A book report is always a requirement in any writing class both in high school and in college. Just like with other types of formal writing, such as such as writing an argumentative paper, article critique or an article review, writing a book report will greatly enhance the writing skills of the students.

Writing a book report can be quite daunting, too because of the length of the literature that is often considered for such a review. This is especially true if it’s a novel the size of War and Peace. But whatever the book that the student is tasked to write a book report for, there are certain important points that he should consider.

First, know the author. By knowing about the author, the book reviewer can have a deeper insight as to why the book is written about such a topic or why it was given that type of setting. More often than not, the personal life of the author has an impact on the creation of the book. By knowing what triggered the topics discussed the book as based on the author’s actual experiences, the book reviewer can make better analyses and more informed opinions.

You must also write down notes as you read the book. While you are expected to remember the more glaring errors in the book or the most positive points about it, you will not be able to remember every detail that is worth mentioning in your book report. By taking down notes, you are ensuring yourself that you will have instant access to the insights you have made while you were reading the book.