what to include in book report

How to Write a Book Report

Writing a book report can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In essence, a book report is a summary of a book’s content, structure, and analysis. It is a way for you to demonstrate your understanding of the book and its themes. A well-written book report can showcase your attention to detail, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.

Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly

What is a book report?

A book report is a written summary of a book’s content and your analysis of it. It includes an introduction, plot summary, analysis, and conclusion. A book report is typically assigned to students in middle or high school, but it can also be assigned in college. Book reports are typically 250–500 words long.

What is the purpose of a book report?

The purpose of a book report is to demonstrate your understanding of the book and its themes . It is a way for you to practice critical thinking skills and develop your writing ability. Additionally, a book report can help a teacher assess a student’s reading comprehension and analytical abilities.

What are the elements of a good book report?

A good book report should include the following elements:

• Introduction : This section should include the book’s title, its author, and any other relevant information.
• Plot summary: This section should provide a summary of the book’s plot, including the main characters, setting, and conflict.
• Analysis: This section should provide your analysis of the book, including its themes, symbolism , and other literary devices .
• Conclusion : This section should summarize your thoughts on the book and its relevance.

How to write a book report

Writing a book report might feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into smaller steps can make it more manageable. Here’s a detailed guide on how to write a book report that will help you get started:

1 Read the book

Read the book thoroughly, taking note of the significant plot points, characters, themes, and tones. It’s important to read the book carefully to identify these things.

2 Take notes

As you read, take notes on the plot, characters, and themes. This will help you organize your thoughts and keep track of important information.

3 Create an outline

Use your notes to create an outline for your book report. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you cover all the major points.

4 Write the introduction

The introduction should include the book’s title, its author, and any other relevant information. It should also include a thesis statement that summarizes your overall opinion of the book.

5 Write the plot summary

The plot summary should provide a brief summary of the book’s plot, including the main characters, setting, and conflict. Be sure to include any major plot twists or events that affect the story.

6 Write the analysis

The analysis explores your insights into the book, including its themes, symbolism, and any other literary devices. Use specific examples from the book to support your analysis and provide evidence for your arguments.

7 Write the conclusion

The conclusion should summarize your overall thoughts on the book and its relevance. Be sure to restate your thesis statement and provide a final analysis of the book.

Tips for writing a book report

When writing a book report, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. First, avoid repetition by adding a new perspective about the book. Second, be concise and keep your analysis focused on the content your readers are looking for. Third, support your claims and positions with insights from the book and provide evidence for your arguments.

Remember, there are no firm requirements for what should be included in a book report. However, it’s important to pay attention to elements with specific formatting rules, such as the title page, table of contents, page numbers, headings and subheadings, citations , and the works cited page . Always refer to the assignment for specific guidelines and formatting requirements.

If you follow these steps and keep these tips in mind, you can write a thorough and thoughtful book report that will impress your readers. Don’t be afraid to share your opinion and insights into the book and remember to support your arguments with evidence from the text.

Book report vs. book review

A book report and a book review are often confused, but they are not the same thing. A book report is a summary of a book’s content and analysis, while a book review is a critical evaluation of a book’s content, style, and merit. A book review is typically written for a more advanced audience and is often published in a literary journal or newspaper.

Example book report

To provide a clear example of a book report, we’ll look at one on To Kill a Mockingbird , by Harper Lee.

Introduction: To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee and published in 1960. The book is set in the 1930s in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, and follows the story of a young girl, Scout Finch, as she learns about the injustices of the world around her. The novel explores themes of racism, prejudice, and the loss of innocence and is a powerful commentary on the social issues of its time.

Plot summary: The book revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson, a Black man accused of raping a white woman. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is the defense attorney for Tom Robinson and faces opposition from the town’s residents for defending a Black man. Throughout the story, Scout and her brother Jem learn about racism and prejudice and the importance of standing up for what is right. The trial serves as a catalyst for the children’s moral growth and understanding of the world around them. The plot also features Boo Radley, a reclusive neighbor who becomes a mystery for the children to solve.

Analysis: To Kill a Mockingbird is a powerful commentary on racism and injustice in America. The book highlights the importance of empathy and understanding and shows the devastating effects of prejudice. The characters in the book, especially Atticus Finch, serve as examples of how to stand up for what is right, even in the face of opposition.

Conclusion: To Kill a Mockingbird is more than just a story; it is a window into a time and place that many of us have never experienced firsthand. It is a reminder that racism and prejudice still exist today, and it challenges people to examine their own biases and beliefs. The book’s themes of justice, equality, and empathy are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published. To Kill a Mockingbird is a timeless classic that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.

Book report FAQs

A book report is a written summary of a book’s content and your analysis of it.

The purpose of a book report is to demonstrate your understanding of the book and its themes. It is a way for you to practice critical thinking skills and develop your writing ability.

What should a book report include?

A book report should include an introduction, a plot summary, an analysis, and a conclusion. It should also include the book’s title, its author, and any other relevant information.

This blog post was written with the support of Grammarly generative AI.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Arts and Entertainment

A Beginner's Guide to Writing a Book Report (with Examples)

Last Updated: June 25, 2024 Fact Checked

• Researching
• Drafting the Report
• Reviewing & Revising

Sample Book Reports & Summaries

Expert q&a.

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,422,538 times.

A book report is a short essay that summarizes and analyzes a work of fiction or nonfiction. Writing a book report may not seem fun at first, but it gives you a great chance to fully understand a work and its author. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about how to write a book report, from choosing a book and outlining to drafting and editing your final paper.

Things You Should Know

• Read the entire book and take notes on important themes, characters, and events. Use your notes to create an outline with evidence that supports your analysis.
• Include the title and author in your intro, then summarize the plot, main characters, and setting of the book.
• Analyze the author’s writing style, as well as the main themes and arguments of the book. Include quotes and examples to support your statements.

Researching Your Book Report

• For example, find out if your teacher wants you to include citations, such as page numbers from the book, in your report.
• Ask your teacher how much of your paper to devote to summary versus analysis. Most book reports are direct summaries with objective analysis rather than your personal opinions. In contrast, a book review or commentary is more opinion-driven.

• Some popular books for book reports include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Choose a book at your grade level.

• Author: Who wrote the book? Do you know any other works by this author?
• Genre: Is the book fiction or nonfiction? If it’s fiction, is it historical, fantasy, horror, etc.? If it’s nonfiction, is it a biography, memoir, science, etc.?
• Audience: Who would find this book appealing? Is it intended for a specific age range or gender? Do you typically enjoy books like this?
• Title: Does the title catch your interest? Does it fit well with the book’s content?
• Book Cover/Illustrations: What does the book cover convey and does it accurately represent the book? How do you feel when you look at it? If the book has illustrations, what are they and do they hold your interest?

• Take breaks while reading to keep your attention sharp. Try to find a pace that is comfortable for you. If you get distracted after 15 minutes, read in 15-minute intervals. If you can go an hour, read for an hour at a time.
• Give yourself enough time to read the entire book. It’s very difficult to write a book report if you’ve just skimmed over everything. Don’t procrastinate!
• Don’t trust online book summaries. You can’t guarantee that they are accurate or true to the text.

• For example, look for a sentence that clearly describes a main setting in the book, such as “The castle was gloomy and made out of large black stones.”

Outlining Your Book Report

• Introduction: Introduce the title, author, and publication information. Include a brief overview of the book’s genre and main theme, and state your purpose for writing the report.
• Summary: Concisely summarize the plot or central idea, highlighting main events, characters, and conflicts. Focus on important aspects while avoiding spoilers.
• Analysis and Evaluation: Evaluate the author’s writing style and use of literary devices, like foreshadowing, metaphors, imagery, etc. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the book and use quotes and examples from the text.
• Themes and Messages: Identify the book’s main themes or messages and how they develop through the course of the book. Provide specific quotes and examples.
• Character Analysis: Analyze the main characters in the book, their development, and their relationships. Explain their motivations, personalities, and significance to the story. Provide examples and quotes to support your analysis.
• Personal Reflection: Depending on your teacher’s instructions, you might share your personal opinions and discuss what you liked and disliked about the book. Reflect on how the book relates to broader themes or issues.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points and conclude with your final thoughts or reflections on the book.
• Bibliography: If required, include a works cited page or bibliography listing all the sources you used to write your book report.
• Outlining takes time, but it saves you more time once you reach the editing stage.
• Some people prefer to outline with pen and paper, while others just type up a list on the computer. Choose the method that works best for you.

• Be careful not to overuse quotes. If it seems like every other line is a quote, try to dial back. Aim to include a maximum of one quotation per paragraph. Quotes and examples should still take a backseat to your summary.

• For example, you’ll likely need to focus primarily on discussing the most important characters or the characters that appear most frequently in the text.
• When you are finished with your outline, go back through it to see if it makes sense. If the paragraphs don’t flow into one another, move them around or add/delete new ones until they do.
• Also, check to see if your outline covers all of the major elements of the book, such as the plot, characters, and setting.

Writing Your Book Report

• For example, a sentence summary might state, “This book is about the main character’s journey to Africa and what she learns on her travels.”
• Don’t take up too much space with your introduction. In general, an introduction should be 3-6 sentences long, though in rare cases, they may be longer or shorter.

• Use vivid language when you can and include plenty of details. For example, you might write, “The farm was surrounded by rolling hills.”

• For instance, if the main character moves to Africa, you might describe what happens before the move, how the move goes, and how they settle in once they arrive.

• For example, you might write that the main character is “a middle-aged woman who enjoys the finer things in life, such as designer clothes.” Then, connect this description to the plot summary by describing how her views change after her travels, if they do.
• Expect to introduce the characters in the same sentences and paragraphs as the plot introduction.

• You might write, “The author argues that travel gives you a new perspective. That is why her main characters all seem happier and more grounded after visiting new places.”
• For fiction, determine if the author is using the story to pass along a certain moral or lesson. For example, a book about an underdog athlete could encourage readers to take chances to pursue their dreams.

• For example, an author who uses lots of slang terms is probably going for a hip, approachable style.

• Some teachers require, or strongly suggest, that you include the author’s name and the book title in your concluding paragraph.
• When writing a conclusion , don’t introduce any new thoughts. Any important points should be made in your body paragraphs. Save the space for your recap.

Reviewing and Revising Your Book Report

• Before you submit your paper, make sure that you’ve spelled the author’s name and any character names correctly.
• Don’t trust your computer’s spell check to catch all the errors for you. Spell check can be helpful, but it isn’t perfect and can make mistakes.

• If you’re nervous about asking, try saying something like “It would be great if you could go over my book report and make sure that it reads smoothly.”
• Remember, no one’s first draft is perfect, so don’t get upset if someone suggests you do something differently. They want to help make your report the best it can be, so don’t take constructive criticism personally.

• For example, double-check that you are using the correct font, font size, and margins.
• Once you've finished proofreading, revising, and checking that you've addressed all the requirements, you're ready to submit your book report!

• Even though your book report is your own work, avoid using “I” too much. It can make your writing feel choppy. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• It might be tempting to watch the movie or read the online notes instead of reading the book. Resist this urge! Your teacher will be able to tell the difference. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Calm down and walk around if you get too frustrated while writing. If you write a book report while angry, you're more likely to misspell things!
• Choose a unique book. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson is an absolute no. Everyone chooses those. Try something different!
• Write when anything comes to mind! You don't want to lose your ideas!

• Give yourself plenty of time to write your report. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may feel rushed. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
• Stealing or using another person’s work is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Make sure that the work you submit is all your own. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-book-report.html
• ↑ Jake Adams. Academic Tutor & Test Prep Specialist. Expert Interview. 24 July 2020.
• ↑ https://grammark.org/how-to-write-a-book-report/
• ↑ https://takelessons.com/blog/steps-to-writing-a-book-report
• ↑ https://www.infoplease.com/homework-help/homework-center-writing-book-report
• ↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-setting
• ↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-plot-summary.pdf
• ↑ https://www.cornerstone.edu/blog-post/six-steps-to-really-edit-your-paper/

About This Article

To write a book report, start by introducing the author and the name of the book and then briefly summarizing the story. Next, discuss the main themes and point out what you think the author is trying to suggest to the reader. Finally, write about the author’s style of writing, paying particular attention to word choice and the overall tone of the book. For tips on editing and polishing your paper before turning it in, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Louise Pena

May 17, 2016

Did this article help you?

Ashley Egerage

Nov 13, 2017

Aug 20, 2016

Charlotte Arney

Mar 10, 2023

Nov 16, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

How to Write a Book Report (+ Book Report Example) 

Download for free, specific tips for writing effective book reports..

Write better book reports using the tips, examples, and outlines presented here. This resource covers three types of effective book reports: plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. It also features a specific book report example for students.

How to write a book report (+ book report example) 

Whether you're a student looking to show your comprehension of a novel, or simply a book lover wanting to share your thoughts, writing a book report can be a rewarding experience. This guide, filled with tips, tricks, and a book report example, will help you craft a report that effectively communicates your understanding and analysis of your chosen book.

Looking for a printable resource on book reports? See our Printable Book Report Outlines and Examples

What is a book report? 

Book reports can take on many different forms. Writing a book review helps you practice giving your opinion about different aspects of a book, such as an author's use of description or dialogue.

You can write book reports of any type, from fiction to non-fiction research papers, or essay writing; however, there are a few basic elements you need to include to convey why the book you read was interesting when writing a good book report.

Types of book reports 

Three types of effective book reports are plot summaries, character analyses, and theme analyses. Each type focuses on different aspects of the book and requires a unique approach. These three types of book reports will help you demonstrate your understanding of the book in different ways.

Plot summary

When you are writing a plot summary for your book report you don't want to simply summarize the story. You need to explain what your opinion is of the story and why you feel the plot is so compelling, unrealistic, or sappy. It is the way you analyze the plot that will make this a good report. Make sure that you use plenty of examples from the book to support your opinions.

Try starting the report with a sentence similar to the following:

The plot of I Married a Sea Captain , by Monica Hubbard, is interesting because it gives the reader a realistic sense of what it was like to be the wife of a whaling captain and live on Nantucket during the 19th century.

Character analysis

If you choose to write a character analysis, you can explore the physical and personality traits of different characters and the way their actions affect the plot of the book.

• Explore the way a character dresses and what impression that leaves with the reader.
• What positive characteristics does the character possess?
• Does the character have a "fatal flaw" that gets him/her into trouble frequently?
• Try taking examples of dialogue and analyzing the way a character speaks. Discuss the words he/she chooses and the way his/her words affect other characters.
• Finally, tie all of your observations together by explaining the way the characters make the plot move forward.

In the novel Charlotte's Web , by E. B. White, Templeton the rat may seem like an unnecessary character but his constant quest for food moves the plot forward in many ways.

Theme analyses

Exploring the themes (or big ideas that run throughout the story) in a book can be a great way to write a book report because picking a theme that you care about can make the report easier to write. Try bringing some of your thoughts and feelings as a reader into the report as a way to show the power of a theme. Before you discuss your own thoughts, however, be sure to establish what the theme is and how it appears in the story.

• Explain  exactly  what theme you will be exploring in your book report.
• Use as many examples and quotations from the book as possible to prove that the theme is important to the story.
• Make sure that you talk about each example or quotation you've included. Make a direct connection between the theme and the example from the book.
• After you have established the theme and thoroughly examined the way it affects the book, include a few sentences about the impact the theme had upon you and why it made the book more or less enjoyable to read.

In the novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry , by Mildred Taylor, the theme of racial prejudice is a major catalyst in the story.

How to write a book report

1. Thoroughly read the book

Immerse yourself in the book, taking the time to read it in its entirety. As you read, jot down notes on important aspects such as key points, themes, and character developments.

2. Identify the main elements of the book

Scrutinize the book's primary components, including its main themes, characters, setting, and plot. These elements will form the basis of your report.

3. Formulate a thesis statement

Compose a thesis statement that encapsulates your personal perspective about the book. This should be a concise statement that will guide your analysis and give your report a clear focus.

4. Create a detailed outline

Plan the structure of your book report. This outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs each focusing on a different aspect of the book, and a conclusion.

5. Craft the introduction

The introduction should provide basic information such as the book's title and author, and present your thesis statement. It should engage the reader and make them interested in your analysis.

6. Write the body of the report

In the body of your report, discuss in detail the book's main elements that you identified in step 3. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis and to prove your thesis statement.

7. Write a strong conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize your analysis, reaffirm your thesis, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the overall book.

8. Review and edit your report

After writing, take the time to revise your report for clarity and coherence. Check for and correct any grammar or spelling errors. Ensure that your report clearly communicates your understanding and analysis of the book.

9. Include citations

If you have used direct quotes or specific ideas from the book, make sure to include proper citations . This is crucial in academic writing and helps avoid plagiarism.

10. Proofread

Finally, proofread your work. Look for any missed errors and make sure that the report is the best it can be before submitting it.

Book report example 

Below is a book report example on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

In  To Kill a Mockingbird , Harper Lee presents a thoughtful exploration of racial prejudice, morality, and the loss of innocence. Set in the small, fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, the book centers around the Finch family - young Scout, her older brother Jem, and their widowed father, Atticus. Scout's character provides a fresh perspective as she narrates her experiences and observations of the unjust racial prejudice in her town. Her honesty and curiosity, coupled with her father's teachings, allow her to grow from innocence to a more profound understanding of her society's inequalities. The plot revolves around Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer, defending a black man, Tom Robinson, unjustly accused of raping a white woman. As the trial progresses, it becomes clear that Robinson is innocent, and the accusation was a product of racial prejudice. Despite compelling evidence in Robinson's favor, he is convicted, symbolizing the power of bias over truth. The theme of racial prejudice is a significant part of the book. Lee uses the trial and its unjust outcome to critique the racial prejudice prevalent in society. For example, despite Atticus's solid defense, the jury's racial bias leads them to find Robinson guilty. This instance highlights how deeply ingrained prejudice can subvert justice. The book also explores the theme of the loss of innocence. Scout and Jem's experiences with prejudice and injustice lead to their loss of innocence and a better understanding of the world's complexities. For example, Scout's realization of her town's unfair treatment of Robinson demonstrates her loss of innocence and her understanding of societal biases. Overall,  To Kill a Mockingbird  is a compelling exploration of the harsh realities of prejudice and the loss of innocence. Harper Lee's intricate characters and vivid storytelling have made this book a classic.

The above is an excellent book report example for several reasons. First, it provides a clear, concise summary of the plot without giving away the entire story. Second, it analyzes the main characters, their roles, and their impacts on the story. Third, it discusses the major themes of the book - racial prejudice and loss of innocence - and supports these themes with evidence from the text. Finally, it presents a personal perspective on the book's impact and overall message, demonstrating a deep understanding of the book's significance.

Book report checklist

Always  include the following elements in any book report:

• The type of book report you are writing
• The book's title
• The author of the book
• The time when the story takes place
• The location where the story takes place
• The names and a  brief  description of each of the characters you will be discussing
• Many quotations and examples from the book to support your opinions
• A thesis statement
• The point of view of the narrator
• Summary of the book
• The main points or themes discussed in the work of fiction or non-fiction
• The first paragraph (introductory paragraph), body paragraphs, and final paragraph
• The writing styles of the author
• A critical analysis of the fiction or non-fiction book

Don't forget! 

No matter what type of book report you decide to write, ensure it includes basic information about the main characters, and make sure that your writing is clear and expressive so that it’s easy for audiences in middle school, high school, college-level, or any grade level to understand. Also, include examples from the book to support your opinions. Afterward, conduct thorough proofreading to complete the writing process. Book reports may seem disconnected from your other schoolwork, but they help you learn to summarize, compare and contrast, make predictions and connections, and consider different perspectives & skills you'll need throughout your life.

