Book Talk Guidelines


A book talk is a short oral book review. Please follow these steps:

1. Choose a book you have read and enjoyed recently. Take at least fifteen minutes to page through it. Review in your mind the main characters, the setting, and the plot. Identify the main conflict(s) or problem(s) the characters faced. If you can, identify the major themes (big ideas) that run through the story. As the plot unfolds, how is the conflict resolved? How are the themes developed?

2. When it's your turn, begin by stating the title, the author, and the genre. Then introduce your book talk by asking the audience a question or describing the cover art.

3. Briefly describe the main character(s), the setting, and the plot "set-up"—that is, what happens at the beginning to start the action or introduce the main conflict and/or themes. As you talk about the plot, don't get carried away and go on too long! Above all, don't give away the ending. Someone might want to read your book.

4. Read an enticing selection—no more than a page or two. Before you start, explain the context.

5. Say whether you would recommend the book. If so, to whom?

Book Report Guidelines • Book reports should be 1-3 pages typed, double-spaced. • • Title and Author of the book should be clearly identified in the first paragraph • All 10 point items on the rubric must be discussed; Plot, Problem, Characters, Setting, YOUR Assessment of the Book • It is not necessary to rewrite the entire book, you only need enough information so that the reader can get the gist of the situation in the book. • The book you choose must be a novel and cannot be the same book you chose for your book talk. • If you have any questions, please let me know as soon as possible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Book Report Assessment Student: ________________________________ Date: ___________ Title: ___________________________________________________________ Author: __________________________________________________________ Points Possible Points Earned Plot & Problem 10 Characters & Setting 10 Assessment 10 Organization 5 Flow & Mechanics 5 Total Points: __________/40