Fitz’s Book, Movie & Game Review Rubric
This is an effective rubric to use when writing a book, movie or game review. It works great for summer reading reviews, homework assignments, or just a great blog entry. Give it a try and see how it works for you.
Image of Book Cover
• Insert a picture of your book cover or movie trailer. You can find them online by using Google images. Just search The title name. Having both the picture and the review gives your writing a professional look.
First Paragraph: Introduce the Book
• Write an opening statement giving essential information about the book, including: book title, author, first copyright date, type of book, general subject matter, and any other factual information that will help your reader know “about” the book.
• Write two or three sentences that try to capture the general plot of the book.
• Write one sentence that states the overall theme of the book.
For Example:
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, copyright 2008, is an adventure fiction book about the struggles Katniss and her friends have to go through as the government abuses their power to keep in control. One of the main ways the government ensures that they stay in power is the hunger games. They use this event to show the people that they can do whatever they want to them at any time. Katniss' sister only has one ticket in the drawings for the tributes, the people who fight in the hunger games, but somehow they draw her name, so Katniss volunteers to take her place. She has to fight to the death with twenty-three other tributes, including one other from her district. But throughout the journey love, courage, and fear kept Katniss going.
Second Paragraph: Summarize the Story
• How is the story told, and what is the point of view of the author?
• Briefly summarize the plot, but don’t want to give away the story.
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the general field or genre, and how does the book fit into it?
• How did the author keep you interested?
• What is the author's style? Is it effective for the author’s intended audience?
*Don’t write this paragraph as simply a series of answers these questions; write as if describing these details to a friend.
For Example:
This story was told from the point of view of Katniss as she struggles to stay alive and get home, while trying to help some of her companions. One thing that was great about Collins' writing style was that you were almost always on the edge of your seat and when she did give you a break from the action she was drawing some kind of emotion from you, so it was really hard to put the book down. This book was probably intended for teenagers and young adults. It was a great adventure fiction book, but I think her style is better suited for people in that age group.
Third Paragraph: Personal Response
Remember that in a personal response, you can’t be wrong―as long as you are truthful.
In this paragraph write honestly from the head and heart. Below are some ideas for how to approach this paragraph, but please expand the list to suit your response.
• How did the book affect you?
• What emotions did it make you feel?
• Did you change any ideas you held because of it?
• How does it fit in with what you think or did it challenge you to think and feel in a different way?
• Did it your own personal world view?
• Did it bring up memories of other books or authors you have read?
For Example:
This book was great, and I really enjoyed reading it. It drew many emotions from me, which means it definitely impacted me, but it wasn't one of those books that totally changed the way I thought about things. However, it definitely made me think. I haven't read many books about dystopias, so this was a change, and I kept comparing it to our lives, and I tried to picture living there, but I've never experienced anything like it, so it was very difficult. Not only could I not imagine living in this dystopia, but I could also not imagine going through anything that Katniss had to go through. She put her life on the line in order to keep her sister safe, killed other kids in order to stay alive and try to get home, and watched one of her closest companions die in front of her eyes. The emotions this book drew from me were as strong or stronger than the ones most of the books I have read have drawn. And throughout reading this book, I kept thinking about how much this story reminded me of The Odyssey. It followed the hero cycle like many books do, but it was strikingly similar to the story of Telemachus, which is a great story.
Fourth Paragraph: Elevator Review
Write a short overall summary (three sentences or less) that gives your reader a brief concluding review. (I call it an elevator review because you should make your point in the same amount of time as it would take you to state your points to a fellow passenger in a short elevator ride!)
• Praise or criticize the quality (or lack of quality!) of the book.
• Give your recommendation as clearly and concisely as possible.
• This should be no more than ten seconds in length.
For Example:
The strong emotions this book drew from me kept me reading. I couldn't put this book down. If you like action packed books that can draw great emotions from you, this is a book you should read.
Rating: Recommendation
Give the book a rating out of five stars, with five stars being the best.
