How to Write a Short Story Review

Keeping your review professional will give credibility to your analysis.

Reviewing a short story gives you the opportunity to go beyond a generic synopsis and express your opinions about the piece. The Los Angeles Valley College website notes that your review should point out the strengths and weaknesses of the story. Your review should be a constructive and professional analysis of the work.

Instructions

1. Introduce the story's full title and the name of the author. If the work is part of an ongoing collection, make note of it. If the piece is the author's debut work, this may be noted as well.

2. Introduce the plot line without giving away the entire story. You may choose to name the main character or note a particularly interesting aspect of the plot.

3. Provide honest feedback. If there is something you find compelling, make note of it. Be equally mindful of pointing out flaws, though be sure to remain constructive. A review does not have to be all flattery, but you should support your criticisms.

4. Conclude by noting what the story accomplishes and how everything is tied together for you as a reader.

Tips & Warnings

• Combining your feedback or analysis of the piece into the plot summary will help keep your work well-paced and fluid.

• When considering the overall meaning of a piece, you are often left to your own devices. The Bellevue College Writing Lab notes that while it is common to review main ideas, these ideas are not spelled out for the reader. You must discover them for yourself.

• Keep your criticisms specific to the story; do not discuss the author's strengths and weaknesses in a general sense, as you cannot usually determine these from such a limited sample size.

References

• Los Angeles Valley College: How to Write A Book Review
• Bellevue College Writing Lab: Literary Analysis