When’s the last time you checked online reviews before trying a new restaurant or downloading a mobile app? Probably yesterday. Or maybe five minutes ago. Review writing is a modern skill we must teach our students, so I’ll be sharing a writing a good review example and more in this post!
Every time your students browse sneakers online, try to find a new movie to watch on Netflix, or even look at companies to apply to for their first job, they’re probably checking out reviews.
Online reviews have become one of the most powerful tools in today’s digital world—and they’re not just for adults or potential buyers. Teens are using reviews just as much to make everyday choices.
However, our students are poorly equipped to participate in leaving reviews themselves. Review writing is a skill–and it can even be a valuable one.
That’s exactly why teaching review writing in your high school English class is more relevant than ever.
In this post, I’ll cover why you should include review writing in your curriculum, share best practices for teaching it, and provide both a positive review example and negative review example to help students learn how to write impactful reviews—whether it’s a book review, product review, or feedback for local businesses.
If you want to skip ahead and grab a done-for-you review writing lesson, check out my How to Write a Review Lesson.
Why Teach Review Writing?
Teaching students how to write reviews equips them with real-world writing skills they’ll actually use—whether they’re giving positive feedback on a great experience or offering constructive feedback about a negative experience.
Here’s why review writing deserves a spot in your curriculum:
- Authentic audience: Reviews are published for potential customers, not just for a teacher’s red pen.
- Critical thinking: Students must evaluate specific aspects of the product quality, service quality, or overall customer experience.
- Digital literacy: Reviews affect a company’s online reputation, influence search results, and are shared across social media and various platforms.
- Functional writing: From review platforms like Yelp to Google Business Profiles, understanding how to leave a positive Google review or a good customer review is a 21st-century literacy skill.
There are more utilitarian reasons to teach review writing, too. Reviews are way shorter than, say, an essay. So working on them is one way to get more writing practice in for students without tons of prep, stress, or devoting weeks.
And I love telling students about how writing reviews can eventually earn them money! (Lots of people get paid for the Amazon reviews. Affiliate marketing is essentially just sharing lots of reviews.) Learning a skill that could potentially lead to cash really helps increase student buy-in!
Plus, it’s just fun to have students “review” their favorite (or least favorite) books, video games, mobile apps, restaurants, or school lunch options!
Review Writing Teaching Tips
Teaching students how to write reviews isn’t just about sharing opinions—it’s about building real-world communication skills that impact businesses, potential buyers, and even search engine rankings. Here’s how to make your review-writing unit both relevant and rigorous:
1. Show Why Review Writing Is a Valuable Skill
From online shopping to choosing a restaurant, potential customers rely on user-generated content to make decisions.
Explain to students how impactful reviews can influence new customers, support local businesses, and reflect customer satisfaction. Writing strong reviews isn’t just a school assignment; it’s a powerful tool for influencing real-world outcomes.
I also like to talk a little bit about current programs (like Amazon’s) that pay users who write especially helpful reviews.
2. Emphasize the Importance of the Reviewer’s Reputation
Today’s students are already leaving online reviews on review platforms, social media, or app stores. Teach them that their voice carries weight.
A well-written review builds credibility over time, especially when attached to a name or profile. Their online presence as a reviewer could influence prospective customers and business owners alike.
We don’t want students to become grouchy internet trolls who delight in leaving one-star ratings everywhere on Yelp! We want them to become responsible, fair review writers.
3. Discuss the Impact of Reviews
Break down how reviews affect search results, a business name’s reputation, and even their customer service team.
Positive customer reviews can generate a positive impact, while poorly written or overly harsh ones can damage customer experience.
Reviewing isn’t just sharing thoughts, and it shouldn’t just be an outlet for anger or frustration. Students need to know that in some cases, people’s livelihoods can be impacted by poor reviews.
4. Teach Review Structure
Students write more effectively when they know how to organize their thoughts. Introduce a simple structure:
- Hook (grab attention)
- Background (what is being reviewed?)
- Opinion (your overall take, a clear five-star rating or written equivalent)
- Supporting Reasons (highlight unique features or specific aspects with examples!)
- Conclusion (final recommendation or takeaway)
Positive review templates can give students a useful starting point, especially for their first attempts.
5. Show a Writing a Good Review Example
Provide good review examples of both positive and negative reviews.
A positive review example might describe great service, friendly staff, and a good experience, while a negative review example could offer valuable insights into what went wrong and how it could be improved.
With every writing a good review example, discuss how tone, wording, and specific details make the difference between helpful and hostile feedback.
Negative reviews are tough for students. It’s easy to bash a business or product. Steer them towards offering constructive feedback and writing fair and balanced reviews.
6. Emphasize Specific Details
The most effective reviews go beyond “It was awesome” or “It sucked.”
Teach students to support their claims with specific examples—mentioning the battery life of a mobile app, the kind words from a customer support rep, or how the product quality matched (or didn’t match) expectations. These specific aspects help potential buyers and show the student’s credibility as a reviewer.
Writing a Good Review Example
Here are four examples (two positive and two negative) of strong reviews you can share with your students.
Positive Review Example #1
Let’s take a look at a strong, student-friendly, positive review example of a great place to eat:
Business Name: The Rolling Dough Pizza
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5-star review)
I had an amazing dinner at The Rolling Dough! The staff was incredibly welcoming, and the food was even better. The margherita pizza had the perfect balance of sauce and cheese, and the crust was crispy without being dry. Our server, Javier, checked in often and made sure we had everything we needed. The vibe was cozy and family-friendly. I’ll definitely be bringing my friends here on our next visit. Highly recommend if you’re looking for excellent service and good value in a local pizzeria.
