How to Start Writing a Book Report
Beginning a book report is a daunting task for students from elementary school school to college. All too often people simply begin writing without thinking through the argument and structure of their report. This leads to a confusing, disorganized report that is difficult for the reader to follow. However, if you take a few minutes to brainstorm, outline and review the book itself before you put pen to paper, you will find the process much easier.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Book that you are writing the report on
- Post-it notes or document flags (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Write down every fact that you can remember about the book in terms of its framework: What is the setting? Who are the main characters? What is the climax or high point of the book?
-
2
Examine your list of facts and brainstorm about how they might be connected to one another. For example, how does the setting of the book change what we think about the main characters? Why are there so many (or so few) main characters? Where does the climax occur and when?
-
-
3
Open the book and scan each page, looking for important events, passages or sentences that you think support the connections that you have made. Flag each of these important pages with a post-it note or document flag, if you have them.
-
4
Divide up your ideas, connections and flagged pages by grouping together those that seem to relate: for example, the number of main characters, the setting and a quote that one of the major characters said about the setting. You should have two or three groupings.
-
5
Outline your book report by putting your groupings in order, based on importance. What do you want to talk about first? Do you need to know anything in particular before you can understand a grouping? What order makes your ideas most effective?
-
6
Keep your outline in front of you and begin writing your book report, starting with 3-4 sentences introducing the book, its author, the time it was written and why you decided to write the report on it. Write one paragraph for each of your groupings and then conclude with a 3-4 sentence paragraph that reminds your readers of what you have covered and what questions you have raised.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't be discouraged if you aren't able to come up with any connections or ideas that you like at first. It takes a lot of practice.
References
- Photo Credit writing book image by AGphotographer from Fotolia.com
