Exploration 5 from Hayley

After reading Chapter 11, "Reviews" in The Call To Write, I found pages 366 and 367 most useful. It discusses the difference between description and evaluation when writing a review, as well as using comparison and contrast. Trying to determine how much to detail to go into when describing something you're reviewing is difficult, and the section on page 366 is really helpful. When talking about the difference between description and evaluation, the book says, "it is important to see description and evaluation not as separate writing strategies that require separate space in a review but as strategies that are related to each other." Another useful tool discussed on those pages is the idea of 'Distinguishing Your Views,' for which they use an example from a review of Coldplay's third album, X&Y.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/movies/the-fault-in-our-stars-sets-out-to-make-you-cry.html?_r=0

The New York Times review of The Fault In Our Stars, used all of the techniques described on pages 366 and 367 of The Call To Write. The review had the right balance of description and evaluation, and used the two as a hand-in-hand concept. The review also compares and contrasts the work of the screenwriters and actors with their other work, like lead actress Shailene Woodley's performance in films like The Spectacular Now. This review definitely gives me an idea of how to utilize these techniques when writing my own review.

Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort in 'The Fault In Our Stars'