What makes this a good review example? It includes:
- Specific aspects of the customer experience
- A named team member
- A clear five-star rating
- Positive comments that reflect customer satisfaction
You may want to point out to students that length, structure, tone, and overall format for reviews will vary by platform. A Yelp! review is going to look a little different from a book review on the back of a published hardcover.
Some platforms are more formal than others. Different websites have different requirements for submitting reviews. Unlike essay writing, review writing has a more fluid structure than students are used to.
Positive Review Example #2
Let’s look at another good customer review—this time for an online shopping experience:
Business Name: Glow & Grace Skincare
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5-star review)I ordered the Vitamin C serum and the overnight moisturizer from Glow & Grace, and I’m thrilled with the results. The products arrived quickly and were packaged beautifully. I’ve noticed a real improvement in my skin’s brightness, and I love the lightweight texture. The website was easy to navigate, and I appreciated the free trial offer for new customers. Their customer service team even followed up via email to make sure I was satisfied—truly exceptional service! I’ll definitely be ordering again.
What makes this a good review example?
- Highlights specific products and unique features
- Mentions the ease of use of the website
- Includes a positive experience with customer support
- Uses positive comments and shows customer satisfaction
Negative Review Example #1
Now here’s how to write a negative review that still offers constructive feedback:
Business Name: Brew Haven Coffee
Rating: ⭐⭐ (2-star review)
I visited Brew Haven on a busy Saturday morning. While the coffee itself was decent, the ease of use of the mobile ordering app needs improvement—it kept crashing before checkout. I also waited 20 minutes for my latte despite ordering ahead. The staff seemed overwhelmed and didn’t acknowledge the delay. I appreciate the cozy seating and would consider coming back next time if the app and wait time improve.
Even though it’s a negative review, it includes:
- Specific details
- Constructive feedback rather than harsh criticism
- Suggestions to improve the customer support and service quality
- A hint at willingness to return—a fair, balanced tone
Negative Review Example #2
Now here’s a negative review of a mobile app that’s still helpful and respectful:
Business Name: FitFlex Workout App
Rating: ⭐⭐ (2-star review)I was excited to try FitFlex because of the variety of workouts, but unfortunately, I had a few issues. The app drained my battery quickly and kept freezing during videos. While the idea behind the app is great, it needs some serious updates to improve performance. I did reach out to the customer service team, but I only received a generic response. I hope they take this customer feedback seriously—I’d love to give it another shot once the bugs are fixed.
What makes this a constructive negative review?
- Describes specific aspects like battery life and performance issues
- Shares a negative experience without being overly critical
- Mentions an interaction with customer service
- Ends with a willingness to revisit the product review in the future
How to Teach Effective Review Writing
If you’re ready to teach review writing, the easiest way is to grab my Review Writing Lesson! Inside, you’ll find everything you need to introduce this functional writing skill to your students.
Otherwise, if you’d like to create your own lesson, here’s my suggestion.
Start With Direct Teaching
In my lesson, this means a slideshow going over everything students need to know.
This could also be a lecture, a video–any format that simply and directly conveys the information to your students.
Provide Student Supports
Your lesson might include a lot of information–more than students can probably take in in one sitting.
So make sure you have some supports built in, too.
I include guided notes for students in my lesson. You could offer students a handout with all of the major takeaways from your lesson instead.
I also include a planning sheet for when students actually write a review in my Review Writing Lesson.
A graphic organizer is another way you could support students when it comes time to actually write a review.
Share Plenty of Examples
I firmly believe that there’s no such thing as “too many examples” for students. Share as many examples of effective reviews as you can. Make sure you have a variety of positive review examples and negative review examples. Point out the strengths of each.
I include printable examples in my lesson so that students can refer back to them again and again.
Assign A Review To Write
It doesn’t really matter what students review, so make sure you give them space to choose their topic. But it will probably help to narrow down topics for them.
Will they review a book they read this year? A local restaurant? Their favorite movie?
Pick a topic and let students put everything they know to work!
Make sure you set clear expectations before students start writing. I include a rubric for this assignment in my Review Writing Lesson.
The Best Way to Help Students Succeed
The best way to teach review writing is to make it practical and personal. Let students choose topics they care about—whether it’s the company’s products they use every day or the last book they read in class.
Whenever possible, provide an authentic audience. Maybe your students write reviews of books in your classroom library for next year’s class. Or maybe you post their reviews in the hallway for all to see. You could even require students to post their reviews publicly online (although you may want to obtain parent permission for this).
You can even create a mock Google Business profile or class review site for students to submit and respond to reviews.
And don’t forget to celebrate their good Google reviews, insightful critiques, and positive experience stories!
Final Thoughts on Writing a Good Review Example
Whether you’re helping students write glowing reviews about excellent customer service or guiding them through expressing negative feedback with grace, teaching review writing plays a crucial role in building communication skills for real life.
Plus, analyzing positive reviews examples gives students the chance to explore positive aspects of a product review while thinking critically about how to offer valuable insights to prospective customers.
Ready to start teaching review writing yourself? Grab my How to Write a Review Lesson and have your students writing as soon as tomorrow!