Book Report
9th NAME______________________________DATE ___________________
Book Report
Please take the book report seriously and do your best work to finish out this semester. This is the last part of your SSR grade. You may choose your own topic but it needs to be pre-approved with me. TURN IN THIS PACKET WITH YOUR FINAL PAPER.
The topics you can choose from are the following (circle ONE):
TOPIC 1:
Often characters show love and compassion towards others. Analyze the compassionate actions of one or two characters. What is the author suggesting we do differently in our own lives by following these examples?
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TOPIC 2:
Motifs play a significant role in books. Choose one motif, discuss how it’s used to create meaning, and analyze the author’s purpose for using it.
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TOPIC 3:
Trace the change and transformation one of the main characters. What are we supposed to learn about life from this character?
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TOPIC 4:
There are moments of sacrifice in most novels. Analyze moments of sacrifice and discuss what we are supposed to learn about life from these examples?
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REQUIREMENTS:
- your typed literary analysis should be between 2-4 pages; you can’t do this well in less than that
- Manuscript Rules – look at the rubric to format your document using Word. I will review formatting in class.
- this will be written in 3rd person so using personal pronouns (he, she) to refer to characters is acceptable
- FOR THIS PAPER DO NOT use “I” and DO NOT use “YOU/YOUR”
- Since this is a formal essay, DO NOT use contractions – they’re informal
- write in the present tense and be consistent about it; characters in novels are considered living, breathing human beings
- 5 quotations (w/citations) from the novel (for maximum points). Quotations should support your thesis.
SCORING: (100 pts. for the Final Draft)
DUE DATE: No later than: Friday, May 24th at the beginning of the period.
NOTES ABOUT THESIS STATEMENTS
Keep these things in mind when writing a thesis statement:
1. A thesis is NOT the whole essay; a thesis is the main idea, often expressed in a single sentence.
2. A thesis can also be thought of as the main argument of your paper
3. A thesis should NOT be a laundry list of your main points
4. It should merely set up the topic and give any general information the listener needs to know.
5. Every topic paragraph should clearly support your thesis – create strong links that return to what you are explaining throughout your paper.
There are three kinds of thesis statements:
- SIMPLE: Usually more descriptive and generic in nature
SPECIFIC SUBJECT + SPECIFIC FEELING[S]/FEATURES[s] = THESIS
EXAMPLES:
· The history of the United States is dominated by lust for money, possessions, and power.
· Unexpecting, average people like Mrs. Dubose, Atticus Finch, and Link Deas all show the real meaning of courage without the supernatural powers or fancy costumes throughout the novel.
- INTERMEDIATE: Usually more complex; addresses the larger message/call to action
AUTHOR + VERB + CHARACTER/SYMBOL/THEME/DEVICE/ETC. + PICK FROM BELOW + POINT
to discuss, in order to, to examine, to relate, concentrates on, to trace,
to see if, to show [shows,] to prove [proves,] to determine, to explain,
to argue [argues,] to persuade [persuades]
EXAMPLES:
· Harper Lee uses references to flowers as a symbol to prove that in times of despair one can always find beauty.
· Harper Lee illustrates the theme of childhood innocence through her young characters to represent the fact that things are not always as clear as they may seem to be.
3. ADVANCED: This developed thesis includes contrast and may use words like therefore or although. With this type of thesis sentence, you will want to include the part and whole.
EXAMPLES:
- Though many people wait for an extraordinary person to stop injustice, Lee passionately argues it is the courageous acts of average people that change society for the better.
- Ralph’s inability to lead exposes man’s inherent evil nature in the face of adversity.
