How to Write a Book Report

A book report basically allows learners to express their understanding of a book. Students may find this kind of assignment complicated and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be; we will help you get started. In this article, we will take you through everything you need to know to submit a well-structured book report.

What is a book report?

A book report is an essay that gives a summary and analysis of a book. This assignment requires students to conduct a deep review and give a summary of the plot points, author’s ideas, writing techniques, and quality. It also allows students to critique the author’s work by giving their opinion on the author’s work.

How to write a book report outline

A book report outline helps you to plan your thoughts and ideas. A good outline serves as a gateway to a well-written book report. Here is how to draft an effective book report outline;

1. Introduction

• Commence by mentioning the book’s title and the author’s name.
• Begin your introduction with a captivating opening sentence to grasp the mind of the reader.
• State your main argument and perspective on the book in your thesis statement.

 

2. Summary 

• Briefly provide a summary of the book’s plot, including main events, conflict, and resolution.
• Introduce the main characters in the book and their roles.
• Describe the book’s setting and its connection and relevance to the plot.

 

3. Analysis

• Identify the main themes of the book and provide evidence from the book to support your analysis.
• Analyse the characters, traits, and how they develop throughout the book.
• Provide specific quotes to back up your analysis.
• Assess the author’s writing technic and use of figures of speech like metaphors, personifications, etc., and give an analysis of how this writing styles impact the book.

4. Conclusion

• Provide your final thoughts on the book.
• Reaffirm your thesis statement and its relevance to the book.
• Give your closing remarks and reflections on the book.

5. Personal Evaluation

• Give your personal opinion on the book.
• Explain what you liked or disliked and why.
• State any individual connections or understandings you gained from the book.

6. Recommendations

• Give suggestions based on your analysis.
• Recommend an audience that may enjoy reading the book and indicate why.
• If applicable, compare and contrast the book with other books of the same genre.

7. References

• Ensure you support your writing with quotations, and be sure to list all the sources including the book itself.
• The referencing style of a book report depends on the writing style instructed by your lecturer.

 

Steps to write a book report

Book reports can apply to novels of all genres, though some genres appear to be harder than others, the format is the same. Here are a few steps to aid you in crafting an interesting book report.

1. Choose a book

Picking a perfect book is the first important task in your book report writing process. If the book title has not been provided by your instructor, select a book that aligns with your interests. A book that aligns with your passion makes the process enjoyable and easier.

2. Read and Explore the book

Dive into the book, and mark key points such as main plots, characters, and important passages as you read through. A thorough read also gives the learner an in-depth understanding of the book.

3. Highlight key parts and main ideas

Write down important points and insights in a notebook. Writing notes comes in handy when you putting your report together later.

4. Document important quotes

Important quotes from the book enhance the flow of your essay. They also serve as backup for your analysis. Learners are advised to pick quotes that align with their book report themes and ideas.

5. Craft an outline

A good outline is a getaway for crafting a compelling book report. An outline ensures that your thoughts and ideas are properly organized. They also ensure you cover all the major points in your analysis.

6. Write your Book report

After efficiently carrying out the above process, it is finally time to put your ideas into writing. Here are elements to include in your book report;

• Introduction: begin with an engaging introduction to the book including the authors’ name book title and any other relevant information. Proceed to state your perspective or argument in the thesis statement.
• Plot summary: provide a summary of the plot of the book, including the main characters, setting, and conflict.
• Analysis: in this section of your report, analyse the book’s theme, writing styles, symbolism, and literary elements. Back up your analysis with quotes and illustrations from the book.
• Conclusion: give a summary of the main points, revisit your thesis statement, and share your overall assessment of the book. You can also include reflections to contemplate as well as recommendations to spark the curiosity and interest of the reader.

 

7. Check for errors and ensure clarity. 

Before pressing that submit button, scan your book report for any mistakes. Check and rectify any spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and punctuation problems. Also, read through to ensure that your ideas transition flawlessly between your paragraphs: correct any inconsistencies in the flow of your essay if any.

Tips for writing a compelling book report

1.    Search for hidden messages or symbols in the book: they reveal deeper understanding.

2.    Study how the author narrates the story to get a bigger picture.

3.   Question why the characters act the way they do, this will help you get a deeper meaning of the reasons behind their actions.

