Book Report :)Format 2004.pdf

7/27/2019 Book Report :)Format 2004.pdf

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Book Report Guide

A Short Overview

Book reports are due every three weeks unless your teacher tells youotherwise. The choice of books is up to you, but whenever you are in doubt,

ask your teacherbefore doing the report. Here are two situations that come

up often. In one instance, you might have seen a movie about a book youve

read, and you might ask yourself whether you can do a report on that

particular book. The answer to that question is simple: Dont do a report

about a movie book. In another instance, you might have chosen a very long

book that you know you cant possibly read in less than three weeks. In this

case, ask your teacher about doing your book report in two parts. The smart

thing to do is to choose books that you know you can get through in two

weeks. That way, youll have a week to think about and write the bookreport. In the end, youll have read a lot of good books!

Books are filled with messages, or themes, about life. If you learn to

enjoy books, youll think about them and learn a lot about how the

characters in books handle challenges and conflicts. Youll see how this

works below.

The Format

The introductory paragraph of a book report should start with a topicsentence that states the title, author, main character(s) and the main idea.

After the topic sentence, give a brief summary of the main story, or plot. End

your first paragraph with a thesis statement thats a sentence about the

authors message. Below is an example of a first paragraph.

The book, Where the Red Fern Grows,by Wilson Rawls,tells the

story of a boy named Billy and his adventures with two hounds, Old Dan

and Little Anne. It is a sad story based around raccoon hunting and the

relationship Billy develops with his dogs as he trains them to be prize-

winning hunting animals. Billy and his hounds form a relationship that ends

as Old Dan is mortally wounded after saving Billy from a mountain lion.

Little Ann seems to grieve for Old Dan and loses her will to live. She dies

soon after. An important theme in this story tells us about the importance of

relationships.


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Your second paragraph will give a specific instance of how the theme

is supported through the text of the story. Add supporting details by using

transition words and phrases. In the following example of a second

paragraph, note the use of transitions in boldface text.

Billy builds a solid relationship with his hounds. One way the author

shows this is in the way Billy teaches Old Dan and Little Ann to hunt

raccoons. He spends time with the dogs. For example, he takes them with

him every night so they can learn about the forest and how to react to

raccoons when they find one. In this way, Old Dan and Little Ann not only

form a strong bond with Billy, but they learn to rely on each other, too.

Your third paragraph is similar to your second one. You will give

another instance of how the author supports the theme through the story.

Your fourth paragraph makes a personal connection to the story ortheme. Make a claim in your own words by responding to the authors main

points. Support your claim with details using one of the following: personal

experience (In my own life, ); prior knowledge (I knew this because );

connections to other stories (This story reminds me of ); how the story

made you think (I was surprised, curious, confused, wondering, etc.). Here

is an example of a fourth paragraph.

Relationships are an important part of my life. This story makes me

think about people even though the plot is mainly about a boys relationship

with his animals. Although the ending upset me, I was reminded of all the

warm times Ive spent with important people in my life. I think people (and

animals, too) form relationships when they do things together. They

experience warmth, sadness, joy, and trials, and they support one another

during difficult times.

Your fifth paragraph is your conclusion. You restate your opinion of

the authors message in a topic sentence. Use a transition word or phrase:

Therefore; As you can see; In conclusion. Below is an example of a

concluding paragraph.

As you can see, Where the Red Fern Grows, is about relationships.The author shows how the three, Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann, become

inseparable as they experience life together. Even though the hounds die in

the end, the feeling lives on as Billy will forever respect what he learned

from his two best friends.

2


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Book Report RubricHigh Papers

6 Mechanics (punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar and

sentence structure) are nearly flawless. The book report begins with aparagraph about the theme or message of the author. A well-developed

discussion of the theme follows in the second and third paragraphs. The

fourth paragraph connects the theme with real life. The fifth paragraph

draws a conclusion. A book report receiving a score of 6 is an A+ paper.

5 Same as above but with a less-developed or detailed discussion.

Mechanics are not a problem. A book report receiving a score of 5 is an A

paper.

4 The report opens with a statement about the theme or message but not

necessarily in a well-developed paragraph. A less-developed discussion in

two or three paragraphs follows. There will be some mechanical errors. A

book report receiving a score of 4 is B paper.

Average and Low Papers

3 The report gives a basic introduction of the book where the message is

stated and a summary follows perhaps in another paragraph. Mechanicalerrors will be present. The report should be readable. The summary might

make an attempt to explain the theme. This would be a C paper.

2 This report is a single paragraph, possibly not indented, which simply

tells about the plot or the book in a marginal manner. It lacks control of

mechanics or is simply not proofread. This paper would receive a D grade.

1 Something is mentioned about the book, but no detail or development

follows. Mechanical errors are obvious.

3


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Frank Pietrowski

August 18, 200X

Where the Red Fern Grows

The book, Where the Red Fern Grows,by Wilson Rawls,tells the

story of a boy named Billy and his adventures with two hounds, Old Dan

and Little Anne. It is a sad story based around raccoon hunting and the

relationship Billy develops with his dogs as he trains them to be prize-

winning hunting animals. Billy and his hounds form a relationship that ends

as Old Dan is mortally wounded after saving Billy from a mountain lion.

Little Ann seems to grieve for Old Dan and loses her will to live. She dies

soon after. An important theme in this story tells us about the importance of

relationships.

Billy builds a solid relationship with his hounds. One way the author

shows this is in the way Billy teaches Old Dan and Little Ann to hunt

raccoons. He spends time with the dogs. For example, he takes them with

him every night so they can learn about the forest and how to react to

raccoons when they find one. In this way, Old Dan and Little Ann not only

form a strong bond with Billy, but they learn to rely on each other, too.

Your third paragraph goes here.

Relationships are an important part of my life. This story makes me

think about people even though the plot is mainly about a boys relationship

with his animals. Although the ending upset me, I was reminded of all the

warm times Ive spent with important people in my life. I think people (and

animals, too) form relationships when they do things together. They

experience warmth, sadness, joy, and trials, and they support one another

during difficult times.

As you can see, Where the Red Fern Grows, is about relationships.

The author shows how the three, Billy, Old Dan, and Little Ann, becomeinseparable as they experience life together. Even though the hounds die in

the end, the feeling lives on as Billy will forever respect what he learned

from his two best friends.

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Book Report :)Format 2004.pdf