How to Write a Book Report in Middle School
You had to write them in elementary school and you find yourself still writing them in middle school. Indeed, book reports are a common fixture in middle school English or Language Arts classes. Whether or not you enjoy reading, the book report can seem an intimidating task. A well-written book report requires a certain amount of time and preparation. Nevertheless, following a few simple guidelines will ensure that it isn't your most excruciating assignment.
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Instructions
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Set aside time every day to read your book. The amount of time it will take depends on the book itself and how quickly you can read. If necessary, schedule this time in your assignment planner and stick to it. Remember that you will be doing yourself few favors if you choose to push it off to the last minute or attempt to write the report without reading the book. Your teacher will know and will grade accordingly.
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Read actively. You will not retain any information if you simply skim through the book. Keep a pen and a notebook with you. As you read, jot down the book's setting, the characters that you meet, key plot points and what message you believe the author is attempting to convey through his or her story. If this is a nonfiction book, note the book's main ideas, the approach the author takes in conveying those ideas and the author's opinions if applicable. Write down any interesting quotes you feel will prove useful in your report.
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Write down your own reactions to the book. While a book report mainly concentrates on the facts of a book, there is room for your own opinions. Do you think the book was well-written? Did the author seem informed? Can you recommend the book? If so, to whom? Think it through and justify your statements with examples.
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Prepare the first draft of your book report. A book report consists of an introduction, a body and a conclusion. In your introduction, state the author, title, publisher and publishing year of the book, as well as a few lines pertaining to the book itself. In the body, refer to your notes. Begin by giving a short summary of the book, briefly going over the characters, plot, message or moral, or its main ideas. Follow this up with a paragraph detailing your reaction to the book. End the report with your conclusion, which summarizes the key points you made in your report.
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Print out a copy of your first draft and proofread it, keeping your teacher's guidelines in mind. Do not just focus on spelling and grammatical errors. Be on the lookout for any areas that seem unclear or could use more information. It will be of great help to have somebody else, such as a parent, look over the book report as well. With improvements duly noted, you can prepare your final copy.
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