How to Write a Book Report

• by Jenny Hudock

Introduction

• Book Report. Those two words have instilled fear and dread in students for well over a century. On top of regular homework assignments, putting together a book report can feel overwhelming to today's busy student, but fear not, brave writer! There is a book report writing formula that will make writing your next book report a joy, rather than a chore.

Step 1: It's All About the Book

• Believe it or not, one of the biggest groans when it comes to the book report assignment is that whole "reading" thing. A lot of students these days would much rather plug into the computer or veg out in front of the television than be caught reading a book. Unfortunately, you can't write a book report without having read a book.

• Before you can start reading you have to find a book. If your teacher hasn't assigned a book to you, you have a great advantage because there is a world full of books out there. Having the option to choose your own book is going to make writing your book report so much easier. Here are some tips to help you find the right book for you:

1. Decide which type of book will be best: fiction or nonfiction.
2. Make a list of things your interested in, and then head off to the library or book store.
3. Ask friends for recommendations.
4. Browse through titles in genres that interest you and read the cover to see if it might be worth a read.

• The overall key is to find a book that will interest you. If you're reading about something completely fascinating, you will look forward to every page and be more likely to pay attention to detail, which will make all the difference when it comes time to write that book report.

Step 2: Reading and Taking Notes

• Once you've chosen your book, it's time to sit down and start reading. You will want to give yourself ample time to read, so you're not scurrying through at the last minute just to get done. There are a few things you can do while reading that will give you a major advantage when you're ready to start writing.

1. Avoid assigning yourself a certain number of pages to read each day. If you need to set reading goals for yourself each day, be careful how you do it. Turning it into an assigned task will make reading feel like a chore, and no one likes doing chores.
2. Read a little bit every day.
3. Don't put the book down for too long, or you might lose your place or your interest.

• While you don't have to read the book more than once, it is recommended to go back over it a second time to make sure you understand everything. A good grasp on the book is going to make writing your book report a lot easier.

Taking Notes

• Taking notes while reading is a great way to keep on top of important elements of the story. If you take good notes, you'll have a leg up when it's time to start writing because you took the time to write down important plot points and noticeable character traits. Note taking is also a good way to strengthen the plot's hold on your memory because you're going over the ideas presented in the book more than once.

1. If you own the book, take notes in the sidelines or highlight important passages in pencil. Do not do this with library books, or any book you may have borrowed from a friend.
2. Keep a reading journal. You can use a reading journal to take notes and write down any questions that come up while you're reading.
3. Write down page numbers of important events so you can flip back to that page for a reference.
4. Use slips of paper to mark pages with important or memorable events. You can also write a quick note on this slip about why that page was important.
5. Don't try to take mental notes. You've already got the weight of that book report on your shoulders, and counting on yourself to remember all of the essential plot points of a book is just going to make the whole assignment feel daunting.

Step 3: The Outline

• Once you're finished reading, it's time to go back over the notes you took and organize them. Based on the length of the book, you'll want to decide what's important to keep for the report, and what you can cut out.

• Begin by setting up categories based on whether your story is fiction or nonfiction.

• Important things to look at for Fiction include:

1. Plot: What happened overall in the story?
2. Setting: Where and when did it all take place?
3. Characters: Who did it happen to?

• Another element to add to your outline is how the events in the story made you feel. The whole point of a book report is not to torture students, but to get them to think about reading and literature objectively and analytically from a broader perspective.

• Important points for Nonfiction include:

1. Subject: What was the book about?
2. Summary: What did you learn from the book?

• Some other important questions to ask yourself in this outline are:

1. Did you enjoy the book?
2. Was the book written well?
3. Was the author's objective clear by the end?
4. Who do you think the target audience is?
5. Is the book part of a series?
6. Would you recommend this book to a friend, and if so, why?

Step 4: The Components

• You have outlined all of the important points of the book, and it's time to start working on the first draft of your book report. The first draft is the place to put all of your ideas into perspective, so you can fine tune them.

