REVIEW TEXT

Social Function Review text to critique an art work, event for public audience (tujuan dari Karangan ulasan adalah mengkritik sebuah karya seni, acara untuk khalayak umum).

Generic Structure:

•  Orientation: Places the work in its general and particular context, often by comparing it  with others of its kind or thorough an analog with a non art object or event.

• Interpretive Recount: Summarizes the plot and/or provides an account of how the reviewed rendition of the work came into being.

• Evaluation: Provides an evaluation of the work and/or its performance or production; is usually recursive.

Grammatical Features:

•  Use of metaphorical language

• Use of elaborating and extending clause and group complexes to package the information

• Direct expression of opinions through use attitudinal lexis

• Focus on particular participants

Here are one of formats of review text:

Format of Books Reviews

 Book reviews should be formatted like an essay. This means that you need to write an essay with an introduction, body, and conclusion. The introductory paragraph of a book a review usually includes:

• The main idea for a non-fiction book or the theme for fiction;

• The identity of the author, the title of the book and publisher (some prefer the book information at the top paper);

• Author’s background (this is optional);

• The reviewer’s thesis (your opinion why other people should read the book).

The body of your essay must include:

• Your summary of the main points of the book;

• Your evaluation of the book where you explain to your reader why they should read the book or not.

The conclusion of your essay:

• Should remind your reader of your thesis.

• May also review the main points of your essay.

Example:

‘Laskar Pelangi’: The Audacity of Hope

 This is a movie adapted from a best-selling Indonesian novel. It took 40 days of filming on Belitung Island, Bangka-Belitung province. Involving 12 local actors, it reportedly cost Rp 8 billion. With all the efforts of transforming Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Warrior) into a moving picture, will it satisfy readers’ imaginations? (Orientation)

 Laskar Pelangi, the novel, was written by Andrea Hirata in 2005, based on his own experiences. It is about an inspiring teacher and her 10 students in the poverty-stricken Kampung Gantong in Belitung. The poor condition of their school building does not dampen their high spirits and hopes for a better future.

 Two years later, the novel became a phenomenon in Indonesian literature. With its humanistic touch, Laskar Pelangi has sold more than 500,000 copies and has won the position of Must-Read Novel in every corner of the nation’s bookshops and media review pages. It has finally overcome the domination of teen-lit, chick-lit and even religious novels, the popular theme today. (Interpretative Recount)

  Andrea entrusted the filming of the story to the respected figures in the film industry, Mira Lesmana and Riza, as producer and film director. In July 2007, Mira and Riri started the pre-production, which took a year to finish. Together with the scriptwriter Salman Aristo they decided to create a different scenario for the film. (Evaluations)