Book Report RUBRIC
Formatting: Presentation
Manuscript Rules:
(one line each ) name, course & class period, date, the first line, upper left corner
all margins set at 1 inch
there is a creative title, centered, w/blank line above and below
capitalize 1st, last, and all important words in title
title is not larger or in bold, underlined, no quotes, all caps., etc.
essay is double-spaced; no extra space between paragraphs
Times New Roman 12 pt. font for all text including title and heading
paragraphs are indented; 1 tab
page numbering
name (header) at the top of each page
5 all manuscript rules were followed (10)
4 one or two errors with manuscript rules (8-9)
3 a few errors with manuscript rules (7)
2 several errors with manuscript rules (6)
1 many errors with manuscript rules
Formatting: Research Skills
Proper Citation: (Hugo 38). – unless name is mentioned in intro. then use (38).
Passages that appear in Book Report text as less than 4 complete lines:
Introduced with a comma
enclosed in quotation marks
followed by proper citation (as above)
Passages that appear in Book Report text as 4 complete lines are more:
Introduced with a colon
NO quotation marks (unless you’re quoting dialogue then use single quotation marks)
Double indented & single-spaced
Followed by proper citation (as above)
5 ALL evidence is properly documented, spaced, punctuated, etc.
4 MOST of the evidence is properly documented, spaced, punctuated, etc.
3 SOME of the evidence is properly documented, spaced, punctuated, etc.
2 FEW pieces of the evidence are properly documented, spaced, punctuated, etc.
1 LESS THAN 3 pieces of evidence are properly documented, spaced, punctuated, etc.
Conventions
10 spelling, capitalization, punctuation are correct
grammar and usage are correct
8 spelling, capitalization, punctuation are mostly correct
minor errors with grammar and usage
6 several errors with spelling, capitalization, punctuation
some grammar and usage errors are repeated in a few places
3 spelling, capitalization, punctuation errors occur often but the message remains clear
many grammar and usage errors but the message remains clear
some fragments & run-ons present
1 spelling, capitalization, punctuation errors occur often and interfere with the writer’s message
grammar and usage errors occur often and distract from meaning
many fragments & run-ons present
Content: Ideas/Support
20 5 effective/purposeful quotations are included
All integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and linked to the topic/thesis
16 4 effective/purposeful quotations are included – 1 may be ineffective
Most integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and linked to the topic/thesis
12 3 effective/purposeful quotations are included – 2 may be ineffective
Some integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and linked to the topic/thesis
8 3 effective/purposeful quotations are included –
Few integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and linked to the topic/thesis
4 2 or less effective/purposeful quotes are included –
2 or less integrated well and thoroughly analyzed and/or linked to the topic/thesis
Content: Organization
10 well-written introduction, including an opener and thesis statement adequately introduces the essay
ALL topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body paragraph and refer back to the thesis
All body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support & links back to thesis
well-written conclusion that leaves the reader with something to think about
evidence of smooth, effective transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and ideas
8 introduction, including an opener and thesis statement clearly introduces the essay; may be awkward
ALL topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body paragraph and refer back to the thesis - one may be awkward
All 3 body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support & links back to thesis; one may be awkward
conclusion attempts to leave the reader with something to think about
a variety of transitions exist in and between paragraphs; pacing is developing
6 introduction introduces the essay; may be missing a component or unclear, or thesis may be more than one sentence
MOST topic sentences help to introduce/transition each body paragraph and refer back to the thesis - one missing or
may not link back to the thesis
MOST body paragraphs end with some type of clincher that analyzes the support & links back to thesis; one missing
or may not link back to thesis
conclusion concludes the essay; may be missing a component, unclear/awkwardly written, or may not indicate a deeper meaning
the transitions sometimes work
3 introduction is attempted but may need a lot of work
A topic sentence helps to introduce/transition one body paragraph and refers back to the thesis; two may be missing or may
not link back to the thesis
A body paragraph ends with some type of clincher that analyzes the support & links back to thesis; two may be missing or
may not link back to thesis
conclusion is present but needs a lot of work
missing or unclear transitions force the reader to make giant leaps
1 no introduction or no thesis statement
no topic sentences are present to introduce body paragraphs or no topic sentences refer back to the thesis
no body paragraphs end with a clincher or none of the clinchers link back to thesis
no conclusion
no transitions
Total ______/ 50 x 2=
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