Critical Review for Dummies

Critical Review is a term that we use to talk about a special kind of examination or evaluation of something, like a book or a movie. It's like giving something a really close look and thinking very carefully about all its parts to decide what we think about it. Just like when we review our homework or tests, we take a critical review to make sure we understand everything and how well we did, but this time it's for something else like a story or a film.

When we do a critical review, we don't just say whether we like or dislike something. We go beyond that and really dig deep into what makes it good or not so good. We analyze the different elements that make up the thing we are reviewing, look closely at every detail, and ask ourselves questions like "What message is the author or director trying to convey?" or "How well did they achieve their goal?" In a critical review, we want to be fair and balanced, so we consider both the strengths and weaknesses of the thing we are reviewing.

To help us gather our thoughts and organize our critical review, we might take notes while we are experiencing the book, movie, or whatever it is. We write down things we liked or didn't like, what stood out to us, and any important details that help shape our opinion. This way, when we are ready to write or talk about our critical review, we have all our thoughts in order.

So, think of a critical review as a way for us to carefully examine and evaluate something, like a detective trying to solve a mystery. We become like little detectives, looking for clues and evidence about the thing we are reviewing, and then we share our findings with others. It's a chance for us to express our thoughts and opinions, while also thinking deeply about why we feel the way we do.