Book Chapter Review: Ultimate Guide for Needy Students
Posted on November 20, 2019
Table of contents
What is writing a book chapter review all about? The goal of this project is to share your viewpoint of the literature work or some part of it (chapter) while supporting your opinion with strong evidence taken from the text directly.
Questions to Answer Before You Start Writing a Book Chapter Review
According to online dictionaries, a review is a report that includes an evaluation of something. The most convenient way to write a review is to make a list of questions and answer them. Below, one can see an approximate list:
- What message does the book convey?
- What is the theme of the book and the chapter you have chosen for the review? Does the chosen chapter echo the topic of the book?
- What methods does the author use in the chosen chapter to support the main idea of the book? Are there any facts or shreds of evidence? Does the author sound convincing? What language does he or she use to express the ideas? Are they suitable for that purpose?
- What is the value of the selected chapter? Is it central or supporting? Why do you think so? What will happen if you delete this chapter from the book? Will the message change?
For those aiming to expand their expertise, exploring the intricacies of writing a book report offers valuable insights into comprehensive literary evaluations.
Pro tip
Answers depend on the college requirements. They can be detailed or not. One should read them carefully to create a top-level literature review.
Four Steps from Experts to Consider
Let’s check four steps that you have to take one at a time to write a reliable book chapter review.
Step 1. In a perfect world, you have enough time to read the whole book. Having a complete picture in your head will help you immerse yourself in the story and get to the core of what the author is trying to say in the written piece.
Step 2. Read the chapter once again. This time, do it with a critical eye. Consider and highlight the things you believe are important. Be attentive during your reading sessions, and make sure to take notes of what matters to you (and will later to your readers). This is what they call “annotation.”
Step 3. Write a thesis statement. It must include a subject of your review and opinion. While the subject here is the book chapter under review, your opinion is an explanation of how this very chapter contributes to the general picture or for what purpose the author used some literary devices.
If literary devices aren’t your strong suit, we have some examples to ease the process:
- The last chapter of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” written by J.K. Rowling shows Harry as the symbol of light and hope in a world full of evil powers.
- The author uses allusions in the book. Even the title of it “Gone with the Wind” is an allusion itself to the poem written by Ernest Dowson. His work is like crying for lost love, that definitely has something to do with the story by Margaret Mitchell.
- In “Frankenstein,” the author Mary Shelley employs many devices, especially the one called ethos. In a famous story, ethos is used at the very beginning of the novel, where the letters written by Walton to his sister show affection and deep love. This adds certain credibility to the story of Victor and then to his monster. By using ethos, Shelley provides her readers with an opportunity to be outside the plot and, at the same time, to remain as close to the characters as possible.
- In Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind,” the author uses imagery throughout her work. In the novel, Mitchell uses descriptions and visceral sounds generously to capture the spirit of the time together with the horrors of war.
Don’t underestimate the power of a sound thesis statement. The point is that the success of every word you’re going to produce from this part will result from the success of your thesis statement. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of your thesis statement when it comes to the book review.
Pro tip
If you’re not sure whether your writing skills are sufficient enough to build a solid thesis statement, the reps of a trusted book review writing service will do the job for you.
Step 4. Learning how to write a good book chapter review is impossible without a solid outline. What makes a sound outline? Let’s find it out below.
A. Provide a topic sentence for the 1st body paragraph. Use it to support your thesis statement. For instance: Telling the story of her life in the first person, Jane Eyre recalls how as an orphan since infancy, she has been raised by Mrs. Reed, who was her maternal uncle’s wife.
At this point, you have to provide your first portion of the evidence. The latter, by the way, should be taken from the chapter under review. Use a specific fact, a direct quotation, or a short summary. Ensure you don’t confuse your target readers with unnecessary facts or an unlimited flow of information.
B. Main points. Choose four or five major points and let your readers know how the author of the book supports each. Provide a separate paragraph for every main point. You’re basically writing the other type of college essay.
C. Author. At this point, you talk about the professional experience, background, and qualifications of the author that together helped to create this work of literary art. Check online sources or library materials for more information. Mind that each source that you use should be provided with appropriate credit.
D. Your evaluation. What did you manage to learn from this chapter? If it’s the first chapter from “Romeo and Juliet” that you’re reviewing, you may let your readers know that you’ve got to know that the ending of the love story is actually revealed at the beginning of it – right in the prologue. Tell your readers that when the Chorus sings, “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes/A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life,” it clearly tells us what kind of tragedy to expect at the end of the story.
Was the chapter clearly written? Did the author open up the issue the way you expected? Is this chapter relevant to modern life?
