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Module 16

ENGLISH
WRITING A BOOK REPORT

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development

To the Learner
Dear Learner,
How are you today?
In your previous module you have already learned about writing
specific directions. In this module you will learn how to write a book
report or home reading report.

Lets Learn This

When you finish this module, you will be able to know how to
write a book report, sees the data and information in those materials
which are necessary and important.

Lets Try This

Directions:

Answer these questions about writing book reports.

1. Which of these introductory sentences is more interesting?

Richie, a 12-year-old runaway, cries himself to sleep
every night in the bowling alley where he lives.
Many children run away from home, and this book is
about one of them, a boy named Richie.
2. In a report on a fiction book about runaways, where would

these sentences go? Richies mother is dead. He and his

father dont get along.
introduction
conclusion

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3. In the same report, where would these sentences go?

Author Clark Howard has written a sad and exciting book
about runaways that shows how terrible the life of a runway can
be, I strongly recommend the book to people of all ages.
body
conclusion

Lets Study This

HOW TO WRITE A BOOK REPORT
Writing a book report should not be a chore. Instead, consider it
an opportunity to share the good news about a book you have
enjoyed. Simply writing, I really liked this book. You will, too! is not
enough. You need to explain what makes the book worth reading.
Like other essays, book reports have three parts. An essay is a
short report that represents the personal views of the writer. The
three parts of an essay (and a book report) are introduction, body and
conclusion.
The introduction to a book report should be a full paragraph
that will capture the interest of your readers. The body paragraphs
contain the main substance of your report. Include a brief overview of
the plot of your book, along with supporting details that make it
interesting. In the conclusion, summarize the central ideas of your
report. Sum up why you would or would not recommend it to others.
WRITING A HOME READING REPORT
When you see a good movie or you receive something that
makes you very happy, you like to tell someone also about it so that
you can share the happiness that you feel. When you read a good
book, it is also fun to tell your friends about it. You would like them to
get the same pleasing experience you have.
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A book report is a quick look at a book. Its purpose is to inform

the reader. It tells just enough about the book so that people can
decide to read it or not.
1 A writer, as he reads another reading material, sees the data

and information in those materials which are necessary and

important.

2 The

following outline will give you an idea of what

information you need in your book report.
Title
Author of the book
III.
Place and Date of Publication
IV. No. of Pages
V.
Brief Summary
VI. Moral
VII. Comments
9.
35.

Lets try to look at its example.

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Cynthia is an active and hardworking member of the school

Book Lovers Club. To show how fond of reading she is, she submits a
home reading report every week.
Find out how Cynthia prepares her home reading report. Read
it.

HOME READING REPORT NO. 1

TITLE: The Boy Who Hated Cages
AUTHOR : Adapted
PLACE AND DATE
OF PUBLICATION: Manila, 1998
NO. OF PAGES : 5
BRIEF SUMMARY :
The story is a scene from the life of John James Audobon, a
famous bird painter. It happened in France when he was a young boy
many years ago. John James father took care of birds called gold
finches in a cage. He was unhappy about the birds in the cage. So
one day, he let them go. John James happily watched and listened to
them chirping as they flew out the tree branch. His father found out
what he

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did. He told John James how he loved them because the birds were
beautiful. Instead of crying while being scolded, John James handed
his father a beautiful drawing of the birds. The little boys drawing
made Mr. Audobon gladder than ever. The gold finches looked more
alive in it. From then on, Mr. Audobon encouraged John James to draw
and paint more pictures of birds. John James also wanted to paint
every kind of bird in the world. He said that each bird was so beautiful
but all kinds of cages are so ugly. John James Audobon later lived in
the United States. He continued painting. His works were published in
four huge volumes of books.
John James is just one of the many men and women who work
on something they had special interest in as children. His successful
career as a well-known bird painter started only as a hobby.
Moral

: Big things start from little things. Be patient

in developing your talent.

Comments

: I like the story. It is inspiring, especially to

those who love and are interested in
painting. After reading it, I became more
aware of my talent. I now promise to read
more widely and to continue writing more
short stories, anecdotes and verses.

