Please teach me how to write a book report that can win a prize in a competition (by a high school student)

High school student: "Can I win a prize too?"
Me: "You can. But there are conditions."
High school student: "I'll do it!"
Me: "Okay. Can you commit the time and effort?"

Hello (*^-^*) This is Machika-sensei from the writing classroom.

During summer vacation, in addition to one-day book report workshops at public facilities and culture schools, there are also cases where students work on book reports through private lessons. For the past few years, I've been too busy to accept many students, but this year I am writing book reports with a few middle and high school students.

"I want to win a prize in a book report competition!"

For cases with such specific goals, one-on-one lessons are recommended♡ That's because it's simply not something that can be achieved in the two hours of a one-day workshop.

I support your experience of giving it your all!

1. Understand the purpose of the competition

Don't think this is obvious.

Let's confirm what is being asked for and what is considered worthy of evaluation. Search by the competition name and check the official website. The purpose of the competition is always written there, so please read it carefully.

Also, while I have past winning entries in my head as a teacher (I have looked through them), I don't think the children themselves need to read them at this point. It is important to know what kind of book reports are evaluated, but I personally do not recommend it. There is a risk of them trying to "play to the crowd."

2. First, try writing it as usual

Try writing it through once in your usual way. You don't have to finish it all at once. In fact, this is meant to be used as a "draft."

The "easy way to write a book report" that I recommend is introduced in the article below↓. Please refer to it when you are having trouble with how to write.

The key point of the writing method I recommend is to use separate sheets of paper (A4 size with plenty of space) for each "topic to write about."

I called it a "draft" earlier, but with this method↑, you don't have to fill up the manuscript paper; just writing down the "topics to write about" on paper is enough to serve as a "draft."

If you are wondering what it means to separate paper for each topic... I think it will be easier to visualize if you use this teaching print↓♡

3. Identify the weak points

Now, let's check what you've written. The level of perfection is still low for something written out casually. That's why it was a draft, after all.

If it's a book report to be submitted to school as homework, it's fine to write it "just as you thought." Machika-sensei's book report workshops are based on the concept of "writing without pressure and having it properly take shape" (^^) Words that are "just as you thought" = true-to-life words are something only you at that moment can write, and Machika-sensei really loves that sparkle.

But if you want to "win a prize in a book report competition," you have to make adjustments to what you "thought." To put it another way, maybe it's "polishing." You decided to do this, so you'll work hard. I think that's cool. Let's do our best together!

Even if a book report seems wonderful enough, if you want to win a prize, you have to remove the 'this is good enough' line for yourself. Please throw away all feelings like 'I'll fix it because Machika-sensei says it's no good' or 'this kind of composition is popular'.

Use the book you read to write a story about your own growth.

That is the kind of book report that can win a prize in a competition.

4. Refine your motivation

People exert great power when they seek something for themselves, rather than feeling forced to do it.

In Machika-sensei's regular book report workshops, I instruct students to write about 'what triggered you to read the book' at the beginning of the report. Whether it was a required book, you were just curious, or it's your favorite book... any trigger is fine.

However, if you want to win a prize, you need a different kind of motivation. The 'motivation' I'm talking about here is 'the reason why I decided to write a report on this book'.It's a subtle nuance, but do you understand?

Even if you happened to read this book by chance, or because it was a field you were already interested in, that's just the story up until you read it.Why did I seriously want to engage with this book (theme)?That is the reason for writing the report.

Do you have one?
Let's think about it!

5. Touch upon the background of the work along with the summary of the book

Whether or not to write a plot summary in a book report. The plot summary problem. That's what I call it. Many people advise against writing one, but I am in the camp that thinks it's easier to write your thoughts afterward if you condense the plot summary tightly.

As for how prize-winning book reports handle the plot summary, I tell students, 'Don't write a plot summary of the book, but write an overview of the book'.the plot summary of the bookrather thanan overview of the book

↑ This article, while calling it a trick, contains some very important points, so please take a look if you'd like!

Books lined up in bookstores are often produced with an intention, such as 'for what purpose and to whom is it being delivered,' which is called a 'publishing project.' Regarding this book you read, why did it become a book? What do they want to convey? How is it evaluated? It is important to think from that perspective.

What is needed for a highly-rated book report is a summary of the book rather than a plot synopsis. I think it is better to touch upon this at the beginning of your essay (the 'beginning' in the beginning-middle-end structure) instead of a plot summary.

6. Pick out 2-3 parts to mention

In my usual book report workshops, I teach students to focus on their 'favorite scene,' 'favorite line,' or 'personal experience,' telling them, 'If you can write about even one of these, it's already a proper book report!'

Yes, that is true. Writing about what you thought after reading a book, or in other words, recording your own reactions to reading the book—that is a book report in the broad sense.

But you know, even though I might sound like a broken record repeating this over and over, what is required for a book report that wins a prize is not a 'reaction,' but 'growth.'

(Actually, I've always wondered about this: most of the tips for writing good book reports that are floating around the world are just talented people talking about themselves... they aren't advice that helps people who can't write to be able to write... they have zero reproducibility... I think that unless we improve that, book report allergies won't decrease. That is the reason why I started my note. So, I'm going to reveal all my secrets!)

