A book report is one form of persuasive writing; it’s an opportunity to give your opinion
or reaction about a book you have read. It can be as short as a single paragraph, or it can be
longer. Your first step in writing a book report is to read your book carefully and thoughtfully. If
you need to, take notes to help you remember important points. Next, decide if you want to write
about the plot, characters, setting, or theme of the story. Then, write a topic sentence for each
paragraph, and include several supporting ideas within the paragraph. Make sure you include the
title of the book and the author’s name someplace in the report. Close with your opinion of the
book, and whether or not you would recommend it to others.
While many people merely think of a book report as simple stuff, I realize that it is more than that.
In its easiest context, a book report totally reports the book. While this does seem elementary, it
is in fact not. In fact, many colleges use book reports today. While many people begin writing
book reports as early as second grade, some people don’t finish them in the their whole lives. This
is because they write book reports for their children and grandchildren.
