How to Write a Book Report on "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

Compile a book report after reading "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."

Students who read the novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", by Mark Twain, may have a book report assigned as part of a literature or English assignment. A book report generally includes information about the setting, characters and the plot of the book. Students should also discuss the plot, including a summary of the main events that occurred in the story. Students may consider discussing the author's character development as it relates to the theme of the story.

Instructions

1. Begin the book report by providing the title of the book and the author. Include the year of publication and the location, if you desire. For example, to begin a book report about "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," provide the title, the author's name, Mark Twain, and the year and location of publication, 1876, England.

2. Give a brief introduction of the main characters in the first paragraph of the book report. The main characters in a book are the characters that lead the reader through the plot, providing conflict, climax and resolution. An introduction of Tom Sawyer should include Tom Sawyer (a young, imaginative, energetic boy who learns a variety of life lessons), Huckleberry Finn (an important friend of Tom), Aunt Polly (Tom's guardian), Becky Thatcher (a new girl at school and the object of Tom's affection) and Injun Joe (a black slave on the run).

3. Summarize the plot in the second paragraph of the book report. Describing the plot involves giving an overview of the important events of the story. Tom falls in love with Becky, which becomes an important subplot, because Tom's feelings for Becky motivate many of his actions throughout the story. Tom experiences a variety of escapades and struggles throughout the story, including witnessing a murder, running away, meeting a runaway slave, watching his own funeral, getting lost in a cave and finding a treasure.

4. Discuss the climax, the ending and analyze the theme. The climax is the most exciting part of a book and the ending is the resolution of the climax. The theme of a story is the main idea -- the author's message. Tom makes hard decisions throughout the story and matures through making these decisions. He grows from being a naughty little boy to being a responsible and respectable young man, but he did it in an entertaining and exciting way. With Tom's energetic imagination, he found love, friendship, adventure and wealth -- succeeding in all four areas as he matured.

5. Conclude the book report with your opinion of the story and Mark Twain's presentation of the theme. Recommend the book if you enjoyed it or explain why you would not recommend it.

6. Proofread your book report for grammar and punctuation. Make any changes and create a final copy to submit.

References

• Lakewood Public Library: Book Report
• Purdue University: Writing a Book Report