Teachers love to assign book reports. Did you ever wonder why? Sure, you could think of it as a cruel attempt to force you to read, but it might be a little more than that.
Your teacher’s goal is to broaden your understanding of the world and society, and to further enlighten you through the words of an author. But teachers gain a great deal more than that from assigning book reports. Teachers learn from them, too!
Just imagine how much time a teacher can save by having dozens or hundreds of books skillfully reviewed by others. Teachers discover books that can be used in future assignments, they gain access to encapsulated knowledge from thousands of pages, and they gain insight, as well.
Considering this, it’s even more important for you to write a great report. First, include the basics.
Introduction
Write a strong paragraph that states the book’s title (underlined or italicized), genre, author’s name, and publication information. Also give a brief statement about the book’s angle or message.
Body
Before you get started on the body of the report, take a few minutes to jot down some helpful information by considering the following points.
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Did you enjoy the book?
Was it well written?
If it was a fictional work, list the characters.
If it was a work of non-fiction, identify the writer’s thesis.
What is the writing style?
Is this book a part of a series?
“This book, the third in a series, offers insight to the bizarre childhood of Bethany Robbins, the main character. The author describes how Bethany developed a friendship with a skunk that lived in the woods behind her house. Alfred, the skunk, explains to Bethany the pitfalls of bathing too frequently.”
The list of points should provide enough material for writing several paragraphs as you summarize. As you lead to your final paragraph, consider some additional impressions and opinions:
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Was the ending satisfactory (for fiction)?
Was the thesis supported by strong evidence (for non-ficiton)?
What interesting or notable facts do you know about the author?
Would you recommend this book?
Conclusion
Conclude your report with a paragraph or two that covers these additional points. Some teachers prefer that you re-state the name and author of the book in the concluding paragraph. As always, consult your specific assignment guide. Unless instructed otherwise, you final last sentence should offer a one-sentence summary with your overall opinion, as in the following example.
”The author provided an intriguing and entertaining glimpse into the mind of girl who learned about life through the words, real or imagined, of her wild but wise friends from the forest.”