4.   Refer to book report templates to get a clearer understanding of the required writing style.

5.   Keep your analysis focused on the content the readers are looking for.

6.   Support your arguments with evidence from the book.

7.    Always refer to your assignment guidelines and formatting requirements.

 

As you learn how to write a book report its paramount you read How To Write A Case Study because its definately a must come across assignment in your studies.

How to write a book report for different academic levels

A book report is a form of writing that can be done at all academic levels. The components of a book report can differ at these academic levels. Here is how to format your book reports in the different academic levels;

 

Elementary school level

Below are some of the guidelines to follow while writing a report at this level;

• Include the book title and the author.
• Mention the various characters in the book.
• Give a summary of the plot.
• State your personal opinion.

Middle school level

Here are a few guidelines to follow when crafting a report at the middle school level;

• Include the author’s name and the title.
• Give an introduction with the book title, author, and context.
• Write the plot summary.
• Include your recommendations or suggestions.

 

College level

Below are tips on how to write a book report at the college level;

• Refer to the instructions for your assignment.
• Read the book and take notes.
• Follow the format instructed by your tutor.
• Include an introduction with the author and title of the book.
• Write the summary.
• Highlight essential details, plot twists, and conflicts.
• Write a conclusion and include your personal opinion.

 

High school

Below are a few tips to follow when writing your book report at the high school level;

• Dive into the book jotting down the key ideas.
• Create a good book report outline.
• Include the title and the author’s name in the introduction.
• Identify and analyze the main characters.
• Summarize the main events, symbols, and writing styles.
• Provide a conclusion, and include your thoughts in your conclusion.

 

University level

Here are tips on how to write a book report at the university level;

• Read your assignment instructions.
• Read through the book keenly while taking notes.
• Write a captivating introduction including the book’s title and the author’s name.
• Write the summary.
• Conclude with a summary and your thoughts.

 

The difference between a book report and a book review

Students normally confuse between a book report and a book review. Confusing the two can cost you your grades. Here is how a book report varies from a book review;

 

Book report	Book review
It aims to provide an objective summary of the book’s content concentrating on the main plot, characters and setting.	It aims to offer a personal evaluation of a book’s quality focusing on its positives and negatives.
It focuses on summarizing the book’s key elements and occurrences.	It focuses on the reviewer’s personal opinion and preferences.
Personal opinions are minimized or not included at all.	Mainly depends on the reviewer’s personal opinion.
It is a deep assessment of the books content in terms of plot, characters, themes, etc.	It is a critical analysis of the book’s writing style, themes, and impact.
It is normally written for academic purposes.	It is crafted for the general audience including potential readers of a book.

 

  Conclusion

A good book report includes an analysis of the authors of the different elements and writing styles that comprise the plot, tone, theme, perspective, diction, dialogue, etc. In this article, we have taken you through all the necessary steps to craft an impactful report.

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Example of a Book Report

Book Report: Alexander of Macedon, 365-323 B.C.

Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography is a book written by Peter Green and first published in 1974. The book is a historical biography of King Alexander the Great, who reigned over Macedonia from 336 B.C. to 323 B.C. In this biography, Green manifests critical research skills as he integrates different scholarly documents written by earlier scholars to bring to light the adventurous life of Alexander the Great. Throughout the entire book, the author paints Alexander the great not only as an individual with a complex personality but also as a brutal general capable of arranging for his own father’s murder and the massacre of civilians.  The first five chapters explore Alexander’s early life up to the time he served in the Macedonian army. The rest of the book explores Alexander’s military expeditions across the world before his eventual downfall.  Reading through Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography, the reader is not only able to gain clear and unquestionable knowledge about Alexander the Great, but also the history of Ancient Greece.

