29
STUDY AND WRITING SKILLS
3.4
WRITING SKILLS
A TV PROGRAMME REVIEW
7
Discuss these questions in small groups.
1
What kind of TV programmes do you know?
news, drama, …
2
Where can you find reviews of TV programmes?
3
Do you read reviews of TV programmes?
Why?/Why not?
8
We usually find these things in a review of a TV
drama or film. What do you think is the best order for
these things in a review? Discuss with a partner.
1
a summary of the story
2
details of the main character(s)
3
a description of the place(s) where (and the time
when) the action happens
4
a strong ending where the writer recommends (or
does not recommend) the programme/series/film
5
comments on the actors’ performances (and/or other
opinions)
6
an interesting beginning
9
a
The review on the right is about a political drama.
Before you read it, check that you know the meaning
of these words.
government leader prime minister
9
b
Read the review on the right. Is it positive or
negative? Would you like to watch this series?
9
c
Read the text again and answer these questions.
1
Do you think Nyborg is a pleasant character? Why?/
Why not?
2
In what way are Nyborg and Fønsmark similar?
3
Why do you think the TV channel is showing this
series again?
10
a
Compare your answer to Exercise 8 with the
review. Are there any differences?
10
b
What information do you find in each paragraph
of the text?
10
c
A common mistake when writing a review is to
write a lot about the story, but very little about your
opinions of the programme. How many sentences in
the review in Exercise 9b tell us the story of
Borgen?
11
Summarising
Look at the texts on the right about
two TV programmes. Make them shorter by taking out
two sentences from text 1 and three sentences from
text 2. Keep the sentences with important information
about each story.
12
Write a review for a website of a TV programme
or series you saw recently. Alternatively, write a review
of a film, play or book (novel).
Borgen
Did you miss
Borgen
first time? Well, now there’s another
chance to see this first-class political drama from Denmark.
Borgen
means ‘castle’ in Danish, and refers to the building in
Copenhagen which is the home of the government.
Borgen
tells the story of Birgitte Nyborg, a 40-year-old
politician. Nyborg shocks everyone – even herself – when she
becomes Denmark’s first female Prime Minister. But to be a
good leader she must work successfully with others.
Nyborg is an honest woman with a good sense of humour. She
enjoys a warm family life, and the excellent scenes with her
husband and two children are at the heart of the drama.
There are other strong female characters – for example, Katrine
Fønsmark, the young TV journalist who interviews Nyborg.
Borgen
is a modern and intelligent drama with great
performances by the main actors, especially Sidse Babett
Knudsen as Nyborg. See it – or see it again!
Enjoy
16
109
Invite
NETbase
47
In the American comedy
A Fresh Start
, Cristina
and DeeDee become good friends at work. Both
of them are about 23 years old. They don’t like
their jobs – or their boss! Together, they decide
to set up their own company.
There’s a great new soap opera on Channel 6.
Then and Now
follows the lives of two families in
the small town of Boxville. The town is famous
for its many black cats. One of the families is
quite poor, while the other is extremely rich.
They live on opposite sides of the town. Before
long, members of the two very different families
meet – with surprising results!
1
2
