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Writing Effective Book Reports

This document provides instructions for writing a book report with 3 main sections: Introduction, Body, and Analysis and Evaluation. [1] The Introduction should include the title, author, publication details, genre, and a brief overview. [2] The Body explains what the book is about and the author's purpose, then provides a summary, describing characters and plot for fiction or overviewing topics for non-fiction. [3] The Analysis and Evaluation section requires analyzing the book's effectiveness and strengths/weaknesses, agreeing with arguments, and overall response, concluding with impressions and a recommendation.

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185 views2 pages

Writing Effective Book Reports

This document provides instructions for writing a book report with 3 main sections: Introduction, Body, and Analysis and Evaluation. [1] The Introduction should include the title, author, publication details, genre, and a brief overview. [2] The Body explains what the book is about and the author's purpose, then provides a summary, describing characters and plot for fiction or overviewing topics for non-fiction. [3] The Analysis and Evaluation section requires analyzing the book's effectiveness and strengths/weaknesses, agreeing with arguments, and overall response, concluding with impressions and a recommendation.

Uploaded by

Mr Jenkins
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to Write a Book Report

Book reports and book reviews are similar. Book reports are a little more descriptive (what is this book
about?) and book reviews are usually more persuasive (why a reader should or shouldn't read this book).
Both offer a combination of summary and commentary and a way to think more deeply about a book
you've read and to demonstrate your understanding.

Introduction

Provide basic information about the book and what your report will be about. You should include the
following:

1. Title (underlined or italicized if typed) / Author


2. Publication Information: Publisher, year, number of pages
3. Genre (fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, etc.)
4. A brief (1-2 sentences) introduction to the book and the report/review.

Body

There are two main sections for this part. You should first explain what the book is about. You should then
give your opinions about the book and how successful it is. However, there are some differences between
reports on fiction or other imaginative writing and reports on non-fiction books.

But for both, a good place to start is to explain the author's purpose and/or the main themes of the book,
then you can give a book summary.

For fiction or other creative writing:


1. Provide brief descriptions of the setting, the point of view (who tells the story), the protagonist,
and at least three other major characters. Discuss the mood or tone as well.
2. Give a concise plot summary. Along with the sequence of major events, also discuss the
book's climax and resolution, literary devices (foreshadowing, symbolism, simile, metaphor,
personification, etc.), and conflicts within the story. It is all right to give away important plot
details and the ending of the story.

For non-fiction:
1. Provide a general overview of the author's topic, main points, and argument. What is the
thesis? What are the important conclusions?
2. Don't try to summarize each chapter or every angle. Choose the ones that are most
significant and interesting to you.

Analysis and Evaluation

In this section you must analyze or critique the book. Write about your own opinions; just be sure that you
explain and support them with examples from the book itself (with in-text citations). Some questions you
might want to consider:

 Did the author achieve his or her purpose?


 Is the writing effective, powerful, difficult, beautiful?
 What are the strengths and weaknesss of the book?
 For non-fiction, what are the author's qualifications to write about the subject? Do you agree with
the author's arguments and conclusions?
 What is your overall response to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving, dull?
 Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?

Do not leave anything out of this section – cover all of the material listed above.

Conclusion

Briefly conclude by pulling your thoughts together. You may want to say what impression the book left you
with, emphasize what you want your reader to know about it, or discuss future books you may or may not
want to read by this author.

* Your review must be typed, one and a half to


two pages in length, and will be due Friday,
May 13th!

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