The prose of this book is clearly and chronologically organized, giving a clear understanding of the life of Alexander and his journey to shaping the world. Green introduces the autobiography by exploring the early life of Alexander the Great. Chapter 1 details information about little-known incidents of Alexander’s life by giving an account of his father Philip of Macedonia and goes further to examine their relationship. By giving an account of Alexander’s father, Green shows a contrasting vision between the two Kings. While the father had dreams of reigning over a consolidated and unified Greece, the son had bigger dreams of conquering the world. King Philip II’s reign saw Macedonia become the first empire to have an effectively centralized government and military (1). King’s power was absolute, making him capable of owning all land, holding supreme command in war, being the treasurer, the priest, and the judge, and delegating his power during his absence. However, the king was still answerable to the Macedonian assembly, which reserved the duty of trying citizens for crimes such as treason, and confirming the king’s succession (17). King Philip II transformed Macedonia’s army, solved its infantry problem, and made it one of the most highly trained and formidable fighting units in the world. For instance, the spears used by the Macedonian troops were13-14 feet long, twice the length of normal infantry thrusting spears (19). Macedonian troops were constantly put through complex close-order drills and subjected to morale-boosting lectures. In a reign that began with a lot of pessimism, Philip turned Macedonia around and made it an empire not worth messing with. It took less than three weeks for Philip to weed out opposition and earn respect from other empires such as Athens. The author highlights the oblique advance tactic used by King Philip and later his son Alexander to earn him victory over the Illyrians. This tactic entailed creating an oblique formation intended to weaken one portion of the enemy while concentrating the troops on the strongest flank of the enemy (25).  It is important to note that Philip himself adopted this tactic from Epaminondas just as his son Alexander would later adapt it for his expeditions. By showing the successes of King Philip II, the author seeks to show that whatever successes Alexander had were all a result of the efforts his father had made before.

In the second chapter through to the third, Green gives an insight into birth and early life of Alexander. Alexander’s birth was controversial with both favorable and hostile propaganda about the legitimacy of his birth (39). The propaganda would later form a basis of a false oracle confirming Alexander not to be Philip’s son but as a divine being and son of the omnipotent Greek god Zeus. From a young age, Alexander found himself in a male world with soldiers full of rude energy and enthusiasm that drove them to fight, drink and fornicate (40). It is revealed that although Alexander’s mother Queen Olympias often spoilt him, she never played any role in turning him against his father Philip, as often suggested. According to Green, Philip and his wife Queen Olympia both participated in bringing up their son. However, as Green notes, Philip and his son Alexander barely met because Philip was often away on campaign and when he came back, he was preoccupied with diplomatic work. Alexander’s relationships with his mother and father were different. While he idolized his mother, his relationship with his father was both one of genuine admiration and jealousy. The jealousy Alexander had over his father’s successes gave birth to competitiveness and rivalry (40). Thus, Alexander followed in his father’s footsteps not only to emulate him but also to excel above him. The more his father’s career dazzled, the more Alexander wanted to achieve more and be the best. Alexander was put through school, and with time, he grew into a boy of a height considered below average, however, he had a very muscular body and was a fast runner. Philip wanted the best for his son and enrolled him in education under Aristotle, hoping that his son would not have to do the same things he was sorry to have done (56). Green seeks to dispel the popular notion of Oedipus’s complex in Alexander’s relationship with his mother Olympias. By taking his father to task over his relationships with other women besides his mother, Alexander was only anxious that, just like his father, he would have to go through the stress of fighting for succession with his illegitimate half-brothers. As a response, Philip told his son to work hard to prove himself and obtain the kingdom (56). As he progressed through his studies, Alexander developed interests in Biology and Medicine, later reading and discussing poetry, especially Homer’s Iliad. He also developed a great interest in eristics. However, this interest would later turn disastrous and even early on, Isocrates warned that the education Alexander received should have not been about learning eristics but the harsh realities of politics.

In Chapter 3, Green explores Alexander’s rise to leadership. While his father was away for the Byzantine campaign, Alexander led troops to quell a rebellion that broke out among the Maedi. His father Philip realized his ambition for power and advised him to befriend the Macedonian nobility and the masses while he could. However, Alexander’s act of renaming the conquered city after his name signaled his appetite for royal power, which could later prove detrimental to his relationship with his father (67).  Around this time, Philip was faced with the threat of other city-states joining forces against him. Knowing that he was not capable of winning a war on the sea, he forced a land war, duped them with misinformation, and attacked and beat them. It is in this chapter that Green gives an account of Philip’s death. According to the author, doubts about Alexander’s succession to his father were cast after Philip announced plans to marry Cleopatra after claims of Alexander’s mother was accused of adultery. During this time, rumors about Alexander not being a legitimate child sprout (88). The rumors were made public after Attalus called on Macedonians to ask the gods that from Philip and Cleopatra be born a legitimate heir to the throne.  It is from this point that Alexander and his mother Olympia began to plot against Philip. According to Green, Olympias had from the beginning created the seed of contempt within Alexander against his father and made him consider himself a king in his own right and not an eventual successor (108). This way, Philip became an obstacle to Alexander’s divine right, an obstacle that deserved to be eliminated. Alexander might have waited for the opportune moment to exact revenge against his father by arranging for his murder. However, whether Alexander really planned his father’s assassination is unclear from Green’s account.

