How to Write a Book Report in the 6th Grade

Book reports are a common assignment for sixth-graders, and students should expect to complete several during their time in middle school. A book report at a sixth-grade level should successfully summarize the plot of the book, discuss the characters and their development and give the writer's opinion of the overall novel, as well as answer any questions included in the initial book report assignment. Book reports should contain a clear introduction, body and conclusion to fulfill basic report-writing standards. In sixth grade, students begin to more deeply develop their book report skills.

Choose an appropriate book for your book report. Most sixth-grade-level assignments require students to choose a book they haven't read before, so do some research and background reading to find a book that appeals to you and would be interesting to write about. Ask your local librarian for books that are a good for a reader at the sixth-grade level.

Keep a list of the characters and note the major plot points as you read. Re-read the book, if you have time, to make sure you fully understand the arc of the story and the development of the characters. Note any literary themes you learned about in class. Theorize as to the author's intent as you read, and keep notes on your thoughts on the story.

Write your book report introduction by telling your reader the title of the book, the author and the date it was published. Include information like when and where the story occurs and what type of narration the author uses (first-person, second-person, third-person omniscient, etc.). You can stick to fairly basic information for a book report at a sixth-grade level.

Summarize the book and characters in the body of the paper. Write a detailed description of the plot and talk about the changes the characters go through during the story. Stick to the main plot points you recorded when you were taking notes on the book as you read. Identify the set up, climax and conclusion of the story, and any of literary themes you specifically learned about in class.

Conclude your paper by talking about your reactions to the story and your thoughts about the book. Include what you think the author's theme was and what point she was trying to make in writing the book. Sum up your conclusions with a single statement to end your paper. You may want to include more information about your thoughts on the book, but a huge amount of depth is not necessary for a book report at the sixth-grade level.