Writing a Book Report
Parlindungan Pardede
The main objective of writing a book report is to convince your reader (i.e. teacher/lecturer) that you actually read the book. Thus, a book report is simply a summary of the book’s contents, with personal evaluation by the writer kept to a minimum. For example, a book report on a biography of U.S. President Benjamin Franklin would summarize the key events in his life as addressed in the biography. The report presents these facts clearly enough so that someone who has not read the book will have a good idea of what is covered.
What you should do to write a book report? First of all, you should read the book. While reading, take some notes. As a practical guide, here are the things you need to include in your notes:
- What is the book about? What is the main subject or focus of the book?
- Why was the book written? Does it succeed in explaining, proving, or disproving what it set out to explain, prove, or disprove?
- What is the style of the book? Is it easy to read?
- What are the highlights of the book?
Finishing reading and taking notes, write all points in one or more paragraph (depending on the length of the book to report or how long your lecturer asked you to write it). A book of hundreds pages should probably be reported in two to three pages. But for a thin book, some paragraphs report will do.
Whatever the length of your book report, it must contain the introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs. In the introductory (first paragraph), provide information about the author and about two additional things you think necessary (two to three sentences are appropriate). In the body paragraph(s) cover the things you have noted while reading. In the last paragraph, restate your thesis or main idea to serve as your conclusion. Don’t forget to proofread your book report.
To get additional tips, click http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Book-Report
Read & Write BALL at UKI 
Dear Mr. Parlin
I am so sorry cos I am late in reporting my task.
Here it is my report about “The Birth of Rock”
Talk about rock n Roll, it means we talk about the different genre of music. Rock and Roll is very popular at that time. It is a mixing of country music , rhythm and blues( R n B). BMI is the record company that finds the new genre. It has the role of the popularity of Rock and Roll music. Before that, R n B is popular too. It is introduced by the black people singer in the early of 1950. Then, there is a contradiction between the singer and the producers. The producers doesn’t want the audiences become the fans of the R n B music, so they find the Elvis Presley, the new Sinatra of Rock n roll music. He is so popular because of his songs. The songs make him becomes the king of Rock at that time. But actually Cleveland deejay Alan Freed is the father of Rock and Roll. He mix the Rn B and country music. Then he goes to New York to promote it.
Rock and Roll also has role in the movie. The Blackboard Jungle is the film that is used the music becomes one of the soundtrack. Print media and radio also have a role in the popularity of Rock and Roll. in 1956 Elvis won the best seller. When he died in 1977, he leave the impact to the youth. In addition, when the 78-pm disc is gone, it also give the change to the youth.
Dear Mr. Parlin
Sorry sir I late to write report “ The Birth of Rock”
This my report
I think Rock and roll is a popular music until now , if we talking about this music we know Elvis Presley , he is a legendaris artis rock and roll music i think. In some ways, the origin of rock and roll dcan be traced to rivalry beetwen two economis organizations in this music industry : ASCAP and BMI.Rock and roll had come at a time when young people were finding it difficult to relate to likes Doris Day and Pattie Page. Rock was actually a blend of country music and rhythm and blues (R&B) that was popular among black people during the early 1950s. The father of rock and roll and music was cleveland deejay Alan Freed , who had started mixing R&B song with Al Martino and Frank Sinatra. In 1954 Freed moved to WINS in NewYork , where his Moondog’s Rock and Roll Party was an instant success. Radio and print media all contributed to the rise rock and roll as the king of popular music. In 1956 Elvis had five of the years 16 best sellers. Elvis presley is “THE KING” though he died in 1977 , his music and the impact it had on American youth will be felt for decades to come.Another change that happened during the 1950s was the disappearance of the 78-pm discs that had taken over from Edison’s Cylinders.The music to become importan part of the youth culture.
