Report vs' Review

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Report vs. Review
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Traits of Reports

• Describe what the book is about
• Summarize main events
• Maintain a formal tone
• Limited to an academic audience

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Traits of Reviews

• Combine summary and commentary
• Help readers decide whether to read the book or
  not
• Maintain a formal tone
• Appeal to a broader audience

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• A book reviewer occupies a position of special
  responsibility and trust. He is to summarize, set
  in context, describe strengths, and point out
  weaknesses. As a surrogate for us all, he assumes
  a heavy obligation which it is his duty to
  discharge with reason and consistency.
• ----H.G. Rickover
• From www.usd.edu/khackeme/guides/reviewgd.html

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Basic Ingredients

• Explain what the book is about
• Give your opinions about the book

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Study Yourself

• I chose this book to read because . . .
• ____ was the most memorable character in the book
  because . . .
• When I think back on this book, the scene I will
  never forget is . . .
• This book was easy/hard to read because . . .
• Compared to other books Ive read, . . .
• Basically, the plot shows the central conflict
  between . . .

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Study the Author

• What else has he/she written?
• What awards/honors has this book earned?
• What criteria did the book have to meet to earn
  those honors?
• What makes this authors background unique?
• What makes this authors writing style or subject
  matter unique?

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Writing Tips

• Everyone who reads your review may not have read
  the book.
• Capture readers with the first paragraph.
• Keep your plot summary short.
• Include all the basic publication information.

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What to Avoid

• First Person Pronouns
• Slang Jargon
• Redundant Information
• Long Quotations
• Hyperbole
• Needless Shifts in Verb Tense

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Keep Your Distance

• I think this was a good book . . .
• This is a good book . . .
• I believe the authors childhood may contribute
  to the . . .
• The authors childhood may contribute to the . .
  .

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Dont Gush

• This is the best book ever written on the
  subject.
• No other writer has ever created such a vivid
  picture.
• All teen readers would identify with this
  character.

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Shift for a Good Reason

• Present Tense
• writing about the book
• writing about the author
• Past Tense
• writing about the plot

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Try it

• The playwright clearly believes/believed that
  Abigail is/was faking her afflictions.
• Miller is/was writing about the witch trials to
  make a political statement.
• Betty is/was dancing in the forest when her
  father discovers/discovered her and the other
  girls.

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Quote Carefully

• Throughout the novel, Golding creates situations
  in which the boys try to achieve some mastery of
  their situation. Even the smallest, Henry,
  became absorbed beyond mere happiness as he felt
  himself exercising control over living things
  while playing at the waters edge. (61)

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Need More Help?

• www.usd.edu/khackeme/guides/reviewgd.html
• www.teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/bookrev/challn
  ge.htm
• www.infoplease.com/homework/wsbookreportshs.html