How to Write a Review Article for a School Newspaper

There are many reasons why you would want to include such articles in your newspaper. You can write about student related services, the relevancy of certain text books, the food in the cafeteria, a movie students might want to watch, a book people might want to read, even which classes are best to take to help prepare a student for the next level of their education or career.

Give reviews about services or products that matter to the student body. Giving a review of the newest fad in 2-year-old toys is not that relevant outside of an elementary school or the parents of 2-year-olds. Write reviews on things that matter to those who will read your reviews.

You cannot truthfully write a review about something you have not experienced, tested, or purchased. How can you write a review about a movie you’ve never seen, only heard about through friends?

Take the time to play with and experience a product. Try out the service and make sure you go in without any preconceived notions. This is important. When you test a service or product, if you are already biased against it, you will find something to be negative about, but you won’t be able to give a truthful review of your experience.

You will need to take good notes, so here are some things to consider:

• Quality
• Duration
• Ease
• Images
• Durability
• Customer Service
• Questions you have
• What you liked
• What you didn’t like
• Who will most benefit
• Who would not benefit
• Components
• Demographics of product or service (who it is targeting)
• Value / Cost
• Performance
• And more

Once you have thoroughly tested or tried what you intend to review, taken good notes, know your audience, then you can begin writing.

Start with a brief description of what it is that you are reviewing. Include an image or two that will help identify the object of the review quickly. Here are some things you’ll want to include in the article (in no particular order):

• Pros
• Cons
• Comparisons to similar products or services
• Your personal experience
• Reputation of brand
• What others are saying
• Popularity
• And more

Be factual and try not to insert too much of your personal bias or opinion. Only at the end, give it a thumbs up or thumbs down (in written form) if you would recommend the service or product to the students.