Lets Do This
Arrange the following notes according to the following headings.
Use another sheet of paper to write your answers.
1234-

Type of Book
Setting of Story
Theme or What the book is about
Plot of The Main Events of the book

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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

fiction 11. faraway land

autobiography
12. tells about experience in
why gorillas are in danger
school
non-fiction
13. the boy who lived in a village
a mountain in the Alps 14. the origin of the flower
met an old witch 15. battle took many homes
a biography 16. a beach resort
a king who lives his kingdom 17. sent messages
to do research 18. in recent times
9. in Antartica in the 15th century 19. a brave and clever family
10. personal narration
20. a long time ago

Lets Do More

Study the book report below then fill out the information asked.
Title : Someday Soon
Author

: Pal R. Janna and Genevieve Hoyt

Type : Fiction
Principal Characters : Usual community workers
Summary :
The book offers interesting facts about the community and its
workers. The farmers and policemen are the communitys most
important workers. The colored pictures illustrate the workers daily
lives. The bakers baking, the dairymans butter and cheese
processing, and the canners method of canning fruits are all
described clearly and vividly.
Other workers described in the book are the helpers in trains.
They help make commuters travel comfortable. Many other means of
traveling are also described, like those by airplane, bus, and taxi.
The other part of the book describes ways of sending messages.
Messages are sent through the e-mail, telephone, and other forms of
media. Newspapers and news in radio broadcasts are also described
in detail.
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Personal Reaction:
One should read this book for the following reasons: First, to
enjoy the beautiful, colored pictures of the community and workers;
second, to know the kind of work they do; and third, to learn how the
peoples taxes help in the maintenance of quality life in a community.

Lets Remember This

1 The following information needed in writing a Home

Reading Report.
1o Title
2o Author

3o Place and Date of Publication

4o No. of Pages
5o Brief Summary
6o Moral

Lets Test Ourselves

Place on what you have learned about Writing Book
Report, identify the indicated parts.

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TheStoryofMyLife
By:HelenKeller

Whatwoulditbeliketoliveinaworldyoucouldntsee
andhear?Howcouldyouevenlearntotalk?HelenKellerlived
inthiskindofworld.
HelenKellerwasnotborndeafandblind,butshebecame
sickwhenshewasstillsmall.Whensherecovered,everything
forHelenwasdarkandsilent.Herparentslovedherandfeltvery
sorryfor her. So, theydidnt trytomake her obey, and they
allowedhertohaveherownwaywitheverything.Bygivingin
toherwhimsandcaprices,theymadehermakeamessoftheir
livesandhers,too.
Finally, they found a teacher for her, a young woman.
AnneSullivan.Shewasnearlyblindherselfandtheywondered
how she could teach Helen. But Anne Sullivan was a strong,
stubborn person, and she refused to let Helen have her way.
Helenfoughther.AndevenHelensparentswereangrywithher.
Theycouldntunderstandthatpitywasbadfortheirdaughter.It
tookalongtime,butAnnefoundawaytogettoHelenandopen
upherworld.
Thisisanexcitingstoryaboutarealbattletoovercome
obstacles.Ifyouwanttoknowhowitwaswon,readbook.Helen
willtellyou.
Adapted,GrammarandLiteratureCompilations

1 Are you done?

2 Look at the answer key to check the answers.
3 If your score is 5 Perfect proceed to the next module.
4 If your score is 4, answer the next activity Lets

Enrich Ourselves.
5 If your score is 3 and below, review the next module.

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Lets Enrich
Ourselves
Read and understand the story. Fill in the needed information.
Fur Coat For Sale

Adapted from Messenger of St. Anthony

Read the story

My godmothers family lives in Alaska, USA. Shes a nurse and

the most industrious woman Ive ever known. She manages a dry
goods store with her sister and her husband. She is Mrs. Nenita de
Vera, a mother of two boys, Jun Jun and Pio.
She used to be a fashion model and, according to Mama, she
was the best-dressed woman in their town in Bicol, Mama had been
her best friend ever since and thats why she was my godmother. I
cant forget her because of this wonderful story.

