The Cornerstones of the Shepard Academy
What Is a Book Talk?
The Book Talk will serve as your first oral presentation of the year, a skill we will continue to develop through our Advanced Speech and Debate courses, as well as Mock Trials.
Do not confuse a Book Talk with a book summary or a book report. Book Talks are brief “teasers” given enthusiastically as a way to entice others to read a particular book. They are very similar to movie trailers, which show just enough information to convince you to watch. You will include some summary in your Book Talk, but consider this presentation a persuasive speech, not just a report. You are trying to convince others to read this book.
Plan a 2-3 minute presentation that includes the title and author of the book and gives a brief summary, and then explain why you liked it and why other students might be interested in it. Use note cards or a delivery outline to cue yourself during the presentation.
Tips:
In Addition:
You will have an opportunity to rehearse your speech before your peers, family, and friends. Be sure your presentation falls within the designated length.
Do not confuse a Book Talk with a book summary or a book report. Book Talks are brief “teasers” given enthusiastically as a way to entice others to read a particular book. They are very similar to movie trailers, which show just enough information to convince you to watch. You will include some summary in your Book Talk, but consider this presentation a persuasive speech, not just a report. You are trying to convince others to read this book.
Plan a 2-3 minute presentation that includes the title and author of the book and gives a brief summary, and then explain why you liked it and why other students might be interested in it. Use note cards or a delivery outline to cue yourself during the presentation.
Tips:
- Start off with an interesting quotation from the book to capture your audience’s attention. (Make sure you include an explanation of the quotation!)
- Tell us the title, the name of the author, and the genre. (e.g. fantasy, mystery, realistic fiction)
- Tell us about the setting. Where and when did the story take place?
- Who is the main character in your book? Describe him/her. Share a short passage that describes the main character.
- What is the conflict or struggle that the character has to overcome?
- Share a brief summary of the plot, but don’t give away too much of the plot.
- What was the mood of this novel: funny, sad, exciting? Share a short passage that illustrates a mood in the story.
- What was 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?
- Who would you recommend this book to and why?
In Addition:
- You may become a character in the book. (“Let me tell you about myself. My name is Harry Potter…”)
- Have the book with you to use as a visual, or use a PowerPoint slide with the book's cover image.
- Work on appropriate presentation skills: make eye contact, do not read your speech, use body language to communicate your message, speak loudly and clearly, etc.
- Feel free to use different voices or wear a costume. Ham it up! Have fun!
You will have an opportunity to rehearse your speech before your peers, family, and friends. Be sure your presentation falls within the designated length.
Sample BookTalk
“Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.”
These types of insights into human behavior are hidden gems in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck makes this particular observation as he watches two conmen, who have
been tarred and feathered, carted off by the people they conned. And, while Huck himself had
been conned by them, he feels pity for them. This theme of recognizing the evil that exists in
people is one of the predominant themes in the book. On the surface, Huck is the story of a young boy who runs away from an abusive father, hooks up with a runaway slave, Jim, and floats along the Mississippi River, where they meet a cast of characters, including two feuding families with a Romeo-and-Juliet twist and the men who con Huck into believing that they are a King and Duke. Tom Sawyer also makes an appearance, acting as his typical self. But despite the perceived simplicity of the plot, the novel’s progressive ideas, biting humor and sarcasm, and reflections on society have made it one of the most popular American novels ever, despite also being one of the most controversial. Since publication, Huck has been deemed “inappropriate” for teenagers to read for one reason or another. Originally written as the sequel to the well-known children’s story The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huck’s story is meant for an adult audience ready to question the reality accepted so readily by others. It is the story of a society, our society, that allows children to be abused, that allows human beings to treat others as property, that allows violence without hesitation. But, it never preaches; in fact, the humor and naïveté of the narrator mask the seriousness of the narrative. Where else could two teenage boys rescue a captured runaway slave by digging him out of a hut simply because busting open the door wouldn’t make as good of a story? And who wouldn’t want to read this book: violence, crime, race relations, drama, and broken-hearted tragedy, it appeals to everyone.
These types of insights into human behavior are hidden gems in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck makes this particular observation as he watches two conmen, who have
been tarred and feathered, carted off by the people they conned. And, while Huck himself had
been conned by them, he feels pity for them. This theme of recognizing the evil that exists in
people is one of the predominant themes in the book. On the surface, Huck is the story of a young boy who runs away from an abusive father, hooks up with a runaway slave, Jim, and floats along the Mississippi River, where they meet a cast of characters, including two feuding families with a Romeo-and-Juliet twist and the men who con Huck into believing that they are a King and Duke. Tom Sawyer also makes an appearance, acting as his typical self. But despite the perceived simplicity of the plot, the novel’s progressive ideas, biting humor and sarcasm, and reflections on society have made it one of the most popular American novels ever, despite also being one of the most controversial. Since publication, Huck has been deemed “inappropriate” for teenagers to read for one reason or another. Originally written as the sequel to the well-known children’s story The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huck’s story is meant for an adult audience ready to question the reality accepted so readily by others. It is the story of a society, our society, that allows children to be abused, that allows human beings to treat others as property, that allows violence without hesitation. But, it never preaches; in fact, the humor and naïveté of the narrator mask the seriousness of the narrative. Where else could two teenage boys rescue a captured runaway slave by digging him out of a hut simply because busting open the door wouldn’t make as good of a story? And who wouldn’t want to read this book: violence, crime, race relations, drama, and broken-hearted tragedy, it appeals to everyone.