Critics Can Be Useful, Right?

Just to reassure how big of a know it all critic like a$$ i can be.....i dug up this wonderful assessment from my first semester in college.

Just some background info for clarity:
In writing class, we were given an essay to review any place. She let us read, criticize, and give advice to fellow students about their essays...no one really took it that seriously but for some reason i absolutely tore this kid apart. and so it goes.

Dear Grant,

Throughout your "Writing Center" review, there are no cons that stick out. None! It seems like you simply describe what happens at the WC rather than reviewing it. Remember, review is an examination or assessment while description is only a characteristic... A description of Yao Ming is that he's very tall. An assessment of Yao Ming would be critical. For example, being Yao's height isn't that fun. Shoes are hard to find, cars aren't made big enough, and little kids think he's a giant. I turned a description into a bunch of cons by examining it. You have descriptions like "25-50 minute meetings", "small/quiet facility", "advisors are only assistants." Boring! Make a point out of these! Appeal to emotions. 50 minute meetings are very time consuming for the average student who works part time. Small facility means it's often crowded and hard to make an appointment. Did advisors help you much or didn't they? Make it interesting.

I also feel that a review is like a compare and contrast. For example, when reviewing a restaurant, you might describe where it stands compared to other dining places. In your case, I think you should be comparing the writing center to no writing center at all. Why should students spend their time scheduling appointments instead of just doing homework and papers on their own? You didn't convince me that the writing center is either good, bad, or mediocre. I think that's ultimately what a review comes down to and it wasn't fulfilled.

In the Barnes and Nobles review, I came up with mostly the same conclusion. You need cons and you need emotion. My favorite line in this review was "people can read inside without the fear of being disturbed." Fear: it's a state/emotion. It also jumped right off the page when I read it. Once again you lack cons though. Is B Nobles honestly a perfect place symbolizing Murfreesboro as a perfect place as well? Criticize, don't praise! While your descriptions are good, you lack arguments, criticism, and emotion.

You have an outline of a drawing. Color it in. Buy some crayons. Make it interesting.

Love,
Stephen

hahahaha that kid has to hate me.