A. For writing about a business:
- Choose a place you have never been to before
- Go to the business with a list of categories you will be evaluating. The list needs to anticipate what your audience expects you to address. For a restaurant, this list includes the following:
a. atmosphere of the restaurant (décor, lighting, noise level, other diners)
b. quality of the service (knowledgeable? attentive? fast?)
c. menu options (appetizers? entrees? desserts? children’s menu? bar?)
d. food quality and presentation (what does it look like? is it good?)
e. price (reasonable, expensive, etc…) - Using your personal experience, evaluate each of the above categories
- Compare the business to another place you are familiar with
- Write up your findings in an essay
a. Establish your credibility as a writer
b. Identify the categories you examined and what your standards are
c. Write the review to an audience who is considering going to the business you evaluated
B. For writing about a product:
- Choose a product that you know something about
- Write a list of categories you will be evaluating when you examine or use the product. The list needs to anticipate what your audience would expect you to address. For instance, if you were reviewing a new mountain bike, your categories could include the following:
a. construction (frame and components)
b. utility (how well the parts perform together)
c. design (how cool it looks)
d. price (how disastrous this is to your financial well-being) - Examine and use the product, noting how well it measures-up to the standards you have listed in #2
- Compare the product to a similar product
- Write up your findings in an essay
a. Establish your credibility as a writer
b. Identify the categories you examined and what your standards are