Back to the topic.

I got sidetracked. We were talking about what to focus on in a book report. I think it's fine to use your 'favorite scene,' 'favorite line,' or 'personal experience' as clues. However, when you are aiming for a prize-winning book report, these should be treated as parts to mention.

Pick out 2-3 places where you feel you can 'write in detail about this part.' Since you probably use sticky notes or some kind of marker when reading, I think it's good to narrow it down from there.

Were you able to pick them out? If so, the next thing to do is this. ↓

7. Clarify your own stance

It's starting to sound more like a critical essay, isn't it?

Well, if you read book reports that have won prizes (past winning entries), you'll think, 'Oh, this is a critical essay.' That's exactly what it is. To put it another way, it's about whether you can grasp things from a bird's-eye view—not being bound by what you think, but considering what other ways of thinking exist, or what counterarguments there might be to your own opinion.

https://jp.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-write-a-critical-analysis

Oh dear. It's a good article and I want to introduce it, but it's not showing up as a thumbnail. I wonder if that's Indeed's policy. I don't know.

I have no choice but to ask you to use my article as a reference (and I don't mean that in a bad way). I explain by separating opinions into your own, others', and opposing ones. A book report doesn't mean you just have to praise the book. As I touched upon slightly in '5. Touch upon the background of the work along with a summary of the book,' it is very important to know the evaluation of that book.

You are the one who has chosen this book to write a report on. You might not be able to fully agree with the author, but it really makes you think, and that's why you wanted to deepen your thoughts by writing a book report. I think that's what it's all about.

That is precisely why you should clearly write down your stance—what kind of person you are in your thinking, and from what angle you are viewing things.

8. Read at least X related books and look for materials

I can almost hear you saying, 'I have to read more?!'

Now, now, don't complain. If you want to win a prize in a competition, are you prepared to pour in the time and effort? That's what I, Machika-sensei, asked at the beginning. Oh, did I not mention that?

There are no easy shortcuts.
Methods that grasp the essence will naturally lead to results if you do them.
It looks easy because the results are part of the package.
That's all there is to it.

The assigned book you read is likely one that is 'recommended for teenagers.' If you've read this far into this article, I think you already understand, but don't you wonder, 'What can I really understand from just one book?'

This also connects to the 'Book Overview' and 'Your Stance' sections, but it is very important to be aware of how the book you read is positioned within 'that field.' This is also an important process when solidifying your own opinions. What other perspectives are there? It feels a bit elusive. Where will this theme go in the future? Lots of questions come up, don't they? Didn't you feel like you needed a few more clues to put it into writing?

That is a very important realization!

To grasp 'that field' in three dimensions, let's read related books.

In the case of a storybook, try picking up other works by the author, works by other authors of the same era, or works with similar themes. Let's also read books that might be useful for understanding the theme.

I'll give you an example using this book that happened to be near me, Machika-sensei. If you want to dig into what money is and what the value of money is, try researching money. If you are curious about female friendships and relationships, you should take a look at the psychology section regarding interpersonal relationships. If you are thinking about how to live or work, there might be hints in business books.

When looking for related books like that, what I, Machika-sensei, recommend is the 'library.' Bookstores that focus on new releases are fine, of course, but the library is a place where you can access what you want to know.

Books categorized by subject have cleared the value as a collection. They are lined up from general overviews to individual themes. If you are ever lost as to which shelf to go to, you can also search by keyword, which is very convenient. If you take the book you read and consult with a librarian, saying, 'I want to know more about such-and-such written in this book,' they will give you careful advice.

By the way, when I, Machika-sensei, was in elementary school, I read Anne of Green Gables in a 'World Children's Literature Collection' that was at home and thought, 'This is nice,' so I went to the prefectural library. Even with such a vague feeling, the librarian understood and I remember them picking out books from various genres together, such as sequels to Anne, other similar children's books, commentary books on Anne, books about the author, cookbooks, gardening and home building books, books about children's illnesses and care, books about orphans, and Canadian guidebooks. I gave up on cooking because it was a series of failures, but my interest in interior design and living continues to this day, and I even work in that field. I think it's one of my roots.

Sorry for the digression.

Because they will support your desire to 'find materials,' I, Machika-sensei, strongly recommend consulting with a librarian. You can not only borrow books and take them home, but you can also copy materials and take them home, so please make good use of them.

A little more on materials.

Regarding things related to what you are planning to write in your book report, try researching problems that are actually happening. I think it's also good to ask people around you. Adults who have lived longer than you might give you some hints. Since everyone's interests are different, I think it's very interesting that you get different answers even if you ask the same question. Sometimes you might be brushed off with 'Think for yourself,' but don't get discouraged, don't get down, and don't give up. (Sudden Ganko-chan reference)

Especially for those who are trying to write a book report on natural sciences, I recommend using the latest data and new initiatives as materials!

9. Developing your own theory

We've reached 9 out of 10. The process of writing your own opinion finally appears here. I can hear the retort, 'Isn't that too late?' or 'Are you not really going to teach me how to write?'