Looking for more writing resources? You can find them in our creative writing center .

Featured Middle School Resources

Related Resources

• Ask LitCharts AI
• Discussion Question Generator
• Essay Prompt Generator
• Quiz Question Generator

• Literature Guides
• Poetry Guides
• Shakespeare Translations
• Literary Terms

How to Write a Book Report

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting. 

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom,  you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom  details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report. 

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider  incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film  Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource  Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea. 

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner  walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot  blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This   printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom,  Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine  will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's  English Journal,  Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1978 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 41,744 quotes across 1978 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play

Need something? Request a new guide .

How can we improve? Share feedback .

LitCharts is hiring!

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

• Homework Help
• Essay Examples
• Citation Generator

Writing Guides

• Essay Title Generator
• Essay Topic Generator
• Essay Outline Generator
• Flashcard Generator
• Plagiarism Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Conclusion Generator
• Thesis Statement Generator
• Introduction Generator
• Literature Review Generator
• Hypothesis Generator
• Human Editing Service
• Essay Hook Generator

Writing Guides  /  How to Write the Perfect Book Report (4 easy steps)

How to Write the Perfect Book Report (4 easy steps)

Introduction

Writing the perfect book report shouldn’t be as daunting as it sounds.  With the right help, you can do it in no time at all.  In just four easy steps we’ll show you how.  First, let’s lay the groundwork and cover some basics—like, what is a book report?  What’s the difference between a book report and a book review?  And what kind of template or outline would you use?  We’ll give you all that and more.  Let’s get going!

What is a Book Report

In one sense, the best way to understand a book report is to understand what it is not.  A book report is not a critical analysis.  It is not an exhaustive examination.  It is not an evaluation or a synthesis of scholarly research regarding the book’s merits or intentions.  A book report is quite literally a report of what the book is—i.e., an objective report.  Like any report, you are sticking to the facts.

So, what facts?  Facts like:  the title, the author, the year of publication, the genre, the plot, the characters, and the themes.  The book report is basically a summary of everything about the book.  It describes the book from an objective point of view, as impartially as possible.

Difference between a Book Report and a Book Review

It’s easy to confuse a book report for a book review.  After all, they sound similar.  But they are really quite different.

A book report is informational.  A book review is critical.

A book report focuses on summarizing the book’s plot.  It may describe the characters, the setting, the author’s style of writing, where the book fits within a particular genre, what the author does in the book that resonates with or departs from what he has done in the past.  In other words, the book report tells the facts.  One can imagine the reader being a jury, and the book report is the lawyer telling the jury everything the book has done.  Subjective arguments or criticisms are not admissible.  Just the facts, and nothing but the facts.

A book review is much more than a book report.  The review analyzes, criticizes, reflects on and evaluates the merits of the book.  It can apply any theoretical perspective it wants to draw out an argument or present the book in a different light.  The review is more subjective in that sense; it is not about reporting the facts but rather about interpreting them.  The review is just that—an interpretation of the book.  It can discuss the strengths and/or weaknesses of the book.  The report, however, is a presentation of the facts of the book.  It does not weigh them or judge them; it merely presents them without commentary.

Now, with that said, it is important to remember that a book report does allow one the space to offer one’s own personal response to the book.  This is usually added at the end of the report and should only be a small section in relation to the rest of the review.  The personal reflection is not the main point of the book report.  It is rather a kind of add-on where the report opens itself up a bit to allow some review to get in.  Not much—just a little.  Otherwise, the report risks turning into a review—and that is not what should happen!

Book Report Template

A book report template is simply a standard approach to composing your report.  Here is an example of what that might look like, using To Kill a Mockingbird .

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird Author: Harper Lee Published: 1960 Genre: Southern Gothic, Bildungsroman (Coming-of-Age), Courtroom Drama

To Kill a Mockingbird is set in the town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The story is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl, and follows her and her brother Jem as they confront issues of morality, honor, justice/injustice, racism, fear, and prejudice in their own community. Their father, Atticus Finch, is for all intents and purposes a noble man who represents the moral backbone of the story:  he is an honest lawyer who is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Mayella Ewell. The trial exposes some of the flaws of the people of the town.  Finch does a stand-up job of defending the innocent Tom, but in spite of the clear evidence showing Tom’s innocence, he is still convicted.  Some justice is done, however, in the end, as the true nature of Tom’s accuser is revealed—unfortunately it is a bloody ending.  Meanwhile, Scout and Jem also wrestle with their fascination and fear of their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley, who ultimately becomes an unexpected protector and savior of the children.

• Scout Finch: The young, spirited narrator of the story.
• Jem Finch: Scout’s older brother, who shares in her adventures.
• Atticus Finch: Their father, a lawyer with a strong sense of justice and what is right.
• Tom Robinson: The black man unjustly accused of rape.
• Boo Radley: The mysterious and reclusive neighbor.
• Mayella Ewell: The white woman who falsely accuses Tom Robinson.
• Bob Ewell: Mayella’s racist and abusive father.

The novel focuses on themes of growing up, morality, racism, justice, and the mystery of human nature.  It could be called the original anti-cancel culture novel, as it deals ultimately with questions of empathy and understanding.

Writing Style

Harper Lee uses a first-person narrative style:  the story is seen and told through the eyes of the young girl Scout. This perspective gives the story a layer of innocence, authenticity, novelty, and sincerity.  It also opens the door for mature reflections on serious social issues thanks to insights given by Scout’s wise father Atticus. The Southern Gothic genre is evident in the setting and the exploration of social issues, the suspense, the violence, and the threatening issues underlying the plot.

Personal Reflection

I found this book to be a very good and a very powerful exploration of morality and justice, full of suspense and examples of good character.  Atticus Finch stands out as a just man doing good work and teaching good lessons.  The other characters are also well-developed, and the narrative style is effective in bringing together all the different genres.  The novel basically asks readers to reflect on their own lives and try to live to a high standard.

In conclusion, To Kill a Mockingbird is a modern classic and a novel that is as surprising and relevant today as it was some sixty years ago when it was first published.  As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.  The fact that this novel still feels powerful even though generations have passed indicates that the issues it touches on are still very much in play today.  Plus, Harper Lee’s masterful prose, plotting, insight, and characters make this a must-read novel for all adolescent and adult readers.

View 120,000+ High Quality Essay Examples

Learn-by-example to improve your academic writing

Book Report Outline

A basic book report outline can also help you with your composition.  Let’s look at an example using the book 1984 by George Orwell.

I.  Introduction

a.  Identify the author, the book, the year of publication, and the plot.

b.  Identify the genre: political/social satire; dystopian fiction

c.  Identify the main themes: totalitarianism and loss of free will.

d.  Identify the concepts: War is Peace; newspeak; doublethink.

e.  State the thesis—i.e., the main point of the review.

II.  Summary

a.  Setting

i.  Oceania

ii.  Inside and Outside the Party

b.  Main Characters

i.  Winston Smith—hero who questions the Party line and dares to oppose it, only to be crushed into subservience in the end

ii.  O’Brien—the seemingly well-meaning high-ranking Party member who lures the rebel lovers Winston and Julia back into the Party line

iii.  Julia—Winston’s love interest

iv.  Big Brother—the totalitarian government that spies on all, twists the meaning of words, and rewrites history to its purposes

v.  Emmanuel Goldstein—the mythical enemy of Oceania whose existence is used to justify the Party’s authoritarianism and totalitarianism

i.  Winston begins to doubt the Party line

ii.  He breaks with Party orthodoxy

iii.  He finds a kindred spirit in Julia and they begin a romance

iv.  The discovery a world outside the controls of Big Brother—a world where nature, authenticity, beauty, and harmony still exist

v.  Winston and Julia are betrayed by O’Brien and tortured into submission

vii.  Winston

III.  Themes

a.  Totalitarianism—Big Brother represents the totalitarianism of the novel

b.  Loss of free will—Winston breaks free from Big Brother, but comes up empty in the end because he has nothing stronger than the Party with which to combat O’Brien

IV.  Concepts

a.  War is Peace—a motto of the Party and an example of how Big Brother subverts common sense by promoting falsehood as truth

b.  Newspeak—the Party’s language, which denies reality by lying about what words mean

c.  Doublethink—when the Party’s indoctrination is so successful that one can hold two simultaneously contradictory thoughts in one’s head without trouble

V.  Personal Reflection

a.  Great book—a bit difficult to read at times—but very solid in terms of concepts that reflect the modern world

b.  Too close to reality in some ways

VI.  Conclusion

a.  Reiterate the main points

b.  What is the legacy of the book?

c.  Do you recommend it?

How to Write a Book Report (4 steps)

Before you start writing the book report, you need to read the book carefully and attentively.  As you read, take notes on important details such as the main characters, setting, key events, and any significant themes or symbols.  Pay attention to your own reactions to the book and any questions that you may have as you read. This preparatory step is essential as it provides the foundation for your book report.       You will use the notes you take during this step to write the report.

Once you have finished reading the book and have taken thorough notes, it is time to start organizing your thoughts. Create an outline to structure your report like the one in the example above.  Make sure you over all the necessary components. A typical book report includes information about the book:  summary of the plot, main characters, themes, writing style, genre, author, and so on.  The facts!  The best way to organize them is to create an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.  In the introduction, state your purpose.  In the body, stick to the main points—summary, characters, themes, etc.  In the conclusion, restate the purpose in new words and give your own personal recommendation.

Time to write the report!  With your notes and outline in hand, start writing. Follow the structure of your outline, so that every section flows logically to the next.  Use clear and concise language; use transitional sentences; avoid slang and casual language; and remember to be as objective as possible—no personal opinions or interpretations.  Save that for the personal reflection at the end.  It is also good practice to give specific examples from the book to support your report.

Edit and revise.  This is one of the most important steps, and unfortunately it is one that a lot of people avoid.  Just because you have written a first draft does not mean you are done.  Now you have to make sure it is devoid of mistakes.  Read over it twice, checking grammar, punctuation, style, and accuracy.  Make sure everything you have written is on topic and valid.  Correct any mistakes.  If you’re unsure, get a second opinion from someone who can help.

Book Report Example

Title: Fahrenheit 451 Author: Ray Bradbury Published: 1953 Genre: Dystopian Fiction; Science-Fiction

Fahrenheit 451 is a mid-20 th century science-fiction dystopian novel written by Ray Bradbury.  The setting is a future society where books are banned and “firemen” don’t put out fires—they start them.  Their job is to burn unlawful hoarding of books. The reason?  The old ways, wisdom, and knowledge of the Old World is deemed dangerous by the powers that be.  In other words, the world is upside down; common sense is uncommon, and truth is oppressed.  The hero of the book is Guy Montag.  Like Winston Smith in Orwell’s 1984, Montag begins to question the orthodoxy of the regime in power.  Then he steps out of line.  The result is a total change in life direction.  This book report will summarize the plot, identify the characters and themes of the novel, and provide a recommendation.

The novel opens with Guy Montag happily burning books as part of his job as a fireman. However, his contentment is disrupted when he meets his new neighbor, Clarisse McClellan, a young woman who opens his eyes to the beauty of nature. She opens a door for Montag that he did not know existed.

Guy becomes disillusioned with his work and begins to collect books and hide them in his home. His wife, Mildred, is obsessed with interactive television and is indifferent to Montag’s concerns. Montag contacts a former English professor named Faber for help in understanding the books he has collected.

Montag’s life unravels when his wife reports him, and he is forced to burn his own house down. In a fit of rage, he also kills his boss, Captain Beatty, with a flamethrower. Montag becomes a fugitive, on the run from the regime’s Mechanical Hound and the authorities.

In the end, Montag escapes the oppressive city and finds a group of friends who are like him:  they are led by a man named Granger. They welcome him, and he learns about their plan to preserve books by memorizing their contents. The novel closes with Montag looking forward to a better future where the Old World wisdom and art is honored and restored.

Themes, Genre, and Style

One of the themes of the book is censorship; but if one looks more closely one sees that dehumanization is actually the bigger theme.  The book is about what it means to be disconnected from society, to live vicariously through TV, and to be so denatured that the natural world seems abhorrent.  The novel criticizes the isolating effects of technology, as shown by Mildred’s obsession with her TV screens.

Bradbury uses an easy-to-read literary style within the science-fiction dystopian genre to paint a concerning view of the here and now. The book reads as a warning about where society is heading if it continues to censor anyone who clings to the old ways in the face of the “progress” pushed by the regime.

Fahrenheit 451 is a modern classic—a great book that I whole-heartedly recommend.  It is a terrific reminder of what we have and what we can lose if we fail to take care of our literary heritage.  It is not just the knowledge, beauty, wisdom and art of these books that might be lost; it is also our own humanity.

There!  At last, you should have a really good idea of how to write the perfect book report.  If you follow these recommendations, that work you may have been putting off might now just be able to basically write itself.  Trust us, we’ve been doing this for years!  Stick to our steps, and you won’t have any further difficulties when it comes to your next book report.  Happy writing…

Take the first step to becoming a better academic writer.

Writing tools.

• How to write a research proposal 2021 guide
• Guide to citing in MLA
• Guide to citing in APA format
• Chicago style citation guide
• Harvard referencing and citing guide
• How to complete an informative essay outline

Unlock Your Writing Potential with Our AI Essay Writing Assistant

The Negative Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Tactile Learning

Overcome Your Writer’s Block: Essay Writing Tips for Students

How to Write a Synthesis Essay: Tips and Techniques

How to Write a Book Report With Examples in 4 Easy Steps

Learn how to write a book report with step-by-step instructions and examples. Master the essential components to create an insightful and engaging report easily.

Rijvi Ahmed

Last updated on Jun 21st, 2024

When you click on affiliate links on QuillMuse.com and make a purchase, you won’t pay a penny more, but we’ll get a small commission—this helps us keep up with publishing valuable content on QuillMuse.  Read More .

Table of Contents

Do you have a book report to complete and want to know how to write a book report? We are right here for you! Book reports are useful in learning because they help students enhance their knowledge and critical thinking skills. At the same time, they give authors a detailed look at a text’s composition and stylistic aspects. 

This essay will show us how to write a book report efficiently. It’s a skill that helps you not only get more out of what you’re reading but also write a report that accurately describes how great the book is. Let’s get started. 

What is a book report?

You may ask, “What does a book report look like?” So, before we go into how to write a book report, let’s first define it. The report consists of the plot, characters, and style of the essays. It usually focuses on a single activity, but can also relate to a topic or theme. The report is usually a high school assignment designed to help students improve their communication and research skills. It also teaches students how to express themselves in many areas of their lives.

Book Report vs. Book Review

A book report and a book review are sometimes mistaken, although they are not the same. A book report summarizes a book’s content and analysis, whereas a book review evaluates its substance, style, and value. A book review is often written for a more advanced readership and is frequently published in a literary journal or newspaper.

What exactly is the aim of a book report?

There are some main purposes for writing a book report:

• Glance at the book to make it more readable.
• Provide enough information so that the reader may readily understand the text.
• Show the book’s style and tone.
• Encourage the reader or buyer to read and purchase the book.
• Discuss a book’s main parts.
• Provide a summary and evaluation of a piece of fiction.

Furthermore, creating a report helps the student enhance their analytical and communication skills. They can express themselves through creative or critical thinking in the texts they read.

Also Read: How to Write a Book About Your Life

What are the parts of a great book report?

Introduction including Title and Author : Consider how to start a book report with an appealing introduction. Mention the book’s title, author, and genre, and provide a brief storyline summary. Explain your major theme or point of view. Sometimes it includes the book’s publishing date.

Content summary : This part should include an overview of the book’s plot, including the main characters, setting, and conflict. Provide a succinct summary of the plot. Highlight important events and turning points. Avoid spoilers. 

Analysis and perspective : Examine the main characters, including their characteristics, motives, development, and plot roles. Investigate important themes, symbols, and motifs, as well as how they affect the narrative. Examine the author’s writing style and perspective, as well as how they affect the plot.

Conclusion : Summarize your key ideas. Restate your general opinion of the book and perhaps recommend who might enjoy it or what types of readers would benefit from it. This part should sum up your thoughts on the book and its significance.

How to Start Writing A Book Report

When you start writing, you should be familiar with the essential processes. However, if you are unsure, there is no need to worry. Instead, look at the methods below to help you write a superb report.

1. Choose the book Carefully

Choosing the right book is a vital step in your writing process. Some teachers assign books to you, and you have no choice. However, if you choose a novel for yourself, make sure it interests you.

2. Properly Read the Book

Reading is a vital element of producing a good report since it helps you to delve into the details of the narrative. Unfortunately, many students believe they can get by with just the overview, notes, and details, but this is not the case if they want an A.

3. List the key points

Every time you read an excellent book, make a note of the most important topics and situations in your notebook. This assures that no matter where or when inspiration strikes, all of these riches are only a page away.

4. Create a thesis statement

The thesis statement is the most crucial aspect of your paper. It should be a claim you think to be correct. Furthermore, it might be backed by good instances from the book, enhancing the strength of your writing work. 

5. Make the Book Report Outline

It is critical to have a decent and solid outline when creating the best report. When drafting the outline, be sure to include all of your ideas and opinions. It helps authors stay organized and focused on what needs to be done next. 

Also Read: How to Become a Book Editor

How to Write A Book Report

When you start writing, you need to be familiar with the essential processes. However, if you are unsure, there is no need to worry. Here’s a comprehensive guide to writing a book report to get you started:

1. Write the introduction

The opening is the most significant element of your report because it introduces and presents the topics that will be covered in greater detail. As a result, the introduction paragraph should include both an attention-grabbing hook statement and a thesis statement that sums up everything.

2. Write the body paragraphs

The body of the report describes three major things:

• Main purpose

You should also consider the book’s theme or motif, as well as the character’s interactions with others. 

3. Write the conclusion

The conclusion is where you mention three major points:

• Finish up the complete report.
• Describe what you learned from the book.
• Please state whether or not you would recommend it.
• Express your opinion about the book.

Also, this section should be concise, no longer than one paragraph. However, make sure it communicates everything that has to be expressed before closing with a suitable conclusion. 

4. Proofreading

Once you’ve finished writing it, start proofreading. First, correct all grammatical, punctuation, and vocabulary errors. Also, modify the complex and tough words or sentences. Finally, strive to make it error-free and understandable to the audience.

Also Read: Best Writing Websites for Writers

Tips for Writing a Book Report

When writing a book report, keep the following factors in mind:

• Read Very Carefully : Pay close attention when reading to ensure that you thoroughly grasp the material. Take notes on essential topics such as themes and characters.
• Follow the Guidelines : Stick to what your teacher or whoever assigned the report expects. Make sure your work is the appropriate length and covers the appropriate topics.
• Outline Structure : Determine how your report will be organized. A simple outline with parts for introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion can help you stay organized.
• Introduce the Book : Begin your report by providing basic information about the book, such as its title, author, genre, and a summary of why it is essential. 
• Summarize and Analyze : Discuss what happened in the book while also delving into why it matters. Discuss the characters and how they evolve during the novel. 
• Evaluate and Reflect : Discuss your ideas on the book, including what you liked, disliked, and why. Consider how the book touched you personally.
• Use Evidence : Back up your claims using examples from the text. Quotes or specific scenarios might assist you in illustrating your point and demonstrate that you truly grasped what you read.
• Proofread : Before submitting, go back and check for errors. Check for typos, spelling problems, and anything else that could make your report difficult to comprehend. 

Also Read: How to Write a Book Title

Example of a great book report

To present a clear example of a book report, let’s look at “ The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ” by Mark Twain.