• Put your name, the date of the review and your five star rating in Bold Large Font (see example)
For Example:
Parker Zimmerman
3/24/2011
RATING: ***** 5/5
Copy and paste your completed text:
Do any final editing and proofreading in here. Be sure to put book titles in italics.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, copyright 2008, is an adventure fiction book about the struggles Katniss and her friends have to go through as the government abuses their power to keep in control. One of the main ways the government ensures that they stay in power is the hunger games. They use this event to show the people that they can do whatever they want to them at any time. Katniss' sister only has one ticket in the drawings for the tributes, the people who fight in the hunger games, but somehow they draw her name, so Katniss volunteers to take her place. She has to fight to the death with twenty-three other tributes, including one other from her district. But throughout the journey love, courage, and fear kept Katniss going.
This story was told from the point of view of Katniss as she struggles to stay alive and get home, while trying to help some of her companions. One thing that was great about Collins' writing style was that you were almost always on the edge of your seat and when she did give you a break from the action she was drawing some kind of emotion from you, so it was really hard to put the book down. This book was probably intended for teenagers and young adults. It was a great adventure fiction book, but I think her style is better suited for people in that age group.
This book was great, and I really enjoyed reading it. It drew many emotions from me, which means it definitely impacted me, but it wasn't one of those books that totally changed the way I thought about things. However, it definitely made me think. I haven't read many books about dystopias, so this was a change, and I kept comparing it to our lives, and I tried to picture living there, but I've never experienced anything like it, so it was very difficult. Not only could I not imagine living in this dystopia, but I could also not imagine going through anything that Katniss had to go through. She put her life on the line in order to keep her sister safe, killed other kids in order to stay alive and try to get home, and watched one of her closest companions die in front of her eyes. The emotions this book drew from me were as strong or stronger than the ones most of the books I have read have drawn. And throughout reading this book, I kept thinking about how much this story reminded me of The Odyssey. It follows the hero cycle like many books do, but it was strikingly similar to the story of Telemachus, which is a great story.
The strong emotions this book drew from me kept me reading. I couldn't put this book down. If you like action packed books that can draw great emotions from you, this is a book you should read.
Parker Zimmerman
3/24/2011
RATING: ***** 5/5
Image of Book Cover
• Insert a picture of your book cover or movie trailer. You can find them online by using Google images. Just search The title name. Having both the picture and the review gives your writing a professional look.
First Paragraph: Introduce the Book
• Write an opening statement giving essential information about the book, including: book title, author, first copyright date, type of book, general subject matter, and any other factual information that will help your reader know “about” the book.
• Write two or three sentences that try to capture the general plot of the book.
• Write one sentence that states the overall theme of the book.
For Example:
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, copyright 2008, is an adventure fiction book about the struggles Katniss and her friends have to go through as the government abuses their power to keep in control. One of the main ways the government ensures that they stay in power is the hunger games. They use this event to show the people that they can do whatever they want to them at any time. Katniss' sister only has one ticket in the drawings for the tributes, the people who fight in the hunger games, but somehow they draw her name, so Katniss volunteers to take her place. She has to fight to the death with twenty-three other tributes, including one other from her district. But throughout the journey love, courage, and fear kept Katniss going.
Second Paragraph: Summarize the Story
• How is the story told, and what is the point of view of the author?
• Briefly summarize the plot, but don’t want to give away the story.
• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the general field or genre, and how does the book fit into it?
• How did the author keep you interested?
• What is the author's style? Is it effective for the author’s intended audience?
*Don’t write this paragraph as simply a series of answers these questions; write as if describing these details to a friend.
For Example:
This story was told from the point of view of Katniss as she struggles to stay alive and get home, while trying to help some of her companions. One thing that was great about Collins' writing style was that you were almost always on the edge of your seat and when she did give you a break from the action she was drawing some kind of emotion from you, so it was really hard to put the book down. This book was probably intended for teenagers and young adults. It was a great adventure fiction book, but I think her style is better suited for people in that age group.
Third Paragraph: Personal Response
Remember that in a personal response, you can’t be wrong―as long as you are truthful.