Dear Mr. Parlin
Sorry sir I late to write report “ The Birth of Rock”
This my report
I think Rock and roll is a popular music until now , if we talking about this music we know Elvis Presley , he is a legendaris artis rock and roll music i think. In some ways, the origin of rock and roll dcan be traced to rivalry beetwen two economis organizations in this music industry : ASCAP and BMI.Rock and roll had come at a time when young people were finding it difficult to relate to likes Doris Day and Pattie Page. Rock was actually a blend of country music and rhythm and blues (R&B) that was popular among black people during the early 1950s. The father of rock and roll and music was cleveland deejay Alan Freed , who had started mixing R&B song with Al Martino and Frank Sinatra. In 1954 Freed moved to WINS in NewYork , where his Moondog’s Rock and Roll Party was an instant success. Radio and print media all contributed to the rise rock and roll as the king of popular music. In 1956 Elvis had five of the years 16 best sellers. Elvis presley is “THE KING” though he died in 1977 , his music and the impact it had on American youth will be felt for decades to come.Another change that happened during the 1950s was the disappearance of the 78-pm discs that had taken over from Edison’s Cylinders.The music to become importan part of the youth culture.
Good job, Dyan.
However, this report of yours is a bit too long. Next time, condense your expressions. I’m sure you can make it.
Report The Birth of Rock and Roll
Talking about “The Birth of Rock and Roll” it means we are talking about Elvis Presley (born in 1935 from the couple Vernom Presley and Glady Smith) and Alan Freed , Elvis Presley is a Legendary American singer because he has character, style and distinctive way of dressing. He is white man who voice that is almost similar to the male niggers, who on one of greatest concert ever say that his music is strongly influenced by musical culture of black Africans and he wants to continue to make music like them.
ASCAP is one if the radio station which looking for talent young newcomer in the music would at that time tirelessly looking for to eventually form the sun record in 1950, Until 1952 managed to find Elvis Presley on title song”That’s All right mama” bought the song with a dance beat of the body.
Rhythmic music Rock and Roll there because the creative ideas from deejay Alan Fred named Clevand, From behind his work desk Alan Freed Marry music with the music of the black culture with white culture , The idea of Allan comes as people are music except that there are problems of many solo singers from the black Africa nation do not have a place in white America society, despite the many recordings made and the funny that things is many white people play music and songs of black culture tha is Blues, Jazz, R&B(1922) and of course the audience is limited only the a White Community.
On 1922 was born the song “Rock me My Man Steady Roll of me” from Xrixie Smith album.In 1954 Alan Freed moved to Newyork and then make the concert with mixture of black and white with the title of show named Moondog Cornation Ball with “Rock Around the Clock” and of course the Rock and Roll music reach height of his fame, The concert was attended by young people from black and white multiracial. According ideals Allan hoping that people lover of music and song from various circle to fell satisfied, Fulfilled , and enthusiastic and Rock and roll music more demand.
This became the beginning of growth of new values in them, The youngster began to realize that economic disparaties due to to racism and discrimination cause young American to re-think the role of the worldview of their parents. Skirts and Roll music became the stimullan creation existence if structural change, Even Rock music into the church and form religious group.
Rock music led revolution in value occurred, In American young people originally involved only later spread to the general society.
Good job, Juella. But please be more careful with your sentence next time. For instance, please reconsider this line:
… about history of the founding the rock music.
Can you make it better?
Good luck.
Hello Mr. Lapang,
You should have reported your reading on the passage entitled “The Birth of Rock”. What you wrote here seems to have nothing to do with the passage. Could you please do it once again?
Report of “The Birth of Rock”
Whetmore in “The Birth of Rock” tells us about history of the founding the rock music. It was started when The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) charged for any records under ASCAP played by any radio stations. Due to this policy, all radio stations backed off and searched new fresh music to be played for the audience. That’s how they found rock music which was formed based on mixing county music and rock & roll music. It’s quite dilemmatic since most of R & B singers were black people and definitely white listeners barely idolized black. What happened next was they found Elvis Presley who had Sinatra-voiced Caucasian guy in 1950s. Whetmore also includes Alan Freed, a Cleveland deejay, knowing as the father of rock and roll music, the first movie soundtrack using rock music, and Elvis’ best selling song becoming trend among young people. Through this writing, Whetmore wanted to inform readers how rock music was found and developed. The style of writing is informal because the intention is to give information, so it’s easy and fun to read. Whetmore emphasized at least three highlights in this story: first, finding obstacles is common when people want to reach the top, being different is a way to be known, and innovations are necessary to keep recognized.
Juella
To get the gig working on Seven Ages of Rock was big enough but to get the first episode was something of a weighty responsibility. How could one possibly cover the 1960s without simply re-treading well worn paths?