Introduction

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a popular novel written by Mark Twain and published in 1876. It follows Tom Sawyer through the childhood adventures and troubles of a mischievous and inventive little boy in a fictional village in St. Louis . . . . Petersburg, Missouri with comedy, suspense, and poignant observations about society And just right, this timeless story continues to appeal to readers of all ages.

Plot Summary

Set in the 19th century, the novel begins with Tom Sawyer living with his Aunt Polly, his brother Sid, and his cousin Mary. Tom is known for his fun spirit and willingness to get into trouble. He falls in love with the new girl in town, Becky Thatcher, and also develops a close relationship with his friend Huckleberry Finn, an outcast.

Throughout the story Tom is in a series of escapades, such as whitewashing a fence as punishment, searching for treasure with Huck, attending his funeral, and witnessing a murder These experiences illustrate Tom’s philosophy, n ‘mind, and growing maturity as he learns important lessons about friendship, responsibility and the impact of his actions Are known.

The story ends with Tom and Becky trapped in a cave, sparking a dramatic rescue that draws the community together and Tom finally emerges as a hero who has overcome the physical danger of the cave and its emotional challenges, the victory of youth.

Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” offers more than just a simple children’s story. It subtly depicts life in small-town America in the 19th century, focusing on social interactions, cultural attitudes, and youthful innocence. Twain’s subtle style of writing and human behavior and her sly gaze make the story both funny and thought-provoking.

Tom Sawyer is a particularly interesting character, displaying the defiance and curiosity associated with infancy. Readers will experience the joys and challenges of growing older through Tom’s eyes, from the joys of discovery to the heartache of pain. Twain masterfully captures the essence of childhood, making one approachable and memorable.

Furthermore, the work delves into issues of autonomy, identity, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing society. Whether Tom defies authority, faces ethical challenges, or makes friends across social boundaries, his journey reflects a universal struggle to find his place in society while staying true to himself.

In conclusion, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” remains a timeless work that continues to captivate readers of all ages. Mark Twain’s vivid storytelling, memorable characters, and insightful comments on society ensure the novel remains relevant and engaging more than a century after its publication. Through Tom Sawyer’s Escape, readers are reminded that the journey to adulthood is about the enduring power of imagination, friendship, and adventure.

What length should a book report be?

The length of a book report varies according to the assignment criteria. Book reports are typically one to three pages long, but they can be lengthier for more detailed assessments.

Should I add my opinion to a book report?

Yes, you should include your perspective in a book report. However, be careful to back up your thoughts with facts from the text. Your comments and evaluations contribute to the report’s interesting and informative nature. 

Do I have to read the whole book to write a book report?

While it is preferable to read the full book to produce a thorough analysis, you can still write a book report based on substantial chunks of it. However, make sure you fully comprehend the plot, characters, and themes.

How should I format a book report?

Follow any formatting guidelines specified by your instructor or institution. Book reports are typically written as essays, having an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Can I utilize outside sources for my book report?

It depends on the assignment’s requirements. In some situations, you may be asked to use outside sources to supplement your analysis.

Should I use quotes from the book in my report?

Yes, using quotes from the book can help to strengthen your analysis and provide evidence for your observations. Simply make sure to correctly cite any quotations using the required citation style.

How should I conclude a book report?

At the end of your book report, summarize your main themes and share your final thoughts on the book. You can summarize your overall assessment and describe the book’s significance or impact.

How we've reviewed this article

Our content is thoroughly researched and fact-checked using reputable sources. While we aim for precision, we encourage independent verification for complete confidence.

We keep our articles up-to-date regularly to ensure accuracy and relevance as new information becomes available.

• Current Version
• Jun 21st, 2024
• Feb 21st, 2024

Share this article

Prev Previous Next Next

How to Write a Book Title in 8 Steps With Examples

You have penned a book, then. Best wishes! Do you mean the difficult part is over? Kind of. Before you publish your book, you still need to do some more brainstorming. The next step is to learn how to develop a book title that draws potential readers in and encourages

Do you have a book report to complete and want to know how to write a book report? We are right here for you! Book reports are useful in learning because they help students enhance their knowledge and critical thinking skills. At the same time, they give authors a detailed

How to Write a Book Like a Pro in 2024

Deciding to start writing a book can be intimidating, especially if you’re a beginner. It can paralyze you When you’re unsure where to begin writing a book. Starting and finishing a book requires grit, but we believe that with the right tips and tools, anyone can do it. You have

Report this article

Let us know if you notice any incorrect information about this article or if it was copied from others. We will take action against this article ASAP.

• Profile Page
• Edit Profile
• Add New Post

Read our Content Writing Guide .

• Additional Resources
• A List of Writing Contests in 2022 | Exciting Prizes!
• Em Dash vs. En Dash vs. Hyphen: When to Use Which
• Book Proofreading 101: The Beginner’s Guide
• Screenplay Editing: Importance, Cost, & Self-Editing Tips
• Screenplay Proofreading: Importance, Process, & Cost
• Script Proofreading: Rates, Process, & Proofreading Tips
• Manuscript Proofreading | Definition, Process & Standard Rates
• 14 Punctuation Marks: Examples & Free Guide on How to Use
• Tips to Write Better if English Is Your Second Language
• Novel Proofreading | Definition, Significance & Standard Rates
• The Top 10 Literary Devices: Definitions & Examples
• Top 101 Bone-Chilling Horror Writing Prompts
• Top 10 Must-Try Writing Prompt Generators in 2024
• 100+ Creative Writing Prompts for Masterful Storytelling
• Best 101 Greatest Fictional Characters of All Time
• Top 10 eBook Creator Tools in 2024: Free & Paid
• 50 Timeless and Unforgettable Book Covers of All Time
• What Is Flash Fiction? Definition, Examples & Types
• Discover the Best Book Review Sites of 2024: Top 10 Picks
• 80 Enchanting Christmas Writing Prompts for Your Next Story

Your Guide to the Best eBook Readers in 2024

• Top 10 Book Review Clubs of 2024 to Share Literary Insights
• 2024’s Top 10 Self-Help Books for Better Living
• Writing Contests 2023: Cash Prizes, Free Entries, & More!
• Top 10 Book Writing Apps of 2024: Free & Paid!
• Top 10 Book Marketing Services of 2024: Features and Costs
• 10 Best Book Publishing Companies in 2024
• What Is a Book Teaser and How to Write It: Tips and Examples
• Audiobook vs. EBook vs. Paperback in 2024: (Pros & Cons)
• Top 10 Book Writing Software, Websites, and Tools in 2024
• How to Get a Literary Agent in 2024: The Complete Guide
• An Easy Guide to the Best Fonts & Font Sizes for Your Book
• Top 10 Book Promotion Services for 2024’s Authors
• Alpha Readers: Where to Find Them and Alpha vs. Beta Readers
• Author Branding 101: How to Build a Powerful Author Brand

How to Write a Book Report | Steps, Examples & Free Template

• A Guide on How to Write a Book Synopsis: Steps and Examples
• How to Write a Book Review (Meaning, Tips & Examples)
• Book Title Generators: Top 10 Book Name Generators of 2024
• 50 Top Literary Agents in the USA for Authors in 2024
• Building an Author Website: The Ultimate Guide with Examples
• Top 10 Book Printing Services for Authors in 2024
• 10 Best Free Online Grammar Checkers: Features and Ratings
• How to Write a Poem: Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Poetry
• What Is a Poem? Poetry Definition, Elements, & Examples
• 2024’s 10 Best Paraphrasing Tools for All (Free & Paid)
• Top 10 AI Detector Tools in 2024 (Free & Paid)
• Top 10 Book Editing Software in 2024 (Free & Paid)
• What Is an Adverb? Definition, Types, Differences & Examples
• What Are Large Language Models and How They Work: Explained!
• What Is an Adjective? Definition, Usage & Examples
• Top 10 Hardcover Book Printing Services [2024 Update]
• 15 Types of Poems Everyone Should Know About
• 2024’s Top 10 Setting Generators to Create Unique Settings
• Different Types of Characters in Stories That Steal the Show
• Top 10 Screenplay & Scriptwriting Software (Free & Paid)
• 10 Best AI Text Generators of 2024: Pros, Cons, and Prices
• Top 10 Must-Try Character Name Generators in 2024
• How to Track Changes in Google Docs: A 7-Step Guide
• 10 Best AI Text Summarizers in 2024 (Free & Paid)
• 2024’s 10 Best Punctuation Checkers for Error-Free Text
• Top 10 AI Humanizers of 2024 [Free & Paid Tools]
• Top 10 AI Rewriters for Perfect Text in 2024 (Free & Paid)
• 10 Best Plot Generators for Powerful Storytelling in 2024
• 11 Best Story Structures for Writers (+ Examples!)
• Writing Contests 2024: Cash Prizes & Free Entries!
• Pre-Publishing Steps
• Book Cover Design: An Introduction
• What is a Book Copyright Page?
• 8 Pre-Publishing Steps to Self-Publish Your Book
• 7 Essential Elements of a Book Cover Design
• How to Copyright Your Book in the US, UK, & India
• How to Format a Book in 2024: 7 Tips for Print & EBooks
• Beta Readers: Why You Should Know About Them in 2024
• How to Publish a Book in 2024: A Beginners’ Guide
• ISBN Guide 2024: What Is an ISBN and How to Get an ISBN
• Self Publishing Guide
• How to Hire a Book Editor in 5 Practical Steps
• Self-Publishing Options for Writers
• How to Promote Your Book Using a Goodreads Author Page
• What Makes Typesetting a Pre-Publishing Essential for Every Author?
• 4 Online Publishing Platforms To Boost Your Readership
• How to Find the Perfect Book Editor for Your Manuscript
• Typesetting: An Introduction
• Quick Guide to Novel Editing (with a Self-Editing Checklist)
• Quick Guide to Book Editing [Complete Process & Standard Rates]
• 10 Best Self-Publishing Companies of 2024: Price & Royalties
• What Is Amazon Self-Publishing? Pros, Cons & Key Insights
• Manuscript Editing in 2024: Elevating Your Writing for Success
• Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: 2024 Guide
• How to Publish a Book on Amazon: 8 Easy Steps [2024 Update]
• 10 Best Book Cover Design Services of 2024: Price & Ratings
• A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing a Book in 2024
• Learn How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book in 2024
• What are Print-on-Demand Books? Cost and Process in 2024
• What Are the Standard Book Sizes for Publishing Your Book?
• Top 10 EBook Conversion Services for 2024’s Authors
• How to Copyright a Book in 2024 (Costs + Free Template)
• How to Market Your Book on Amazon to Maximize Sales in 2024
• Traditional Publishing
• How to start your own online publishing company?
• 8 Tips To Write Appealing Query Letters
• How to Write a Query Letter (Examples + Free Template)

Writing Tips

• How to Create Depth in Characters
• Starting Your Book With a Bang: Ways to Catch Readers’ Attention
• How to Write a Powerful Plot in 12 Steps
• Research for Fiction Writers: A Complete Guide
• Short stories: Do’s and don’ts
• How to Write Dialogue: 7 Rules, 5 Tips & 65 Examples
• How to Write a Novel in Past Tense? 3 Steps & Examples
• What Are Foil and Stock Characters? Easy Examples from Harry Potter
• How To Write Better Letters In Your Novel
• On Being Tense About Tense: What Verb Tense To Write Your Novel In
• How To Create A Stellar Plot Outline
• How to Punctuate Dialogue in Fiction
• On Being Tense about Tense: Present Tense Narratives in Novels
• The Essential Guide to Worldbuilding [from Book Editors]
• What Is Point of View: 1st, 2nd & 3rd POV with Examples
• How to Create Powerful Conflict in Your Story | Useful Examples
• How to Write a Book: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Write a Short Story: 6 Steps & Examples
• How To Craft a Murder Mystery Story
• How to Write a Novel: 8 Steps to Help You Start Writing
• What Is a Stock Character? 150 Examples from 5 Genres
• How to Write a Children’s Book: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide
• Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey: Worksheet & Examples
• Novel Outline: A Proven Blueprint [+ Free Template!]
• Character Development: 7-Step Guide for Writers
• Foil Character: Definition, History, & Examples
• What Is NaNoWriMo? Top 7 Tips to Ace the Writing Marathon
• What Is the Setting of a Story? Meaning + 7 Expert Tips
• Theme of a Story | Meaning, Common Themes & Examples
• 5 Elements of a Short Story & 6 Stages of a Plot
• What Is a Blurb? Meaning, Examples & 10 Expert Tips
• What Is Show, Don’t Tell? (Meaning, Examples & 6 Tips)
• How to Write a Book Summary: Example, Tips, & Bonus Section
• How to Write a Book Description (Examples + Free Template)
• 10 Best Free AI Resume Builders to Create the Perfect CV
• A Complete Guide on How to Use ChatGPT to Write a Resume
• 10 Best AI Writer Tools Every Writer Should Know About
• 15 Best ATS-Friendly ChatGPT Prompts for Resumes in 2024
• How to Write a Book Title (15 Expert Tips + Examples)
• The 10 Best AI Story Generators: Features, Usage & Benefits
• 100 Novel and Book Ideas to Start Your Book Writing Journey
• Exploring Writing Styles: Meaning, Types, and Examples
• Mastering Professional Email Writing: Steps, Tips & Examples
• How to Write a Screenplay: Expert Tips, Steps, and Examples
• Business Proposal Guide: How to Write, Examples and Template
• Different Types of Resumes: Explained with Tips and Examples
• How to Create a Memorable Protagonist (7 Expert Tips)
• How to Write an Antagonist (Examples & 7 Expert Tips)

Writing for the Web: 7 Expert Tips for Web Content Writing

• What are the Parts of a Sentence? An Easy-to-Learn Guide
• How to Avoid AI Detection in 2024 (6 Proven Techniques!)
• How to Avoid Plagiarism in 2024 (10 Effective Strategies!)
• 10 Best Spell Checkers of 2024: Features, Accuracy & Ranking
• What Is Climax Of A Story & How To Craft A Gripping Climax
• What Is a Subject of a Sentence? Meaning, Examples & Types
• Object of a Sentence: Your Comprehensive Guide
• First-person Point of View: What Is It and Examples
• Second-person Point of View: What Is It and Examples

Still have questions? Leave a comment

Add Comment

Checklist: Dissertation Proposal

Enter your email id to get the downloadable right in your inbox!

Examples: Edited Papers

Need editing and proofreading services.

• Tags: Academic Writing , English as a Second Language / ESL , Writing Tips

Have a book report submission deadline and want to know how to write one? We’re here to help! Book reports are vital in academics, helping students sharpen their understanding and critical thinking, while for authors, they offer a deep dive into a text’s composition and stylistic elements.

In this article, we will understand how to write a good book report. It’s a skill that not only helps you get more out of what you’re reading but also lets you create a report that truly reflects how good the book is. Let’s get started!

Ace your assignment with a perfect book report! Learn more

Firstly, let us understand what is a book report.

What is a book report?

A book report is an in-depth analysis, an objective summary of a book’s main content and arguments. Book reports discuss a book’s content, structure, and themes. Far from just a recap of the plot outline , a book report examines the details of a book’s narrative, offering insights into the characters, themes of the story , and the author’s writing style. 

Note: A book report is usually assigned to students from secondary schools to colleges. As per book report format, book reports are typically 500–1000 words long.

Elements of a book report

A proper book report outline consists of the following elements:

• Introduction: Think about how to start a book report with an engaging opening. Mention the book’s title, author, genre, and a brief plot summary. State your main theme or viewpoint.
• Content summary: Give a clear, summary of the plot. Highlight key events and turning points. Avoid spoilers.
• Analysis and perspective: Examine the key characters, their traits, motivations, development, and plot roles. Explore major themes, symbols, and motifs, and their narrative effect. Review the author’s style and perspective, and their impact on the story.
• Conclusion: Summarize your main points. Restate your overall impression of the book and possibly suggest who might enjoy it or what kind of readers would benefit from it.
• Citations and references (if necessary): If you have used external sources or have been influenced by other analyses, make sure to cite these references properly to avoid plagiarism.

By following this book report outline, your book report will be comprehensive, informative, and engaging.

How to write a book report

Before learning how to do a book report, it is important to remember that following a book report format is essential. 

Here’s how to write a book report:

• Read the book carefully: Start by reading the book thoroughly. Take notes on key points, characters, themes, and any passages that stand out.
• Create an Outline: Organize your thoughts and notes into an outline. This will be your roadmap and will help keep your writing focused.
• Write the introduction: Begin with an engaging introduction that provides basic information about the book, including the title, author, and a brief synopsis.
• Develop the body: You can follow your outline or a book report template to write the body of your report. Discuss each element (plot, characters, themes, etc.) in separate paragraphs or sections.
• Conclude your report: Summarize your main points and offer your final thoughts and evaluation of the book.
• Review and revise: Finally, review and proofread your report for clarity, coherence, and correctness. Make sure to correct any grammatical mistakes and ensure your report flows logically.

Taking a look at a few examples of book reports will help you understand how to do a book report easily.  So let’s explore some book report examples next.

Book report examples

Starting with book report examples, let’s look at a book report example on The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.

Introduction: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank is a powerful and poignant diary that gives an intimate glimpse into the life of a Jewish teenager during the Holocaust.

Summary: The diary chronicles Anne Frank’s life from 1942 to 1944, during which she and her family hid from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The entries detail her daily life in the secret annex, her thoughts, fears, and hopes for a better future.

Analysis and themes: Anne’s diary is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Themes of hope, the cruelty of war, the innocence of youth, and the power of writing shine through her words.

Conclusion: Diary of a Young Girl is more than just a diary; it’s a moving narrative that brings to light the horrors of war and the timeless strength of hope and human dignity. Anne Frank’s voice continues to resonate with readers around the world, making this book a must-read for understanding history and humanity.

Now let’s look at a fiction book report example on Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Introduction: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is a thrilling fantasy novel that introduces us to a world where Greek gods and mythology come to life in the modern era.

Summary: The story follows Percy Jackson, a young boy who discovers he is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. After being accused of stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt, Percy embarks on a dangerous adventure across America to find the real thief and prevent a war among the gods.

Analysis and themes: Riordan’s novel is rich in Greek mythology and cleverly intertwined with modern-day settings and issues. Themes of identity, friendship, and bravery are prominent as Percy navigates the challenges of being a demigod. The book also explores the concept of good vs. evil and the importance of understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is an engaging and imaginative novel that offers a fresh perspective on Greek mythology. It’s a captivating read for young adults, effectively combining action, humor, and life lessons, making it a standout in the genre of fantasy fiction.

Book report template

You can easily write a book report using our free book report template.

It’s clear that writing a book report is more than a mere academic exercise; it’s an opportunity to delve deeper into the world of literature and gain insights. 

By using the provided template and examples as starting points, you’re well on your way to writing insightful and compelling book reports. Also, to make your book report perfect, we are always here to help you with our expert editing and proofreading services ! 

For more useful tips and resources, keep reading:

• Top 10 Best Print-on-Demand Book Companies in 2024
• Proven Book Marketing Techniques to Increase Sales in 2024
• 10 Best Book Cover Design Services of 2024: Price & Ratings
• Top 10 Online Book Editing Services of 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a book report be, what should a book report include, how to conclude a book report, how to write an introduction for a book report, what is the purpose of a book report.

Found this article helpful?

Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Your vs. You’re: When to Use Your and You’re

Your organization needs a technical editor: here’s why.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get carefully curated resources about writing, editing, and publishing in the comfort of your inbox.

How to Copyright Your Book?

If you’ve thought about copyrighting your book, you’re on the right path.

