Dear Families,
Third grade teachers could not have been more impressed with
student’s third grade book reports. Students did above and beyond work and
we love that many families completed the project together. Students will
once again be asked to complete a book report. We have made a few changes
to this project, so that students can practice additional third grade skills.
Many students may have already chosen their book to report over from our
school library. The idea is that students will choose a book on their reading
level and read it nightly until the book is complete. We ask that this book
please be a chapter book of at least 100 pages. After completing their book
the students may use the example I have provided as an outline, as well as
the scoring rubric, to write their own book report. It will be very important
for students to “Put First Things First” in order to complete all components
of this project on time.
For this book report we are asking that students write a paragraph about
the protagonist, plot and theme. We also ask that students write a paragraph
over text-to-text, text to self, and text to world connections that they find in
the story. Please remember that a paragraph is a least four sentences. This
report should be written using correct grammar and punctuation and should
be neatly written on notebook paper.
I am so excited to begin this project with my students and hope that
they truly enjoy reading and reporting over the books that they have chosen.
All book reports are to be completed and returned to school by: Friday, April
20, 2012. I am more than happy to answer any questions that you might have
over this assignment. Please contact me by email at
tara.tinsley@warren.kyschools.us or by phone at 270-467-0411. Thanks in
advance for your support and hard work on this project.
Mrs. Tara Tinsley
Book Report Scoring Rubric
Novice 1
Apprentice 2 Proficient 3
Distinguished 4
Grammar
Students do not
use correct
spelling and
punctuation in
each paragraph
of their book
report. Many
mistakes are
found and
report is not
grammatically
correct.
Students use
mostly correct
spelling and
punctuation in
each paragraph of
their book report.
Have left
examples of
careless grammar
and spelling
mistakes.
Students use
correct spelling
and punctuation
in each
paragraph of
their book report
with very few
mistakes.
Students have gone
above and beyond to
edit their report for
spelling and grammar
mistakes. No mistakes
are found.
6 Story
Element/
Connection
Paragraphs
Students have
not completed
paragraphs
over all story
elements and
connections.
Paragraphs are
not detailed and
do not meet the
length
requirement.
Students have
written
paragraphs over
all required story
elements and
connections.
Some paragraphs
lack detail or do
not contain 4
complete
sentences.
Students have
written detailed
paragraphs over
all required
story elements
and connections.
All paragraphs
are at least four
sentences long.
Students have written
detailed paragraphs over
all story elements and
connections. Students
have provided explicit
detail throughout the
book report and have
added additional
information to their
paragraphs.
Reflection
Students seem
to have rushed
through this
assignment and
give little
reflection on
the story they
have chosen.
Students show
some
understanding of
the book they
have read and
explain most
story elements
and connections
correctly.
Students show
an
understanding of
the book they
have read and
explain all story
elements and
connections
correctly.
Students show an
understanding of the
book they have read and
explain all story
elements and
connections correctly.
Student is able to make
connections with the
story they have chosen.
Total
______________
*Many of the paragraphs from this book report example are from February’s book report. Please see
paragraphs over text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world for examples of the new components for
this book report.
“The Wizard of OZ” Book Report Example
Protagonist: Main Character
Dorothy is the protagonist in the story, “The Wizard of OZ”. Dorothy is a young lady who lives
with her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry on a Kansas farm. Dorothy has a little, black dog named
Totto. At the beginning of the story Dorothy’s home is carried away by a tornado. She must use
her character traits of being determined and friendly to make friends along the way and find her
way home from OZ.
Plot: Give a brief summary of the events of the story.
Dorothy lives on a farm in Kansas until a tornado arrives, and picks her, her house, and her dog
up and takes them to the land of Oz. Things in Oz are strange and beautiful, but Dorothy just
wants to get back home. She's helped by the Good Witch of the North, but she's also in trouble
with the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch of the West blames Dorothy for her
sister’s death.
Wishing to return home, she begins to travel to the Emerald City where a great wizard lives. On
her way she meets a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a
Cowardly Lion who desperately needs courage. They all hope the Wizard of Oz will help them,
before the Wicked Witch of the West catches up with them.
At the end of story Dorothy is home and safe in her bed. Dorothy is waking up from a dream
and repeating, “There is not place like home”.
Theme: What message is written in the story?
Dorothy says at the end of the story, “There is not place like home”. One message shared by the
author could be to appreciate the home and family that you have. Another theme could be that
friendship can accomplish all things because Dorothy and her friends work to solve their
problems together. One last idea for the theme of this story is to not give up. Dorothy faces
many challenges in this story but is determined to find her way home.
Text-to-Text: How is this book similar to another book you’ve read?
Dorothy makes many new friends in the story “The Wizard of Oz”. ”Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer’s Stone” is another story that I have read where the main character makes new friends
to help them through the hardships that they face. Both Harry and Dorothy need their friends to
help them meet their goal at the end of the story. Both “The Wizard of Oz” and “Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone” teach the lesson that friendship can help you to get through difficult
situations.
Text-to-Self: How can you relate to this story? (Ex: “That made me think of the time...”; “I can
relate to that, because...”; “Her problems are like mine, because...”)
Dorothy feels homesick after she finds herself in the land of OZ. Her goal throughout the story
is to find her way home. Like Dorothy, I felt homesick when I spent a week at summer camp.
Although I made many great friends, I wanted to go home and be with my family again.
Text-to-World: How does this story relate to things that happen around the world? (Ex: “I’ve
seen kids...”; “In real life people would...”)
In the story “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy’s home is lifted into the air by a tornado. This month
we had a tornado scare in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Many families in our state and nation
were affected by tornados. It will take the support of great friends, just like Dorothy’s, for these
families to rebuild their homes in this hard time.