What is the proper USMC book report format?
While there is no official book report format for PME in the Marine Corps, there is a concise and easy to understand book report format available via the Manpower and Reserve Affairs website (available for download at https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/wordpress/).
For the sake of convenience, the text of that document is included below:
BOOK REPORT FORMAT
Introduction: Here you want to provide basic information about the book, and a sense of what your report will be about. You should include:
- Title (underlined)/Author
- A brief (1-2 sentences) introduction to the book and the report/review.
Body: There are two main sections for this part. The first is an explanation of what the book is about. The second is your opinions about the book and how successful it is. There are some differences between reports on fiction or other imaginative writing and reports on non-fiction books. But for both, a good place to start is to explain the author's purpose and/or the main themes of the book. Then you can summarize.
- For fiction or other creative writing: Provide brief descriptions of the setting, the point of view (who tells the story), the protagonist, and other major characters. If there is a distinct mood or tone, discuss that as well. Give a concise plot summary. Along with the sequence of major events, you may want to discuss the book's climax and resolution, and/or literary devices such as foreshadowing.
- For non-fiction: Provide a general overview of the author's topic, main points, and argument. What is the thesis? What are the important conclusions? Don't try to summarize each chapter or every angle. Choose the ones that are most significant and interesting to you.
Analysis and Evaluation: In this section you analyze or critique the book. You can write about your own opinions; just be sure that you explain and support them with examples. Some questions you might want to consider:
- Did the author achieve his or her purpose?
- Is the writing effective, powerful, difficult, beautiful?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?
- For non-fiction, what are the author's qualifications to write about the subject? Do you agree with the author's arguments and conclusions?
- What is your overall response to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving, dull?
- Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?
Conclusion: Briefly conclude by pulling your thoughts together. You may want to say what impression the book left you with or emphasize what you want your reader to know about it.