© 2024 All rights reserved

• Terms of service
• Privacy policy
• Fiction Writing Tips
• Dissertation Writing Guide
• Essay Writing Guide
• Academic Writing and Publishing
• Citation and Referencing
• Partner with us
• Annual report
• Website content
• Marketing material
• Job Applicant
• Cover letter
• Resource Center
• Case studies

• Ghost Writing
• Proofreading
• Book Promotion
• e-Book Writing
• Blog Writing
• Website Content Writing
• Article Writing
• Book Video Trailer
• Author Website
• Case Studies
• Testimonials
• +1 628 227 3315
• Book a Call
• Get a Quote

Sign Up Now & Let’s Get Started

How to write a book report: 9 simple steps.

• January 8, 2024

Table of Contents:

Step 1: choose the book, step 2: read the book carefully, step 3: take notes, step 4: understand the assignment guidelines, step 5: outline., step 6: write a draft, step 7: analyze and evaluate, step 8: conclude thoughtfully, step 9: submit or share, conclusion:, book report.

Press The Play Button On The Audio To Listen Complete Article!

When writing a book report, you want to do more than just list the characters’ names, describe the plot, and summarize the action. You want to give a thoughtful analysis of each of these aspects and provide a context for your ideas by explaining how your experience reading the book affected your reaction to it.

But what if you’ve never written a book report before? What if you’ve only read one or two and gotten an F on them? How can you write a great book report?

That’s why we put together this guide: by following our 9 simple steps, you’ll be able to learn how to write a book report that will wow both your teacher and yourself!

To learn how to write a report, you must first pick up a book.

When choosing a book, many options are available, especially from American book writers . Look for authors who have made significant contributions to literature and have a writing style that resonates with you.

Consider the genre and subject matter that you find intriguing. Whether it’s a classic novel, a thought-provoking non-fiction work, or a contemporary bestseller, ensure it fits your assignment or personal reading goals.

An important aspect to consider is your comprehension level. It’s essential to choose a book that you can understand and engage with fully. If the language or complexity of the book is too challenging, it might hinder your enjoyment and comprehension. To avoid this, you can read reviews or sample chapters to understand the writing style and difficulty level.

Additionally, think about how the chosen book aligns with your interests. Reading something that genuinely captivates you will make the journey more enjoyable. It will also encourage you to delve deeper, analyze different aspects, and gain a more profound understanding of the book’s themes and messages.

When reading the book, it’s crucial to approach it with careful attention and focus. As you delve into the pages, make note of the essential elements, such as the plot, characters, and themes. Doing this step will help you learn how to write a book report.

Take time to understand the details of the story and how they interconnect. Pay attention to any notable quotes or passages that resonate with you.

It’s also important to consider the author’s writing style and the book’s overall tone. Some authors have a poetic or descriptive style, while others may have a more straightforward and concise approach. Understanding the writing style can enhance your appreciation for the book and help you analyze how effectively the author communicates their ideas.

Experienced book publishers play a vital role in the selection and publication of books. They have a keen eye for quality writing and can identify books that have the potential to engage readers. Taking note of the experiences and recommendations of trusted publishers can be a helpful guide in selecting well-crafted and engaging books.

As you read, take notes in the margins and use a highlighter to mark important passages. This will help you to remember what you found interesting or relevant.

It’s also helpful to write down any questions while reading. These can be used as prompts for an introductory paragraph or section of your report.

When writing a report, it’s important to be concise. You don’t want to just list the facts and figures–you want your reader to understand what they mean and how they relate to one another.

This is where your notes will come in handy. You can use them to ensure that the information you include is relevant, clear, and concise. You might start by briefly outlining what you want to include in each section of your report.

Understanding the guidelines and expectations of a book report assignment is crucial in learning how to write a book report and create insightful analysis.

For an academic task or personal project, familiarizing yourself with the specific requirements set by your instructor or the parameters of your project is essential. Pay attention to details such as the desired report length, formatting guidelines, and the depth of analysis expected.

In addition to adhering to assignment guidelines, employing a structured approach enhances the quality of your book report. Creating an outline delineating sections like introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion helps organize your thoughts and ensures a coherent presentation of your ideas.

As you’re reading, it’s easy to get lost in the details of a book and forget its overall structure. Before writing it out, you must think about how your paper will be organized.

Your outline should include:

• A summary of what happened in each chapter (or section). This is especially helpful if there are many characters or locations in your story; having this information written down will help keep them straight as you write about them later.
• A list of important facts from each section/chapter that support your thesis statement (the main idea behind your essay). For example, if my thesis is “This book was very confusing,” then I would want examples from throughout the book where things were confusing to use as evidence when defending this point later in my essay.

In this step, you will write a draft of your book report. You may want to use some sticky notes or index cards to help organize your thoughts. But try not to get too caught up in formatting at this point. The most important thing is that you’ve got all the information on paper, making it easy for others to read and understand.

If possible, get feedback from someone else who has also read the book. Perhaps another student who took this class with you or even one of their parents! Ask them if they agree with how much detail went into each section of your report. Also, ask them if there were any areas where more explanation would benefit readers.

Once you have finished reading the book, it’s time to dive into a deeper analysis and evaluation. Start by identifying the book’s strengths and weaknesses. Consider aspects such as character development, writing style, themes, and the overall message conveyed by the author.

This evaluation will help you understand the book better and allow you to form your own opinions and interpretations.

For instance, if you read one of the best psychological horror books , analyze how effectively the author builds suspense and delivers psychological chills. Explore how the characters are developed and whether their psychological struggles are portrayed convincingly. Evaluate the writing style and how it adds to the atmosphere of fear and unease.

Be sure to offer personal insights and opinions. Discuss what resonated with you, what surprised you, or what you found particularly effective. Share any connections you drew between the book and your own experiences or beliefs.

Concluding a book report requires a thoughtful reflection on the main points discussed throughout the report. There is a simple way to learn how to wrap a book ; Consider it a way to encapsulate your thoughts and impressions after engaging with the book.

Start by summarizing the main points you raised throughout the report. Highlight key elements such as the plot, characters, themes, and writing style that stood out to you. This summary allows the reader to recollect the important aspects of the book you discussed.

Next, reflect on the book’s impact and relevance. Did the book leave a lasting impression on you? Did it challenge your perspectives or offer new insights? Consider how the book fits into the larger literary landscape.

Lastly, share your recommendation. Would you recommend this book to others? Explain your reasoning behind your recommendation. Discuss who might enjoy the book and why it could benefit different readers.

By concluding thoughtfully, you provide a satisfying end to your book report while leaving the reader with a clear understanding of your thoughts and recommendations. Remember to combine your main points and insights to create a cohesive and impactful ending.

Sharing your insights on a book report can be as rewarding as the reading process itself. After completing the analysis and crafting a comprehensive report, the final step is crucial—submitting or sharing your work. This step aligns with the purpose of your assignment, whether it’s for academic evaluation or sharing valuable perspectives.

When submitting your book report, ensure adherence to any specific guidelines your instructor or institution provides. Format the document according to the required structure, including title pages, citations (if applicable), and additional components.

On the other hand, if you’re sharing your thoughts and recommendations informally, consider the audience. Whether it’s peers, friends, or fellow book enthusiasts, engagingly conveys your key takeaways. Highlight the aspects that resonated with you, discuss the character’s themes, and provide insightful critiques.

Remember, the essence of sharing your book report lies in enthusiasm and confidence. Embrace the opportunity to showcase your analytical skills and understanding of the book, inspiring others to explore the same literary journey. Ultimately, enjoy the process and be proud of the effort you’ve dedicated to the report!

Writing a book report is a great way to get your name and show off your writing skills. It’s also a great way to improve your reading comprehension skills, as you must read the book closely and analyze it to write a good report.

If you’re ready to get started with your book report, use these 9 steps as a guide!

By following these nine steps and considering the additional tips, you’ll be able to craft a comprehensive and insightful book report that effectively communicates your understanding and analysis of the book.

limited Time offer

50% off on all services.

REDEEM YOUR COUPON: ABW50

Are You Prepared to Share Your Story with the World?

Proceed To The Next Phase Of Your Publishing Adventure And Transform Your Manuscript Into A Published Book.

Recommended Blogs

How to publish an ebook in 10 easy steps, how to build a powerful author brand in 2023, 10 best books on native american history to learn, leaving so soon.

SIGN UP NOW TO ACTIVATE YOUR 50% OFF COUPON NOW!

Discuss With Our Content Strategist Toll Free +1 628 227 3315

Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance

How To Write A Book Report (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’re a student who needs to write a book report, you may be wondering where to start. 

Writing a book report may seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can be a straightforward and rewarding experience. 

As someone who has mastered the art of writing a book report, I’m here to provide you with a step-by-step guide to help you write a precise book report. 

In this article, I will cover everything from what a book report is to the steps you need to follow to write a successful report. 

So, let’s get started!

What is a Book Report?

A book report summarizes and analyzes a book’s content, providing an overview of the plot, characters, themes, and your evaluation. 

Additionally, a book report often explores the main characters, their motivations, and their roles in the story. It delves into the book’s themes, messages, and the author’s writing style, discussing how these elements contribute to the book’s overall impact. 

A book report may also contain the writer’s evaluation and opinion, reflecting their thoughts on the book’s strengths, weaknesses, and relevance. 

It is an excellent way to showcase your understanding of the book and demonstrate your critical thinking skills. Book reports are commonly assigned in schools and serve as a valuable exercise in literary analysis.

What are the various forms of a Book Report?

There are several different forms of book reports, and the type you choose will depend on the guidelines provided by your instructor. Some common forms of book reports include:

• Plot Summary Book Report:

This type of book report focuses primarily on summarizing the book’s plot. It should provide a concise story overview, including the main events, conflicts, and resolution. You can also include your thoughts and opinions on the plot and whether it effectively conveyed the intended message.

• Character Analysis Book Report

In this form of book report, the emphasis is on analyzing the characters in the book. You should delve into the main characters’ personalities, motivations, and development and their impact on the story. 

Additionally, you can include examples from the book to support your analysis and provide insight into the character’s actions and decisions.

• Theme-Based Book Report

Theme-based book report explores the themes and messages conveyed in the book. It requires a deeper analysis of the underlying ideas and concepts explored by the author. 

To write this type of report, you should identify the major themes in the book and discuss how they are developed throughout the story. You can also include your thoughts and opinions on the themes and what they mean to you.

• Comparative Book Report

A comparative book report compares and contrasts two or more books with similar themes or subject matter. It requires a careful analysis of how the books relate to each other and what sets them apart. 

In this type of report, you should focus on the similarities and differences between the books and how they address the themes or subject matter. You can also include your thoughts and opinions on which book effectively conveyed the intended message.

How to Write a Book Report: Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you have an overall idea about the different forms of a book report, let’s explore how to write a book report precisely.

1. Choose the Book

The first step is to select a book on which you want to write a report. It’s important to choose a book that is appropriate for the assignment’s requirements and aligns with your interests or the subject matter.

2. Read the Book Thoroughly

Before you start writing, read the book attentively. Take notes on important plot points, characters, themes, and any significant details that stand out to you. It’s essential to thoroughly understand the book’s content before attempting to analyze and interpret it.

3. Introduction

Begin your book report with an engaging introduction. Include the book’s title, author, genre, and a brief overview of what the book is about. This is your chance to hook the reader’s interest and set the tone for your report. 

You can also provide some background information on the author or the book’s historical context if it’s relevant.

4. Summary of the Plot

Provide a concise summary of the book’s plot, covering the main events and the central conflict. Be careful not to give away major spoilers; the purpose is to give an overview without revealing too much. 

You can also highlight any important subplots or secondary characters that contribute to the story.

5. Character Analysis

Now you can discuss the main characters in the book, their personalities, motivations, and how they contribute to the story’s development. Use specific examples and quotes from the text to support your analysis. 

You can also compare and contrast different characters or explore their relationships with one another.

6. Setting and Context

Explain the setting and context of the story. Describe the time and place in which the events occur, and discuss how these elements influence the plot and characters. 

You can also analyze the significance of the setting and how it relates to the themes of the book.

7. Themes and Messages

Explore the central themes and messages conveyed by the author. Discuss the author’s intentions and how these themes are developed throughout the book. Analyze their significance in the overall narrative and how they relate to the characters and the setting.

8. Writing Style and Techniques

Evaluate the author’s writing style and the literary techniques used in the book. Consider elements such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery. 

Discuss how these techniques enhance the story’s impact and contribute to the book’s overall meaning.

9. Comparisons (Optional)

You can compare the book with other works by the same author or books of a similar genre if applicable. Analyze similarities and differences, and offer insights into the author’s recurring themes or writing style. 

This can help you provide a broader context for the book and deepen your analysis.

10. Personal Opinion

Sharing a personal opinion of the book will be ideal. You can talk about what it is that you liked or disliked about the book and point out your reasons. 

Support your opinions with text evidence, such as specific scenes or character developments. Your opinion is an essential part of the book report, demonstrating your engagement with the material and your critical thinking skills.

11. Conclusion

Summarize the key points of your book report and restate your overall impression of the book. Provide a thoughtful closing statement that leaves the reader with a lasting impression. 

You can also offer some final thoughts on the book’s significance or its relevance to contemporary issues.

12. Proofreading and Editing

After writing the report, carefully proofread and edit your work to correct any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. Make sure that the report flow is logical and coherent. You can always use Grammarly to check for the proof-reading purpose.

Unsure if Grammarly Premium suits your needs? Then you are at luck, Grammarly provides its users with a 7-day free trial .

13. Citation (if necessary)

If required, include a bibliography or works cited page to give credit to the sources you used while writing the report. This is important to avoid plagiarism and to demonstrate your research skills. Here I have mentioned the best plagiarism checker in the market.

14. Finalize and Submit

Once thoroughly reviewing and editing your book report, finalize it and submit it according to your instructor’s guidelines. Congratulations, you have successfully written a comprehensive and insightful book report!

Related Read:

• Books on Writing: Handpicked List For Aspiring Writers
• Mechanics of Writing: For Fine Writing

Conclusion: How To Write A Book Report

Writing an effective book report requires closely reading the book, developing a thesis, organizing your thoughts, and drafting an analysis of the key elements of the text. 

Be sure to include relevant details from the work to support your central ideas. 

Carefully proofread your report and make any necessary revisions to create a polished final product. With proper planning and an organized approach, any student can master the art of writing engaging and insightful book reports. 

I hope this step-by-step guide provided tips to help you successfully draft your next book review assignment.

The format of a book report typically includes an introduction, a summary of the plot, a character analysis, themes and messages, an evaluation/opinion, and a conclusion.

The length of a book report can vary depending on the assignment’s requirements, but typically it ranges from 500 to 2000 words.

Including quotes from the book can enhance your report, especially when providing evidence to support your analysis and opinions.

While it’s possible to write a book report without reading the entire book, it is strongly recommended to read the complete book to provide a comprehensive and accurate analysis.

Yes, using first-person pronouns is acceptable in a book report as it allows you to express your personal opinions and thoughts about the book.

About The Author

Olivia Fullmer

Related posts.

11 Best Plagiarism Checker In 2024

10+ Best Grammar Books: Expert’s Recommendations (2024)

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

How to Write a Book Report

5-minute read

• 5th September 2021

A book report is an essay that summarizes the main ideas presented by the author. But how do you write a good book report? Our top tips include:

• Check the assignment instructions so you know what you need to do.
• Read the book , making notes as you go.
• Plan your book report and create an essay outline .
• Write up your report , using examples and quotes to support your points.
• Revise and proofread your work to eliminate errors.

In the rest of this post, we look at how to write a book report in more detail.

1. Check the Assignment Instructions

Book reports come in many different types, so the first thing you should do if you’re asked to write one is check the assignment instructions carefully. Key aspects of the essay instructions to pay attention to include:

• The required length of the book report (and any maximum word count ).
• Whether you will be assigned a book to write about or whether you will be asked to pick one yourself (either from a list supplied by the tutor or based on a set of requirements, such as a book about a set topic).
• What aspects of the book to write about (e.g., will it just be a summary of the book’s content, or will you also need to offer some critical analysis?).
• Any requirements for structuring and formatting your report (e.g., whether to break the essay up into sections with headings and subheadings).

If anything about the instructions is unclear, check it with your tutor.

2. Read the Book and Make Notes

Next, you’ll need to read the book you’re writing about in full, not just skim through or read a synopsis! This means you’ll need to leave enough time before the deadline to read the text thoroughly (and write up your report).

When you are reading, moreover, make sure to take notes on:

• Basic bibliographic details, including the title, author name(s), year of publication, publisher, and number of pages.
• How the book is structured (e.g., whether it uses chapters).
• The overall plot or argument, plus key ideas and/or plot points from each part.
• For works of fiction, important characters and themes.
• Significant quotations or examples you might want to use in your report.

Where possible, make sure to note down page numbers as well. This will make it easier to find the relevant parts again when you’re reviewing your notes.

3. Outline Your Book Report

How you structure your report will ultimately depend on the length (e.g., a short, 500-word report is unlikely to use separate sections and headings, while a longer one will need these to help break up the text and guide the reader) and the assignment instructions, so make sure to review these carefully.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

However, common elements of a book report include:

• An introductory paragraph or section with basic book details (e.g., the title, author(s), genre, publisher, publication date, and intended audience).
• Information about the author’s background and, where relevant, credentials.
• An overview of the book’s plot (fiction and narrative non-fiction), or its main idea (other non-fiction), sometimes with a section-by-section breakdown.
• Information on characters, setting, and themes (fiction and narrative non-fiction), or key ideas and concepts set out by the author (other non-fiction).
• Where required, critical analysis or evaluation of the book.

When planning your book report, then, use your notes and the assignment instructions to outline your essay, breaking it down into clearly defined sections and noting what you will include in each one.

4. Write Up Your Book Report

When it comes to writing up your report, helpful tips include:

• Imagine the reader will be unfamiliar with the book and try to ensure your report covers all the information they’d need to know what it is about.
• Use clear, concise language to make your report easy to follow. Look out for wordiness and repetition, and don’t be tempted to pad out your report with irrelevant details just to increase the word count!
• Use examples and quotations to support your points (but don’t rely too heavily on quotations; keep in mind that the report should be in your own words).
• Follow the formatting instructions set out in your style guide or the assignment instructions (e.g., for fonts, margins, and presenting quotations).

If you use quotations in your report, moreover, make sure to include page numbers! This will help the reader find the passages you’ve quoted.

5. Revise and Proofread Your Work

When you have the first draft of your book report, if you have time, take a short break (e.g., overnight) before re-reading it. This will help you view it objectively. Then, when you do re-read it, look out for ways you could improve it, such as:

• Typos and other errors that need correcting.
• Issues with clarity or places where the writing could be more concise (reading your work aloud can make it easier to spot clunky sentences).
• Passages that would benefit from being supported with a quote or example.

It’s also a good idea to re-read the assignment instructions one last time before submitting your work, which will help you spot any issues you missed.

Finally, if you’d like some extra help checking your writing, you can have it proofread by a professional . Submit a free sample document today to find out more.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Got content that needs a quick turnaround? Let us polish your work. Explore our editorial business services.

Free email newsletter template (2024).

Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...

6-minute read

How to Write a Nonprofit Grant Proposal

If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...

9-minute read

How to Use Infographics to Boost Your Presentation

Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...

8-minute read

Why Interactive PDFs Are Better for Engagement

Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...

7-minute read

Seven Key Strategies for Voice Search Optimization

Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...

4-minute read

Five Creative Ways to Showcase Your Digital Portfolio

Are you a creative freelancer looking to make a lasting impression on potential clients or...

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

Instantly enhance your writing in real-time while you type. With LanguageTool

Get started for free

How To Write a Good Book Report in Seven Steps

Are you having trouble writing your book report? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to give you seven easy steps that’ll help you write the perfect book report.

