oral book report questions

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Good book report questions

Writing a book report is a common activity students are required to go through today. Reading is one thing but the ability to summarize and analyze information is totally different. One can read a lot of books but still be unable to develop a good book report due to the lack of knowledge of what it should look like. Therefore, students often seek book report help in order to understand how to write one. In this article we are going to provide some good book report questions that will provide guidance as to which direction to go when choosing a format of a book report. Even if you have never faced the challenge of writing one, it is most likely that you will soon receive such assignment. And it is always better to face it prepared knowing what to do. So keep reading to get to know more about how to develop a good one. Even if you have written one or many reports by now, you can still find out more to polish up your writing skills. Questions for a book report provided below will serve a good foundation for every student.

❓ How to Write a Good Book Report

There is a difference between a book report and a book review which everybody should know prior to writing any of these. They are not the same although there are some similarities. A lot of students mix them up turning in reports when reviews are requested and vice versa. Book reports are all about explaining topical details and the storyline of the book. Those writing this type of assignment are to present biographical information about the author of the book (year of birth, marital status, his/her education and worldview, etc.). After the biographical information, there should go a brief summary of the book content – the main characters and the development of the plot.

Now a book review is different as it requires an in-depth analysis in addition to the things mentioned in a book report. The bio of the author along with the summary of the story also belongs in the review but the attention paid to these things should not be so significant. In other words, these things are not central in writing a book review . Instead, they are all considered a background information upon which one may analyze and evaluate the book in general. A book review is then more about analysis and evaluation where students are required to identify the author’s main message and ideas as well as to understand the meaning of symbolic elements present in the text. Now as we have managed to draw the line of separation between a book report and a book review, we can move on to how to write a book report.

Book reports can be of different types and formats. Most common forms of book reports are plot summaries, theme and character analysis. This type of assignment will help you practice expressing your own opinion about different aspects of the text and eventually expressing your thoughts on pretty much any subject in future. But no matter what type of book report you are about to write, there are some common things you have to include into your paper:

• Specify the kind of book report
• Include the title of the book
• Put the name of the author
• Indicate the time when the story takes place
• Mention the location of the events taking place in the book
• List the names of the characters briefly describing each one of them (at least those you will be discussing in the report)
• Add quotations in order to back up your opinions

📄 Plot Summaries

This type of book report assumes one has to explain own opinions about the plot and why he/she believes so. Your purpose should be to describe and characterize the plot and back up your opinions by some examples from the book.

🖋 Character Analysis

Here you can explore the traits of the main characters and how they affect the development of the plot in the book. There are many things you can pay attention to when analyzing the characters, such as clothing, moral flaws, dialogues, actions, etc.

📗 Theme Analysis

This form of book reports allows exploring the themes and big ideas that are interwoven within the entire story. You can simply choose a theme that seems to be the most important or the one you like the most and try to bring some of your thoughts to highlight the topic.

📚 Book Report Questions

What can help you write book reports efficiently is the list of questions to direct your thinking and writing. You can google phrases like “book report questions for high school” or “book report questions for middle school” depending on what your level of writing is. But in order to save some time for you, we have decided to come up with our own list of questions that should help develop a good book report. Therefore, there is no need to type something like “write my book report” in a google search tab in hopes to find someone who will do it all for you. Instead, you may consider the questions to ask for a book report and try to write it on your own. Here is the list:

• What genre does your book belong to? Fiction, non-fiction, etc.
• Do you like the book? Why so? If yes, would you recommend it to your friends?
• Can you come up with another title?
• What is the setting/background information?
• Who are the main characters?
• Are the names of the characters in any way descriptive?
• How does the story start? Why do you think the author chose to start his book this way?
• How does the story develop?
• Did you have any associations coming to your mind when you were reading the story?
• Did you find anything funny in the story?
• What’s your favorite part?
• Is there a problem in the story? What is this problem?
• Do you think that the author could have come up with a better solution (if there is one)?
• Is there the main idea that you can identify?
• Can you identify the purpose of the book?
• What are the lessons the book teaches (if any)?
• Is the topic of the book important? Why?
• Did any of the characters in the book do something you did not quite like?
• Can you identify the main purpose of writing the book?
• Did the book help you generate new ideas?

✅ Final Remarks

Now that you know what book reports are all about, we recommend you to try and write one. But when we say “write one”, we don’t necessarily mean that the very first thing you have to do in order to produce a good book report is to take a pen and start writing something. There are other things one should do before writing. We suggest you jot down the information you would want to take special note of when reading the book. Keep this piece of paper next to you when you read a book. As you read, take notes of the plot, characters and the main idea. Then you can go through the questions listed above – they should help you understand the book better. When you are done with the questions, organize your thoughts into an outline and draft the book report. From there you have to only edit and revise the draft to produce a perfect paper.

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24 Book Review Questions to Ask Before Writing a Review

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 23rd February 2021  - Last updated: 29th February 2024

Categories Book Blogging , Books

Trying to write a book review but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, these book review questions for a book report will help you on your way!

Writing a book review or book report can feel overwhelming for one of two reasons. Either you have too much to say or nothing to say at all.

In either case, having some structure to your review and a roadmap of questions to answer can be helpful in focussing your thoughts so you can write a useful book review.

These book review questions are designed to get your brain thinking about some of the key issues and interesting points about your book in question.

You certainly don’t have to answer all of them and you don’t need to follow the order I have listed the book report questions below.

RELATED: How to Write a Good Review of a Bad Book

Book Review Questions: General Information

Before you delve into sharing your own opinions, you should share some general information about the book.

