Newspaper Book Report
This book report takes the form of a newspaper. Use the following
requirements to design and lay out your book report. Place the articles and
features where you think they fit best.
Check off each requirement after you’ve completed it.
REQUIREMENTS
TITLE/NAME OF NEWSPAPER
Create a title for your newspaper. It can be related to the book, your
name, the class, the school, and so on. Don’t forget to include your name as
the editor.
ARTICLES
Summary
At the top of the first page, write a summary of your book in a welldeveloped paragraph.
1. Make sure your summary answers who, what, where, when, and
why.
2. Create a headline that related to the summary.
Protagonist
Write a brief article about the main character.
1. Describe who the character is, what he or she did, personality
traits, and interesting things about the character.
2. Create a headline that relates to the article.
3. Include a picture of the protagonist in a scene from the book.
Antagonist
Write a brief article about the antagonist. Write in complete
paragraphs.
1. Explain why this person/thing is the antagonist.
2. Create a headline that relates to the article.
3. Include a picture of your antagonist causing the problem.
New Ending
Write a different ending to the book that changes the outcome of the
story.
1. Create a headline that relates to the article.
FEATURES
Advice Column
Pretend the main character wrote a short letter to a newspaper advice
columnist seeking advice about the major problem your character
faces in the story. Create an assumed name for your character to use
to sign his or her letter. (This is a fake name) Then write the
response from the columnist that reflects how the problem was solved.
1. Make it look like an advice column
2. Create a headline that relates to the article. (ex. Dear Abby,
etc.)
Book Review
Write a review for the book you read.
1. Explain your likes and dislikes.
2. To whom would you recommend this book? Why?
3. Create a headline for your book review.
Editorial
Choose an issue related t your book and take a position on it.
1. Write a letter to the editor describing how you feel about this
issue.
2. Think carefully and honestly about what you want to say.
3. Create a headline for the editorial.
Comics
Design a four-panel comic strip that illustrates something funny that
happened in the story.
1. Use the four squares as a guide or as the actual comic strip.
2. Create a title for your strip.
Advertisements, Crosswords, and More
All the space in your newspaper should be filled. After you have
written all that is required, be creative to fill up the remaining spaces.
Suggested possibilities include want ads, advertisements, crossword
puzzles, word searches, riddles, or obituaries if a character in the book
dies. Make sure everything relates to the story you read.
Newspaper Book Report Rubric
1. Your summary answers the five W’s in a well-developed paragraph. Your
headline is creatively connected to the article.
10
9
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3
2
1
0
2. Your article about the main character is written in a descriptive and insightful
paragraph. Your headline is creatively connected to the article.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
3. The article about the antagonist is written in a complete paragraph. Your headline
is creatively connected to the article.
10
9
8
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5
4
3
2
1
0
4. The problem and solution are creatively described using the format of an advice
column.
10
9
8
7
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5
4
3
2
1
0
5. The new ending to your story is creative and changes the outcome of your story.
Your headline is creatively connected to the article.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
6. The book review includes a good explanation of what you liked and disliked
about your book. Your headline is creatively connected to the article.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
7. Your editorial expresses an opinion and is insightful and well written. Your
headline is creatively connected to the article.
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8. Your comic strip creatively illustrates a humor event from the book.
10
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1
0
3
2
1
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9. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct.
10
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5
4
10. Rate the visual presentation. (writing, pictures, overall neatness, and use of all the
space provided)
10
9
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3
2
1
0
Newspaper Book Report Graphic Organizers
SUMMARY
Write notes about the five W’s to help you write your summary.
WHO ? ? ?
WHAT ? ? ?
WHERE ? ? ?
SUMMARY
Headline:________________________
WHY ? ? ?
_______________________________
_______________________________
WHEN ? ? ?
ANTAGONIST
In the ovals, list four reasons why this character is the antagonist. In the box, draw a
sketch of the antagonist causing the problem. Use this information to help you write your
article.
Newspaper Book Report Graphic Organizers
MAIN CHARACTER
Fill in the data disk to help you write your article about the main character in your book.
Sketch of the character in
a scene
Headline Ideas
Main
Character’s
Name
Things the character did in
the story
Personality Traits
Interesting things about
the character
ADVICE COLUMN
Fill out the sequencing chart to help you write your advice column.
Events that led to the
problem.
Write notes about what
the problem was.
List ways in which the
problem was solved.
List ways in which the
solution affected the
rest of the story.
Newspaper Book Report Graphic Organizers
NEW ENDING
Write notes to describe two possible new endings and outcomes to the story. Choose one
to help you write your article.
New Ending 1
New Out come 1
New Ending 2
New Out come 2
BOOK REVIEW
List e three things you liked about your
book and three things you disliked to
help you write your review.
Liked
Disliked
EDITORIAL
Choose an issue related to your book and
take a position on it. List three reasons
you might agree or disagree with your
position.
Agree
Disagree
COMICS
In the space provided, draw a thumbnail sketch of your comic strip. Include dialogue.
Comic Strip Title:___________________________