Quick Summary on How To Write a Book Report

• As you read the book, highlight and take notes.
• Reread the instructions of the assignment.
• Organize your notes and create an outline.
• Write a compelling introduction.
• Include quotations, examples, and supporting evidence in the body paragraphs.
• Encapsulate the main point of your text in the conclusion.
• Edit and proofread.

What Is a Book Report?

A book report is an essay in which students explain and support their thoughts and views on a story, novel, or any other literary work.

There are several different types of book reports. Regardless of which type you’re writing, teachers and professors usually assign book reports as a way to ensure that their students have thoroughly understood the book. Below, we’ll go over how to write a good book report in seven easy steps.

How To Write a Book Report

1. as you read the book, highlight and take notes..

The first step of writing a good book report is to read the book, of course. However, it’s important to highlight and takes notes while reading it. Highlight anything that stands out to you or that evokes certain emotions. Write notes on patterns, themes, and characters. If you’re writing a book report on a nonfiction book, write notes on the major points of the book and what you think about them.

2. Revisit and reread the instructions of the assignment.

Once you’re done reading and taking notes, reread the instructions of the assignment. Find what it is you’re supposed to write about. Is it a character analysis? A plot summary? An exploration of themes and patterns, or something else? It’s also essential to follow the formatting guidelines, so make sure to use the correct font and spacing. If you have any questions, reach out to your teacher or professor.

3. Organize your notes and create an outline.

Gather your notes and arrange them into categories. Once you’ve completed this, write an outline and organize the categories to become the paragraphs of your book report. Jot down bullet points on what each paragraph will include and what part of the book can support it. As you start writing the book report, remain flexible. You don’t have to follow the outline exactly. You may realize that a few edits create a better flow.

4. Write a compelling introduction.

The introduction should be informative and catchy. You may want to start with a quote, climactic scene, or an unusual observation you had while reading the book. Towards the end of the introduction, you should write a one or two-sentence summary about the book, and then the last sentence should explain what exactly you’ll be writing about in the rest of the report.

Book Report Elements

Keep in mind that all book reports should contain:

• The name and author of the book.
• A thesis statement.
• If you're writing about a fiction book, mention the setting, time period, and characters.
• If you’re writing about a nonfiction book, mention the author’s main point in writing the book.
• Evidence to support your arguments.

5. Include quotations, examples, and supporting evidence in the body paragraphs.

The body paragraphs are where you can include quotations, examples, and supporting evidence that bring your book report together.

For example, let’s say you’re writing a character analysis. You believe that the character that everyone sees as the protagonist is actually the antagonist. You should write why you believe that and include specific scenarios that help prove your point.

Or if you’re writing about a non-fiction book, you could use the body paragraphs to write about why you agree or disagree with the author. Similarly, you’d have to use examples and evidence to support your argument.

It’s a good idea to start off with your most compelling, evidence-backed point. Leave the weakest arguments for the middle, and end with another strong point. Lastly, whether you’re writing about fiction or non-fiction, commenting on writing style and tone is recommended (especially if it’s explicitly requested in the instructions).

6. Encapsulate the main point of your text in the conclusion.

The conclusion is just as important as the introduction, so make sure to set aside enough time to write one (students tend to rush through this part). Use the concluding paragraph to pull all your arguments together. Reiterate again what the main point was about, and then briefly summarize the main idea of your book report.

7. Edit and proofread.

Now that you’ve completed the first draft of your book report, it’s time to reread and make edits if needed. Are there any paragraphs you can move around that’ll improve the rhythm of your writing? Do you have enough evidence to back up your claims? Is your introduction captivating and descriptive?

While you’re rereading the book report, you should also be looking for typos and spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes. If you want an extra set of eyes to look for all types of errors, you should use LanguageTool as your spelling and grammar checker. Not only will this advanced editor correct mistakes, but it supports more than twenty languages—meaning your book report will be perfect regardless of which language you’re writing it in.

Unleash the Professional Writer in You With LanguageTool

Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. Impress with clear, precise, and stylistically flawless writing instead.

Works on All Your Favorite Services

• Thunderbird
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Open Office
• Libre Office

We Value Your Feedback

We’ve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or haven’t managed to get the point across? Let’s help each other to perfect our writing.

How to Write a Book Report in 4 Easy Steps

by Yen Cabag | 2 comments

Book reports are a common requirement for students, all the way from elementary school to university. Knowing how to write them will help you finish your assignment a lot faster, and also give you a better chance of wowing your instructors.

Book reports don’t have to be intimidating. Look at them as a way of expressing your thoughts and opinions about the books you read. Also, research shows that writing about what you read is an effective way of cementing the information in your mind, as opposed to simply reading it. 

What Is a Book Report? 

A book report is a written output that describes the contents of a book. Teachers often require a book report as a way of encouraging students to actually read the assigned materials. Reports also help the students to formulate their own opinions and reactions to what they read.

How Many Paragraphs is a Book Report?

The length of a book report does not guarantee the quality of the writing. Typically, though, you will have a clear introductory paragraph and a conclusion; the body paragraphs can range in number depending on how many themes you wish to explore. It will also depend greatly on the type of book report you choose to write.

3 Types of Book Reports

To write a great book report, you must first understand the different types of book reports. Sometimes your instructor may specify which type they want you to write, but if they don’t, you can choose the one that you feel most comfortable writing: 

1. Plot Summary

The plot summary involves writing a summary of the book, but it doesn’t stop there: after you summarize the plot , you will also add your own thoughts and opinions. Some questions to ask yourself include: 

• What did you think of the plot? Was it compelling? Unrealistic? Thought-provoking? 
• Which factors helped you form that opinion? You may cite specific examples or scenes from the book. 
• How did the story end? What did you think of story’s resolution?
• How would you have written things differently? 

An example of an opening line for a plot summary is: 

The plot of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor was compelling because it gave a very clear picture of how racial injustice looked in practical terms during the Great Depression in Mississippi. 

2. Theme Analysis

Sometimes, a book you read may contain certain themes that stand out to you. When that happens, a theme analysis is a great way to structure your book report.

Remember that the theme analysis will need to include an exploration of the theme presented in the book before you start sharing your own opinions. You can do this by showing examples of how the author expressed that theme. 

Some questions to think about include: 

• What theme does the story focus on? How does the author emphasize this? 
• Which specific scenes cement that theme in the story? 
• Is there any dialogue that helps emphasize this theme? 
• How does the author portray the theme? 
• What did you think about the theme and the way the author portrayed it? Do you agree with their opinions? Why or why not? 

An example of an opening line for a book report with the theme analysis structure would be: 

The novel Watership Down by Richard Adams powerfully portrayed the theme of leadership: Hazel’s humble but effective leadership was greatly contrasted with the tyrannical and controlling style of Captain Woundwort of the Efrafa warren. 

3. Character Analysis 

A character analysis is another interesting way of approaching a book report. You focus on a character (or characters) in the story, and how their decisions and behaviors affect the events in the plot. 

Some questions to help you analyze characters include: 

• How does the character act? What impressions did you have of them? 
• What positive traits do they have? Negative traits?
• What are their main motivations and desires? What about fears or wrong beliefs? 
• Does he talk in a specific way that sets him apart from other characters? If so, consider giving an example, and detailing how that impacts the character development. 
• How does this character affect the main storyline? 

For example, you might open a book report using character analysis with a line like this: 

In the novel Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, the main character is Scarlett O’Hara, but it was the character Melanie Wilkes who really stood out: her steadfastness and belief in the good of everyone is what finally won over even the hardhearted Scarlett. 

Note: Never copy summaries or book reports directly from the internet! Your teacher will likely check your work through a submissions platform that compares your writing to what’s already out there online. For more tips, check out our post on how to avoid plagiarism .

How to Write a Great Book Report 

Whichever type of book report you choose to write, here are some tips to help you write in a clearer and more engaging way.

1. Choose a book you are interested in. 

Some book reports may be based on an assigned book, but more often, instructors might ask you to choose your own book. They may or may not assign a genre, such as biography, classic literature, or nonfiction. 

If you can choose which book to write your report on, now’s your chance to find one that you will be interested in. Some questions that can help you find a book include: 

• What topics are you already interested in? Are you interested in a specific time in history, such as World War II or the Great Depression? Are you interested in a specific theme, such as racial discrimination, slavery, or poverty? 
• Which genres are you already familiar with? Historical fiction? Family sagas? Nonfiction? 
• Do you have authors that you are already familiar with and would love to read more from? For example, if you have read a children’s book by Mark Twain, such as Tom Sawyer, a high school level book report might be on his book Recollections of Joan of Arc . 
• How much time do you have between now and when the book is due? You need to be realistic about how much time you have to read the book, and then write a thoughtful analysis.

2. Make sure you READ the book you’re writing about! 

You may be tempted to search online for a book summary and try to write a whole book report based on those findings. (This is less likely to happen if you choose a book you’re actually interested in!)

While you might be able to scrape by with a summary, we highly discourage that tactic for at least two reasons: First, actually reading the book will benefit you by expanding your worldview. Second, you can only write a thorough, quality book report if you have truly read the book yourself. 

In order to make sure you read the whole book, it’s important to plan ahead. The following tips might help:

• Start as soon as possible once you’re given the assignment. As soon as you pick your book,, factor in at least two weeks for writing and wrapping up your report. Divide the number of pages by the remaining days: that will be the number of pages you will have to read per day. 
• Practice narration. Charlotte Mason, a British educator-reformer in the 1800s, recommended narration as the best tool for assimilating information. Read a few pages and then write a short narration of what you read. This will help you understand the story and also give you material for writing your book report. 
• Take notes. If you don’t want to write too much in way of a narration, writing down bullet points or annotating the book will be faster, and it will also give you information to use in your report. 
• Start writing little bits of the report along the way. You don’t have to finish the whole book before you start writing your report! You can schedule some time once a week to write portions of your book report. You might write it as though you were writing a journal, expressing your opinions about different scenes. This is especially helpful if you are writing a character or theme analysis. 

3. Outline your book report. 

Even before you are more than halfway through the book, you can start to make your outline. This might change after you finish the book, but if you already have a general idea of your report’s structure, it might even help you pay more attention as you read. 

Try this format for your outline:

• Introduction
• Summary of Book
• Book Details: Characters
• Book Details: Plot 
• Evaluation and Conclusion 

4. Write the contents of your book report. 

Once you’ve prepared your outline, you can start to write your report. You can use headings to organize your thoughts better. (This is where your written narrations or bullet point notes will come in handy!)

If you already wrote portions of the report as you were reading it, this is the time to organize them into a coherent piece. These tips should help you:

• Organize your ideas. You can write a good book report by identifying and analyzing major themes. Organize your ideas around these themes and write about each idea. If any new themes emerge (which often happens when you’re doing this kind of analysis), add them with a new header instead of mixing them with an existing thought.
• Focus on content. Don’t worry about the word count, but instead focus on getting your thoughts down on paper. The book report will be more valuable as you express the analysis that you underwent as you read the book.
• Be clear and concise. Being clear doesn’t require lots of words; just stick to the theme in each paragraph and avoid taking rabbit trails or using unnecessary words. Keep this in mind when you edit your work later on, as well.
• Add headings where necessary. When you find yourself writing several paragraphs under the same header, consider adding a new heading to make your ideas more clear.

Ace Your Book Report

With these steps, writing a book report can be a breeze. Remember, a book report is not just about grades, but what you learn along the journey, so don’t miss out on that experience by taking short-cuts.

And even if school is a distant memory for you, taking the time to reflect on what you’ve read can help you process information and key themes, as well as make you more prepared for your next book club meeting!

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• Theme in Literature: Definition and Examples
• How to Write a Research Paper: The Complete Guide for Students
• How to Write a Biography: 8 Steps for a Captivating Story
• How to Annotate a Book: What to Look For and How to Take Notes

Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.

hi i need some tips on book report 3 tips

Hi Elana, do you have any questions about the tips in the post?

Learn More About

• Fiction (223)
• Nonfiction (71)
• Blogging (47)
• Book Promotion (29)
• How to Get Reviews (9)
• Audiobooks (17)
• Book Design (11)
• Ebook Publishing (13)
• Hybrid Publishing (8)
• Print Publishing (9)
• Self Publishing (70)
• Traditional Publishing (53)
• How to Find an Editor (11)
• Fitness (4)
• Mindfulness and Meditation (7)
• Miscellaneous (119)
• New Releases (17)
• Career Development (75)
• Online Courses (46)
• Productivity (45)
• Personal Finance (21)
• Podcast (179)
• Poetry Awards Contest (3)
• Publishing News (8)
• Readers Choice Awards (5)
• Reading Tips (145)
• Software (18)
• Technology (18)
• Contests (4)
• Grammar (64)
• Word Choice (68)
• Writing a Book (68)
• Writing Fiction (195)
• Writing Nonfiction (83)

How to Write a Killer Book Report

By melissa taylor.

Book reports (also called book reviews or critiques) check for a student’s reading comprehension skills and ability to express his or her thoughts about the book in writing.

Depending on the grade level and the teacher’s specific assignment, a book report can be from one to five or more paragraphs. But no matter the length, book reports need to include these essential elements:

Book Report Checklist

_____   title and author.

Always include the book’s title and the author’s name. If you’re writing an essay, this goes in the first sentence or first paragraph.

_____   Summary

Fiction : Summaries can be challenging. So here’s how to pare down everything that happened in the book.

Remember doing story maps? If your book is fiction, start with a story map to jot down the story elements: setting; beginning, middle, and end (or problem and resolution); and main characters. You can find story map examples here . Take the information from the story map and combine it into sentences to form a concise summary.

Fiction summary example: A blond girl entered a house in the woods where she broke furniture, ate cereal, and took a nap. When the bear homeowners returned, the little girl ran away.

Another way to summarize is to use the “ somebody-wanted-but-so-then ” method . For each word (i.e. somebod y), write the story element. For example: Somebody = the aliens, wanted = underpants, but = mom came outside to get laundry, so then = they zoomed back to space. Put this all together and you have a short and sweet summary: The aliens wanted underpants but the mom came outside to get the laundry so they zoomed back to space .

Nonfiction: If your book is nonfiction, instead of a story map, start with a graphic organizer or thinking map  to organize the most important information. Use this information to write your summary.

Nonfiction summary example: Each strata of the rainforest is home to diverse animals, from the upper canopy to the lower forest floor.

Adapt the “ somebody-wanted-but-so-then ” method for nonfiction using this formula: “ something-happened-and-then ”. Here’s an example: The hurricane destroyed the small village and made it difficult for residents to get clean water and shelter.

Reminder: Don’t put in any of those oh-so-interesting details in your summary. We don’t need to know that the main character stubbed her toe or her favorite band is The Rolling Stones. Only include the most important information.

_____   Analysis

Your teacher wants to know what you thought about the book and why. Depending on your grade level, she’ll want either your most basic thoughts ( What made it good or not good and why?) or a more complex analysis ( What was the book’s theme?) .

Here are questions to consider  when you write your analysis: (Remember to always justify your reasons with an explanation. In other words, always answer WHY after you state your thoughts.)

• Did you like this book?
• Could you relate to something in the character’s life?
• Did the book teach you anything?
• What made the book difficult or interesting?
• What surprised you and why?
• What do you know now that you didn’t know before?
• Would you read another book by this author?
• What motivated the main character?
• How did the main character change throughout the story?
• Talk about author’s craft. What about the writing was notable?
• What was the symbolism in the book?
• What wisdom did older characters impart to younger ones?

_____   Examples from the Text

Most teachers require citations, or specific examples, to support analysis, especially after a close reading . You’ll have two choices: paraphrase the part in the book in your own words or quote directly from the text.

When using a direct quote, elementary students are required to put quotation marks around the passage as well as indicate the page where the quote is found. Example: “ But wherever these friends of mine are — that’s my home. ” (480)

For middle and high school students, teachers require MLA or APA style citations. MLA citations are (last name page number) while APA citations are (last name, publication year). For more specifics, visit this helpful tutorial .

Book reports are important for a student’s academic success.  An Anchor Common Core Standard for Reading confirms this , saying that students should be able to: “Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.”

If you or your kiddos need a bit of book report inspiration, and a laugh or two along the way, check out this classic “Peanuts” video .

• pinterest-p

BibGuru Blog

Be more productive in school

• Citation Styles

How to write a book report

A book report is one of the first types of essays you probably learned to write in elementary school. But no matter how many book reports you turn in over the course of your student life, they can still inspire some anxiety and some confusion about the best way to write a book report, especially as you reach the high school and college level.

The good news is that the basics you learned in the early grades will serve you in good stead, since the book report format remains mostly the same. The very same structure and tools you used to dissect Charlotte’s Web and Superfudge will work just as well for Animal Farm and The Handmaid’s Tale . What changes is the depth and breadth of your analysis as a high school and college student.

So, If you are wondering how to start a book report for a college class assignment, here are some of the key pieces of information you need to know.

What is a book report?

Let’s start off with some definitions. In the most general terms, a book report is a summary of a written text, often a fiction novel, but can also include other genres such as memoir and creative non-fiction. It includes an analysis of the different elements and authorial choices that comprise the work, such as tone, theme, perspective, diction, dialogue, etc.

While the analysis should be reasoned and objective, it should also include your opinion and assessment of the impact and overall success of the author’s choices on the final work.

Book reports usually fall into one of the following types:

Plot summary

This type of book report isn’t just a re-telling of the story, it’s a comment on your overall impression of the plot — whether you thought it was engaging or maudlin or vapid, for example — backed up by direct quotes from the text to support your opinion.

Example of a plot summary thesis statement: The plot of Herman Melville’s short story, “Bartleby the Scrivener,” offers a poignant portrait of how depression robs a person of all motivation and momentum in life.

Character analysis

A character analysis zeroes in on a particular character (their characterization and actions) and their impact on the unfolding of the plot and its eventual outcome.

Example of a character analysis thesis statement: In J.D. Salinger’s novel, The Catcher in the Rye , the character of Phoebe, Holden’s bright and precocious younger sister, is a catalyst for rekindling his hope in humanity and reconsidering the choices he’s made in his life.

Theme analysis

A theme analysis looks at the overarching concepts, or themes, that run through a book and that give the text meaning and direction. Themes tend to be broad in nature, such as love, the importance of family, the impact of childhood, etc.

Example of a theme analysis thesis statement: Banana Yoshimoto’s novella, Kitchen , explores the theme of death and how everyone sooner or later has to come to terms with the mortality of the people they love as well as their own.

How to start a book report

The very first step in writing a stellar book report that earns a top grade is actually reading the book. This may seem obvious, but many students make the assignment much harder on themselves by not putting in the time up front to do a thorough and complete reading of the book they’re going to be writing their report on. So resist the urge to skim the text or to rely on the Cliff’s notes version. A nuanced analysis requires a deep grasp of the text, and there is no substitute for focused, firsthand reading.

It’s a lot easier to stick with a book that you enjoy reading! If you have the chance to choose the book you’ll be writing a report on, take some time to select a book that appeals to you, considering the genre, time period, writing style, and plot.

It can be helpful to start thinking about your book report while you are still making your way through your initial reading of the text. Mark down passages that provide key turning points in the action, descriptive passages that establish time and place, and any other passages that stand out to you in terms of their word choice and use of language. This makes it much easier to go back later and start collecting the evidence you’ll need to support your argument and analysis.

