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READING AND WRITING SKILLS

QUARTER - 2 WEEK - 05

Objective

To identify the unique features of a book review and the various

disciplines that typically require it.

Let’s Understand

Identifying the unique features of a book review

One of the basic school requirements is writing a book review. A book

review gives essential information about a book (fiction or nonfiction) and
provides an evaluation of it. A book review’s purpose is to help people decide
whether or not the book would interest them enough to read it. Reviews are
sneak peek at a book, not a summary.

This type of academic writing is usually required in courses in the

Humanities such as literature, history, and philosophy, and in the Social
Sciences such as sociology, psychology, and political science.

Read the Material

1. Before you can begin writing a book review, you have to read and
understand the material first. Academic materials demand a different
way of reading from those which require mere pleasure reading. The
material that you will review would require you to read actively,
intelligently, and critically. You have to go beyond the content of the
material.
2. As you read, take down notes. Write down the following for a book:
theme(s), characters, mood, and tone; author’s writing style and
language; and author’s purpose.
3. Formulate questions about the content. These questions may be about
concepts that you do not fully understand or you want to elaborate
later on in your analysis.
4. Read the material more than once for an in-depth understanding of
what the author is trying to convey.
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Write the Review Paper

1. Your paper should give an informed analysis of the material. It should
be more than just a summary of the book.
2. Be mindful of the structure of your review. Like all essays, a book
review has an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

As a starting point for your book review, use the notes that you have
taken down while you were critically reading the material. Be guided by the
following when writing the introduction:
1. Know the context or information in which the material was written—
author’s background (i.e., life, culture, and beliefs); and social,
economic, or political conditions in which the material was produced.
2. Mention the title of the material, year or date of publication, and
author’s name.
3. Come up with a thesis statement which will indicate what your
evaluation of the material will be. Is it a positive, negative, or mixed
review?
4. Briefly summarize the book.

Body

This is the analysis and evaluation part of the review paper. Here are
some questions that can help in your critical evaluation of the material.
When writing a book review:
1. What are the setting, theme(s), plot, characterization, and other
significant literary devices used by the author? How do these elements
contribute to the overall meaning of the book?
2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?
3. What significant human experience and relationships can you relate
with in light of your personal experience?
4. How is the book similar to and/or different from other books in the
same genre?
5. Is the book informative, entertaining, or meaningful? Would you
recommend it to others? Why or why not?

Conclusion

1. This is a brief summary of your overall evaluation of the material. You

may include here the main reasons, stated in the body paragraphs,
why you agree or disagree with the author.
2. After writing the review, do not forget to cite the references you used
for your paper, if there is any. Here is the style guide or citation format
to use:
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Let’s Apply

Directions: Write an essay on knowledge about book review

can help you in your life. Remember that an essay should have
an introduction, body and conclusion. Be sure also to limit your
work to 100 words. Write on a piece of pad paper.

Title: _________________________________________________________________________

Introduction:__________________________________________________________________
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Body:_________________________________________________________________________
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Conclusion:___________________________________________________________________
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Let’s Analyze

Point of View (POV)

Directions: Choose a book that you have read and pick a
character. Then write a letter or scene from their point of view
and discuss how the POV has changed your perception of the
story.

Book title and Author: (2pts)

___________________________________________________________________________

Character’s point of view: (5pts)

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

How did this POV change your perception or outlook towards the story? 3pts)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

Let’s Try

Directions: Test your knowledge by answering the following

questions. Choose the best answer by writing the letter on your
answer sheet.

1. A/An __________ gives essential information about a book and provides an

evaluation of the book.
A. Book report C. Book review
B. Article critique D. Annotation
2. The following materials can be used for a book review, except __________.
A. scientific journal C. research paper
B. novel D. annotated bibliography

3. Which should NOT be done when writing a book review?

A. Compare the material to other related materials.
B. Make a judgment about the material and support it.
C. Read the material only once and then evaluate it.
D. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the material.
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4. What benefits will you most likely get from writing a book review?
A. It develops your prejudice.
B. It demonstrates your ability to criticize an author.
C. It allows you to express your thoughts about something you have read.
D. It lets you point out how a material should have been written.
5. It is important that your book review contains __________.
A. A summary of the book C. vivid words and adjectives
B. Your opinion of the book D. all of the above
6. Following the outline or structure of the paper is important because
__________.
A. It makes your writing unorganized.
B. It helps your point of view.
C. It keeps your writing organized.
D. It provides reason to write.
7. Peter researched information for his book review. When his teacher
returned his work, he read that it was plagiarized. How can Peter improve
his work?
A. He should give credit to the sources of information.
B. He must copy his classmate’s work.
C. He should research more information.
D. He must read the book again.
8. In a book review, which of the following statements should NOT be a part of
the introduction?
A. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, born in Lyons, France, was an aviator, poet,
and writer who is known for his book The Little Prince.
B. Some parts of the The Little Prince were drawn from Saint-Exupéry’s own
life and experiences.
C. Overall, the book is effective because of its themes about innocence and
real love. It is a must-read for those who are in search for wisdom and
the meaning of life and love.
D. Published in 1943, The Little Prince was written during World II, after
Germany invaded France, which forced Saint-Exupéry to flee to New
York.
9. Arrange the following sentences into introduction, body, or conclusion.
I. With its vivid descriptions and emotional scenes, this book will truly
melt your heart. It is an excellent heartwarming story that is a must-
read for all ages.
II. Black Beauty is a fictional autobiography by Anna Sewell which was
published in 1877.
III. The author uses anthropomorphism, a literary device in which
nonhuman entities such as animals are given human traits or
characteristics.
A. 1, II and III C. III, II and I
B. I, III and II D. II, III and I
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10. Arrange the steps in writing a book review.

1. Write the introduction, body, and conclusion.
2. Analyze and evaluate the material.
3. Prepare the bibliography.
4. Find out the context in which the material was written.
5. Read the material actively, intelligently, and critically.
A. 34215 C. 54213
B. 52134 D. 2543

Let’s Create

Moviemaker

Goal After reading a book, you are to compose an essay or

a “pitch” to a movie producer explaining why the story
would or would not make a great movie.
Role You will be screenwriter.
Audience Your audience will be your teacher/producer. Your work may also
be read by your fellow students.

Situation You are a screenwriter who presents an idea for a film or movie to
a movie producer in the hope of attracting development finance to
pay for the writing of a screenplay.

Product Performance Compose a one-page essay or pitch about your

chosen book. The essay should have an appropriate introduction, body and
conclusion to be written in a short bond paper with 1 ½ inch left margin and 1-
inch margin on the top, right and bottom parts.