English Coursework: How to Write a Book Review
Monday, February 1st, 2010If you are wondering what topic to choose for your English coursework, you can consider writing a book review. Writing a book review gives you the flexibility to choose the book of your choice. If you have ample time for writing coursework, you can even pick a book from your reading list.
If you shirk from writing a book review because you are not sure how to go about it, read on find out the essential steps in writing a book review essay assignment.
Pre Reading Exercise:
- Pick Book of your choice: Choosing a book, genre or author of your choice is very important to writing an interesting book review. You will be able to develop fresh perspective based on your past readings.
- Write down your impressions based on the book blurb, title and the cover: We tend to make pre judgments about any product by its appearance. The book blurb, cover and the title makes a reader anticipate the content of the book. Make sure you write your expectations form the book.
- Explore the author’s other works: No book can be read and appreciated in isolation. A reader must be familiar with the author’s writing style and his/her oeuvre to be able to comprehend a book’s complete meaning and relevance.
While Reading Exercise:
Make sure you mark the key points while reading abook. This will help you write a book review with ease without having to refer or read it again.
- Introduction and Development of Characters, themes and arguments: When reading, note how the author introduces his/her arguments and theme in the book. Figure out the key idea and its mode of manifestation in the book.
- Striking Quotations: You will have to make use of quotations to support your argument in the essay. Mark all the quotes that you find important or interesting.
- Reading Experience: Mark your impressions highlighting key scenes or turn of plot, when the book becomes exhilarating or dull.
Post Reading Exercise:
- Your Impressions: You may begin by writing your pre reading and post reading experience. How near or far is the book from what it may seem at first glance.
- Background, plot and main characters of the book: Let not your review be a spoiler. In spite of plainly stating the plot of the book, take a perspective to analyze a book and bring the plot, characters and themes to your aid when highlighting the analysis.
- Comparison: Compare the book with any previous work of the same author that you read. Relate their similarities and differences in terms of the author’s use of themes and message. If a book is a non fiction you may address the issue in the book on a wider scale, writing your impressions on it.
If you are running short of time, you can opt for reviewing a book that you read as a part of your syllabus. Writing an English coursework form a book prescribed in your curriculum can save you time reading the book again for your lessons.
