Book Reports 2015-2016

Book reports are due at the end of each month. Students may choose a book of

their liking but must be approved by Ms. Tuski. The following is an outline of what your paper should include. Your paper must be typed!!!

1. Paragraph 1 – INTRO/THESIS (minimum of 3 sentences)

2. In sentence 1, state the title and author, and then describe the story.

3. In sentence 2-3, discuss the main character(s) and what he/she experiences. Examples:

4. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is an exciting tale of pirates and danger. It tells the story of Jim Hawkins and his adventures searching for buried treasure.

5. The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane gives a vivid description of battle during the Civil War. The novel tells the story of Henry Fleming, who is horrified about fighting the enemy.

1. Paragraph 2 – SETTING (4-5 sentences)

2. In sentence 1, state the setting of the book.

3. Example: The Giver takes place in a futuristic world where there is no color.

4. Finish the paragraph by telling

5. When:

6. Examples: the summer of 1895; the present; over a period of six years

7. Where

8. Examples: Sam lives… in a pioneer home; in the northeast; in a make believe world; in a small house and the woods nearby

9. Sensory images (smells, sounds, sights)

10. Examples: There are… vividly colored flowers; snow-capped mountains; The cave was… dark and damp smelling; dusty and dry; Casey noticed… the smell of honeysuckle; sounds of trickling water

1. Paragraph 3 – MAIN CHARACTER (4-5 sentences)

2. What is the main character trying:

3. to discover, to overcome, to adapt, to learn, to find, to become, to mature, to solve, to conquer?

4. In the first sentence, name the main character(s) and use the personality traits/adjectives.

5. Example: The main character in The Giver is Jonas, an intelligent boy who shows incredible courage.

6. Finish the paragraph with a description of the character(s).

7. Example: Jonas is eleven years old and has a younger sister. In the “community,” everyone dresses the same, so he wears simple, plain clothes and a tunic. Although the community focus is Sameness, Jonas is definitely unique. One of his distinctive traits is his intelligence. (Give examples from the story…) Another important trait is his courage. Jonas shows courage when… (Give examples from the story.)

1. Paragraph 4 – PLOT (This paragraph is a summary paragraph.) (4-5 sentences)

2. The first sentence will have three parts:

3. Identify the book

4. Select a verb *See the attached verb list for summaries.

5. Finish the thought

6. Examples of sentence 1:

7. Part 1 (identify) Part 2 (verb) Part 3 (finish thought)

8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a large quantity of various foods until he forms a cocoon and falls asleep.

9. Ancient Egypt describes the everyday life of Egyptians who lived 3000 years ago.

10. Forrest Gump entertains the reader with a touching story and a quick review of history.

11. Follow these steps to finish the paragraph with a summary of the plot:

12. Write your summary. Follow your list of main events, but add information if necessary. Use transitions if needed, and write good, clear sentences.

13. Summaries do not need a formal conclusion. Just following your list of events will bring you to the end of your summary. Don’t force an awkward-sounding conclusion.

1. Paragraph 5 - FAVORITE PART (3-5 sentences)

2. Identify a favorite part of the story.

3. Example: One of the best parts of the novel is when Sam gets his new puppy.

4. Tell the details of this part of the story. It may be helpful to do this orally first. Have someone listen as you describe this event, then write the rough draft.

5. Explain why you chose this part.

1. Paragraph 6- CONCLUSION (YOUR OPINION) (2-5 sentences)

2. In the first sentence, state your opinion.

3. Examples: Although The Giver had a strange ending, it is a book worth reading.

4. Even though Tuck Everlasting did not have action or suspense, it was still entertaining.

5. Describe your thoughts about the book. If you are saying something negative, say it in an appropriate way. Give a solid reason to support your views.

6. Examples: 1. The story forces the reader to think about….

7. This novel teaches an important lesson about…

8. To whom would you recommend this book? Why?

9. Examples: 1. Readers who are looking for a story about people and relationships should read Walk Two Moons.

10. The Giver will be enjoyed by anyone who likes mysterious novels that keep the reader guessing

Final Paper

Must be typed, 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced

Title Page

Include title of your book, your name, and the date. Final paper starts on the page behind the title page. It does NOT need a heading or name.

Paragraphs and spacing Indent paragraphs

Double space. Do not leave an extra blank line between paragraphs. Put only one space between words.

Spelling

Use spell check AND an editor

Pre-writes

Turn in the and pre-write for the plot paragraph BEHIND the final paper

Rough draft

One rough draft must be turned in BEHIND pre-writes. Your rough draft should show evidence of revisions and editing.

Other

Periods go INSIDE quotation marks. Italicize the titles of books when typing. (Underline book titles when writing.)

What to turn in

In this order: title page, final copy, pre-writes, and rough draft. All must be STAPLED together, ready to hand in on the assigned due date.

Verb List for Summaries:

compares

defines

describes

acknowledges

adds

advises

answers

asks

asserts

assures

blames

captures

clarifies

classifies

confirms

confronts

confuses

considers

contrasts

critiques

explains

gives

lists

defends

demonstrates

denounces

depicts

discourages

encourages

endorses

entertains

entices

enumerates

evaluates

explores

expresses

features

furnishes

identifies

illustrates

presents

shows

tells

invites

judges

mentions

names

offends

offers

praises

predicts

proposes

provides

recommends

simplifies

solves

suggests

supports

teaches

traces

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