 4Four questions about the example review – two about the content, two about how it is written.
What is «Paper Planets»?
The four building blocks of a review
A good review is not a random collection of sentences – it walks through four building blocks, usually in this order:
- Basic facts – Who made it? What is it (a song, an album, a band)? Which genre?
- Description – What does it sound like? Instruments, tempo, voice, mood.
- Opinion + reasons – What do you think about it? And most important: why? An opinion without a reason is weak.
- Recommendation – Who is it for? When should people listen to it?
Look back at the example review: its four paragraphs follow exactly these four blocks. The picture below is your map for the rest of the module – and for your own review at the end.
Your review map
Sort the sentences (round 1)
Four sentences from different reviews, four building blocks. Match each sentence to its block – tap the sentence, then tap the block.
Tippe ein Element links und eines rechts an, um ein Paar zu bilden – mit welcher Seite du beginnst, ist egal. Nochmaliges Antippen wählt ab; Antippen eines verbundenen Elements löst das Paar wieder.
Sort the sentences (round 2)
Four more sentences – same four blocks. Careful: this time one opinion is negative, but it is still an opinion!
Tippe ein Element links und eines rechts an, um ein Paar zu bilden – mit welcher Seite du beginnst, ist egal. Nochmaliges Antippen wählt ab; Antippen eines verbundenen Elements löst das Paar wieder.
Useful phrases: Build the review
Here is a short review of «Yellow Windows» by the invented band Lemon Sky – but the useful phrases are missing. Drag them into the gaps (on a phone: tap the phrase first, then the gap). Tip: phrases with a capital letter start a sentence.
Tippe zuerst ein Wort an und dann die Lücke, in die es gehört. Antippen einer gefüllten Lücke legt das Wort zurück.
«Yellow Windows» the new band Lemon Sky. a long night drive through the city – that is the story in the lyrics. The first part an old film, quiet and grey. the drum solo in the middle, because it wakes the whole song up. , the singer sounds a little tired, her voice is so quiet in the last chorus. everyone who loves calm evenings – it is a walk in the rain.
Your turn: Write a review
This is what the whole unit was building up to – your first real piece of writing in English. Take your time.
Erkläre in eigenen Worten – so merkst du am besten, was du schon verstanden hast.
Deine Antworten werden auf diesem Gerät gespeichert und gehen mit deinem nächsten Fortschritts-Report an die Lehrperson.
Write a review of a song or a band you like – 80 to 120 words, in English.
Your review must:
- use all four building blocks, in order: basic facts → description → opinion + reasons → recommendation,
- use at least two adjectives from this unit (catchy, cheerful, relaxing, powerful, annoying, unforgettable …),
- use so or such at least once.
When you are done, check your text:
- Basic facts: I say who made it and what it is.
- Description: I describe what it sounds like.
- Opinion + reasons: I give my opinion and at least one reason.
- Recommendation: I say who should listen to it.
- I used at least two adjectives from this unit.
- I used so or such at least once.
Tipp anzeigen
Start with the phrases from the last exercise: «… is the first single by …», «The song is about …», «What I like most is …», «In my opinion …», «I would recommend it to …». The review map above shows you the order, and if you need adjectives, look back at the picture «The language of music» in Module 1.
Final check: the review toolbox
Frage 1 von 3Three short questions – then your review is the real finish line of this module.
Which is the best order for a review?