Nonfiction Book TalkEnglish 10H

Purpose: Your Book Talk is like a movie trailer or preview – it gives an exciting glimpse of the story and makes your intended audience interested in reading it. As with trailers, when you write your Book Talk, you’ll use a variety of tools and do your best to intrigue your audience:

  1. Hook listeners – grab your audience’s attention!
  2. Tell us the title, author, when it was first published and by whom; show the book in class.
  3. Summarize the author’s thesis: what is their main argument?
  4. Create a colorful handout or PowerPoint that clearly outlines the author’s main points.
  5. Explain this visual aid for the class.
  6. Share what you liked or disliked about the book; did you agree with the author’s arguments? Were they convincing?
  7. Discuss a connection you have been able to make between this book and yourlife,this book and other books you’ve read, this book andhistorical events, this book and a song you know, etc.
  8. Cliffhanger: end your book talk with something unresolved, or some food for thought, so your audience will want to read the book to find out what happens next.

Speak comfortably and enthusiastically (you must practice at home; it will be evident that you have or haven’t done this).

Your Book Talk presentation date is ______. When practicing at home, time your Talk; it should be 3 - 5 minutes (you will be timed).

You should avoid

Reading your notes

Leaning on the blackboard or slouching

Plagirarism

Speaking with a monotone voice

Book Talk Rubric

Name ______Period ______

Title ______Author______

Creative and effective hook___ / 5

Title, author, publishing date, publishing company___ / 2

Summarize the author’s thesis___ / 5

Creative handout or PowerPoint that outlines the book___/5

Explanation of this visual aid___/8

Student related what was liked about the book and discussed an important connection___ / 5

Closing leaves listeners wanting more___ / 5

Student spoke comfortably [+ eye contact] and enthusiastically___ / 5

Appropriate length of 3 – 5 min.

[It is obvious student practiced at home]___ / 10

Total___ / 50

You are required to present this rubric just before you present (or lose 2 points)