Salvation lay in the device we’d adopted for much of the series – using a central figure to take us through the story, a figure who could demonstrate the developments and transformations in that period of astonishing artistic creativity and social change.
There was only one candidate really: Jimi Hendrix. He encapsulates the first age of rock more than any single figure; a summation of all that had gone before him and a projection of all that was to come. He was the roots bluesman who used new technology, perfectly bridging the past to the future to create a dazzling psychedelic present.
It’s essential to remember that his career in the spotlight lasted only four years and three studio albums; dead at 27, an artist whose potential was so massive, it’s hard not to reflect on his unrealised projects without a profound sense of loss.
Alongside Hendrix, we decided to also feature artists who influenced Jimi but also stamped their own indelible mark on the era – Bob Dylan, Cream, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Taking a “less is more” philosophy, we set out to allow the music time to breathe; avoiding the tendency to overload films with contributors would let us give the story space to unfold.
We were fortunate to catch time with many artists who rarely give interviews. Ginger Baker, for example, happened to be in the UK for a few days buying polo horses for his polo ranch in Africa. We managed to grab a couple of hours with the legendary Cream drummer.
As well known for his forthright opinions as he is for his drumming, Ginger did not disappoint. Looking rather dapper in black velvet jacket and rock star shades he proceeded to give us the low-down on the highs and lows of Cream as well as life – and death – in the Sixties.
One story he told was of the night Hendrix died. Ginger had come into possession of a bottle of pure cocaine hydrochloride from a friend who worked at Charing Cross hospital. Keen to share his windfall, Ginger called Hendrix but could not get hold of him. Ginger proceeded to get stuck in, OD’d and came round to a doctor telling him that Hendrix was dead. “The extraordinary thing is,’ said Ginger, very matter of factly, ‘if he’d had the coke he wouldn’t have died because he wouldn’t have gone to sleep.”
He finished with a darkly comic round up: “I seem to manage to stay alive by some miracle because I was supposed to have died you see. I was in the Playboy Dead Band in 1972 along with Jimi and Janis Joplin and Greg Allman. I was the drummer in the Dead Band.”
We also caught up with with his old band mate and sparring partner Jack Bruce, who gives us a first hand account of the night Jimi, after only one week in London, dares to sit in with Cream and blow Eric Clapton off stage. Its moments like this that made making the programme so memorable
Good job, Mr. Gea. You reported the passage comprehensively. But next time you need to make sure that every sentence is complete. Please look at the missing element in the last two lines of your report.
It is … to read.
The diction is suitable for … essay about music.
In this passage, Edward Jay Whetmore discusses the birth of rock and roll music. In the beginning of its birth, rock and roll was born from a rivalry between ASCAP and BMI. Then BMI as a powerful force found the new sound. It was rock and roll. Rock and roll was actually a blend of county music and rhythm and blues (R & B) that was popular among black people during the early 1950s. The intention of this book is to tell the readers that the history of how rock music began and several factors contributed to the rise of rock and roll music.
The father of rock and roll was Cleveland Deejay Alan Fred who had started mixing R & B songs with Al Martino and Frank Sinatra records as early as 1951 on WJW. He also coined the term rock and roll to make R & B palatable. His creation “Rock around the clock” was the soundtrack movie of the “Blackboard Jungle” has brought rock and roll music as the king of popular music. Though there were many artists being worshiped by millions of America’s teenagers, Elvis remained “The King”. He died too early but his music is admired by all people for decades.
Besides the birth of rock and roll music, the author also discussed a change that happened during the 1950s. The 78-rpm was not used anymore and replaced by 45-rpm records. It helped the record and music to become important part of the youth culture.
In addition, the passage is written in a popular fashion and informal. It is to read. The diction is suitable for essay about music.
Juella,
Let’s post the report in this blog, so that everyone can comment. The more the comments, the more insights you get, and the better your final report will be.
Another question, Sir. Point 3 of taking notes is “What is the STYLE of the book?” What do you refer STYLE here? Genre or kinds of book (contemporary novel or classic novel)? Thank you …
Sir, should we show the assignment here or directly give to you in the class?
Assignment
Write your report on the passage entitled “The Birth of Rock” (2nd passage in your text book). Since it only a passage, write the report in three short paragraphs (of about 150 words).
Good luck!