The Introduction

• The introduction is where you want to introduce your readers to the book you've read. It will include the following elements:

1. Title of the book
2. Author name and Information
3. Type of book: fiction, nonfiction
   1. If the book is fiction, specify if it's romance, comedy, fantasy, etc.
   2. If the book is nonfiction note, if it's history, biography, travel, philosophy, etc.
4. If the book is part of a series, include details.
   1. What is the name of the series?
   2. Where does your book fall in the series?
5. A brief introduction to the book.

The Body

• The body of your book report is the biggest part. It will give your audience an overall look into the book itself, and summarize your personal thoughts about the book. It will usually consist of between two and four paragraphs. Whether your book is fiction or nonfiction, you will want to discuss the main points and author's purpose in this section.

• For a fiction book, the body should consist of a brief overview of the following:

1. Setting
2. Narrator
3. Characters
4. Any distinct tones or moods

• Combine the above with a brief plot summary, and be careful not to give away the ending.

• For a nonfiction book, be sure to include the following:

1. Subject
2. Summary

• After you've given your audience a clear picture of the book you've read, start a new paragraph and talk about your personal thoughts on the book. Write about what you think worked and didn't work, what you liked and didn't like. Could you identify with and relate to the characters? Write down anything you think a potential reader might want to know about the book before they read it.

The Conclusion

• In the conclusion, you want to wrap everything up. Revisit your thesis statement to bring the book report full circle and to make sure it hasn't gone off track. Often while writing, our opinion or thoughts might shift, so you want to make sure everything is clear. The conclusion is also a great place to state what you think the book has contributed, if anything, to the world, and whether or not you think the author achieved his or her goal as a writer.

Step 5: Different Types of Book Reports

• There are a few different types of book reports that tend to branch off into specifics. You will want to make sure you ask your teacher what is expected from you. Many assignments will require the basic plot summary, which is what is broken down above. There are two other types of book reports that your teacher might ask you to write:

• A Character Analysis is when your full focus revolves around the main character. In this type of book report you would want to analyze things like:

1. The character's dialogue and speech.
2. The way they dress.
3. Analyze their positive and negative characteristics.
4. Do they have a fatal flaw that tends to get them into constant trouble?
5. What is their significance in the story?
6. What stands out about them in comparison to the other characters?

• A Theme Analysis is when you find a theme within in the book and analyze how it moves in conjunction with the plot.

1. Explain the theme.
2. Draw examples and quotes that support your theme from the book as evidence.
3. Examine how the theme affects the book.
4. Explore how the theme affected your interpretation of the book.

Step 6: Editing

• Once you've got the first draft of your book report written, you'll want to go back through and edit it. It is important to turn in a well-written, organized and error-free book report.

1. Check for spelling, grammar and typos.
2. Don't be afraid to rearrange things so they flow better.
3. Double check your thesis sentence to make sure the body and conclusion adhere to it.
4. If something seems strange as you're reading, read it out loud. Sometimes hearing it can help you pinpoint strange or awkward wording.
5. Ask a friend or parent to proofread for you. A new set of eyes will often find mistakes you overlooked.

Conclusion

• It's surprising how much you can learn while doing a book report. They expand our horizons and teach us how to view not only the literary world, but the every day world around us, through analytical eyes. When you take your time, read carefully and examine what you've read through your notes, writing a book report is a lot easier than it sounds. You may even find that you enjoy writing them. If so, keep at it, and consider posting them on your blog for friends who might be on the lookout recommended reading material.

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Resources for How to Write a Book Report

• About.com: How to Write a Book Report  
• About.com: How to Write a Book Report in 10 Easy Steps  
• Book Hooks: Writing a Book Report First Steps
• Concord University Library: How to Write a Book Report and a Book Review
• eHow: How to Write a Book Report
• Homework Spot: Book Reports  
• Infoplease: How to Write a Book Report
• Lakewood Public Library: Student Guide to Book Reports
• Teacher Vision: Writing a Book Report
• TIME For Kids: Homework Helper: A+ Papers - Book Reports
• wikiHow: How to Write a Book Report

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