This can be to do with its plot, its genre, the setting and whether there is anything readers should be aware of before delving in.

These are good questions to ask about a book as a basic starting point and where you should always begin.

What is the book about?

What genre does this book fit into?

In what time and place is the book set?

Who is the intended audience of the book?

Is the book appropriate for that audience?

Should this book come with any content warnings?

Book Review Questions: Stylistic Points

An author could craft the most fascinating story in the world but if they can’t convey that story with an interesting or logical style then a book may well just fall flat.

Consider whether the author of the book you are reviewing has a particularly interesting style and what is it about their style that shaped the book and your opinion of it.

What style is the book written in?

What point of view is the book written from?

Does the author use any interesting techniques?

Book Review Questions: The Characters

Really compelling characters, whether you love them or hate them, can make a book really stand out. If they don’t feel real then a book can crumble pretty quickly.

Make sure to include some information about the main character (or characters) but there’s no need to mention every single person, there simply isn’t space!

Who are the key characters in the book?

Did the characters feel real?

Are the characters likeable?

Which character did you find most compelling?

Could you relate to the key characters?

Book Review Questions: Your Opinions

Of course, any good book review should contain what you, the reviewer, actually thought about it! These book review questions to ask yourself are some of the most important.

Did you discover a new favourite book or is this one you wish you had never picked up in the first place?

Try to share a balanced view so reader’s of your review can come to their own conclusions about whether this book is worth reading for them. Some points that you might not have liked might be another reader’s favourite trope!

What did you like about the book?

What did you dislike about the book?

What could have been improved?

How did the book make you feel?

How does the book compare to other similar books?

Book Review Questions: Conclusion

Make sure to wrap up your book review with some final reflections about who should read this book, what you learnt from it and what other books it is similar to.

If a reader sees that a book is similar to one they have already read and loved then that’s a great indication that they’ll love this one too.

Would you recommend this book?

What did you learn from reading this?

What sort of reader would like this book?

What other books did this one remind you of?

What star rating would you give this book?

That concludes my list of book questions to ask yourself kick your brain in gear and get you thinking about all the most interesting points of the book you’ve just read.

Do you have any more relevant book review questions to add to the list?

Let me know in the comments below!

Follow me on Instagram and Goodreads for regular book updates!

If you liked this post, check out these: How to Write a Negative Book Review How to Start a Book Blog 36 Easy Book Blog Post Ideas

Editor of What’s Hot?

Saturday 10th of December 2022

Book report question: What made this book unique from other books you have read?

Thursday 25th of February 2021

This is so so useful.

Tuesday 23rd of February 2021

Very key points here. That first part, where I talk about the synopsis, the intended audience, the genre, that is my biggest struggle.

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.

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Oral Book Reports: Keys to a Successful Presentation

So, one of your recent assignments was a report on the book read. Hope you have coped with it successfully. And now, your task is to make an oral presentation.

On the one hand, there seems to be nothing complicated about preparing an oral book report. It is just a public performance based on the task you have already completed.

On the other hand, acting in front of the audience is extremely difficult for some students, which means they run the risk of failing their oral book reports.

If you are one of those students, let us present you some secrets of a successful oral book report. First, we will discuss what an oral book report should consist of.

Format of an oral book report

• Start with introducing the book to the audience. Give its title, author’s name, date of publication, genre.
• Pass to the main characters of the book. The following things about the characters should be mentioned: name, gender, age, personality, relations between characters.
• Now, provide details about the setting in your oral book report. Let us remind you that here you should tell when and where the story described in the book takes place.
• Explain the conflict of the book. What are major issues? How do characters change throughout the story?

Tips on how to make a successful oral book report

• You have to be sure in every word of your oral book report. It is impossible if you have not read the book or you do not get it.
• Make note cards with the most important points to be included into your oral book report. However, do not read from these cards, just look up from time to time.
• Try to illustrate your oral book report. Find some pictures related to the book or, at least, the writer’s portrait.

Here, you can also read about an oral book report rubric .

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 .

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How to Prepare for an Oral Report

Last Updated: April 8, 2021

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 13 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 34,241 times.

Spending long hours working on an oral report can be tedious. You have to research for accuracy, plan the layout, memorize what you are going to say. Knowing that you're going about the preparation in a fruitful way can help make the exercise seem more worthwhile.

What Do You Know About Your Topic?

Putting the Presentation Together

• Make your writing interesting. Be sure to use better words than the standard and obvious "nice" or "big." Rather opt for words such as "gigantic" or "fantastic."

• Make bullet points. These are easier to memorize and read from quickly.

• Don't try to say your oral word for word; this will make you nervous and queasy if you try to remember everything word for word. It can also look a bit over-the-top unless you are engaging in your delivery; avoid simply reciting something learned off-by-heart.
• Tell the story; it doesn't have to be said exactly the way you wrote it––you just need to tell the story. That said, your oral presentation should reflect some of the things you wrote in the report.

Community Q&A

• Ask your crowd if they have any questions, and always be prepared to answer them. If you don't know something, say so and ask the audience if anyone does have the answer or an idea about it. Don't be afraid to draw in the crowd rather than avoid it. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
• Make your visual aid colorful and eye- catching. However, do not let the color take away from the power of your presentation, as it is made to aid your project, not dominate it. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3
• Enthusiasm is good; false excitement is cheesy. Look for the right balance. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3
• Keep the speech short and to the point. Long drawn out reports are considered boring and risk losing you marks or positive reactions. Thanks Helpful 9 Not Helpful 1
• When you take notes, be absolutely sure that you aren't plagiarizing, copying word for word as written. Reference everything that you have taken from another source, including someone else's line of reasoning. Thanks Helpful 8 Not Helpful 1

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10 Steps to Writing a Successful Book Report

• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A book report should contain the basic elements, but a good book report will address a specific question or point of view and back up this topic with specific examples, in the form of symbols and themes. These steps will help you identify and incorporate those important elements in a process that takes three to four days.

