Reviews, like man, are not created equal - some are just plain crap and do nothing but confuse their readers, as opposed to inspiring them to see something their way. A review, however, is not as blatant as an opinion piece. Put it this way - if an opinion piece was a full-scale military invasion, then a review would be a sneak-undercover attack.

Of course, you'll need to have the following:

Introductions are never overrated - make sure you introduce whatever you're reviewing, perhaps include some background information (if it's a book, details of author/their inspiration, etc).

A general overview of the product should come next. If it's a film or book, details of plot (without giving too much away!) and basic first impressions.

Then, it's important to evaluate whatever you're reviewing. What were the good points? the bad points? was it easy to use? What could be changed? After you've done all that, conclude with your brutally honest opinion. And we mean brutal - we didn't call it 'rough' review just for fun!

The bottom line is that it's important to know your details, know what you're reviewing and be able to pick it apart, or perhaps rip it to shreds. Consider it from all angles and remember that it's important to remember that you want to appear credible, knowledgeable to the average person (aka, your target audience) and that your opinion is worth considering when they're deciding if something is worthwhile. Don't expect a polemic rant about what an utter waste of time that film you saw recently was to draw any sort of welcome attention - back up your opinion with evidence.

Make sure that your language is accessible and that the piece doesn't drag. When in doubt, it's best to keep it short and sweet...unlike this how-to.

Elizabeth is a communications student with a keen interest in bringing a critical eye to the world around her. Whether you're interested in professional writing or simply love reviewing as a hobby, your submissions are always welcome at Rough Review.com. For helpful hints on how to write a movie review, be sure to visit our site http://www.roughreview.com/.