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One summer evening, just as Mrs. De Vera was about to turn off
the television set and go to sleep, she saw the tiger skin which was
lying on the living room floor begin to move, open its eyes, and come
alive.
Then, it slowly stood up and quickly leaped, almost running
towards the door.
Mrs. De Vera shouted and cried for help. It leaped out an open
window and landed in the garden. It disappeared and my godmother,
who was in a state of shock, fainted.
She was given first aid by her sister, who came down after
hearing the loud roar of a tiger.
Nenita, whats that? she asked.
The tiger is alive Ana. Its in the garden. she answered.
The women eyed the tiger apprehensively. The tiger lay down on
the grass and extended its body to its full length.
The two were surprised to see other animals coming from
different directions. They met, faced each other and talked about
their skins being made into fur coats.
Nenita, turn on the lights outside! her sister summoned.
Lights were turned on and every animal walked towards the
gate. People from the apartment were now wide awake. There was a
commotion in their store and Mr. de Vera came out with a gun in his
hand.
Shut the gate, they are leaving! he cried out
loud. Ana, the animals took the coats on display!
he said
Their eyes were glued to the lawn where the animals seemingly
displayed their beautiful coats as Mrs. De Vera said, Look at what
theyre doing! They got back their own skins! People were shouting.
My tiger skin!
My wolf
blanket! My
leopard coat!
My mink coat!
My beaver
skin! My seal
jacket!
The animals wore back their skins and slowly walked down the
street.
The coat owners pursued the animals until they reached the
park. They witnessed how animals skins were ripped off their bodies.
It was something they would not want to look at, if they had the
choice.
I cant take this anymore! cried an old woman.
Stop it! Pity the animals! Dont touch them! yelled a young
girl. This is terrible! men and women shouted.

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We want our furs but we cant bear to look at all this bloodshed.
Then the de Vera family saw how the people who bought furs and
coats made out of the skin of animals left these things they bought.
They were embarrassed to see the difficulties and pain the animals
went through.
No more fur coats from tigers, seals, beavers, and other
animals, cried my godmother, Mrs. Nenita de Vera.
She was shouting in her sleep.
Dont touch them! Please leave them alone! she was crying.
Hey wake up, Nene, Nene! her husband shook her to wake her
up.
Mrs. De Vera opened her eyes and cried. What a dream! she
exclaimed.
Source: Soaring to New Height in Reading 6
Publisher: Abiva Publishing @ 2006

* Congratulations!!! Job well done.

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Answer Key

Lets Do This
1. Type of Book
2. Fiction
3. Autobiography
4. Non-Fiction
5. Setting of Story
6. a mountain in the Alps
7. in Antartica in the 15th century
8. Faraway land
9. a beach resort
10.
in recent times
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

a long time
ago
Theme or What the Book is About
Why gorillas are in danger
a biography
a king who leaves his kingdom to do research
tells about experience in
school the boy who lived in a
village sent messages
Plot or The Main Events of the Book
met an old witch
personal narration
the origin of the flowers
battle took many homes
a brave and clever family

Lets Do More
Title
: Someday Soon
Author
: Pal R. Janna and Genevieve Hoyt
Principal Characters : Usual Community Workers
The book offers interesting facts about the
Plot
: 1. community
and its workers.
The others part of the book describes ways of
: 2. sending
messages.

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Why is the book a treasure of the past:

1. To enjoy the beautiful, colored pictures of the community and

workers.

2. To know the kind of work they do.

3. To learn how the peoples taxes help in the maintenance of

quality life in a community.

Lets Test Ourselves

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Title
Author
Introduction
Summary
Comments

Lets Enrich Ourselves

Title : Fur Coat For Sale
Author
: Adopted from Messenger of St. Anthony
Publisher and Copyright date : Soaring to New Height in Reading 6
Abiva Publishing @ 2006
No. of Pages : 2
Brief Summary :
Moral
: Answers may vary
Comments :

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