How To Write a Book Report

• Have an objective in mind, if possible. Your objective is the main point you want to argue or the question you plan to answer. Sometimes your teacher will offer a question for you to answer as part of your assignment, which makes this step easy. If you have to come up with your own focal point for your paper, you may have to wait and develop the objective while reading and reflecting on the book.
• Keep supplies on hand when you read. This is very important. Keep sticky-note flags, pen, and paper nearby as you read. Don't try to take "mental notes." It just doesn't work.
• Read the book. As you read, keep an eye out for clues that the author has provided in the form of symbolism. These will indicate some important point that supports the overall theme. For instance, a spot of blood on the floor, a quick glance, a nervous habit, an impulsive action--these are worth noting.
• Use your sticky flags to mark pages. When you run into any clues, mark the page by placing the sticky note at the beginning of the relevant line. Mark everything that piques your interest, even if you don't understand their relevance.
• Note possible themes or patterns that emerge. As you read and record emotional flags or signs, you will begin to see a point or a pattern. On a notepad, write down possible themes or issues. If your assignment is to answer a question, you will record how symbols address that question.
• Label your sticky flags. If you see a symbol repeated several times, you should indicate this somehow on the sticky flags, for easy reference later. For instance, if blood shows up in several scenes, write a "b" on the relevant flags for blood. This may become your major book theme, so you'll want to navigate between the relevant pages easily.
• Develop a rough outline. By the time you finish reading the book , you will have recorded several possible themes or approaches to your objective. Review your notes and try to determine which view or claim you can back up with good examples (symbols). You may need to play with a few sample outlines to pick the best approach.
• Develop paragraph ideas. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence and a sentence that transitions to the next paragraph. Try writing these first, then filling out the paragraphs with your examples (symbols). Don't forget to include the basics for every book report in your first paragraph or two.
• Review, re-arrange, repeat. At first, your paragraphs are going to look like ugly ducklings. They will be clunky, awkward, and unattractive in their early stages. Read them over, re-arrange and replace sentences that don't quite fit. Then review and repeat until the paragraphs flow.
• Re-visit your introductory paragraph. The introductory paragraph will make the critical first impression of your paper. It should be great. Be sure it is well-written, interesting, and it contains a strong thesis sentence .

The objective: Sometimes it is possible to have a clear objective in mind before you start . Sometimes, it is not. If you have to come up with your own thesis, don't stress about a clear objective in the beginning. It will come later.

Recording emotional flags: Emotional flags are merely points in the book that bring about emotion. Sometimes, the smaller the better. For example, for an assignment for The Red Badge of Courage , the teacher might ask students to address whether they believe Henry, the main character, is a hero. In this book, Henry sees lots of blood (emotional symbol) and death (emotional symbol) and this causes him to run away from the battle at first (emotional response). He is ashamed (emotion).

Book report basics: In your first paragraph or two, you should include the book setting, time period, characters, and your thesis statement (objective).

Re-visiting the introductory paragraph: The introductory paragraph should be the last paragraph you complete. It should be mistake-free and interesting. It should also contain a clear thesis. Don't write a thesis early on in the process and forget about it. Your point of view or argument may change completely as you re-arrange your paragraph sentences. Always check your thesis sentence last.

• Examples of Great Introductory Paragraphs
• How to Write a Great Book Report
• How to Write a Response Paper
• How to Start a Book Report
• The Ultimate Guide to the 5-Paragraph Essay
• How to Develop a Research Paper Timeline
• The Introductory Paragraph: Start Your Paper Off Right
• 6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay
• Tips for Writing an Art History Paper
• How to Write and Format an MBA Essay
• How to Write a Research Paper That Earns an A
• How to Write a Great Process Essay
• How to Understand a Difficult Reading Passage
• How to Remember What You Read
• How to Write a Good Thesis Statement
• What Is Expository Writing?

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Book Report Series: Oral Book Reports

This one is the scariest of them all (and sometimes the least popular), so I figured I would tackle it right off in this book report blog series.

The first thing you need to know is this: your students can do oral book reports!

It’s up to you to set the tone for a learning environment in which it’s OK to not be great at everything. Learning is messy.

When I first started trying to do oral book reports, I just knew that I would have a few kids accept a zero rather than try, and/ or there would be tears and/ or vomit. ( Sorry, just keepin’ it real here. )

I had precious students who I knew suffered from social anxiety, and those who I knew were just very, very shy. I was prepared for disaster.

But guess what? There was none!

Was every presentation stellar? Nope. But did everyone try? You betcha. You can do it! They can do it!

Here are some tips to help:

1. Be extremely specific about your expectations.

In the syllabus I hand out to students and parents at the beginning of the year ( get it for free here! ), I include a list of exactly what types of book reports we will be doing and I even include the date they’re due. No surprises.

A couple weeks before the report is due (and after students have begun the independent reading book they selected), I officially introduce the assignment and give them a detailed handout that includes clear requirements and even some step-by-step instructions.

When putting together the handout, I do my best to anticipate any questions or concerns they might have, but I also try to anticipate any ways they might try to cut corners (but still expect a high grade, of course). So I have a requirement for everything. And I spell it all out.

