Review writing is one of the most natural entry points into analytical writing — students already have opinions about movies, food, and products. This 50-slide lesson gives them the framework to turn those opinions into evidence-based, publication-ready reviews that would fit in a real newspaper or magazine. What's Included: 50-slide PowerPoint presentation (editable) — complete lesson with real examples from professional publications including the New York Times 9-element review writing framework — the structure behind every strong review, applicable across all formats Detailed breakdowns for three review types:
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movie/film, restaurant, and product reviews 5 formal elements of film analysis — gives students the vocabulary to move beyond "I liked it" Service journalism principles — how reviews function as a public service, not just opinions Photo ethics, proper citation techniques, and sidebar/layout design principles Step-by-step analysis activities embedded throughout — students practice as they learn How to Use It: Works as a standalone unit in a journalism or ELA class, or as a component of a larger media literacy or expository writing sequence. The three review formats can be taught together or assigned separately based on your unit's focus. Film teachers have used the film analysis section as a standalone critical thinking exercise.
The slide deck runs as a full lesson or breaks into shorter segments across multiple class periods. Who It's For: High school journalism advisers, newspaper staff instructors, and ELA teachers looking for an engaging expository writing unit that connects to students' real reading and viewing habits. Strong fit for grades 9–12; works well as a media literacy crossover for English, film studies, or even visual arts courses.
Pairs directly with the Complete Review Writing Bundle, which adds the Movie, TV Show & Book Review Rubric for a complete teach-and-assess package at significant savings. Both are also included in the Complete High School Journalism Curriculum Bundle — 69 resources for a full year of journalism instruction. If this resource saved you prep time, please leave a rating under My Purchases Provide Feedback. Every review earns you TpT Credits toward future purchases — roughly $1 in credits for every $10 reviewed.
Follow Starmaker English & Journalism Tools to be notified when new resources launch or go on sale. Keywords: review writing high school, journalism review writing lesson, film review writing, restaurant review assignment, product review writing, expository writing grades 9-12, media literacy writing activity, how to write a review, ELA review writing unit, analytical writing journalism, movie review lesson plan, high school journalism activities, evidence-based writing, service journalism, critical writing high school ELA
Designed for grades 9–12.
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