Written Book Report Format- 8th Grade
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Basic Information (paragraph 1)
A. Title and author of book
B. Genre of book
C. Setting of book
1. Place of story
2. Time of story
Characters (paragraph 2)
A. Major Character
1. Description
a. Age
b. Personality
c. Appearance
2. Other important “stuff”
a. Relationship to other characters
b. Role in the story
c. Background info that may add interest
B. Minor Characters (paragraph 3)
1. Brief Descriptions
2. Relationship to other characters
Plot (paragraphs 4,5,6+)
A. Get the story started
1. Begin the story
2. What interesting things happened?
B. Problem/ Climax of the story
1. Build up to the climax/problem
2. How is the problem/climax solved
C. Conclusion
1. Tie the loose ends together
2. Tell how the story ends
Your opinion (last paragraph)
A. Express your opinion about the book
1. support it with several good supporting sentences explaining why
B. Recommendation
1. Audience—who would enjoy reading this?
2. Reason—why would they enjoy it?
**Things to Remember**
1. Reports are to be either:
4-5 pages, hand written neatly, using blue or black ink on the front side of the paper.
Trim the edges of notebook paper.
OR
2 TYPED pages, Times New Roman, size 12 font, double spaced, 1-inch margins.
2. Did you get your book approved and signed up in advance?
3. Did you proofread the final report?
4. Book reports are worth 100 points.
Book Report Alternative—8th Grade
In place of the traditional book report, you may present all of the required information on the front
side of this handout in outline form (follow the online form on the front of this handout)
AND
do one of the following:
1. PUT TOGETHER A CAST FOR THE FILM VERSION OF A BOOK. Imagine the directorproducer wants a casting director to make recommendations. Decide who would be the actors
and actresses. Include photos and descriptions of the stars and tell why each is "perfect" for the
part (one paragraph for each star).
2. IMPERSONATE A CHARACTER AND TELL AN EPISODE IN A BOOK. Dress up as a
character and retell the story. (You will record this, burn it to a CD/DVD in WMA format.)
3. CONVERT THE EVENTS OF A STORY INTO A BALLAD OR SONG. Write the lyrics and
music or adapt words to a melody by someone else.
4. DESIGN A COMIC STRIP RETELLING SOME EVENT IN THE STORY. This may be
expanded to tell the whole story of the novel as a comic book.
5. CREATE AN EYE-CATCHING POSTER. Choose a scene from the book and cast it in a
poster which would attract potential readers or buyers to the book.
6. DESIGN THE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR THE BOOK. Each illustration must have a caption to
explain it. You must have a minimum of eight illustrations, and these must be on drawing paper
(not lined), and you must put care and effort into these illustrations.
7. DESIGN A TRAVEL BROCHURE. Illustrate and advertise the "world" of your novel. The
brochure can be done neatly by hand or by using publishing software, such as Microsoft
Publisher.
8. THE FORTUNE COOKIE REVIEW. Explain why their messages, given to each of the
novel's characters, are amazingly appropriate. (Each message must be explained in a separate
paragraph.)