Even though the handout is detailed, I don’t let it speak for itself- we go over it together. After I’m done talking through the entire handout, I take questions. Expect approximately 6,542 questions if you’re doing this with middle schoolers. 🙂 But one of the biggest reasons your kiddos will have so many questions is probably that they’re very nervous about this. They’re just sure they will fail, and worse, they’re just sure everyone will laugh at them.

So tip #2 is where you will save the day.

2. Have a Z.E.R.O.-tolerance policy for laughter.

Now I don’t mean no one can laugh if the presenter says something funny (however, I would caution my class clowns beforehand that their book report doesn’t have to be a comedy show). But I make a huge deal out of the fact that we are NOT going to make fun of someone before, during, or after their presentation.

We are not going to make faces at our friend while he’s talking.

We are not going to sigh or roll our eyes if someone is taking a while to get out what they’re trying to say.

We are not going to comment on the “performance.”

And if someone does? That someone loses points on his own grade. Points off for every offense.

At first that sounds harsh to the offenders, but I found what this strict policy really did was help to alleviate some of the pressure of getting up in front of your classmates and trying to say stuff.

Most teens’ worst fear is being embarrassed. So when you come right out of the shoot with a serious plan in place to help them feel less embarrassed, it seems to alleviate some fears.

Now knowing that everything is funnier when you’re not supposed to laugh, I have a plan in place for that too: I tell them, “if you’re about to lose it, just put your head down until you can get the giggles under control.” Sounds silly, but it helps.

On presentation day, I position myself facing the class, and I look over at the speaker. That way they see how serious I am about monitoring audience behavior.

However you choose to go about it, just be sure that you do everything within your power to let your kiddos know that this presentation is purely academic, meant to be a growing experience for them, and you’re there to make sure that no one uses it as an opportunity for being unkind or making others feel stupid.

3. Ease students’ fear of failing.

While I know that a large part of the fear behind oral book reports is that of looking dumb in front of their peers, another part of the fear is that they will fail the assignment, not for lack of effort or understanding, but for lack of public speaking skills. Reassure them that this will not happen.

That’s why tip #1 is so important. Have really clear expectations for this assignment, and let students know that if they follow directions and do their best, their grade will be just fine. Tell them exactly what you’re going to be grading about the actual speaking part of the project, and model examples of what to do, and what not to do. This will give them a lot more confidence.

4. Require written work beforehand.

This is- whether they know it or not- another confidence-booster for your students. Require them to write an outline of what they plan to say about the book.

Give them an easy-to-follow template of what needs to be in the outline. (Not only does this make it easier for the students to complete, it makes it way easier for you to grade!)

I also like to have students write out short introduction and conclusion paragraphs, to further help them plan, and to reiterate the importance of an engaging beginning and a strong ending.

Again, model examples of these, and give funny examples of what not to do.

Require a rough draft of this outline to be checked a couple days before they’re scheduled to give their presentation.

By requiring written work, you’re giving them a framework for their speech, and you’re guaranteeing that their brain has to at least plan a little what they’re going to say before they find themselves standing in front of the class.

5. Encourage practice.

Once your students have outlined what they plan to say in their report, encourage them to practice. For my teaching style, encourage is a bit of an understatement. I BEG them to practice.

My background is actually speech and drama, so to me, practice is everything, and I try to give them my best practice tips.

I “encourage” them to practice in front of family or friends, but if this feels too awkward, practice in front of your dog, your baby sibling, or in the shower. Whatever works- just practice!

I even offer for them to practice with me ahead of time. (Only one student has ever taken me up on that, and that’s because his mom forced him. Poor thing was so embarrassed, but he ended up getting a good grade!)

6. Let them use a notecard.

Another little thing that I found solicited a sigh of relief from my kiddos was my allowance of speaking from a notecard.

Now with juniors and seniors or gifted students, you may want to skip this step. Do what you feel would give your students the most meaningful learning experience.

I allowed one 3×5 card with large writing front and back, but no full sentences, and no tiny writing all crammed on the card. Why? Because having everything they plan to say all written out will just result in unintelligible mumbling from students whose heads are down, eyes glued to their card, reading the whole thing.

One of the things I grade on in an oral presentation is eye contact, and I know there will be no incentive to make eye contact with their audience if everything is written down.

Also, if they do try to make eye contact with their audience, they will have to come back to their notecard to find their place. If the card is crammed with information, they will most certainly have lost their place.

I “encourage” (I keep using that word because it sounds more friendly and professional than “ stand on one of their desks, waving my arms and screeching at ”) them to just neatly write a few key phrases and ideas they’re likely to forget such as the author’s name and their main points.

7. Offer bonus points.

Yet another way to help students feel like they can be successful with this assignment is to offer a way to earn a few bonus points. This way, students who don’t have the best public speaking skills can make up for it by just doing a little something extra.

My favorite bonus opportunity is to simply require a visual: students can wear a costume piece (like a hat or jacket), use a prop (like a baseball mitt or a stuffed animal), or make a poster.

I always clarify that to earn the bonus points, they must have clearly planned ahead with the item(s) (I’m not going to count holding a pencil they found in the hallway, because the character in their book wrote a letter, as an actual prop), and they must tie it in in their presentation- explain to the class what the significance is.

This just adds an element of fun to the project, and relieves the anxiety of your perfectionists trying maintain that 4.0. I was surprised to see that even my senior high students would don a costume piece or bring a stuffed animal in to get a few bonus points.

