BOOK REPORT FORMAT
Sociology 1010
I. INTRODUCTION (half to a full page)
Include information about the book such as title, author(s), publisher, and publication date. Do some research and include some professional background information on the author(s) and other books he/she may have written. Indicate the source of your information.
II. SUMMARY (full page)
This is an overview of the book.
A summary is a shortened version of the original. The main purpose of such a simplification is to highlight the major points from the genuine (much longer) subject. A summary contains neither interpretation nor rating. Only the opinion of the original writer is reflected – paraphrased with new words without quotations from the text. Unlike a retelling, a summary has no dramatic structure and is written in present tense or historic present.
Since the instructor has read most of these books, this section is to give him confirmation that you actually read the book. Highlights are adequate and detailswill be in the next sections.
III. MAIN PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS (full page)
This section is to point out the main philosophy of the author regarding the subject matter. What are the author’s major premises? How does the author support or develop his or her point of view and what evidence is used? What sociological ideas, concepts, theories, models or research presented in class can be related (positively or negatively) to the content of the book? What are the major conclusions offered in the book? What are the implications for resolving the problem(s) discussed?
IV. PERSONAL ASSESSMENT AND CONCLUSION (two pages minimum)
What did you find most meaningful in the book? Are you in agreement with the main premise or conclusions of the author? Why or why not? Do you believe the author’s premises and conclusions are supported by processes and trends in society as you see them? What are your own conclusions about the usefulness of the book? What is your own personal evaluation of this book in terms of readability, quality, and impact upon your own views?
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