Book Report Instructions

Use these instructions to complete your book report.  These are the same as what is provided on the bookmark, but a little more specific.  I will make new bookmarks for the next marking period, but for now please follow the instructions posted here.

Remember: Use headings for each section (as I did below) and write at least one paragraph per heading!  Make sure to begin the paper with the publication information: title, author, city published, publisher, and year published.

Novels/Biographies/Plays (anything with a storyline):
Characters
     Describe the personalities and relationships between each of the main characters.
Setting(s)
     When and where does the story take place?  How does the setting impact the story?  In other words, why do you think the author chose to set the story in that time and place instead of somewhere else?
Problem(s)
     What is the main problem the character is dealing with?
Resolution
     How is the problem solved?  Or, how does the main character learn to deal with the problem?
Theme
     What is the universal theme or lesson learned?  That means, what can you learn about life in general from this book?  This should be general enough to apply to anyone.  Support your answer with three specific examples from the book.
Reflection
     What is your opinion of the book?  Provide three specific examples from the book to support your answer.

A note about details: Do not repeat details!  You must provide specific examples from the beginning, middle, and end of the book in order to get full credit.  The more variation you have in your details, the higher your grade will be.


Non-Fiction (anything without a storyline)/Poetry:
Subject
     What is the subject of this book?  Is this subject important for people to know about, and why?  Is this book interesting or not, and why?
Purpose
     What are readers supposed to learn about life by reading this book?  Who do you think the intended audience (that means, the people who would benefit most from reading the book) is for this book?  Why?
Chapters
     Write a one-sentence summary of each chapter.
Structure
     How did the author organize this book (chronologically, by topic, etc.)?  Why do you think the author organized it this way?
Features
     Which features are included (e.g., index, table of contents, photographs and captions, maps, diagrams, glossary, bibliography, etc.)?  Provide one example of each feature and explain how it helped you understand the book.
Reflection
     What is your opinion of the book?  Provide three specific examples from the book to support your answer.

A note about details: Do not repeat details!  You must provide specific examples from the beginning, middle, and end of the book in order to get full credit.  The more variation you have in your details, the higher your grade will be.

Book Report Rubric

Book Report Rubric

4 = Excellent                    3 = Proficient                  2 = Developing                  1 = Emerging                   0 = Not Observed

Common Core State Standard	Evidence	Score
ELA-Literacy.R.10: I can read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.	Fiction and Non-Fiction: specific examples from the beginning, middle, and end of the text are included throughout the book report, proving you read the entire book.	/4
ELA-Literacy.R.1: I can read closely to determine what the text says and make logical inferences from it, citing specific textual evidence to support the conclusions I draw from the text.	Fiction and Non-Fiction Reflection: your opinion about the text is supported by your explanation of three specific details from the text	/4
ELA-Literacy.R.2: I can determine central ideas or themes of the text and summarize the key supporting details and ideas.	Fiction: the theme is accurately identified, and explained using details from the text. Non-Fiction: the purpose and subject are accurately identified, and explained using the text as evidence.	/4
ELA-Literacy.R.3: I can analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of the text.	Fiction: all of the main characters and their relationships to one another are described. Non-Fiction: each chapter is described.	/4
ELA-Literacy.R.5: I can analyze the structure of texts.	Fiction: the setting and its significance, the problem, and the resolution are accurately described and related to one another. Non-Fiction: the structure and examples of the features (images, charts, index, etc.) are described.	/4
Comments		/20

20-18 = A             17-16 = B              15-14 = C              13 and under = E