Once you finish reading the book from cover to cover, you’ll likely find that your mind is swirling with thoughts, impressions, and burgeoning analyses. At this stage, trying to distill all of these half-formed thoughts into one cohesive report may seem like a daunting task. One way to make this task more approachable is to start by collecting and listing the objective facts about the book. The following list covers the basic elements that should be included in every book report you write, no matter what topic or specific type of book report you’re writing:

• The book’s title and author
• The historical context of the book (when it was written)
• The time(s) during which the story is set
• The location(s) where the story takes place
• A summary of the main characters and action of the story
• Quotes from the book that will function as evidence to support your analysis

With all of the basics in hand, you can start to write your book report in earnest. Just like most other essay types, a well-written book report follows a basic structure that makes it easy for your reader to follow your thoughts and make sense of your argument.

A typical book report will open with an introduction that briefly summarizes the book and culminates with a thesis statement that advances an opinion or viewpoint about it. This is followed by body paragraphs that provide detailed points to flesh out and support that opinion in greater detail, including direct quotes from the text as supporting evidence. The report finishes with a conclusion that summarizes the main points and leaves the reader with an understanding of the book, its aims, and whether or not you feel the book (and its author) was successful in doing what it set out to do. Ideally, the conclusion will also make a statement about how the book fits into the larger literary world.

A book report template you can use for any book report

If you find yourself stuck on how to start a book report, here’s a handy book report template you can use to get things off the ground. Simply use this structure and start filling it in with the specifics of the book you are writing your report on. Feel free to expand upon this book report template, adding more sections as appropriate.

Introduction

Write three to five sentences introducing the book and author as well as important contextual information about the book, such as the publication year and the overall critical reception at the time. Finish the paragraph with your thesis statement.

Body paragraphs

Include at least three body paragraphs that offer detailed information and analysis to support your thesis statement. Each paragraph should contain one idea, backed up with direct quotes from the text alongside your critical analysis.

Write three to five sentences that restate your thesis and summarize the evidence you’ve presented in support of it. Relate your findings to a larger context about the book’s place within both the literary world and the world at large.

Frequently Asked Questions about book reports

A book report follows the format of most papers you write - it will have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Depending on the type of book report, you will fill these parts with the required information.

These are the basic parts that should be included in every book report you write, no matter what topic or specific type of book report you’re writing:

• The historical context of the book and time(s) during which the story is set

The book report is, among other things, also a summary of the plot, main characters, and ideas and arguments of the author. Your book report should help readers decide whether they want to read the book or not.

How many pages a book report should have depends on your assignment. It can be a half page, but it can also have many pages. Make sure to carefully read through your assignment and ask your professor if you are unsure .

A book report is a summary of a written text. A good book report includes an analysis of the different elements and authorial choices that comprise the work, such as tone, theme, perspective, diction, dialogue, etc. A good book report helps the reader decide whether they want to read the book or not.

Make your life easier with our productivity and writing resources.

For students and teachers.

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing a Book Report

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Book reports are informative reports that discuss a book from an objective stance. They are similar to book reviews but focus more on a summary of the work than an evaluation of it. Book reports commonly describe what happens in a work; their focus is primarily on giving an account of the major plot, characters, thesis, and/or main idea of the work. Most often, book reports are a K-12 assignment and range from 250 to 500 words.

Book reviews are most often a college assignment, but they also appear in many professional works: magazines, newspapers, and academic journals. If you are looking to write a book review instead of a book report, please see the OWL resource, Writing a Book Review .

Before You Read

Before you begin to read, consider what types of things you will need to write your book report. First, you will need to get some basic information from the book:

• Publisher location, name of publisher, year published
• Number of Pages

You can either begin your report with some sort of citation, or you can incorporate some of these items into the report itself.

Next, try to answer the following questions to get you started thinking about the book:

• Author: Who is the author? Have you read any other works by this author?
• Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, biography, etc.? What types of people would like to read this kind of book? Do you typically read these kinds of books? Do you like them?
• Title: What does the title do for you? Does it spark your interest? Does it fit well with the text of the book?
• Pictures/Book Jacket/Cover/Printing: What does the book jacket or book cover say? Is it accurate? Were you excited to read this book because of it? Are there pictures? What kinds are there? Are they interesting?

As You Read

While reading a work of fiction, keep track of the major characters. You can also do the same with biographies. When reading nonfiction works, however, look for the main ideas and be ready to talk about them.

• Characters: Who are the main characters? What happens to them? Did you like them? Were there good and bad characters?
• Main Ideas: What is the main idea of the book? What happens? What did you learn that you did not know before?
• Quotes: What parts did you like best? Are there parts that you could quote to make your report more enjoyable?

When You Are Ready to Write

Announce the book and author. Then, summarize what you have learned from the book. Explain what happens in the book, and discuss the elements you liked, did not like, would have changed, or if you would recommend this book to others and why. Consider the following items as well:

• Principles/characters: What elements did you like best? Which characters did you like best and why? How does the author unfold the story or the main idea of the book?
• Organize: Make sure that most of your paper summarizes the work. Then you may analyze the characters or themes of the work.
• Your Evaluation: Choose one or a few points to discuss about the book. What worked well for you? How does this work compare with others by the same author or other books in the same genre? What major themes, motifs, or terms does the book introduce, and how effective are they? Did the book appeal to you on an emotional or logical way?
• Recommend: Would you recommend this book to others? Why? What would you tell them before they read it? What would you talk about after you read it?

Revising/Final Copy

Do a quick double check of your paper:

• Double-check the spelling of the author name(s), character names, special terms, and publisher.
• Check the punctuation and grammar slowly.
• Make sure you provide enough summary so that your reader or instructor can tell you read the book.
• Consider adding some interesting quotes from the reading.

Book Report: Definition, Guidelines, and Advice

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

A book report is a written composition or oral presentation that describes, summarizes , and (often, but not always) evaluates a work of fiction or nonfiction .

As Sharon Kingen points out below, a book report is primarily a school exercise, "a means of determining whether or not a student has read a book" ( Teaching Language Arts in Middle Schools , 2000).

Characteristics of a Book Report

Book reports generally follow a basic format that includes the following information:

• the title of the book and its year of publication
• the name of the author
• the genre (type or category) of the book (for example, biography , autobiography , or fiction)
• the main subject, plot , or theme of the book
• a brief summary of the key points or ideas treated in the book
• the reader's response to the book, identifying its apparent strengths and weaknesses
• brief quotations from the book to support general observations

Examples and Observations

• "A book report is a way for you to let others know about a book you have read. A good book report will help others decide whether they want to read the book or not." (Ann McCallum, William Strong, and Tina Thoburn, Language Arts Today . McGraw-Hill, 1998)
• Contrasting Views on Book Reports - "Keep in mind always that a book report is a hybrid, part fact and part fancy. It gives hard information about the book, yet it is your own creation, giving your opinion and judgment of it." (Elvin Ables, Basic Knowledge and Modern Technology . Varsity, 1987) - "Your instructor may occasionally assign a book report . A book report is to be sharply distinguished from a research paper , for it deals with one book in its entirety—not with certain aspects of several books and documents . . .. The book report is also to be clearly distinguished from a book review or a critical essay , for it merely reports on a book without undertaking to compare it with other books or to pass judgment on its value." (Cleanth Brooks and Robert Penn Warren, Modern Rhetoric . Harcourt, 1972) - "A book report is a summary of the contents, plot , or thesis of a particular book, . . . preceded by a full bibliographical citation . The writer of a book report is not required to evaluate the author, although he oftentimes does so." (Donald V. Gawronski, History: Meaning and Method . Sernoll, 1967)
• Quick Tips "I'll give you some tips on how to write a good book report right now. "Tell the name of the book. Tell the name of the author. The Wizard of Oz was written by L. Frank Baum. "Tell if you think he's a good writer. Tell the names of all the characters in the book. Tell what they did. Tell where they went. Tell who they were looking for. Tell what they finally found. Tell how they treated each other. Tell about their feelings. "Tell that you read some to your sister. Tell that she liked it. "Read some to a friend. Then you can even tell that your friend liked it." (Mindy Warshaw Skolsky, Love From Your Friend, Hannah . HarperCollins, 1999)
• Problems Associated With Book Reports "Typically a book report is a means of determining whether or not a student has read a book. Some teachers also consider these reports as a major part of their composition program. However, there are several problems associated with book reports. First, students can generally find out enough about a book to write a report without actually reading it. Second, book reports tend to be boring to write and boring to read. The writing is usually uninspired because students have no ownership of the task and no commitment to it. Furthermore, book reports are not real-world writing tasks. Only students write book reports." (Sharon Kingen, Teaching Language Arts in Middle Schools: Connecting and Communicating . Lawrence Erlbaum, 2000)
• The Lighter Side of Book Reports "I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in 20 minutes. It involves Russia." (Woody Allen)
• Margin (Composition Format) Definition
• Definition of Appendix in a Book or Written Work
• What Are Business and Technical Reports?
• What Is a Glossary?
• How to Write an Abstract
• Conclusion in Compositions
• Which Words in a Title Should Be Capitalized?
• What Are Expletives in English Grammar?
• How Do You Edit an Essay?
• What Is a Synopsis and How Do You Write One?
• Reported Speech
• All About Capitalization
• How Neologisms Keep English Alive
• Minutes in Business Writing
• What Is Proposal Writing?
• The Title in Composition

• Words with Friends Cheat
• Wordle Solver
• Word Unscrambler
• Scrabble Dictionary
• Anagram Solver
• Wordscapes Answers

Make Our Dictionary Yours

Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get:

• Grammar and writing tips
• Fun language articles
• #WordOfTheDay and quizzes

By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

We'll see you in your inbox soon.

Format for Writing a Book Report

• DESCRIPTION student writing a book report
• SOURCE damircudic / E+ / Getty

Students assigned to write a book report often ask which information should go where? What information is important, and what is not? How should I build my report so that it's easy to read, and I can earn a great grade? Following a clear, simple format for writing a book report will make important information stand out. Discover an easy-to-follow book report format and download a printable template to use as a gude.

Simple Book Report Format

There is more than one way to format a book report. If your teacher gives you a specific format to follow, use it. If not, you may want to use the basic book report outline and/or printable template below as a guide. Although there can be flexibility in designing a book report, using general formatting guidelines shows that you understand the main ideas and themes of the book .

Part 1: Introduction Paragraph

The introduction to your book report is where you lay out your basic premise and provide your all-important thesis statement. An old rule that’s still relevant is, "Tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them." Here's the skeleton of a good intro paragraph .

• universal statement - Say something true and obvious about the book. For example, " The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a product of its time." It’s obvious, but it lays the groundwork for how to proceed.
• thesis statement - The thesis statement is the most important part of your paper. Make a claim, something you think is true and you can support with examples from the book. For example, "Despite the language and limitations of its time, Huckleberry Finn is a powerfully anti-racist book rooted in the idea that each person's experiences are, in their own way, universal."
• context - Provide context. Write no more than five sentences about the book’s genre , author and setting. Make sure they support your thesis statement. For example, "Samuel Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain, was a riverboat pilot and unsuccessful businessman as well as an author. In his many careers, he encountered people and experiences beyond the usual."

Part 2: Body Paragraphs

At the middle and high-school level, most teachers typically expect a book report to have three body paragraphs. The body of the book report should describe the characters of the book, the purpose of the book and the plot. You could trace a character's experience throughout the book, analyze a motif or theme of the book, or compare one character’s experience with another's.

• link to thesis - Describe at least one specific way the book's text supports your thesis.
• supporting details - Add supporting information from the book and your interpretation of it to support your case. Quote a few specific examples from the book that support your thesis.
• closing - "Look at how well I supported my thesis!" Don't actually write that, you'll get in trouble. But that's the gist of what a closing sentence should accomplish.

Part 3: Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion of a book report effectively conveys how the document addressed the points raised in the introduction. It should summarize important points, mention what you learned from the book, and state whether or not you would recommend it.

• reflection - This is not quite as general as the universal statement, but the reflection is close. For example, "Despite its racist language and limitations of the time, the message of Huckleberry Finn …"
• summarize highlights - Summarize the highlights of your main argument(s), sticking with just a few short, concise sentences. Think of your conclusion as the last few minutes of class; wrap this thing up so everybody can get to lunch.
• extend the thesis statement - Restate your thesis, but with an added sentence about what makes it important. For example, "By writing an anti-racist book in a deeply racist time, Mark Twain has both chronicled his own experiences and linked it with our own."

Printable Book Report Outline

If you like the general book report outline described above and want to follow it fairly closely, click the image below to download a PDF template of a book report outline that you can use as a guide to format the book report you are working on now.

Book report template

Be sure to save the printable book report template to your computer so you’ll be able to use it when you are assigned book reports in the future.

Details to Include in a Book Report

Use an outline of a book report format, but don’t overlook the importance of quality content. Above all, the point of a book report is not only to prove that you read the book, but also that you took the time to analyze and understand it. If you're blanking on what to include, think about these possibilities.

Why You Chose the Book

Explain why you selected this particular book (unless it was assigned), so your teacher knows you have a personal investment in the book. This works best in the introduction, after the universal statement. Have you read books by this person before? Is it a genre that you like? Was it a recommendation? If so, by whom?

Personal Reflection on the Book

Getting personal is usually verboten in academic writing, but this is not so with book reports. Slip some personal details into the conclusion. Draw comparisons between your own life and a character's, or plot events and your own experiences.

Include Quotes From the Book

Add some quotes. You may not be required to include direct quotes from the text to back up your claims, but it’s a good idea to do so anyway (unless your teacher says otherwise). Quotes can be a power move in a book report, proof that you really and truly read the book and took it to heart. It helps to collect these quotes as you read, so you don't have to go back and find them afterwards.

Listen to Your Teacher

Be sure to ask your teacher if you need to use a certain format. The outline provided in this article is written to be very general. That said, you should always follow any format guidelines your assignment requires. If you don’t follow the stated assignment requirements, that could be a fast route to a zero.

If your teacher hasn't provided a specific format, consider taking your work to the next level by using MLA format . The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is the standard format for high school and college English classes. Getting this right is another power move. If you’re interested in doing this, review the main rules of MLA .

Showcase Your Style

Book reports aren't usually as formal as essays. If your teacher allows some creative freedom, don't be afraid to express yourself. It's your report, after all. Every book affects every person differently. If you liked it or didn’t like it, say why. As long as your report is detailed and well-written, you can and should make it your own. Follow these guidelines on how to write a book report and you’ll be on your way to crafting the perfect content for your next assignment.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Have you entered our back-to-school giveaway? ✨

42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

6. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

7. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. Teacher blogger Teacher Thrive describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

8. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

9. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. Learn more about book tastings .

10. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

11. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.

12. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

13. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.

14. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

15. T-shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint.

16. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

17. Rays of Sunshine Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

18. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

19. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

20. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

21. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

22. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8″ x 11″ sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

23. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

24. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then provide a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

25. Triorama Book Report

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.

26. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

27. Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

28. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

29. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels, and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

30. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

31. Charm Bracelet Book Report

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

33. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

34. Letter to the Author

Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

35. Cardboard Box TV

This cardboard box TV book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

36. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment.

37. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach, this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

38. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

39. Comic Strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

40. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Wheaties Box Book Report

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like an old-fashioned Wheaties box that features sports heroes. Include a main image on the front side of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, dont’ miss 100 famous children’s books every kid should read (plus free printable).

You Might Also Like

Get These Four Free 15-Minute Icebreakers for Your Classroom

For grades 3-8! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Good Book Report: How to Write & What to Include

Reading books is pleasurable and entertaining; writing about those books isn’t. Reading books is pleasurable, easy, and entertaining; writing about those books isn’t. However, learning how to write a book report is something that is commonly required in university. Fortunately, it isn’t as difficult as you might think. You’ll only need to find good books to do a book report on.

TThe main book report types are: book analysis, character analysis, and thematic analysis.

Want to learn more? Just keep reading this article by Custom-writing.org experts! It contains all the necessary information about book report writing: types, basic rules, essential elements of the essay, and great book report ideas.

• 📜 What to Include in a Book Report?
• 🚦 Book Report Types
• 👣 Writing Guide

👨‍🔬️ Non-Fiction Book Report

• 🔤 Writing Tips

🔗 References

A book report is a particular type of writing which is intended to give the reader the general idea of a specific work. Even though it is considered a typical college assignment, you can find book reports containing up to five hundred words in magazines and newspapers.

In case you are wondering what you should put in a book report, here is a list of the most common elements:

• description of the characters
• main themes and ideas

The following sections of this article break down every step of the writing process for you! Moreover, there is a note regarding non-fiction book reviews since they are slightly different.

📜 What Should be Included in a Book Report?

• The title and the author of the book . This basic information is necessary to include in any book report.
• Background information . Here you need to focus on the reasons why the author wrote the novel.
• Summary of the content . Here you summarize the primary ideas of the novel.
• Examples . If you present an opinion on the book that you’re reporting on, you need to support it with quotes and examples from the text.

🚦 Book Report: Basic Types

Plot summary & analysis.

For a book summary & analysis, just to retell the story is not enough. It should provide the reader with your general impression of the book and its significance. You need to make a plot analysis , present your opinion on the story, and provide supporting examples from the text.

Below are the plot summary & analysis writing tips .

Character Analysis

It is here where you will explore the traits (both personality and physical) of the various characters and discuss how their actions affect the book’s plot and outcome.

Below are the character analysis writing tips .

A theme is a large idea that goes throughout the book. A themes analysis is a great way to deal with more significant literary works.

Below are the tips for writing a themes book report .

Book Report Essay Topics

• Report on the book Deaf Like Me .
• Analyze the characters of the book Death of a Salesman .
• Discuss the plot of Tim Berners-Lee’s book Weaving the Web .  
• The author’s view of relationships between teachers and teachers in the book Nothing but the Truth .
• Report essay on the book The Origins of the Modern World .
• The influence of external circumstances on shaping a human’s personality in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Oates.
• Discuss the rhetoric used by Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart. 
• Benefit of the book The Hobbit for a child’s development.
• The significance of mutual concessions in The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down .
• Book report: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.
• Analyze the leading themes of the book Passing by Nella Larsen.  
• Describe the controversial characters of the book Why Don’t You Dance?
• Main objectives of Humphrey’s book Once Upon a Time .
• Ordinary People by Judith Ann Guest and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey: book report .
• Analyze the themes Richard Godbeer discusses in his book Escaping Salem .
• The importance of family values in J.D. Vance’s book Hillbilly Elegy .
• Explore the subject of the book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian .
• An unusual view on the history of Canada in the book The Donut: A Canadian History.
• Report essay on Khaled Hosseini’s book The Kite Runner .
• Analyze the plot of the book A Good Man is Hard to Find .
• Discuss the rhetoric techniques Nathaniel Hawthorne uses in his book Young Goodman Brown .
• The value of understanding and compassion in R. J. Palacio’s book Wonder .
• The tragic story of the Creature in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley .
• The reality of poverty in Road to Wigan Pier .
• Discuss Matsuo Basho’s The Narrow Road to the Interior . 
• Analyze the secondary characters of Shakespeare’s Othello . 
• Suzanne Collins’ presentation of problem of inequality in the book The Hunger Games .
• Discuss Margaret Atwood’s perspective regarding education described in her book Oryx and Crake .
• Main ideas of the book Twelve Years a Slave .
• Explore the devices Alice Walker uses in the book Everyday Use to convey her message.
• Describe Jane Austen’s book Pride and Prejudice . 
• Report on Selena Maranjian’s book Montley Fool Money Guide .
• The relationships between an individual and authority in The Perils of Obedience .
• Impact of the themes of loyalty and betrayal on the storyline of Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory .
• Examine techniques George Orwell uses to convey his message in the book 1984 .
• A review and summary of the book The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald .
• Report on Virginia Woolf’s book Mrs. Dalloway. 
• Describe the characters of the book Into the Wild .  
• Analyze the plot of the book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Juno Diaz.
• The consequences of traumatic events and the courage to overcome them in the book Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson .
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot: book review.
• Explore the main motif of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King .  
• The social issues Ken Liu relates to in his book Paper Menagerie .
• The importance of the book Family Evaluation for family health providers.
• Discuss the moral of the book Fahrenheit 451 .
• Analyze Ellison Harlan’s book Memos From Purgatory . 
• Examine the main theme of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer .
• Report on the book Women at Work .
• Analyze the stylistic devices used by Andrew Geyer in the book Meeting the Dead .
• Describe the women characters in the book The Return of Martin Guerre .