8. Take volunteers on presentation day.

I usually start off by allowing anyone who wants to, to volunteer to go first. You’ll usually have a couple takers, and it will be a great way to break the ice, because often those confident enough to go first will probably do a good job, giving yet another good model for the students who still aren’t sure.

9. Wait to tackle this project.

I don’t suggest making this the first (or even second) project of the year. Wait until you’ve gotten to know your students a little better, because the truth is, you will need to grade this a little bit on a case-by-case basis.

English class is not a public speaking class, and while you want to expose them to opportunities to hone those skills, you don’t want to hurt the grade of a student who is otherwise comprehending and moving successfully through the course.

Additionally, your students will feel more comfortable getting up in front of each other after they’ve gotten to know each other a little bit.

10. Grade during the presentations.

Work smarter, not harder, friend!

The great thing about oral presentations is that you don’t have a stack of grading to take home with you! Have students turn in a final draft of that outline they wrote when they come up to speak-  give it a quick once-over, and assign it a grade.

Assess their presentation in real time (never try to rely on that memory of yours to conjure up how they did later!), and grade it right then and there. While you may need a moment or two later to glance over their outline a little more, or add up their final score, the bulk of your grading on these will be done, and you should be able to return grades the next day! #teacherwin

In order to do this, you’ll definitely want to use a rubric . If you haven’t already, take a look at this oral book report resource — it has everything you need to teach, introduce, assign, and assess oral book reports or book talks.

11. (Bonus!) Alternatives for students with special needs

While I am a huge proponent of the thought that oral book reports are definitely a doable thing, I do understand that students with certain IEPs or other learning differences may still need some accommodation. And that’s okay!

Here are a couple of options:

• Have the student record his presentation at home, and play it for the class on presentation day.
• Allow the student to write out his book report and read it to the class.
• Shorten the time requirement for their presentation.
• Allow students to present in pairs.
• Allow students to present to small groups, rather than the whole class.

Whew! That was a lot! So, tell me, how do you feel? Are you ready to take on oral book reports in your classroom? Are you an oral presentation veteran, and have some tips to add? Please share in the comments below! 🙂

Also be sure to take a look at the next post in the Book Report Series: Written Reports .

Happy teaching, my friends!

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Creative perspectives on education and classroom management, more ideas than you’ll ever use for book reports.

October 26, 2010 Teachnet Staff Language Arts , Reading 11

Submitted by Teacher-2-Teacher contributor Kim Robb of Summerland, BC

• Book Report

11 Comments

WOW THATS BIG

Great ideas, but many in the lower half are repeating the first half of the list.

We’ll take a look at editing out some obvious duplicates. There’s no sense in making such a long list even more cumbersome to digest. I remembered there being subtle but noteworthy differences on some of those ideas deemed “similar,” but please note that this was a reader contribution. Feel free to send in or comment with your own suggestions. Thank you for the feedback!

HOW AM I GONNA PICK ONE!

I go to Ockerman as well(; I’m in 7th grade and i had Mrs. Raider last year. I Love you Mrs. Raider and Mrs. Moore(: <3. xD.

hey Mrs.Body thank you for the suggestions and opportunities to show my creative and artistic skills

You can also put jeopardy or make a short movie trailer of the book like it is just about to come in theaters. Also you can do a news broadcast of a seen that is happening in the book

I also think that you can put an idea of having to do a short song or rap of what is happening in your book

woah that is a huge list!!! i might do either 14 or 64!

I really like these ideas!!! They gave me a 120% on my final grade! I know get to graduate!!! Thanks BOB!

This is an amazing list! I don’t know which idea to choose!

Here’s an idea:

Act out the entire book in a two hour movie!

Thanks! BILLY

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How to Write a Book Report

Book reports in the esl class.

Asking ESL students to read a book, write a report and present it as part of a small group discussion is a good way to incorporate multiple strands of language learning into an activity. Here’s one way to structure a book report lesson.

Step 1. Introduce the Assignment

A book report lesson has several stages. Steps 1 and 2 need to be completed in class several weeks before the due date.

What will the students do?

Each student will choose a level-appropriate book. They will read it and write a 1 to 2 page report. Then they will discuss the book in a small group. In small groups, students will listen and, hopefully, ask lots of questions to learn more or clarify points.

Reading level-appropriate books is a good way to improve English language skills. It builds vocabulary and helps students learn new ideas. If students read a lot, they will learn to read faster as well.

The activities in this lesson also touch on the four strands of language learning popularized by Paul Nation:

• Fluency development: reading an easy graded reader
• Meaning focused input: reading a book, listening to a short presentation
• Meaning focused output: writing a report, giving a short presentation
• Language focused learning: memorizing parts of the book report before giving a presentation

What book should the student choose?

There are two rules.

• The book should be interesting to the student. It should be a fun and enjoyable experience. Reading shouldn’t feel like work.
• The book should match the student’s reading level. Don’t try to read a book that is too hard to understand.

Graded readers are usually a good choice for ESL students. They are not too long and it is easy to find a subject and level that matches the student’s interests and needs.

How to find a book that matches my level?

Graded readers usually have a number which shows their level. But, different companies have different ways to rank a book. So, it’s hard to make sense of the level just by looking at the number on the cover.

Here’s an easy solution.

Pick a book that looks interesting and open it up to a page, say page 12. Read the page. If you understand 95% of the words without a dictionary, that level is probably good for you.

Is this for a grade?

In my class, the book report assignment is 10% of the final grade. My grading system is rudimentary. Some teachers may prefer a more developed rubric.

