How to Write an Award-Winning Book Report

Having taught high school English, I can reveal the secret here. The real reason teachers require students to write book reports is this: We want to know if you have actually read the books we have asked you to read!

From elementary school through university-level literature courses, the purpose is the same. Your objective, as a student writing a book report, is to prove to your teacher that you have completed the book, from cover to cover.

At the same time, you will want to show off your excellent writing skills and your ability to interpret the concepts in the book you have just read.

Knowing this truth, you are ready to proceed.

What must a book report include?

Of course, every instructor has specific requirements, but most book reports contain the following basic items:

Basic Data: Include the title, author, publisher, copyright date, number of pages

Author Profile: Provide a brief biography of the author. What other book/s has he or she written?

Genre: Identify whether the book is fiction (adventure, horror, humor, mystery, romance, etc.) or non-fiction (biography, historical, scientific, etc.).

Point of View: If the book is a work of fiction, explain whether the story is told in the first, second, or third person (limited or omniscient).

Setting: Describe the geographical or general location of the book, if possible.

Characters: List and describe the protagonist and antagonist/s. Provide brief character sketches of important characters in the book.

Plot or Content Summary: For fiction: offer a synopsis of the action in the book, without spoiling the ending. For non-fiction: trace the overall content and flow of the book.

Themes and Purposes: What do you think was the author's main purpose in writing the book?

Literary Devices: Did the author employ symbolism, irony, major metaphors, motifs, or other literary devices?

Your Response: What was your favorite part of the book? How about your least favorite?

Your Evaluation: Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not?

Affadavit of Completion: Many instructors will require your signature to confirm that you have actually read the entire book.

What makes an "A" paper?

Most teachers can tell if you have really read the book. Simply running a GOOGLE search or reading cheat-sheets is never enough.

Book reports earn top grades when they fulfill all the basic requirements, but also demonstrate careful reading and creative writing. Descriptive accounts of key characters and their personal qualities, colorful recounting of major plot points, and detailed evaluations of the author's use of literary elements will set the successful report apart from the average ones.

Of course, a skilled report writer will provide just enough information to interest others in the book, without giving away suspenseful outcomes.

A savvy report writer will attempt to incorporate into his book report any relevant major themes the literature course has covered. For example, if recent class discussions have focused on human rights, and you have just read Uncle Tom's Cabin or The Color Purple, your book report will certainly focus on this issue.

Of course, the most successful book reports show creativity and interesting writing technique, as you highlight what you have read and incite others to select the same book.

What is the difference between a book report and a book review?

A book report offers a summarization and factual information about the assignment book. However, most book reports do include the reader's overall impression and opinions about the book. The purpose of a book report is generally academic, as a required assignment for an educational class.

On the other hand, a book review is a critique and includes a specific subjective evaluation of the book. Generally, a book review provides a more in-depth analysis of the quality of the book and its contribution to literature. The purpose of a book review is to promote or pan a book, to recommend or reject it.

Although some teachers will assign book reviews, these generally are only applicable to creative writing or journalism coursework. As a general rule, most literature instructors will choose to require book reports more than book reviews.

Either way, you simply have to read the book. Cliff notes, online essays and cheater-sheets simply won't earn you the marks you need!