What's the best way to start a summary on a book report?

Question

No I'm not asking anyone to WRITE the report, I always just have trouble starting summaries.

Answer 1

I'm glad you asked. 1) While you read - you should be maintaining an outline of the facts on each chapter. 2) Make note of characters, characterization (little tidbits the author reveals, and the ones you find as you read) 3) Construct a story map and note how the story moves from the exposition-to the rising action-climax-falling action and then resolution. 4) Note what your thoughts are about each character, and how they relate. After your review your outline, go back and read it. Now you should be able to draw an intro statement based on a number of things you have discovered about the storyline, characters, plot, theme, etc. One or two items should stick out. For example- if the protagonist (main character) is driving the story, then trace how he/she does that and how they effect the outcome. A good summary to me is the student who evaluates many sides of the story from different perspectives. Make it brief, you don't want to reveal "all of the good stuff", but as the reader and writer - your outline should have more information so that if you need to return and do more essay writing, you have the facts with you. Good luck to you. I love questions like these. It challenges me as an English teacher. You are welcome to email me directly if you have any further questions.

Answer 2

well, I'm always really big on quotes/ referencing text to emphasize my point so I'd probably start by pulling a sentence or two directly from the text that somehow depicts the theme/synopsis angle that you plan on taking....the quote doesn't even have to agree with your opinion because you could say something like "Unlike Character A has expressed in this quote, I feel the core of this book is...." (or soemthing more eloquent but you get what I'm saying...). Naturally you have to include the dry facts like setting, names, etc but always let the intro and conclusion draw from the themes or lessons of the story.

Answer 3

The best way to start a summary on a book report. Is to talk about the frist thing you are going to do.That's how I would start my book report off.

Answer 4

Pick the main idea that you want to stress in your report and state it, then back it up with details that provide a summary of the book.

Answer 5

talk about where stories set, and the characters, if you were writing about Lemony Snicket's The Bad Beginning, youwould probably start: The Baudelaire children were sitting on the beach until they saw a figure approaching. The figure was a man who worked with Violet Baudelaire, the oldest one, Klaus Baudelaire, the second oldest, and Sunny Baudelaire, the youngest one. Violet was an inventor, Klaus loved to read books, and Sunny liked to bite things. But, on this day, bad news was delivered; their parents had died!

Answer 6

you should put your opinion of the book first. then start the summary

Answer 7

start off by saying something like...while the book had this and that...it was ___ that really grabbed your attention. Then go off on what you liked and didnt like and how it made reading the book better or worse for you

Answer 8

I started once by saying "This book really sucked,but,it had it's good points."

Answer 9

read the book and ask who what were why n stuff like that answer questions