NAME:___________________________________DATE:__________________________PERIOD:_______
FOOD CRITIC FOR A DAY!
Food, food, food! We eat it every day. Sometimes we relish our meals, but other times we barely notice them. Your
next writing assignment is to use vivid adjectives and verbs to write a review of your restaurant. Imagine you have
traveled to your restaurant and ordered three dishes. Using the chart below, take notes about the dishes you have
selected. You will also describe the environment and décor of your restaurant, including menu presentation. Then,
write three complete summary paragraphs that provides a detailed critique of your overall experience.
Adjectives: Use
Dish #1 Name:
Dish #2 Name:
Dish #3 Name:
your food adjectives!
Taste:
Smell:
Sight: Were the
portions large or
small? Was the
presentation neat or
sloppy?
Verbs
Sounds: What
did you hear?
Environment/Décor
Sight: What
did it look like?
One-Page Paper Requirements: (12 font, Times New Roman or Arial, double spaced)
Directions: The following questions should be answered in each paragraph, but you may choose the
order in which you answer them. Feel free to add any additional information to your review.
Paragraph 1: Claim (5-7 sentences minimum)
Begin with a hook: Question, quote, story. Your hook:_________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
NAME:___________________________________DATE:__________________________PERIOD:_______
Imagine you just walked in to the restaurant. What do you see, hear, and smell? How does the
environment make you feel? What are your general observations (waiters, table linens, decorations,
etc.)? Is the restaurant warm and inviting? Cool and modern? Expensive? Casual? End this paragraph
with your claim stating your overall opinion of the restaurant, using descriptive adjectives. (Ex. Darla’s
Diner is a unique and delicious restaurant.)
Paragraph 2: Evidence (observations) (6-8 sentences minimum)
Begin with a topic sentence and end with a concluding sentence. (Ex. I ordered three items from Darla’s
Diner that were excellent.) Describe your three food items from the chart in detail. Why did the items
appeal to you? How did they taste and smell? How large/small were the portions? How was the food
presentation? Did any parts of the dish stand out from the rest? Did you feel the portions and taste
justified the cost? Use transition words!
Paragraph 3: Analysis (5-7 sentences minimum)
Begin with a topic sentence and end with a concluding sentence. (Ex. I would visit Darla’s Diner again for
several reasons.) Would you visit the restaurant again? What improvements could be made in the
future? How does this restaurant compare to other places? Compare it to a restaurant that you’ve been
to. What are your final thoughts/feelings about your experience? Add a fictional quote from a guest
that supports your review, positive or negative. (Ex. According to guest, Molly Smith, “Darla’s Diner has
the best lasagna I’ve ever tasted!”)
Please turn in your final draft with this rubric on top, facing up.

Elaboration of
Evidence:
The claim is developed
and supported with
logical reasoning and
relevant evidence.



Language and
Vocabulary:
The writing uses precise
language and maintains
a formal/appropriate
style.





Provides comprehensive
support/evidence for the
claim in 3 full paragraphs/
one full page.
2 paragraphs begin with a
topic sentence and end
with a concluding
sentence.
There is an engaging hook.
There is a claim.
30
Uses precise, academic
language.
There are no forbidden words.
Establishes and consistently
maintains a formal/appropriate
style.
Effectively uses transition
words.







Provides adequate
support/evidence
for the claim in 3
paragraphs/ ¾ of
the page in length.
1 of 2 paragraphs
begin with a topic
sentence and end
with a concluding
sentence.
There is a hook.
24
Uses a mix of precise with
more general language.
1-3 forbidden words.
Establishes and generally
maintains a
formal/appropriate style
Somewhat effectively
uses transition words.




Provides
inadequate
support/evidence
for the claim in 2
paragraphs/ half a
page in length.

1 paragraph
begins a topic
sentence or ends
with a concluding
sentence.

There is a weak
hook.
21
Uses simplistic
language.
4-6 forbidden words.
Lacks a consistent
formal/appropriate
style
Few transition words
are present.







Provides little or no
support/evidence 1
paragraph. Missing
claim.
There are no topic
or concluding
sentences.
There is no hook.
18
Uses limited or vague
language.
More than 7 forbidden
words.
Lack of
formal/appropriate style
No transition words.
5
10
Conventions: The
writing demonstrates a
command of
conventions and
assigned format.


1-3 errors in usage, sentence
structure, punctuation,
capitalization, and spelling
Formatted correctly (font,
double spaced, heading)
5
8
Minimal errors/patterns of
error in usage, sentence
structure, punctuation,
capitalization, spelling, and
format
4
7
Frequent errors/patterns of
error in usage, sentence
structure, punctuation,
capitalization, spelling, and
format
3
Severe errors/patterns of error
in usage, sentence structure,
punctuation, capitalization,
spelling, and format interfere
with understanding
2
TOTAL:_______/45