Yeah. This article won't teach you writing techniques. I, Machika-sensei, understand well that there is a need for things like "I want to write in a more mature way" or "I want to know tips for writing coolly." But listen, I'll say it again and again: if you want to win a prize in a competition, such superficial tricks are meaningless. Judges can see right through them. You won't fool them! (I'm being blunt because I also work on the judging side.) (Oh, maybe you could fool them with copy-pasting. After all, it's impossible to read every single winning essay from all times and places.)

You don't need to sound mature; just give it your all as you are right now.
The trajectory of working on it with all your heart is what's cool.

That's what I, Machika-sensei, think. And it's not just me; this is actually quite important, so don't forget it.

Regarding "how to write," please refer to this thematic essay style. Even though it's a book report, it's close to this. It's a process of solidifying your own thoughts, after all.

I read this book, thought about these things, researched various aspects, and learned that it connects to events close to me,there are several issues that can be considered regarding this problem, I gained a new perspective and came to think this way, ......

Roughly speaking, this is the flow.

Developing your own theory corresponds to the bolded part above. I think it's good to approach it with the feeling of clarifying your position and throwing a stone into the pond regarding this issue. There's no need to be reserved, thinking "Who am I to..." or "I'm still just a student..." I think a fresh perspective is wonderful. Besides, don't you think it's amazing to leave behind writing that only you, as you are now, can write?

⑩ Spend time on paragraph structure

This is the last piece of advice.

Finally, what you want to work on thoroughly is paragraph structure. What you want to grasp is the basic way of writing. As I labeled it a permanent preservation version, it's a universal method, so let's start here first.

On top of that, it's about how you break it down.

Arrange the basic form so that what you want to say is conveyed. That is "breaking it down." I think it's characterized by being conscious of the form, more so than the "ingenuity" often talked about.

1. The motivation for choosing to write a book report on this book

2. Overview of the book and the background of the work

3. Pick out parts you want to mention (referring to how to write a thematic essay, think about the significance of each item and write your own interpretation)

4. Incorporate your own experiences (digest events that have already occurred. Depict a BEFORE→AFTER where you became able to do something because you read this book and deepened your thoughts on the theme)

5. What you gained by working on a book report for this book, and thoughts on the future

If you bring what the author most wanted to say in the book, or your impression when you first read it, dramatically into the first part, i.e., the beginning, it will create an impact. Surely, the "strong motivation for choosing to write a book report on this book" will be involved there.

For section 3, the number of paragraphs will increase based on the number of points you want to mention. Instead of writing a summary in section 2, you condense the flow of the story by quoting it when you mention the topic you want to address, like 'In the xxx part of the △△△ in ○○...'. You can pick up points from various places in the book for a single topic. If you write your impressions in the order they appeared in the book, you won't be able to bundle them like this. Writing with a specific perspective for extraction will improve the quality of your composition, so please give it a try! In this way, you repeat the flow of 'quote -> develop your own theory' multiple times.

Section 4 is the step where you treat the theme as something personal. Depending on the person, it might be easier to put '4' before '3'. That depends on the book you chose and the content you want to handle, so you can decide for yourself. There is also a pattern of repeating '3', '4', '3', '4'.

The reason I advised you to write out each topic on separate sheets of paper (A4 size) in '② First, try writing as usual' is because it makes it easier to assemble when you are structuring your paragraphs. Since they are much larger than sticky notes, you can keep adding things in the margins. I highly recommend it!

The reflection in 5 is an important point for a book report. The summary of 'Writing a growth story about yourself using the book you read,' which I wrote about in '③ Identify the weak parts,' corresponds to '5'. Look at yourself and expand your world through the book. Tell me about the new scenery you saw and the drama within it. That is the kind of book report that can win a prize in a competition.Writing a growth story about yourself using the book you read. That summary corresponds to '5'. Look at yourself and expand your world through the book. Tell me about the new scenery you saw and the drama within it. That is the kind of book report that can win a prize in a competition.

Afterword

Machika-sensei's articles are always ridiculously long, and she's done it again this time. It's 8,800 characters. Thank you all for reading this far! Great job!

I understand. I'm really sorry! I wish I could have uploaded this article in July at the latest. Machika-sensei just started on note on 6/29. I've been in such a rush to write articles about various ways to write compositions, but... I really wanted to convey it in the flow of basic writing method -> its Q&A -> advanced writing method, so it ended up being last.

But this writing method is a universal method that can be used not only this summer but forever. I would be happy if you could keep it in a corner of your heart.

And so, I will end this article by writing down what I wanted to record as a summary (^^)

When I teach composition, I am often asked about my students' history of passing exams or winning awards. I get asked a lot. Well, I understand the curiosity. However, Machika-sensei does not disclose any of them. The reason is,

Machika-sensei might be a bit eccentric. I value the feeling of not arbitrarily turning each person's hard work into my own achievements so much that it has become my policy. I've written about it in detail in the two articles below, so if you're interested, please take a look.

Everyone, let's do our best with our compositions!
I'm rooting for you!