In this paragraph write honestly from the head and heart. Below are some ideas for how to approach this paragraph, but please expand the list to suit your response.
• How did the book affect you?
• What emotions did it make you feel?
• Did you change any ideas you held because of it?
• How does it fit in with what you think or did it challenge you to think and feel in a different way?
• Did it your own personal world view?
• Did it bring up memories of other books or authors you have read?
For Example:
This book was great, and I really enjoyed reading it. It drew many emotions from me, which means it definitely impacted me, but it wasn't one of those books that totally changed the way I thought about things. However, it definitely made me think. I haven't read many books about dystopias, so this was a change, and I kept comparing it to our lives, and I tried to picture living there, but I've never experienced anything like it, so it was very difficult. Not only could I not imagine living in this dystopia, but I could also not imagine going through anything that Katniss had to go through. She put her life on the line in order to keep her sister safe, killed other kids in order to stay alive and try to get home, and watched one of her closest companions die in front of her eyes. The emotions this book drew from me were as strong or stronger than the ones most of the books I have read have drawn. And throughout reading this book, I kept thinking about how much this story reminded me of The Odyssey. It followed the hero cycle like many books do, but it was strikingly similar to the story of Telemachus, which is a great story.
Fourth Paragraph: Elevator Review
Write a short overall summary (three sentences or less) that gives your reader a brief concluding review. (I call it an elevator review because you should make your point in the same amount of time as it would take you to state your points to a fellow passenger in a short elevator ride!)
• Praise or criticize the quality (or lack of quality!) of the book.
• Give your recommendation as clearly and concisely as possible.
• This should be no more than ten seconds in length.
For Example:
The strong emotions this book drew from me kept me reading. I couldn't put this book down. If you like action packed books that can draw great emotions from you, this is a book you should read.
Rating: Recommendation
Give the book a rating out of five stars, with five stars being the best.
• Put your name, the date of the review and your five star rating in Bold Large Font (see example)
For Example:
Parker Zimmerman
3/24/2011
RATING: ***** 5/5
Copy and paste your completed text:
Do any final editing and proofreading in here. Be sure to put book titles in italics.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, copyright 2008, is an adventure fiction book about the struggles Katniss and her friends have to go through as the government abuses their power to keep in control. One of the main ways the government ensures that they stay in power is the hunger games. They use this event to show the people that they can do whatever they want to them at any time. Katniss' sister only has one ticket in the drawings for the tributes, the people who fight in the hunger games, but somehow they draw her name, so Katniss volunteers to take her place. She has to fight to the death with twenty-three other tributes, including one other from her district. But throughout the journey love, courage, and fear kept Katniss going.
This story was told from the point of view of Katniss as she struggles to stay alive and get home, while trying to help some of her companions. One thing that was great about Collins' writing style was that you were almost always on the edge of your seat and when she did give you a break from the action she was drawing some kind of emotion from you, so it was really hard to put the book down. This book was probably intended for teenagers and young adults. It was a great adventure fiction book, but I think her style is better suited for people in that age group.
This book was great, and I really enjoyed reading it. It drew many emotions from me, which means it definitely impacted me, but it wasn't one of those books that totally changed the way I thought about things. However, it definitely made me think. I haven't read many books about dystopias, so this was a change, and I kept comparing it to our lives, and I tried to picture living there, but I've never experienced anything like it, so it was very difficult. Not only could I not imagine living in this dystopia, but I could also not imagine going through anything that Katniss had to go through. She put her life on the line in order to keep her sister safe, killed other kids in order to stay alive and try to get home, and watched one of her closest companions die in front of her eyes. The emotions this book drew from me were as strong or stronger than the ones most of the books I have read have drawn. And throughout reading this book, I kept thinking about how much this story reminded me of The Odyssey. It follows the hero cycle like many books do, but it was strikingly similar to the story of Telemachus, which is a great story.
The strong emotions this book drew from me kept me reading. I couldn't put this book down. If you like action packed books that can draw great emotions from you, this is a book you should read.
Parker Zimmerman
3/24/2011
RATING: ***** 5/5