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27/12/2011

How to Write a Book Review

Book reports and book reviews are similar. Book reports tend to be a little more descriptive (What is this book about?) and book reviews are usually more persuasive (Why a reader should or shouldn't read this book). Both offer a combination of summary and commentary.
They are a way to think more deeply about a book you've read and to demonstrate your understanding.

General elements of a book review:
      
      Introduction
Here you want to provide basic information about the book, and a sense of what your review will be about. You should include:

  • Title (underlined)/Author
  • Publication Information: Publisher, year, number of pages
  • Genre
  • A brief (1-2 sentences) introduction to the book and the review.

        Body
There are two main sections for this part. The first is an explanation of what the book is about. The second is your opinions about the book and how successful it is.
Explain the author's purpose and/or the main themes of the book. Then you can summarize.
Provide brief descriptions of the setting, the point of view (who tells the story), the protagonist , and other major characters. If there is a distinct mood or tone, discuss that as well.
Give a concise plot summary. Along with the sequence of major events, you may want to discuss the book's climax and resolution, and/or literary devices such as foreshadowing. But be careful not to give away important plot details or the ending.
Analysis and Evaluation
In this section you analyze or critique the book. You can write about your own opinions; just be sure that you explain and support them with examples. Some questions you might want to consider:
  • Did the author achieve his or her purpose?
  • Is the writing effective, powerful, difficult, beautiful?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesss of the book?
  • What is your overall response to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving, dull?
  • Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?

    Conclusion
Briefly conclude by pulling your thoughts together. You may want to say what impression the book left you with, or emphasize what you want your reader to know about it.

(adapted from http://www.infoplease.com/homework/wsbookreporths.html)

Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol (2011) Official Trailer

"The mission, should you choose to accept it, ..."
An excellent example of 1st conditional inversion:

24/12/2011

20/12/2011

Fining parents

A discussion on Five News about fining parents over their children's absence from school.

16/12/2011

Truancy

Here's the video we watched in class. Below you can find some vocab to help you understand it.



supply teacher: a teacher employed to replace other teachers when they are absent
kit: clothes and equipment needed for a sport
uncommunicative: not willing to talk or to give information
boundaries: the limits of an activity or experience
standards: principles of propriety, honesty, and integrity
let someone have their way: allow them to have or do what they want