📑 Book Report Outline

A strong book report must include the components described below.

Introduction

It is at this point of the outline that you hook the reader and draw them in. In a very intriguing manner, the introduction must:

• Be powerful and enlightening without being lengthy
• Provide some basic information about the book
• Define the book’s message as you see it
• Let the reader know what you are planning to analyze

Book Summary

In this part, you need to make a brief overview of the book’s plot, setting, and characters. Imagine that you’re presenting the book to someone who didn’t read it. There’s no need to describe all the details of the story. Focus on the most important things.

Report Body

The body is the central part of your book report. Here you provide your analysis of the book. Its content will depend on what type of essay you need to write. However, some basic tips will help you write a good book report body.

• Include in your book report body a minimum of three paragraphs and provide one main idea for each.
• For each paragraph, provide a topic sentence, proof for your arguments, and a concluding sentence.
• Make sure you stick to your outline and find a good balance between the general and the specific.
• Afford transition words and sentences that ensure the reader can move smoothly from one paragraph to the next.

Here you concisely summarize your report. Write one to two paragraphs that cover the arguments you made and the substantiating evidence. You can also discuss the book’s contributions to its field and provide recommendations for the reader and a conceivable direction for further research. End with a one-sentence summary that asserts your overall opinion.

👣 How to Write a Book Report Step by Step

There is a slight but essential difference between book reports and reviews. The latter focuses on analyzing and evaluating the writing. Basically, you would give your opinion on the chosen book. The report, on the other hand, is created from a more objective point of view. If you need some help with writing one, here is a short guide for you.

Book Report: Preparation Stage

Before you start reading a chosen book, make sure you know the necessary information about it: author, title, genre, publication. Think about the questions below.

Book Report: the Stage of Reading

You shouldn’t just carelessly read the book since your main objective is writing a report. Therefore, take notes about the characters, ideas, and quotes that you find exciting.

Writing Your Book Report

First of all, introduce the book and its author. Then, include a summary and discuss the main points that you wrote down. You might want to comment on the elements you liked and the parts you think need some change. Consider the following hints you may refer to while writing down book report ideas.

Editing & Proofreading Your Report

Except for grammar and punctuation, you should pay attention to the spelling of the names in your report. Take your time and double-check everything. As the final touch, you can also add some meaningful quotes.

If you’re looking for additional advice on how to edit and proofread your texts, check out our article on the topic!

Writing a non-fiction book report becomes challenging when you are not an expert in a subject that the author works on. No need to panic. We prepared a short guide for you, which consists of only two main parts. While reading the book, take notes about the author’s conclusions, recommendations, methodology, and thesis statement. If you are ready to get to the writing process, divide your report into the following sections.

🔤 Book Report Tips

Let’s summarize the article and highlight several important tips on how to write a book report.

• Write the book review in the third-person, present tense.
• Ensure each paragraph is well-developed and that the paragraphs flow well from one to the next.
• When writing about the author, discuss their judgments, writing ability, and primary achievements in their writing.
• Always support your opinions with substantial evidence and arguments taken from the book.
• Be sure to discuss the main characters and the immediate problems they face in the book.
• Summarize the book; do not go into a detailed retelling of it.
• Be sure to provide a detailed analysis of the author’s intended message and how it is delivered.
• Remember that book report essays must remain objective in their analysis of the book’s content and structure.
• Critical reviews: ANU
• Essay Structure: Harvard College Writing Center
• Book review: Massey University
• Writing Book Reviews: University of Indiana
• Sample Book Review: Massey University
• What is critical writing: University of Leicester
• How to write a book review and a book report: Concordia University
• Writing a Book Review: Purdue University
• Book Reviews: UNC Writing Center
• Writing a Book Review: USC Libraries
• Book Review: Academia
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

A descriptive essay is an academic paper that challenges a school or college student to describe something. It can be a person, a place, an object, a situation—anything an individual can depict in writing. The task is to show your abilities to communicate an experience in an essay format using...

An analysis / analytical essay is a standard assignment in college or university. You might be asked to conduct an in-depth analysis of a research paper, a report, a movie, a company, a book, or an event. In this article, you’ll find out how to write an analysis paper introduction,...

A film analysis essay might be the most exciting assignment you have ever had! After all, who doesn’t love watching movies? You have your favorite movies, maybe something you watched years ago, perhaps a classic, or a documentary. Or your professor might assign a film for you to make a...

A critique paper is an academic writing genre that summarizes and gives a critical evaluation of a concept or work. Or, to put it simply, it is no more than a summary and a critical analysis of a specific issue. This type of writing aims to evaluate the impact of...

What is a creative essay, if not the way to express yourself? Crafting such a paper is a task that allows you to communicate your opinion and tell a story. However, even using your imagination to a great extent doesn’t free you from following academic writing rules. Don’t even get...

A compare and contrast essay — what is it? In this type of paper, you compare two different things or ideas, highlighting what is similar between the two, and you also contrast them, highlighting what is different. The two things might be events, people, books, points of view, lifestyles, or...

What is an expository essay? This type of writing aims to inform the reader about the subject clearly, concisely, and objectively. The keyword here is “inform”. You are not trying to persuade your reader to think a certain way or let your own opinions and emotions cloud your work. Just stick to the...

Have you ever tried to write a story analysis but ended up being completely confused and lost? Well, the task might be challenging if you don’t know the essential rules for literary analysis creation. But don’t get frustrated! We know how to write a short story analysis, and we are...

Have you ever tried to get somebody round to your way of thinking? Then you should know how daunting the task is. Still, if your persuasion is successful, the result is emotionally rewarding. A persuasive essay is a type of writing that uses facts and logic to argument and substantiate...

One of the most critical skills that students gain during their college years is assignment writing. Composing impressive essays and research papers can be quite challenging, especially for ESL students. Nonetheless, before learning the art of academic writing, you may make numerous common essay mistakes. Such involuntary errors appear in:...

You’re probably thinking: I’m no Mahatma Gandhi or Steve Jobs—what could I possibly write in my memoir? I don’t even know how to start an autobiography, let alone write the whole thing. But don’t worry: essay writing can be easy, and this autobiography example for students is here to show...

Some people know which profession to choose from childhood, while others decide much later in life. However, and whenever you come to it, you may have to elaborate on it in your personal statement or cover letter. This is widely known as “Why I Want to Be a Teacher” essay.

It seems to me , hard to write a book report without writing a review. Specially about a book you don’t like

Grand help with my paper bag book report writing. I didn’t know what to write in this paper, but your post suggested how to cope with it. Sincerely, Candy

I had no idea what to write in my paper bag book report. This topic seems devoid of any interesting message. But thanks to your post on paper bag book report writing, I know how to cope with it! Thanks a lot!!!

• Israel-Gaza War
• War in Ukraine
• US Election
• US & Canada
• UK Politics
• N. Ireland Politics
• Scotland Politics
• Wales Politics
• Latin America
• Middle East
• In Pictures
• Executive Lounge
• Technology of Business
• Women at the Helm
• Future of Business
• Science & Health
• Artificial Intelligence
• AI v the Mind
• Film & TV
• Art & Design
• Entertainment News
• Destinations
• Australia and Pacific
• Caribbean & Bermuda
• Central America
• North America
• South America
• World’s Table
• Culture & Experiences
• The SpeciaList
• Natural Wonders
• Weather & Science
• Climate Solutions
• Sustainable Business
• Green Living

Project 2025: A wish list for a Trump presidency, explained

A proposed Republican party platform has been approved at the party’s national convention, but a much more detailed proposal from a conservative think tank has also been drawing attention.

Project 2025 was created by the Heritage Foundation and runs for more than 900 pages.

Trump has disavowed Project 2025, though critics have pointed out it was led by former officials in his administration.

The document calls for the sacking of thousands of civil servants, expanding the power of the president, dismantling the Department of Education, sweeping tax cuts, a ban on pornography, halting sales of the abortion pill, and more.

There is agreement between many parts of the official Republican platform and Project 2025, although the think-tank document is much more detailed and in some policy areas goes much further than the party line.

There is a sharper contrast between the two when it comes to the issue of abortion, with Heritage urging much more aggressive anti-abortion policies.

Who wrote Project 2025?

It is common for Washington think tanks of all political stripes to propose policy wish lists for potential governments-in-waiting.

The conservative Heritage Foundation first produced policy plans for future Republican administrations in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was about to take office.

It has produced similar documents in connection with subsequent presidential elections, including in 2016, when Trump won the presidency.

A year into his term, the think tank boasted that the Trump White House had adopted nearly two-thirds of its proposals.

The Project 2025 report was unveiled in April 2023, but liberal opposition to the document has ramped up now that Trump has extended his polling lead.

The Republican nominee himself has distanced himself from the proposal.

"I know nothing about Project 2025," he posted on his social media website, Truth Social. "I have no idea who is behind it.

"I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal."

But the team that created the project is chock-full of former Trump advisers, including director Paul Dans, who was chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management while Trump was president.

Mr Dans left the project in late July, clearing the way for Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to take over. He said he was leaving during the presidential election season in order to "direct all my efforts to winning, bigly".

Russell Vought, another former Trump administration official, wrote a key chapter in the document and also serves as the Republican National Committee’s 2024 platform policy director.

More than 100 conservative organisations contributed to the document, Heritage says, including many that would be hugely influential in Washington if Republicans took back the White House.

The Project 2025 document sets out four main policy aims: restore the family as the centrepiece of American life; dismantle the administrative state; defend the nation's sovereignty and borders; and secure God-given individual rights to live freely.

Here's an outline of several of its key proposals.

Project 2025 proposes that the entire federal bureaucracy, including independent agencies such as the Department of Justice, be placed under direct presidential control - a controversial idea known as "unitary executive theory".

In practice, that would streamline decision-making, allowing the president to directly implement policies in a number of areas.

The proposals also call for eliminating job protections for thousands of government employees, who could then be replaced by political appointees.

The document labels the FBI a "bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization". It calls for drastic overhauls of this and several other federal agencies, as well as the complete elimination of the Department of Education.

What does the Republican party platform say?

The party platform includes a proposal to "declassify government records, root out wrongdoers, and fire corrupt employees", pledges to slash regulation and government spending. But it stops short of proposing a sweeping overhaul of federal agencies as outlined in Project 2025.

Immigration

Increased funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border - one of Trump's signature proposals in 2016 - is proposed in the document.

Project 2025 also proposes dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and combining it with other immigration enforcement units in other agencies, creating a much larger and more powerful border policing operation.

Other proposals include eliminating visa categories for crime and human trafficking victims, increasing fees on immigrants and allowing fast-tracked applications for migrants who pay a premium.

Not all of those details are repeated in the party platform, but the overall headlines are similar - the party is promising to implement the "largest deportation programme in American history".

What a Trump second term would look like

Climate and economy.

The document proposes slashing federal money for research and investment in renewable energy, and calls for the next president to "stop the war on oil and natural gas".

Carbon-reduction goals would be replaced by efforts to increase energy production and energy security.

The paper sets out two competing visions on tariffs, and is divided on whether the next president should try to boost free trade or raise barriers to imports.

But the economic advisers suggest that a second Trump administration should slash corporate and income taxes, abolish the Federal Reserve and even consider a return to gold-backed currency.

The party platform does not go as far as Project 2025 in these policy areas. The platform instead talks of bringing down inflation and drilling for oil to reduce energy costs, but is thin on specific policy proposals.

Abortion and family

Project 2025 does not call outright for a nationwide abortion ban.

However, it proposes withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market, and using existing but little-enforced laws to stop the drug being sent through the post.

The document suggests that the department of Health and Human Services should "maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family".

On this issue at least, the document differs fairly substantially from the Republican platform, which only mentions the word "abortion" once. The platform says abortion laws should be left to individual states and that late-term abortions (which it does not define) should be banned.

It adds that that access to prenatal care, birth control and in-vitro fertilisation should be protected. The party platform makes no mention of cracking down on the distribution of mifepristone.

Tech and education

Under the proposals, pornography would be banned, and tech and telecoms companies that allow access would be shut down.

The document calls for school choice and parental control over schools, and takes aim at what it calls "woke propaganda".

It proposes to eliminate a long list of terms from all laws and federal regulations, including "sexual orientation", "gender equality", "abortion" and "reproductive rights".

Project 2025 aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools and government departments as part of what it describes as a wider crackdown on "woke" ideology.

Project 2025's proposals in this policy area are broadly reflected in the Republican platform, which in addition to calling for the abolishing the Department of Education, aims to boost school choice and parental control over education and criticises what the party calls the "inappropriate political indoctrination of our children".

Social Security

Although Heritage has long supported reforming the country's public pension plan, Project 2025 barely touches this third rail of American politics.

The platform says Social Security is a "lifeline" for millions of retired Americans and Republicans will "restore Economic Stability to ensure the long-term sustainability" of the programme.

The plan's future

Project 2025 is backed by a $22m (£17m) budget and includes strategies for implementing policies immediately after the presidential inauguration in January 2025.

Heritage is also creating a database of conservative loyalists to fill government positions, and a programme to train those new workers.

Democrats led by Jared Huffman, a congressman from California, have launched a Stop Project 2025 Task Force.

And many of the proposals would likely face immediate legal challenges from Trump's opponents if implemented.

Four surprises that could upend the 2024 US election

Where biden and trump stand on key issues, four things that could decide who wins us election.

Reports tie JD Vance to more extremists, conspiracy theories

The week in extremism, from usa today.

Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance has connections to at least two more extremists, according to reports this week. That’s in addition to being friendly with a far-right commentator who was exposed for his racist writings. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is reaching more than a billion people with his misleading election claims, a study shows. And federal prosecutions of public threats are on track to hit another high in 2024.

It’s the week in extremism.

JD Vance and the extremists

Former President Donald Trump’s running mate was in the news twice this week for his connections to extremists. The revelations come a week after USA TODAY reported that Richard Hanania, a far-right commentator unveiled last year as the writer of racist essays on white supremacist websites, was one of the contributors to the conservative manifesto Project 2025 – while also having a friendly relationship with Vance. 

• On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported on Vance’s 20 months of messages to Charles Johnson, a conspiracy theorist who has doubted the Holocaust and was banned from Twitter for veiled threats against an organizer of the Black Lives Matter movement.
• The same day, it was revealed Vance endorsed an upcoming book authored by another far-right conspiracy theorist, Jack Posobiec. Posobiec was a major promoter of the discredited “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory. The book praises fascist dictators and describes the far-left as “unhumans.”
• Vance wrote the foreword for another forthcoming book written by Kevin Roberts, one of the key architects of Project 2025, the Associated Press reported. The publication of that book was postponed this week until after the election. 

Trump has repeatedly distanced himself from Project 2025, a sweeping conservative policy effort decried by many experts as detrimental to Americans of color. Last week, the director of the effort stepped down amid criticism from the Trump campaign.

Report: Elon Musk spreads election falsehoods to a billion people

False or misleading statements about the U.S. election posted by Musk on his social media platform X have reached more than a billion people, according to a new analysis from the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate, as reported by NBC News on Thursday.

• Musk, who last month endorsed Trump for president, has spread at least 50 false election posts, according to the center’s analysis. The posts include claiming that non-citizens are voting in elections and posting a video of Vice-President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris that featured a “deepfake” of Harris’s voice.
• Musk has also come under fire from five state secretaries of state who wrote X a letter this week urging Musk to fix the platform’s AI-generated misinformation. X’s AI chatbot Grok had falsely told users that Harris had missed the deadline to join the presidential election ballot in nine states.

The Center for Countering Digital Hate, which has been highly critical of Musk’s management of X, was sued by the platform last year.  A federal judge threw out the case in March.

Threats against public officials set to hit record 

Late last week, a Virginia man was arrested and charged by the Department of Justice with threatening to kill Harris. So far this year, 69 people have been federally charged with threatening public officials, according to research from the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and Chapman University provided to USA TODAY.  

• This year is on track to exceed 2023 for the total number of such prosecutions. In 2023, there were 77 federal arrests for threats against public officials, according to the researchers.
• Threats were focused on federal law enforcement including the FBI, but were also made against politicians, election officials and other public workers.
• “Continuing a disheartening upward trend line, this year is on track to break yet another record for the number of federal arrests involving threats to public servants,”  Seamus Hughes, a senior researcher on the University of Nebraska team, told USA TODAY. “It’s disconcerting, and there appears to be no end in sight for the sad normalization of violent rhetoric.”

Statistic of the week: 20 years

That was the sentence handed down to David Nicholas Dempsey of California Friday for his assault on police officers at the Capitol on January 6.

Dempsey, who has a history of political violence, attacked officers using a metal pole and a crutch. His is the second-longest sentence for a Jan. 6 participant after Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former national leader of the Proud Boys, who received a 22-year term for seditious conspiracy.

• Online Invoice Generator
• All Features call_made
• Estimates and Invoices
• Invoice Management
• Saved Invoices
• Secure Access
• Mobile Invoices
• Business Expense Tracker  
• Industry Templates
• Word Invoice
• Excel Invoice
• Invoice PDF
• Google Sheets & Google Docs Invoice
• Printable Invoice
• Pro Forma Invoice
• Itemized Bill
• Online Invoice Generator call_made
• Rent Receipt
• Cash Receipt
• Donation Receipt
• Receipt Maker call_made
• Quote Template
• Estimate Maker call_made
• Profit Margin Calculator
• TRY IT FREE NOW call_made
• Support call_made
• Login call_made

How To Fill Out a Receipt Book: A Complete Guide

August 8, 2024.

Different situations call for different payment methods. Sometimes, you write an invoice for freelance work . Maybe you send a bill. Other times, you’re in the field and customers want to pay you immediately. That’s where a receipt book comes in handy.

Receipt books make it easy to track payments you receive on the fly. But to make effective use of this tool, you need to know how to fill out a receipt book. 

Here’s how to use a receipt book for easier recordkeeping and more customer trust. 

What Is a Receipt Book?

A receipt book is a book of pre-printed receipts you can fill out to quickly provide customers with proof of payment. The form contains lines for basic information, like the items purchased and your company’s contact details. There’s also a place for an itemized list of the products you sold or the services you provided. 

The receipts in the book usually have a detachable top page you can remove to give to customers. Every other page is a carbon copy, so a record of the information you write on the top page stays in your book. You end up with a book full of receipts in chronological order that shows which customers paid you and when. 

Most receipt books have color-coded pages, so you can tell which is the original and which is the carbon copy. The top page you tear out and give to customers is usually white. The copy that stays in the book is yellow. 

Having a receipt book is handy if you frequently collect payments on the go. You don’t always have the resources to print one out or the time to wait until you get back to your office. All it takes is the book and a pen.

How Do You Fill out a Receipt Book?

It’s easy to learn how to write a receipt because the book walks you through every step of the process. While it may seem complicated, all you have to do is write the correct information in the blank lines on the template. That’s all you need to know how to fill out a receipt book. 

Here’s the information you usually need to include. 

1. Write the Date and Receipt Number

Some receipt books come with pre-numbered receipts. But in others, you need to write in a receipt number. You can choose any number you want, but it’s best to have a system so you can easily track payments. For example, you might start with 1000, 1001, etc.