5% – written report

• 4-5: Good text that covers all of the book report items with reasonably good passages, evidence of proofreading
• 3-4: Looks promising but seems rushed and incomplete, looks like it was written the night before with no editing
• 0-2: poor effort, incomplete, less than a page, hard to understand, gibberish

5% – oral presentation and participation in group discussion

• 4-5: speaks well, at least 2 to 4 minutes, good eye contact with others, knows the book and can speak about it without reading notes, asks thoughtful questions to other speakers
• 3-4: basic outline of book, some reading of written text, unable to answer questions in detail, not active in discussions
• 0-2: incomplete, no evidence the person actually read the book, short presentation, minimal participation in group discussion

Step 2. Book Report Structure

A book report will have these basic parts.

• Introduction. Tell us the title of the book and the author’s name.
• Summarize the characters and setting.
• Describe the plot. This is where the action is.
• The end. What happened?
• What is the tone of the book? Is it funny, creepy, an adventure, or a mystery?
• What are the book’s good and bad points?
• What do you think? Did you like the book? Why or why not?

Are you reading a book of fiction?

• Tell us who is telling the story. Is it first person or third person?
• Give us some details about the main characters, plot and setting. What do the main characters want? Do they have a problem? What do they do? Don’t need to talk about every small detail, just include the most important information.

Are you reading a non-fiction book?

• What is the writer’s main idea?
• Don’t summarize each chapter. Just talk about the main points.

Step 3. Collect Book Names

After the lesson introduction, give students a week to find a book. Then ask students to bring the book to class. Write down each student’s name and book title. This is a small step, but a deadline helps motivate students to take action.

Be sure to set a firm deadline to complete the written book report. Three to six weeks after introducing the assignment should be sufficient for most students.

Step 4. Book Discussion Day

Break class into small groups. (e.g. 3 to 4 students per group).

In turns, each student will present his/her book report. The others listen and ask questions. Encourage students not to read from their written report (it’s too boring for the others).

As students present, the teacher moves through the room listening to the presentations.

Make notes about the quality of each student’s presentation, level preparation and participation in group discussions.

At the end of class, students hand in their written reports. One week later, hand back reports with feedback.

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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.

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. 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.

6. Mint Tin Book Report

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

7. 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.

8. 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. See the sandwich and pizza options above and check out this blog for more delicious ideas.

9. 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.

10. 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. A fun adaptation of this project is the book report cheeseburger.

11. 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.

12. 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 the report.

13. 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. Get step-by-step directions .

14. 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.

15. Watercolor Rainbow 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Bookmark

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

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. Collage

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

23. Book Report Triorama

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but Elisha Ann provides a lesson to show students how to glue four triangles together to make a 4D model.

24. 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.

25. Clothes Hanger 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.

26. 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 give them 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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.

30. Letter to the Author

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.

31. Book Report Charm Bracelet

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. 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.

33. Cereal Box TV Book Report

This 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.

34. 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?

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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. For more, here are step-by-step directions .

38. Comic strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strips. 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.

39. 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.

40. Cereal Box

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report Wheaties-style. Decorate all sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

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. 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.

What creative book report ideas did we miss? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the most popular kids’ books in every grade..

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Producing Written and Oral Business Reports by Dr. Dorinda Clippinger

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Presenting an Oral Report

As you wrap up a written report, you may be expected to stand and deliver; that is, present the information orally to a select audience—often managers and executives in your organization or a client’s. All effective presentations begin with planning, regardless of your audience.

Planning a Presentation 1

Planning an oral report involves analyzing the context and choosing a delivery style, formality level, and structure. Planning also entails outlining your talk, preparing your presentation aids, and anticipating questions your audience may ask.

Analyze the Context

Start planning by examining your purpose; the psychological environment, or audience; and the physical environment. These factors make up the context. ...

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20 questions to ask about a book you’ve read

A starting point for discussion in reading groups or for students doing reading assignments (fiction).

• Explain the title.
• What category or genre do you think it fits into?
• What do you think the author’s purpose was?
• Something you liked about it.
• Something you disliked about it.
• Describe the setting.
• Which character did you like most?
• Which character did you like least?
• Describe one of the main characters.
• What changes does a main character go through?
• Describe one significant episode.
• What techniques does the author use to tell the story?
• How did reading it change you, or your views?
• What would you say to persuade a friend to read it or not to read it?
• Summarise it in one written sentence or a one minute speech.
• What feedback would you give the author?
• How might you have written it differently?
• What do you think of the ending?
• What happens, or should happen, after the ending?
• What would you want to read about in a sequel or prequel?

Students can be asked to select which 5 questions to prepare answers for, to ask each other in turn or to be ready to answer any of these in a class discussion.

The idea is to encourage students to engage with a text from different perspectives and to share their responses to it without simply re-telling the story.

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About Eddie Playfair

20 responses to 20 questions to ask about a book you’ve read.

very helpful. Thank you very much.

Like Liked by 1 person

I love these questions, I have to ask questions about the Secret Garden for school and needed ideas. I’m very glad I read this blog post.

Thx so much needed help for my book talk.🤓🤓🤓🤓

It will really help me alot. I’m grateful

It help’s me with my book report thanks!!!!

These questions are really great. Thank you very much.

these question are great but some of the questions i dont understand but ill try my best and thank you!

very helpfull!!!

Thank you so much for the entire set of questions. It will definitely be of great help to the students how to write a more comprehensive review.

Pingback: Book Review Questions – Book Time

I love the questions you help me with my school work

thank you …very thoughtful questions and will be useful to use with twins I am tutoring

It might be interesting to bring a little personal creativity to the book reading after answering most of the questions, by asking each reader to write a four line poem about the main character–nothing to be graded, of course–simply another way to look at the reader’s attitude toward the main character of a book.