E. Conclude your book chapter review. Did the author succeed in accomplishing the key purpose of the chapter? Would you recommend this book to the other students? If yes/no, why?
What Else to Consider?
If you’re a hard-working student, you know how important it is to review the books you read. So you’ve read this book, and now you’re eager to share your thoughts and insights in the class. Writing a book review can be a challenging experience. But with practice, it can become an enjoyable and rewarding task. So, here’re some more tips on how to write a book review properly:
Pro tip
When writing a book review, it’s important to start a thesis with a summary of the book. The book chapter summaries should provide an overview of the book’s main themes as well. After the summary of the main points of the book and author, you can begin your analysis of the chapter. Here are a few questions to consider when analyzing a book:
– Did the author convey their idea?
– What did the author do to write a book?
– Was the chapter interesting?
– Did the chapter provide valuable insights?
– Who is the book intended for?
– Does the chapter in book have any flaws?
When writing your analysis, be sure to provide specific examples from the book to support your claims. You also may examine here how the book relates to other works in its genre or subject area. Consider the book’s historical, cultural, or social context. Assess the book’s originality and impact within its field. For example, the political climate of the time could influence a book on US history.
A good summary does not discuss particular details from the book. To avoid retelling the obvious things about the text, divide your work into two steps. First, write down at least 100 obvious ideas about the chapter. Second, revise your list and try to change each line in a new creative way.
Pro tip
Book Review Template for College-Level Writing
Ability to write book reviews is an essential skill for any student. Whether you love reading a book or not, it’s important to review the book following the college standards. Writing a book review for college requires following a specific format. Here’s a universal template you can apply to any type of the book review:
Introduction
In the introduction of your review of book, provide a brief summary of the book and its author. You can also include any relevant background information about the book. This is also a good place to provide some context for the book, such as its place in a larger body of work.
Summary
In the summary, provide an overview of the book’s main points and themes. Be sure to include any significant details or events. You should also consider the structure of the book, as this can help readers understand the author’s perspective.
Analysis
In the analysis, provide your evaluation of the book. Consider the questions we mentioned earlier and provide specific examples from the book to support your claims. You should also consider the strengths and weaknesses of the book, as well as its place in a larger body of work.
Conclusion
In the conclusion, summarize your analysis and provide your overall opinion of the book. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? You should also consider the implications of the book, such as its impact on the field the author wrote it in.
To make all the parts coherent, think about them as a movie plot. Present your “character” to the readers, set backup settings, tell the story, and let the “character” go into the sunset.
Pro tip
Examples of the Writing Book Reviews
Book review examples often help students to understand how review look like in general. So, here are some short review book written examples for your inspiration:
Example 1: If you’re interested in the life of a trailblazing woman, read “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. This book details Obama’s life, from her childhood in Chicago to her time as First Lady of the United States. Obama’s writing is honest and inspiring, and the book provides valuable insights into her life and career. The book also deals with important issues such as race and politics in a thoughtful and thought-provoking way.
Example 2: For a comprehensive overview of the history of psychology, read “A History of Psychology” by Thomas Leahey. This book provides a detailed account of the major developments in psychology, from ancient times to the present day. Leahey’s writing is engaging and informative, and the book is well-researched. The book’s target audience are undergraduate psychology students, but it is also accessible to a more general public.
Example 3: If you’re looking for a heartwarming and relatable novel, read “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman. This book follows the story of Eleanor, a socially awkward woman who learns to navigate the world of friendship and love. Honeyman’s writing is witty and charming, and the characters are well-developed. The book deals with themes of loneliness and mental health in a sensitive and nuanced way.
You may use any of the book review example of your choice for inspiration!
Choose the Topic
Although the book chapter review differs from a standard college essay, the process of preparation, writing, and editing is pretty much the same. Just like in the case of the essay, you have to choose a sound topic that will interest your reader. In the process, be careful to avoid spoilers. Readers hate spoilers, and if you fail to provide one, they are not going to forgive you! Choose the topic for your review so that you don’t rob your reader of that unique surprise reaction. If there’s sudden death, a shocking twist, or a surprise come back in the chapter under review, don’t let your readers guess that right from your title.
At the same time, it is important to make your topic hooking and inspiring to make your readers want to know more.
How to Write a Book Review for Different Types of Books?