In Chapter 4, Alexander was acclaimed king and immediately swung into action. However, he was not uniformly respected as some regions refused to acknowledge him. Alexander was able to exert his influence over the empire more firmly. Although Alexander and his father were foes, he assured the people that he would rule the kingdom using the principles adopted by his father (113). Just like his father, Alexander kept his army occupied through constant training and exercises. Attempts by some regions of the empire to rebel were thwarted through diplomacy or force. Once he had dealt with immediate threats, Alexander ventured to conquer the world. However, Alexander had not addressed two threats in his kingdom; Amyntas and Cleopatra’s son Caranus. Caranus was Alexander’s step brother born to his step mother Cleopatra and had Alexander been declared a bastard son, he may not have become king. Amyntas was Alexander’s cousin and just like Cleopata’s son, he too was a potential heir to the throne.

In Chapter 5, Green reveals some major problems Alexander encountered early in his reign. After his return to Pella, Alexander was confronted with financial issues, so much so that it became difficult to run his army. His father King Philip had died in debt, and the money accrued from silver and gold mining could not cover the expenses. In a bid to appeal to his people to support his reign, Alexander abolished tax, putting the country on the brink of bankruptcy (113). These circumstances, as Green notes, pushed Alexander to wage war against foreign lands that could provide a source of income for his kingdom. As he prepared for war, Alexander borrowed heavily to train his army. For his first battle against Darius, Alexander invested in a large variety of technicians, specialists, scholars, and scientists (161).

Chapter Six through Chapter 10, Alexander’s military expeditions against Persia, Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Afghanistan, and India. Alexander had a clear goal he needed to achieve by conquering different cities. He wanted to seize control of the cities’ revenue in a bid to solve his financial problems. Alexander went a step ahead to pressure the cities to join the Hellenistic Union, make it easier for him to establish his base wherever he pleased. Chapter 7 and 8 explore Alexander’s military expeditions in the Middle East and Asia. His victory at Tyre brought all the coastal cities under his control (246). In Asia, Alexander extended the Macedonian empire to as far as Taxila. However, Alexander’s main goal of venturing into Asia was to conquer India. With each conquest, Alexander expanded the Macedonian empire, before his achievements came crumpling down on him.

Chapter 10 explores the beginning of Alexander’s fall. His conquest of India did not bear much loot, and Alexander was forced to return home almost empty-handed. However, his return home was not good news to those who were not loyal to him. After eight years of fighting, his own men were tired and openly defied his commands. Back at home, there was a threat of civil war from a people that were divided about his return (473). Towards the end, Green explores the controversies around Alexander’s death. According to Green, Alexander began experiencing high fever, which kept getting worse. This fever may have been a result of poisoning or malaria. Nevertheless, the author concludes that Alexander’s death was more celebrated than it was mourned and the empire that he had spent his time building disintegrated when he died.

In conclusion, Alexander of Macedon 356-323 B.C.: A Historical Biography provides a comprehensive account of Alexander’s life, exploring the good and the bad about him. The book offers a clear image of Alexander as the world’s greatest military general and his failures as a brutal and cold ruler who massacred thousands of native people, sometimes wiping out entire tribes during his campaign. Although Alexander was a brilliant military leader who expanded the limits of the kingdom of Macedonia, he was a greedy leader characterized by self-indulgent behavior that cost him the loyalty of his men. Reading the biography, the reader can decide whether to consider Alexander a hero or a villain.

 

 

Works Cited

Green, Peter. Alexander of Macedon, 356–323 BC: A historical biography. Vol. 11. Univ of California Press, 2013