Helpful questions and ideas thanks

I used to teach at University level and would have used this format for my students who were reading plays in my survey course. Great questions, too bad I’m retired.

I was able to do a project with my class!! Thank you for making this!!😁

The questions are helping me to stay focused in the right place for the questions and not top get off track.

This has been a great lesson and so very informative regarding how different perspectives can be taken depending of indivual background

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Chapter 8: Oral Reports

Anna Goins; Cheryl Rauh; Danielle Tarner; and Daniel Von Holten

Learning Objectives

Presentations

In the workplace, many writing projects are partnered with presentations, which translate documents into easily accessible information for a live audience.

Some common scenarios for workplace presentations can include:

• Training workshops for employees at your company.
• Presenting research findings to a group of senior managers.
• Sharing your company’s services with the goal of getting new sales leads.

In the workplace, you may often have to adapt information into an effective presentation to share with others in situations like these and more.

Analyzing Audience and Constraints

Each presentation situation is unique. Start by utilizing the same strategies for analyzing and planning for writing mentioned in introduction . Then, before you begin outlining your presentation’s structure and content, consider the following constraints specific to presentations:

• What do you know about your audience members? What unites them as a group?
• What do you want your audience to do after hearing the information in your presentation?
• What questions are they likely to raise?

Once you have considered the presentation’s audience, you can begin planning your presentation by answering the following questions:

• Will you be presenting alone or with a group?
• How much time do you have?
• What kinds of visual aids and technology will you be able to use?
• How far away will the most distant audience members be seated or standing?
• What are the expectations in terms of the level of formality for your presentation?

Types of Presentations

Once you’ve identified your purpose and defined your audiences, you can identify the type of presentation you need to give and what strategies to employ. Typically, a presentation will employ elements of more than one of the types listed below.

Informative

Informative presentations might involve simply reporting information or explaining concepts, applications, or methods to your audience. A presentation on annual sales numbers and scenarios 1 and 3 listed above both fall into this category.

This type of presentation could be meant to influence the audience’s point of view or convince the audience to follow a particular course of action. Typically, this will involve presenting evidence and logical arguments in addition to engaging your audience. A proposal could be a type of persuasive presentation as could any sales related presentation like scenario 4 listed above.

Goodwill/Ceremonial

These types of presentations frequently show up at special events like weddings, award ceremonies, and even funerals, and are generally performed as a speech with little to no visual aid. The purpose is to generate goodwill and basically have a positive impact on the audience’s emotional state. In a professional setting, you may have to give a talk at a special event like an employee of the year celebration or celebrations of special events related to your company or the company’s location. Something like scenario 2 could be likely if your company invests in community relations. They differ from other presentations that they frequently serve a ceremonial or even ritual-like role in their setting.

Presentation Formats

It could be argued that there are as many formats for presentations as there are presentations, but we will look at a few general formats to get some ideas on how you might form your presentation.

This format is probably what you envision when you think of a formal presentation or speech—the presenter talks while the audience is silent. There typically isn’t dialog between the speaker and audience. The only communication between them may be non-verbal. An advantage of this style is that it is easy to execute once you’ve prepared for it. A disadvantage is that it may leave an audience with unanswered questions.

This approach is often, but not always, less formal and allows for greater interaction with the audience. While the presenter may spend some time presenting information or an argument, much of the time is focused on responding to questions from the audience. A town-hall-style talk or a sales meeting with a small group of clients might take this form. This format can create a strong sense of engagement with the audience, but preparing for it is more challenging as the presenter needs to be able to adapt to questions, but also keep the presentation on topic.

Group Presentation Formats

Group presentations will typically use features of the formats listed above, but may differ in how the group members relate to each other.

Group Integrated

Group members give parts of one integrated presentation. Members may take turns speaking or split topics of the presentation between them. They may act out scenarios together at points if that is the most effective means of communicating their concept. The key here is that despite having several presenters, there is a clear sense that it is all one presentation. This type of presentation takes a lot of coordination and practice between group members to be effective.

Group Divided

You may see something like this as a panel talk at a professional or academic conference. Each group member gives an individual presentation, but each presentation relates to the others.

Structuring a Workplace Presentation

An effective presentation will be easy to absorb and remember. When reading, a person can stop, pause, and reread if they didn’t catch a point the first time. Unfortunately, unless a presentation is being recorded and made accessible online, if the listener misses something, there’s no way to go back and catch it again. As a result, adapting your writing into a memorable presentation requires distilling your content into a more focused verbal presentation. From there, the keys to helping your audience remember your most important points are repetition and emphasis.

As in writing, you want to include transitions to guide your audience in following your structure. Transitions will not only guide your audience, but are an example of using repetition and emphasis to help your audience retain the key points of your presentation. Plan on including one or two sentences much like you do in writing to transition between the opening, body, major points within the body, and your presentation’s close. For example, in a presentation discussing ways to retain employees within your company you could include a transition between your first and second main points. In this example, a transition could be something like, “Before we look at several key strategies for retaining employees, let’s take a moment to review the major causes of employee separation from our company.”

Now, let’s look at strategies for structuring and organizing the opening, body, and close of your presentation.

