To: Professor Rodwell
From: Jim Ferdous
Date: February 25, 2024
Subject: Self-Reflection of the Product Review Essay
When writing the product review essay, questions of the message, audience, and structuring were all factors that influenced the writing. As online reviews were provided as examples of product reviews, I knew that I wanted to emulate a writing style that would appeal to greater audiences such as people looking to purchase a KitchenAid Classic Can Opener/Bottle Opener as well as people of all age groups and used language and rhetorical concepts to engage the audience. The writing was a in-depth review of an item that I owned.
Some of the insights I’ve gained writing this product review essay was writing using my own opinions but also writing from the perspective of the manufacturer. Through quotes such “demonstrates its reliability and long working life through its solid structure, which uses stainless steel and durable hard plastics” (Ferdous 1), I was able to speak about the product in the way the manufacturer produced the item. This gave the review diversity and a two-sided review where it was opinionated but also unbiased.
Within the essay, I made personal connections with the can opener such as the time that it has lasted in my household. Likewise, I mentioned how the product is durable and easy to use, all things that I have noticed while utilizing the product. However, I also undertook the perspective of the engineers who designed the KitchenAid Classic Can Opener/Bottle Opener as “The KitchenAid Classic Can Opener/Bottle Opener is the epitome of research and innovative engineering that surpasses other competitors. Through skillful craftsmanship and planning, it delivers its intended outcome and reveals to the user its precision and effectiveness. The quality and functionality of the tool is a living example of how engineering can lead to the betterment of daily lives.” (Ferdous 2). Within my review, exigence played a pivotal role in my essay as it helped to solidify the purpose of my essay. The exigence in my narrative is the reflection I had of the product. This allowed me to be able to write a glowing review which resonated with my audience. Although the work is a review and focused on my personal life experiences, I used personal reflections as evidence to argue about how the product is a useful addition in a kitchen.
In terms of the quality, I think the review emphasizes the important points regarding the KitchenAid Classic Can Opener/Bottle Opener. The language in this case is clear and concise which makes it easy for readers to comprehend the product’s features and benefits. Similarly, the review is written in a formal manner which allows for readers to understand that the review is serious. The product review essay’s strongest aspect is the logical way the information is presented. An element that needs improvement is the level of detail in some areas. I feel as if the review is not as detailed when explaining the product’s feature and benefits, which would make it more persuasive. When “this cannot be said for other can openers as the blade often gets dull after opening a few cans making the device worthless” (Ferdous 3), was argued, it was a weak comparison and was not detailed enough to explain why the can opener is actually a good product. One way to change this can be to analyze other product reviews to see how other’s make their reviews detailed and emulate that.
In the future, I will strive to maintain the same level of formality and diversity but also try to a develop more in-depth analysis which will provide stronger supporting information to make the essay more informative and more.
