Suggestions for Reviewing

Book Review “How To” Guide

Suggestions for Reviewing Reviewing Non-Fiction What works and what doesn’t when This is the real life stuff about people, reviewing. Since films and books are different history or ideas. For this reason you have to genres, watching the movie doesn’t work. Just treat it differently. Don’t make the mistake of re-telling the entire story doesn’t work. Swiping treating a history book like a novel. There is no your comments from the blurbs on the back plot. cover doesn’t work. Enough bad news. Here’s 1. What is this book about? Be complete but what does work. concise. Take about 1/3 of your space. First, have something original to say 2. Is there some particular point that the writer about the book. Tell how you reacted to it, not wanted to make about this subject? What was just what happened in it. it? Second, try to give the reader or listener 3. How is this book organized? What features a sense of what it was like to live in this story or make it easy (or not) to follow? book for awhile. 4. Are there maps or pictures? Does it need Necessary Information: them? In the first paragraph of your review, 5. is the author’s style interesting? there are four pieces of information you need to 6. Evaluation - same as fiction. include. They are title of the book, author’s name, genre and publication information. When Reviewing Children’s Books indicating the title of the book, please put in People try this, thinking it’s going to be italics. so simple, but it isn’t. It’s faster to read a kid’s book, of course, but the rest is the same, really. Reviewing Fiction: 1. For whom was this story intended? Is it No matter how real they may seem, all appropriate for them? fiction books are made up. They use certain 2. Many children’s books have a teaching point devices to make you feel that they are real to them. What is it here? while you are reading them. They succeed if 3. What is the book about? Be specific, because they do this well. it’s usually short. 1. Plot Summary - Outline enough of the story 4. Look carefully at the pictures. What kind of that your reader knows you understand what artwork is it - realistic, childish, cartoonish, happened, but not too much. The most common abstract, serious, funny? Why? mistake is to tell too much of this. Keep it to no 5, Most kid’s books are written to be read out more than 1/3 of your essay. loud. How would you read this book to a child? 2. Characters - Who are the main characters? 6. Evaluation - same as fiction. What are they like? How do you know? Ten Tips for Successfully Completing this Assignment Describe the person in terms of who they are, 1. Take note of the requirements for the assignemtns. not so much what they look like. 2. Find a book right away. Don’t wait until the last week. 3. Setting - Where does this story take place? Is 3. Plan a shedule for doing this report: reading, notes, this important? What is the mood of the story? first draft, finished. How is this mood created? 4. Read something every day. 4. Evaluation - This is the meat of your review, 5. Write down your reactions several times while reading the part where you give your opinion and tell the book (ie. ¼ , ½ and ¾ of the way through). 6. Have your notes and the book on hand when you begin what you think. What was good or bad about your writing. the book. Would you recommend it to anyone 7. Write your first draft quickly. else? Why? 8. Revise and proofread your first draft. Have someone else read it too. 9. Make sure your final draft is typed. 10. Turn in the finished review on time, following all format guidelines.