How to Format an Essay About Book Reviews

How to Format an Essay About Book ReviewsMany students complain that they feel burdened by the format of essay writing about book reviews. I suspect, though, that it is not so much the format as it is the content, the information that we choose to write about, that we are so very aware of. What if we did away with this conscious selection and then found that we were free to write about the ideas of our choice?Would that make the format any less daunting? Would it make it any easier to write, which is so often the case when we fear that we are constrained by the format? Can we give ourselves total freedom? Let's see how that might happen.First, let's consider the guidelines that are generally used to guide essay writers about the format of essay writing about book reviews. It starts with the same paragraph, 'An essay should begin with a summary of the problem or issue, followed by a discussion of an argument or position.' The outline provides the theme for each section. However, what if we wanted to briefly mention a fact that we found interesting, or related to the main topic?A simple fact like this can be easily added into the paragraphs of the outline, or even sketched out and highlighted in the body of the essay. Then, we could develop the theme as the essay proceeds. Here is one example:'Here is one simple fact I discovered while researching the book, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson had been drinking heavily, and after several years of stupor, his alcoholism was severe. But it was also an important part of his character, as he was a chronic drinker and alcoholic.'You see the theme developing as the essay progresses. In this case, I have merely mentioned the simple fact of alcoholism and the themes it relates to, but it could be as elaborate as you would like. Of course, it would depend on your own experience in writing essays about certain subjects.Next, we will discuss another way to add a brief description of an idea, informat ion, or situation into the essay. It is really no different from the first method, but it can certainly be more powerful. As the essay progresses, the student's intuition or imagination will guide the focus as they explore the theme of the paper.It is possible to add a little humor to the essay, but it is not a good idea to do so if you are struggling with the content. I would suggest that, when working with a theme like alcoholism or drug addiction, humor is best left to the end. Other people may find it entertaining, but remember that the essay is supposed to be an exercise in critical thinking, not a sort of improvised comedy routine.