Introduction: You and your partner are going to write a book review or one of the books you've read together. When you're finished, your book review will be added to the Ultimate Book Reviews web page.The following webquest will help you become familiar with the elements and guidelines for writing a book review. Work your way through the webquest with your partner. Read and follow the directions carefully.

Step 1: Read some well-written book reviews.

• Click on each of the links below and read two or three book reviews. Do Notebook Entry #28 as you read.
• Notebook Entry #28 - Divide your paper in half. On one side, make a list of interesting descriptive words that the writers use in their book reviews.

Booklist: Books for Youth
http://www.ala.org/booklist/v94/youth/61.html
Like all the web sites you'll visit, Booklist contains reviews of children's books. The single paragraph reviews are written by adults for parents, teachers and librarians. Click on a book review you want to read.

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: 7th Grade
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/7th.html
Scroll down and find a three-starred book review to read.

Step 2: Read some information on how to write a good book review.

• Visit the three web sites listed below.
• Notebook Entry #28, continued - Copy down ideas you want to remember when you write your own book review.Write two notes from each site you visit.

How to Write a Book Review
http://www.pwcs.edu/pattie/admin/howtodoabookreview.htm

Keys to a Successful Book Review
http://www.heavener.k12.ok.us/high_school/language_arts/Book_Review/page2.htm#Keys

Book Review - My Writing Tips
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/bookrev/tips.htm

Step 3: Compose an opening sentence for your review.

• Click on the link below. Follow the directions given on the page to write a topic sentence for your own book review.
• Save your work in the Documents folder on the computer's hard drive.

Writing a Topic Sentence for a Book Review
URL - http://home.earthlink.net/~khatzi/firstsentence.htm

Step 4: Write the body of your review.

• Open your word processing document, if it's not already open.
• Write the rest of your book review in your document.
• Give your opinion of the book and make a recommendation (or not) about whether it would be a good book to read.
• Below are some ideas for you to use. Don't use all of them. Select one topic and write about it using specific details from the book.
• Use adjectives from your list in NB #28 to help you.
• Remember to save your writing in the Documents folder.
  
  • Discuss why you enjoyed (or did not enjoy) reading this book.
  • Discuss what was interesting (or boring) about this book.
  • Discuss why you think someone else should read (or not read) this book.
  • Discuss the part of the book that you liked the most (or liked the least.)
  • Discuss what you think others will like (or not like) about this book.

You can find other topic ideas at the following web site:

Help Has Arrived!
URL - http://cgi-server.shadow.net/~richmond/pc/reviews/library/ideas.htm

 

Step 5: Proofread, revise and make your review perfect.

• Use the website below to check your book review.
• Only book reviews with minimal errors will be published on the web.

SWAPS - Proofreading Checklist
http://home.earthlink.net/~khatzi/swaps.htm

Step 6: Submit your book review.

• Open your word processing document.
• Click on this link http://school.discovery.com/quizzes/mrshatzi/BookReview.html
• Where it asks you to write your review, copy and paste what you've written from your document.
• Press the SUBMIT button. Your review will be automatically sent to Mrs. Hatzigeorgiou.
• If you include your e-mail address, you will get confirmation that your review has been received. If you don't have an e-mail address, just write "none" in the e-mail space.