What is a Book Report?
A book report is a type of writing that tells what a book is about. It is a summary of the content, ideas, and arguments in a book. You can write a book report on a work of fiction and non-fiction as well.
A book report also tells what the writer thinks about the book. It tells other people what he/she learned from the book and whether they should read it or not.
Some people write about themes in a book and others write about plot elements. But a basic book report is just telling what the book is about and what the writer thinks about it.
Book reports are usually assigned to high school and middle school students. When you write book reports, you improve your analytical and communication skills. You also learn how to express your thoughts and ideas.
Book Report vs Book Review
Many students confuse book reports with book reviews. However, they are two separate things with the following differences:
| Book Report | Book Review |
| A book report can be 200-250 in word length. | A book review is more detailed and can be up to 1000 words long. |
| It is a basic summary of the book. | It is also a critical evaluation of the book and requires detailed analysis. |
| It is a more appropriate assignment for K-12 students. | It is a more appropriate assignment for college-level students. |
How to Write a Book Report?
“How to do a book report?”
Book report writing is a simple process. Follow the steps mentioned below to write one of your own.
1. Pick a Book
It is important to choose the right book when you are writing. Some teachers assign books, and you cannot change that. But if you have a choice of what book to read, pick the one that is interesting to you.
2. Read It and Take Notes
You need to read the book if you want to write a good report. Many students think that just reading the summary online is enough, but it's not. Reading allows you to understand the story better and see all the details so you can write a good report.
When you are reading the book, take notes alongside. This is the most efficient way to remember all the important points and events. Look for quotes and statements that you can use in your report as evidence to support your point of view.
3. Create an Outline
When writing a book report, it is important to be organized and focused. An outline can help with this. Your outline can help you plan and organize your content in the report efficiently. This will help you stay on track while writing your report.
A standard book report outline has three parts:
- Introduction
- Main Body
- Conclusion
4. Write
Now that you have gathered all the information, it is time to start writing your book report. Make sure to focus on the main points of the book and use your outline as a guide.
- Introduction:
“How to start a book report?”
You should start your book report by stating what you found the most interesting about the book. Give a little background information about the plot and the author.
State what type of book you chose and why you chose it. To make your introduction more engaging, tell the readers some interesting fact or part of the story or author.
- Main Body:
Divide your main body into several paragraphs. In these paragraphs, give a brief overview of the story, character details, and plot development. Also, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the story. Support your claims with evidence from the book.
- Conclusion:
End your book report with your personal opinions. Share your thoughts about the book with your readers. Give them an honest opinion about the work with strong logical reasons. If they are looking for a reason to read the book, tell them why they should pick it up.
5. Review and Edit
Your book report is incomplete without revision. Read it a few times to look for mistakes. Make sure the format is as per the professor’s requirement. Also, check for plagiarism, grammatical errors, and coherence.
If you’re wondering ‘how to write a book report college level?’ These steps are the perfect guidelines for all academic levels. Whether you’re a high school student or a collegiate, follow these steps to write a compelling report.
We’ve also put together a template for your guidance. Check it out to write an exemplary book report.
Book Report Format
When writing a book report, it is important to follow the correct format. This will help you to make the most of your time and effort.
Following are the standard guidelines you should follow to format your book report:
- Mention the name and type of book, name of the author, number of pages.
- Underline or italicize the name of the book.
- Identify and briefly describe the characters in the story.
- Describe the plot setting.
- Give a brief summary of the plot.
- Discuss the main theme or message.
- Give your honest opinion.
- Keep the word limit between 200-250.
- If the format is not specified, use the MLA format.
Book Report Templates for Different Academic Levels
Students at different academic levels have different skills. Hence, the requirements for their book reports vary as well.
Here are some book report templates for different grade levels.
Book Report Examples
Are you looking for an expertly written book report example?
We’ve compiled some great book report ideas for your ease and guidance. Check them out below to learn how to write one on your own.
What is a book report? How do you write one? And what format should it be in? We’ve answered all of these questions and more in this comprehensive guide.
We’ve also included plenty of helpful examples to get you on your way to writing stellar book reports. Whether you’re in high school or college, we have templates and examples that will fit your academic level.
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