There should also be a place to put the date. Choose between the date you performed the service or the date the customer paid you. It doesn’t matter which of these options you pick, as long as you’re consistent so you know what your records show. 

2. Include All Relevant Contact Details

Include all your business information on the receipt so customers can track who they paid for their own records. Writing company details also makes it easier for customers to find you for repeat service. They can just refer back to their receipt.

You should usually include the following details:

• Company name
• Phone number

3. List a Description of Products

Receipts record what a customer paid for. Each one usually contains a grid with many rows of lines so you can make an itemized list of the items to include. 

When writing items down, be as detailed and specific as you can, especially if you sell multiple versions of the same product. This prevents potential miscommunications. For example, if the customer bought a black mug and a white mug, list each one on a different line. Always describe the size, color, or other distinguishing features. 

4. Include the Price

In each row on the receipt, there’s a space for the price and quantity. Write down both in the correct area for each product. 

If you sell multiple quantities of any one item, multiply the number by the quantity to get the total price for those items. For example, if you sold four $10 mugs, the total price on the “mug” line on the receipt would show that the customer paid $40.

5. Add the Subtotal Amount

Add up the amount the customer paid for all items, also known as the subtotal. List this on the receipt so customers know the total amount going directly to your business. 

6. Account for Taxes and Additional Charges

Usually, there are additional charges beyond the cost of the products, like taxes and delivery fees. Add those extra charges up after adding up the subtotal, and be sure to include details on the receipt showing what they are.

7. Calculate the Grand Total

Add all prices and fees to get the grand total. Include this total in a very visible way on the receipt so your customers can see it at a glance. 

RELATED ARTICLE — 10 Common Invoicing Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

Why Is It Important to Keep a Receipt Book?

If you prefer paper receipts, these books are key for on-the-go documentation. Here are some of the big advantages:

• Prevent Errors. Avoid invoicing mistakes by keeping track of what services you provided and what items customers paid for. If you have a copy of the receipt, you’re less likely to double-bill someone who already paid. 
• Provide a Customer Receipt Quickly. The book makes it easy to write a document for a customer in seconds. You don’t have to worry about how to make a receipt of payment. You can just pull out your book every time. 
• Keep Records. The book keeps all receipts in one convenient place, making for an easier accounting process. All you have to do is flip through the book. 
• Manage Inventory. Clear documentation makes it easy to see what you’ve removed from your inventory and need to restock. The information is right there in the book. 
• Resolve Disputes. Keeping detailed records of the services and amounts prevents miscommunications. When you and the customer have the exact same copy of the receipt, there are no surprises. 

RELATED ARTICLE — How To Send an Invoice

4 Tips for Filling Out a Receipt Book

Like with an invoice book or other accounting records, accuracy is crucial. With the right process, you can  ensure your book is as useful as possible for your business.

Here are some tips:

• Be Consistent. The numbering system and methodology for listing items must be as consistent as possible. This helps customers know what to expect. It also speeds up your accounting and inventory management processes. You can look at any receipt and see at a glance what you sold and how much you made. 
• Opt for Ink. Use a blue or black pen instead of a pencil. This helps ensure the carbon copy that stays with your book is easy to read and legible. 
• Maintain a Backup. You don’t want to lose your book and the entire record of all your business transactions. Put the right backup process in place to prevent this. This may include maintaining multiple paper copies or making digital copies. 
• Automate as You Grow. Manually writing receipts is easy when your business is small. But it could become too time-consuming and difficult to track as you grow. Look into invoicing software and tools to automate the process. Many programs can generate receipts for you and store copies digitally to make searching them fast and simple. 

RELATED ARTICLE — Small Business Tax Returns: Everything Business Owners Need To Know

Simplify Your Business Accounting With Invoice Simple

Whether you’re preparing invoices or writing receipts , efficiency is key. That’s why Invoice Simple’s software is here to help. 

Invoice Simple’s business expense and receipt tracker lets you scan any receipt and capture key info automatically into your digital system. All data is ready to export into a summary report whenever you need it. 

Using the right tools to record both income and expenses lets your business focus on serving customers better. No more worrying about paperwork. 

Share this with your network

You may also like, related posts.

How to Write a Receipt of Payment: Best Practices

How to Fill out a Rent Receipt (with Example)

What is a Commercial Invoice?

Itemized Invoices: Definition and Uses

How to Keep Track of Invoices & Payments: A Comprehensive Guide

Communication Methods Within a Business and How To Improve Your Skills

How To Write a Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide

Invoicing Tips: Can You Write off Unpaid Invoices?

Get started for free, send your first invoice right now (it's free), featured in.

• Cathedral City
• Crime & Courts
• Environment
• Desert Hot Springs
• Indian Wells
• Palm Desert
• Palm Springs
• Rancho Mirage
• National Politics
• Homeless in the Valley

Education legislation: Parents, catch up on 11 changes in California schools

The California legislature has passed numerous laws in the 2023-24 legislative session that will affect California students and school personnel. Here are just some of the changes that will impact California students that parents and families may want to know about. 

No suspension for being defiant  

SB 274 deals with suspensions and expulsions related to willful defiance. Students in the sixth through eighth grades can’t be suspended from school for disrupting school activities or “willfully defying” teachers, administrators and other school officials. This will last until July 1, 2029 — extending an expiration date approaching on July 1, 2025.  

As of last month, students in the ninth through 12 th grades can’t be suspended for that until July 1, 2029, though teachers do retain their ability to suspend a student from class for willful defiance. 

Students who are Black, LGBTQ+, homeless, have disabilities, or are in foster care are more likely to be suspended for willfully defiant behavior, “even when harmless,” according to SB 274. Suspension can lead to more harm for both students and their families. For example, a student now misses a school meal due to their suspension, according to the bill. 

Students won't miss out on recess

Parents won’t have to worry that their students may lose recess time as a form of discipline. Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, public schools must provide at least 30 minutes of recess on regular instructional days and at least 15 minutes on early release days, says SB 291 . 

Schools can’t ban these books 

Among what AB 1078  states are that schools cannot ban textbooks or instructional materials in school libraries just because it explores the contributions of an individual or group that is: 

• Latino American 
• Other ethnic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic status groups 

It also states that schools can’t ban the continued use of an already adopted textbook, instructional material or curriculum because it “contains inclusive and diverse perspectives.” 

This comes as book bans have swept across the country. In Iowa, 3,400 books , including books considered literary classics and works written by LGBTQ+ authors, have been removed from schools in a sweeping education bill, the Des Moines Register reported.  

Last year, 98 titles were challenged in California, up from the previous year, Axios San Diego reported.

Dealing with opioid overdose  

Within SB 10 , or Melanie’s Law, is a new directive for schools serving students in the seventh through 12 th grades. The comprehensive school safety plans school districts and county offices of education are responsible for must now include a protocol for when a student is experiencing an opioid overdose.  

An average of 22 people aged 14 to 18 died each week from drug overdoses across the country in 2022, UCLA Health reported earlier this year.

The law gets its name from Melanie Ramos, a 15-year-old who died in a Fentanyl overdose at a Hollywood high school, according to KABC , and went into effect at the start of this year.

Studying climate change 

Students studying science will learn more about climate change with AB 285 , which says the subject must emphasize the causes and effects of climate change, and how to mitigate and adapt to it, by the 2024-25 school year. 

Responding to heat illnesses 

School districts and charter schools offering an interscholastic athletic program must now include something new in their written emergency action plans (which details the procedures in the event of a medical emergency). The plan must now have procedures regarding heat illness, according to AB 1653. In addition, the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs interschool athletics in the state, had to develop procedures to prevent and manage heat illness from physical activity by last month. 

Faced harassment or hazing during sports? File an incident form 

There's another bill related to the California Interscholastic Federation that was approved last year. Among what AB 1327 requires is for the California Department of Education to create a standardized incident form to track racial discrimination, harassment, or hazing at high school sports games. Not only would information from completed incident forms be annually reported on the department’s website, but schools that participate in the federation would have to post the standardized incident form on their website by April 1, 2025. 

3 more things to know for future school years

Starting 2026-2027, schools that have chosen to require a health education course for graduation will have to include instruction on the dangers of fentanyl use through AB 2429 .

AB 2927 is also related to graduation. Schools must offer a semester-long personal finance education course by 2027-28 school year for high school students. It’ll become a graduation requirement by 2030-31. 

AB 5,  or the Safe and Supportive Schools Act, was passed last year. It will require the California Department of Education to finalize online training to “support LGBTQ cultural competency.” Schools for students in the seventh through 12th grades will have to provide the training to teachers and other employees annually beginning in  the 2025-26 school year until the 2029-30 school year.  

Paris Barraza is a trending reporter covering California news at The Desert Sun. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.  

More From Forbes

Etsy’s back-to-school decor trends are all about bold expression.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Back to school trends include vibrant art and book club essentials.

The fall semester is almost upon us, and Etsy has unveiled its analysis of 2024 back-to-school trends , including the interior decor styles that are set to dominate dorm rooms and bedrooms across the nation.

“This year's dorm decor trends are all about bold self-expression, setting the stage for vibrant and unique living spaces that feel like home,” Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy Trend Expert, told me via email. “Statement dorm art is making waves as students turn their bland walls into personal galleries with wanderlust-inspired prints that transport them to favorite destinations and rhinestone and sequin art that adds a touch of glam.”

Summer European hotspots are top of interest, with searches for Mykonos prints up 1,254%, Amalfi prints up by 784%, Athens prints up by 535% and Capri prints up by 385%. Meanwhile, searches for rhinestone or sequin art have seen a 35% increase.

Students also seem to be in search of roommate gifts, with custom-made throw pillows being a favored option—searches have increased by 29%.

As reading is still at its peak thanks to the likes of BookTok , interest in book-related decor is enjoying a high as well. Searches for book lover gifts are up by 54%, while magnetic bookmarks and e-book case searches are up by 73% and 45% respectively. For those readers who truly want to dive into their pages, recycled book art is also having a big moment, from paper mushroom sculptures to eye-catching 3D book artwork .

Meanwhile, shoppers are looking to bridge the gap between childhood activities and adulthood during this transitional period, embracing fun decor pieces and various crafts to occupy them between classes. Searches for crochet kits have increased by 28% while adult crafting kits have seen a 22% increase in interest. In a true testament to nostalgia, searches for custom and personalized paint by numbers kits are also up by 22%. As well as being a wholesome activity, the finished product can be displayed as a handmade piece of artwork—yet another decor addition.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

Searches for travel-inspired prints are at a high.

When it comes to deciding how to decorate your dorm room for the upcoming school year, Johnson suggests mixing a variety of trends.

“Trends are cycling through faster than ever these days, which is why I really love embracing a mix of aesthetics when decorating. Blending vintage pieces with modern twists helps keep your space timeless and uniquely yours,” she explains. “This duality not only adds depth and character to your room but also ensures that your decor evolves over time, staying fresh and personalized without being overly tied to fleeting trends.”

If you’re looking to decorate your space on a budget, Johnson says that it’s all about finding creative and affordable ways to make your space feel uniquely yours.

“Small prints and posters can instantly elevate your room, while a decorative throw or dainty string lights add charm and coziness. Even the smallest details, like vintage jewelry stands or abstract desk lamps, can breathe new life into a cookie-cutter space,” she notes. “There are so many ways to infuse personality into a dorm.”

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

August 09, 2024

A Guide to Financial Reporting Automation

The global trend toward automation of business workflows is actively changing accounting systems. Financial reporting automation transforms traditional manual processes of report preparation by incorporating technology to improve efficiency, accuracy, compliance, and overall decision-making capabilities. This advancement simplifies the tasks of drawing up, analyzing, and reviewing accounting statements.

Almost 50% of bookkeepers wish to automate data entry and number-crunching duties. Thanks to innovative accounting software, this is now possible in the short term. In our blog article, you will study the upsides of financial report automation, which reports are suitable for this, and how to automate them in your business.

Understanding Automated Accounting Reports

Financial reporting automation utilizes progressive technological solutions to simplify the process of creating financial statements. The innovative approach allows us to automate iterative tasks such as collecting data, validation, consolidation, and forming summaries that were usually done manually by accountants.

How does it work? In simple terms, the system collects information from various channels, processes it, and cleans it using predefined rules and algorithms. Then, it generates correct, accurate statements through preset templates.

Live dashboards display primary metrics such as revenue, expenses, profit margins, and cash flow. Predictive models provide forecasting for the next quarter’s performance. According to the settings, all statements can be automatically emailed to the dedicated experts, executives, and board members.

Primary Elements of Automated Financial Reporting

Modern automation software is a complex system that covers all essential processes from data collection to visualization. It is based on several basic components:

• Merging data flows: Consolidating information from several channels into a central repository;
• Processing inputs: Cleaning and transforming data to achieve accuracy;
• Automating workflows: Handling laborious tasks like invoice processing or document generation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) as well as Intelligent Automation (IA) are also critical. AI is used to analyze huge amounts of information and pinpoint patterns, while IA takes over repetitive operations, which mitigates the risk of mistakes and accelerates processes.

Also, we shouldn’t forget about the significance of integration with existing accounting systems. This enables a smooth flow of information across different platforms, growing general efficiency and accuracy without necessitating significant changes to established procedures.

Which Financial Reports and Processes Are Suitable for Automation?

Endless financial papers significantly complicate the accountant’s job. Here are key reports and processes suitable for automation:

• Ledger balancing;
• Financial consolidation;
• Accounts payable and receivable;
• Expense management;
• Financial planning and analysis (FP&A);
• Regulatory reporting;
• Tax statements;
• Cash flow forecasting.

Automated tools and technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms, expense management apps, and business analytics are integral to these improvements. For instance, using accounts payable and receivable automation software can streamline invoice processing and payment collections, while FP&A software enhances budgeting and forecasting accuracy. Regulatory and tax reporting automation in accounting ensures timely, accurate filings and compliance, reducing the chance of penalties.

Upsides of Automated Financial Reporting

According to the research, accounting automation returns the investment in 18 months and saves up to $16 per invoice. Moreover, 56% of accountants state that accounting technology increases their productivity. Let’s examine the advantages of using automated financial reporting systems.

Better accuracy and fewer errors

Hand-operated data entry and processing are prone to human mistakes, but automation can prevent them. Standardizing processes and checks helps avoid errors due to fatigue, oversight, or complex calculations.

As an example, automated financial information consolidation from different departments reduces discrepancies that result in accurate and up-to-date figures. Automated reconciliation processes enable quick identification and fixing of inconsistencies found in accounting statements, promoting accuracy accounting.

Improved efficiency and time-saving

Automated financial reporting significantly reduces the time and effort required to compile, merge, and analyze accounting figures. By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as figure input and reconciliations, organizations can streamline their reporting processes, allowing finance teams to focus on higher-value activities like strategic planning and analysis.

Growth capacity

Automated systems are scalable and are able to cope with increasing volumes of financial data as a business grows. This scalability ensures that financial reporting processes remain efficient and effective, regardless of the organization’s size or complexity.

Better analysis of information

Financial reporting automation exploits the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve data interpretation. These advanced technologies process vast datasets, enabling one to identify patterns as well as insights that would be difficult to achieve if done manually. They do it by making complex calculations, trend analysis, and predictive modeling that can strengthen your strategic planning.

Automation makes real-time recording and forecasting possible, leading to a competitive advantage. With advanced tools that constantly update financial metrics, companies can get real-time reports that help them manage performance.

Compliance and audit trail

Automated financial reporting guarantees adherence to GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and other regulatory standards. These systems use accounting principles when calculating results and generating statements, meeting regulatory requirements, and minimizing the risks of non-compliance.

Transparency and accountability necessitate maintaining an unambiguous audit trail. When transactions are electronically recorded, it is easier to trace them back to verify whether their record was correct. An audit trail is crucial during checks because it provides evidence of compliance.

Best Practices for Financial Reporting Automation

In business, you can’t do things blindly. Any changes require careful preparation. Let’s check out the best practices you need for seamless financial reporting automation.

Selecting the right accounting software

When it comes to automated financial reports, the appropriate accounting software is vital. These include:

• The ability to interact with other systems and sources of information smoothly.
• Get updated information in several clicks.
• Comply with regulatory standards and accountancy principles.
• Make personalized records or dashboards based on specific business needs.
• A user-friendly interface with easy learning options.
• Strong security controls over valuable financial information.

Some of the most used accounting software programs can be beneficial for you. For example, QuickBooks boasts ease of use and robust record capability, among other features. Xero has great integration abilities and features for real-time updates. NetSuite provides an ERP solution integrated with advanced financial management tools. SAP is known for its powerful analytics and compliance functionalities.

Integration with existing systems

Select tools that work well with the current system. Utilize APIs and connectors provided by automation tools to link with existing systems. However, for unique or legacy systems, custom integration solutions may be necessary.

Implement data mapping to ensure that data formats and structures are compatible across systems. Automated software should handle data transformation to align with the requirements of your existing systems.

Safeguarding data privacy and security

It is critical to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and adopt the below-listed recommended practices:

• Protect against unauthorized access to information by encrypting it in transmission or at rest.
• Ensure that only authorized users have access to confidential files thanks to strict access controls.
• Regular audits should be established to identify possible threats and address them.
• Employees should be trained on the latest laws and guidelines.

To safeguard sensitive financial information, multiple-factor authentication can be used as an additional security layer. Back up critical information on a regular basis. So if there is a breach, no data loss will happen, install powerful firewall software as well as an antivirus program for protection against all forms of cyber threats, and employ monitoring tools designed to promptly detect any suspicious activities.

Training and change management

The success of financial reporting automation depends on training staff on new systems. By providing the necessary instruction, it becomes easier for employees to grasp how the new tools can be used efficiently and adapt to the new processes. It not only decreases resistance to change but also raises overall productivity.

Proven change management strategies involve open communication with all stakeholders about the new system’s benefits. Additionally, senior management ought to engage lead users in the process so they can become ready to embrace these changes. It is also crucial to establish a structured transition plan with phased rollouts and ongoing support to address any issues that arise.

Main Steps to Automate Financial Reporting

A company owner should stick to the following steps when updating its financial reporting system:

• Clearly outline the objectives and deadlines for each stage.
• Pick the solution that is compatible with your business requirements.
• Conduct testing to identify any possible issues that may arise during the implementation phases.
• Provide complete education to all users.
• Continuously evaluate and promptly make necessary adjustments to the system.

Important milestones and deadlines in implementing financial reporting automation might include:

These timelines can differ based on the complexity of the existing systems in the organization and the automation project’s scope.

Financial reporting automation represents a significant advancement in accounting. It improves accuracy, efficiency, information review, and presentation quality. As our practice shows, the success of automation depends on finding the right software, integrating it into your workflow, protecting information, and training employees.

Today, emerging technologies such as AI, chatbots, deep learning, and blockchain are bringing more insights to businesses and allowing them to save money thanks to their ability to automate routine tasks, boost predictive modeling, and ensure transparency reports.

Let us help you harness accountancy to stay ahead in a competitive market. BooksTime combines a range of modern technologies and offers efficient bookkeeping practices. We provide expert services, leveraging technology to deliver accurate and timely financial management.

This article is not intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice, and BooksTime does not provide any services in these areas. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon for tax, legal, or investment purposes. These topics are complex and constantly changing. The information presented here may be incomplete or out of date. Be sure to consult a relevant professional. BooksTime is not responsible for your compliance or noncompliance with any laws or regulations.

Share This Article

Author: Charles Lutwidge

Talk To A Bookkeeping Expert

A bookkeeping expert will contact you during business hours to discuss your needs.