AboutLaura Expertise I can help with questions about research projects, literature, and writing for middle school and high school. I can also help with on-line resources and integration of technology in learning.
Experience I am a certified library media specialist and language arts teacher.
Education/Credentials MEd Instructional Technolgy- 1999 Arkansas Tech University
BA English- 1995 University of Central Arkansas
Expert: Laura Date: 5/6/2005 Subject: Book Reports
Question Hi Laura--
I've been teaching English 9 - 12 for 6 years. My question relates to the rationale for the assigning of book reports at the high school level.
With the increasing availability of pre-written reports on the internet, plagarism is a very real factor in my classroom. I have tried other creative ways of producing the actual reports that would seem to eliminate a traditional report, but I now suspect my students are directly selling their reports to each other.
With over 100 students each semester I don't see how I can keep track of who wrote what, or in what way they wrote it.
Why do we assign book reports? If I am able to meet the learning outcomes prescribed for each course without assigning them, am I detracting from my students' education by skipping book reports altogether?
Thanks for your thoughts on this...
Denise Graham
Answer Hi Denise,
First of all, I want to commend you for teaching high school English for 6 years.
When I taught high school, I required book reports, but we had Accelerated Reader, so I required students to take an AR test, and then answer 3-5 questions, which were along the lines of "What did you like best about the book" and "Would you read another book by the same author?" Another option that I have used is to interview students about the book they just read. In either case, I required them to get their books preapproved or I didn't count the report.
There are a couple of reasons I know for assigning book reports. One is so that students read books. Second is to work on the elements of fiction. Reading logs can document that students have read what you have assigned. Those are harder to pick up from the Internet, but that doesn't keep them from selling them to each other. If you are interesting in working on skills like elements of fiction, you can let students do a movie report, where they do the same kind of assignment, but about the movie instead. In my experience, they are more willing to watch a movie that read a book.
I wouldn't think you are detracting from students' educations by skipping book reports. I don't know many teacher who require them any more, for the reason you have stated. If your principal approves, you could drop book reports all together.
