Literary Criticism Basics
Understand the basic structure of a book review
Learn to write a balanced and thoughtful book review
Practice critical writing skills
“There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
— Proverbs 12:18 (WEB)Teaches the importance of thoughtful and constructive communication when writing reviews
Discuss what makes a good book review. Explain that reviews should be honest, kind, and constructive.
Introduce the four main parts of a book review: summary, analysis, evaluation, and recommendation
Students will complete a book review template for a recently read book
Simpler: Use a partially completed template with prompts
Challenge: Write a review for a more complex book with additional analysis
Discuss the importance of thoughtful book reviews and how they help others choose good books
Dear God, help us to use our words wisely and to communicate thoughtfully about the books we read.
Coming up: Tomorrow, we'll learn about sharing our book reviews with others
“There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
— Proverbs 12:18 (WEB)🎯 Activity: Create hand motions to represent speaking wisely vs. rashly
Learning to write constructive book reviews helps develop critical thinking and communication skills
Children might find it challenging to be both honest and kind in their reviews
Ability to provide specific examples and balanced feedback