Book Talk Planning

Directions: Use this template to guide your preparation of your book talk. You may have
this document during your talk, but only as a guide. You many not read directly from this
template. You must talk about your book, not read about your book.

Book Title: __________________________________________

Author: ________________________________ Genre: __________________

Quick Summary of the book that doesn’t give away the ending but includes the genre,
main characters, setting and conflict. It answers the question---“What is this book
about?”

Topic #1: ____________________________

Topic #2: ____________________________

Topic #3: ___________________________

Topic #4: ___________________________

Concluding Thought: ______________________________

 BOOK TALK: an independent reading project

 A book talk is a short, interesting, oral report on a book that you have read and want to
share with your peers and your teacher.
 This book talk will be in a small group setting in class. Be prepared to answer questions
about your book. This book review will be peer evaluated.
 Choose one book that you have read and finished so far this year.
 Be sure to tell us the title, the name of the author, and the genre (e.g. fantasy, mystery,
realistic fiction).
 Write a complete draft of your speech, and then make notes for it. You will post your
complete draft as a review on Goodreads.
 If you are absent on the day of your talk, you will give your talk to a group of students
and teachers at lunchtime upon your return.
 Please rehearse your talk by reading it out loud several times.
 Your talk should be about 1.5-2 minutes long.
 For 10 points extra credit, you can do your talk at {pages: a bookstore} on October 21 at
5pm. Pages is inviting parents and other students who are looking for books to read to
come to hear your recommendations!

Topics: Below is a list of potential topics for your book talk. Choose five to include in your
speech. Decide what order to present them in, choosing a strong topic to begin and end your talk
with to pique and keep your audience’s attention.

 Do some research on the author and tell us about other books he/she has written.
(There may be some information on the book cover.)
 If it’s an interesting story, explain why you chose your book.
 If it is unique or otherwise unknown, go into detail about the setting.
 Describe a character in your book. Explore the character’s strengths, weaknesses,
decisions, role in the story, and anything else you like about him/her.
 Is there a conflict or struggle that the character has to overcome? Describe it and the
complications. Don’t give away the ending!
 Share a short passage that is particularly meaningful or important. Be sure to introduce
the passage by explaining what leads up to it (the context) and then why you chose to
read this excerpt.
 What is the mood of this novel: funny, sad, dark, sarcastic? Explain what makes you say
this.
 What is the theme (the central idea or lesson about life that the author wants to know)?
 Why did you like it? What do you remember most about the book?
 Did this book enlighten you in any way? Explain how this book impacted your thinking
about a time period, a person, an issue, a conflict, a situation.
 Who would you recommend this book to and why?