Name:______________________________
Block:_____
Ms. Obenski
TOTAL: _____/150
Book Report Directions:
1. STEP ONE: Get your book approved by Ms. Obenski by Wednesday, April 23, 2014. If you do
not have your book approved by me, you will not be allowed to do a book report, and you
will earn a zero for this 150-point assignment.
2. STEP TWO: As you read your book, focus on several quotations, phrases, and paragraphs
that you can use to support your opinion about the book. The simplest way to do this is by
completing the SSR reading logs! 
3. STEP THREE: BOOK REPORT ESSAY, COLLAGE, AND EXPLANATION
 Your collage and its explanation must focus on a character analysis of the protagonist of
the novel OR on a theme analysis for the novel.
 Character analysis: how does the protagonist grow or regress emotionally throughout
the novel? What experiences shape the protagonist’s personality? In colloquial terms,
what makes the protagonist tick?
Example: If you were to do a character analysis of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the
Rye, you would discuss (among other things) how Holden is emotionally lost at the
beginning of his story. While he has ample ability, he does not apply himself in school,
which leads to his being expelled from several schools. Rather than take full responsibility
for his actions, Holden, who is hyperbole personified, always has an excuse. It is only
when he is reunited with the unconditional love of his sister Phoebe that Holden realizes
what he has in life and decides to get help, which is why he is in a mental institution as he
tells his story.
 Theme analysis: how does the theme that you’ve chosen prove relevant throughout
the novel?
Example: One could say that the theme of The Catcher in the Rye is “Unconditional love
heals all wounds.” Throughout the novel, Holden puts conditions on the relationships he
has, whether it is with Sally Hayes or Sunny the prostitute. Holden even believes that his
brother D.B. has prostituted himself as a Hollywood writer. In addition to Phoebe, Holden
only experiences unconditional love with Jane Gallagher, whom he can never bring
himself to contact directly, and his dead brother Allie.
 Using a piece of construction paper (please do NOT do your collage on poster board), create
a visual image of the character analysis or theme analysis. As such, your images should
not be direct reflections of the plot summary.
 The images of the collage MUST fill the entire piece of construction paper. Do NOT copy
images from your book or from a movie version of your book. Do not include a picture of the
author; be creative and think outside of the box!
 You must include AT LEAST three quotations (properly cited) from your book in your report
and on your poster. Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times;…” (Dickens
1). Each of the quotations must support your character analysis or theme analysis. These
quotations do not count towards the length of your analysis.
 ****On the back of the collage, in a four-paragraph essay, you must explain the character
analysis or theme analysis AND the images you chose (everything that has been explained
above). This explanation MUST be typed in MLA format (Times New Roman font, size 12,
double-spaced). While you may reference parts of the plot when necessary, these paragraphs
must contain predominantly analytical ideas.
Points broken down:

Three-paragraph explanation of character or theme analysis __/50

One-paragraph explanation of pictures as they relate to character or theme analysis __/20

Inclusion of three properly cited quotes from the book, which support your analysis __/10

Neat, organized, and original poster that reflects character or theme analysis

Carefully proofread for grammar, punctuation, and spelling __/15
__/15
4. STEP FOUR: utilize your book’s vocabulary.
 On an additional piece of paper that is stapled to the back of your collage, write the word
and properly cite the page on which the word was found for EACH of 10 SAT-type
vocabulary words. Furthermore, identify the part of speech and the definition of each word
as the word appeared in the context of your book. Please write the sentence from your
book and then properly cite it. In addition, use each word correctly in an original sentence
that YOU create. Your sentences should contain context clues that would enable
someone to discern the definition of the word. You may not use SAT-type vocabulary
words that you have already learned in this class.
 This information must be typed in MLA format (Times New Roman font, size 12, doublespaced).
 The proper citation, part of speech, definition, and original sentence for each word are worth
one point each, for a total of four points for each word. __/40
5. STEP FIVE: Prior to coming to class, attach this paper, this side up, to the back of your Book
Report.
THE BOOK REPORT IS DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ON
FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2014.