Opening a Presentation

One of the best ways to assure your audience members take note of what’s important in your presentation is to catch their attention quickly and set up clear expectations for what they can expect to learn. Consider choosing from some of the following strategies:

• Create a hook to catch the audience’s interest. You don’t want to include an arbitrary gimmick, but you can engage the audience by telling a connected joke, asking an engaging, thought-provoking question, sharing an interesting and relevant anecdote, or perhaps a memorable quote. When considering a hook, just be sure to retain the appropriate level of professional formality.
• Establish your credibility. Introduce yourself/group members and share your credentials. Tell the audience what qualifies you to speak on the topic.
• Define a purpose or objective. If the purpose of a presentation is very clearly defined in goal form, listeners are much more prepared to think about your presentation and to recognize what’s important.
• Provide an agenda or overview. An agenda maps out the structure of the presentation and helps the audience to prepare for the significant sections. By sharing the major talking points, the audience will be ready to listen and absorb when you get to items of importance. Doing so also allows your audience to anticipate what’s upcoming and establishes a clear outline to organize your presentation.
• Offer background information on your subject. If necessary for your audience and before transitioning into your presentation’s main points, provide the pertinent background information.

Organizing Body of a Presentation

This section is where you will address and develop the main points of your topic. As a result, this section will take up most of the time allotted for your presentation.

• Establish an organizational pattern that suits your purpose. You can choose from other organizational patterns used in writing such as chronological, problem-solution, spatial, or any other logical structure your audience will be able to easily follow. For example, an informative talk could be organized to cover points moving from the general to more specific.
• Clearly state and develop your main points. Be up front about your point and offer supporting evidence and examples. Some ways to develop your content are by referencing case studies, telling relevant stories, providing concrete examples, and showing data and results. Additionally, you can help your audience to recognize main points by repeating them in your visuals and using verbal cues that acknowledge their importance.

Closing a Presentation

It is important to end a presentation as strongly as you began. Audiences tend to remember the opening and closing of a presentation, so avoid rushing through this section; ultimately, your ending provides an opportunity to once again emphasize and repeat your key points.

• Bring the presentation back to the agenda. Signal the end of your presentation by restating your main points just like you do in your writing.
• Offer any recommendations. These recommendations should be based on the information and evidence provided in the body of your presentation.
• Give your audience something to do with the information you shared: Make a call to action or give them a question to reflect on, etc.
• Solicit questions. You may want to transition into a Q & A at the end of your talk.
• Thank your audience.

Visual Tools to Support Your Talk

Visuals are a great way to support your verbal points in a presentation. So what makes an effective presentation visual?

• Be consistent . When designing your visual aids, repeat patterns, font selection and size, and limit the complexity of slides helps readers to recognize important information and to process information more efficiently.
• Keep text simple and minimal . Think of text in visuals as an emphasis tool. Too much text can draw attention away from your message. Images should be used to add depth to verbal content. For example, limit the number of bullet points on a slide to 4-6.
• Use accessible design . As with document design, be mindful of the readability of your visual. Also, think about what the type you choose conveys to your audience.
• Integrate visuals . Don’t just show them; talk about them, and gesture to them.
• Consider culture . If your audience includes individuals from a culture different than your own, be mindful of avoiding jargon, cliché, and slang. In general, it’s good practice to select visuals that are culturally inclusive.

When creating slides or other visual tools, plan to spend about approximately 1-2 minutes on each visual or slide. Lastly, you may want to review and adapt the principles of effective design .

Delivery Techniques

Our best advice for successfully delivering presentations is to practice using any technology you intend to use in your talk.

• Speak clearly, maintain a pace your audience can follow, use an appropriate volume to ensure your audience can hear you, and avoid speaking in monotone by adjusting your pitch.
• Remember to clearly introduce each point and connect it to the needs of the audience (i.e. “Here’s why this matters to you”). You should plan clear verbal transitions between points to help audience members’ transition from one point to the next.
• Make eye content with your audience. You want to avoid reading from notes and not engaging your audience through eye contact. Notecards and slides are meant to guide your talk, not to act as a script.
• Engage the audience through movement and gestures that draw audience attention to supporting visuals and to you as needed by the content.
• Maintain professionalism. Establish and maintain your credibility by dressing professionally, adhering to the timeline, and referencing your source materials.
• Be aware of time. You may have someone helping you keep track of time, but without practice you will still find yourself either rushing towards the end or finishing earlier than expected.
• Respond to audience feedback. If a Q& A follows your presentation, be prepared to answer questions.
• As a student, you see lots of presentations every week. In small groups, discuss some of your classes. What presentation formats do your professors use? How do they use verbal and visual strategies to emphasize information?
• Watch “The Impotence of Proofreading” by poet Taylor Mali . Pay attention to how he uses body language, eye contact, tone, and pauses to create emphasis and engage his audience.
• Look at several PowerPoint presentations online. Which ones were the best and why? What could be done to improve the least effective presentation slides?

Chapter 8: Oral Reports Copyright © by Anna Goins; Cheryl Rauh; Danielle Tarner; and Daniel Von Holten is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Oracle Faces Tough Questions in Copyright Appeal From Rimini

By Isaiah Poritz

Oracle International Corp. ‘s software copyright lawsuit against Rimini Street Inc., a third-party support service for Oracle customers, faced a skeptical panel of Ninth Circuit judges at oral arguments Wednesday.

Oracle claimed during the yearslong litigation that Rimini built a third-party software servicing business entirely through illegally copying of Oracle’s code for software such as PeopleSoft without a license.

Oracle’s argument about when Rimini is or isn’t violating Oracle’s copyrights by servicing Oracle customers “feels entirely circular,” Judge Jay S. Bybee said. He noted that Rimini would have to made copies of computer code in order to service customers with ...

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