When it comes to writing a book review, there are different types of books to choose from. You can choose any book for review but has to remember something. The process of reviewing book chapters can vary depending on the type of book you’re reading. Let’s explore the differences between writing book chapter reviews for fictional and academic/scientific, and biographical books:
Fictional Book Reviews
Fictional books are the most common type of book. In a book of such type, the text is often written for entertainment purposes and follows a narrative structure. When reviewing a fictional book, consider the plot, characters, and writing style. You should also consider the genre of a book, as different genres have different expectations. For example, one might judge a romance novel might more by its emotional impact than its plot twists, while another person might judge a mystery novel more by its plot twists than its emotional impact.
Academic/Scientific Book Reviews
Academic and scientific books are often written to convey information. When you read the book of this type, it can be challenging. But they often provide valuable insights into a particular subject. When reviewing an academic or scientific book, consider the author’s credentials, the research conducted, and the book’s overall contribution to the field. You should also consider the intended audience of the book, as authors of different books might write them for different levels of expertise. For example, the author of a book on quantum mechanics might write it for advanced physics students, while a book on science communication might aim for a more general audience.
Biographical Book Reviews
Biographical books are books about a person’s life. They often detail the person’s accomplishments, struggles, and personal life. When reviewing a biographical book, consider the author’s research, the person’s significance, and the book’s overall readability. You should also consider the style of the book, as the authors of different biographies might write their books in different styles. For example, a biography of a famous musician might be more focused on their artistic process, while a politician’s biography might be more focused on their political career.
Jacob Lee
Top-10 Writer at CustomWritings.com
Find Your Genuine Voice
Many readers decide to read more than just the title of your book chapter review because they enjoy unique reviewing styles. Celebrate your unique review style and give the vision that no one else can offer. This is especially crucial if you want to be honest in your writing, so ensure to make it personal. Don’t get frustrated if it doesn’t happen at once. There’s always time to rewrite, fix, hone your unique voice, and keep on working on it.
Know Your Audience
It is important to know the kind of audience, even if you are reviewing only a part of the book, since it will give you an idea of what kind of language to use. You should then read the chapter of the book once again and, afterward, reevaluate its content. When you are reading the chapter and taking notes, always leave some space between the lines, so you can later add ideas or correct any misunderstandings that your readers might experience. It is also important to mention that you should remember that it is the book chapter review that you are writing – not a critique or summary. Keep in mind your target audience, and be careful of what information you include. Make sure you don’t overload the paper with your personal opinions. Be as neutral as possible.
Read the Other Reviews
Do some online search to find internet resources with book reviews. Choose the examples that you think are relevant to your topic and effective in your writing. Save several reviews that deserve more attention than the rest. Ask yourself what it is that you like about this or that work, as well as come up with a way to discuss the same issues uniquely in your own review. Maybe you’re impressed with all those accurate characters’ descriptions, virtuous plot summaries, or writing styles that all seem to have a confident voice. Or, perhaps, you are swayed by controversial or humor-based reviews. Finally, maybe only book chapter reviews with a serious tone are the ones to keep your attention. Whatever it is that you choose to use as your inspiration, feel free to apply all these techniques to make your own writing stronger and more successful.
Edit and Proofread Before Submitting
Most students pay attention only to the content of a book chapter review. They forget that it is also essential to check the grammar and punctuation of the written text. Those who are not good at English need help with the correct paper editing and proofreading. These are the best tools that students can use to cope with these tasks.
Grammarly
This online tool is unique because it identifies mistakes and suggests ideas for their correction. A person should insert the text and set goals. Unfortunately, a computer can make mistakes. For example, the program does not take into consideration jokes, mistakes made on purpose, and other language tricks that contradict the rules of the language. A free version helps users to identify basic errors. If one wants to improve the overall quality, it will be better to upgrade and pay for extra options such as sentence clarity, tone, and style.
Hemingway
If students have to be precise and avoid unnecessary details, this application will show them what words to delete to enhance the readability. As a rule, it suggests users delete adverbs and correct lengthy sentences and phrases.
PlagScan
Except for good content, a review must be unique. It is not a secret that the Internet is full of reviewed books. A student can use them to cheat and select the best variant among the given chapters. One can investigate them to get a high-quality sample, but a student must not copy it. Students need online examples to see proper structuring, presentation, and word selection. PlagScan shows whether a paper is original or the text was stolen on the World Wide Web.
Recommended reads
It does not matter what you review – a chapter of a book in History, Harry Potter, or the Anthropocene Reviewed. The main thing is to choose a decent topic, write without mistakes, structure the review neatly, and provide the required information to reflect the message of the book and the selected chapter in particular.
Summary
James Snyder
A Top-10 writer at CustomWritings.com
Kate Roth
A Top-10 writer at CustomWritings.com
