Preparing Your Book Report (1960)

[Music] [Applause] this was the beginning of a special day in Mrs Norton's class today the first book reports of the semester were going to be given Jim was looking forward to them his report wasn't due until next week at the front of the room was Fred he was going to give his report today Fred's book was about basball that part about the World Series smash a homer with The Bases Loaded in the last half of the ninth to it seemed that Fred was going to give a good book report Jim hoped he'd be able to give a good report too he had a book he wanted everyone to enjoy The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Jim wanted to be able to share the book with his whole class just as Fred wanted [Music] to later in the morning Fred gave his report but something was wrong it's it's about a lot of teams and how this one guy um he's the hero and how he won a World Series and how he won it for uh his team was he reporting on the same exciting book he had told his friends about before the class didn't think the report was very interesting and well it's it's an exciting book and I uh liked it when Fred came to the end of his report and Mrs Norton asked if anyone had any questions no one did there was nothing anyone wanted to discuss about Fred's book at lunchtime Fred talked about his report to Jim nobody thought my book report was very interesting the part you told about before school sounded good yes Fred knew that part of the report well but he couldn't remember the rest Jim felt sorry for Fred but would he be able to do any better well he would certainly try at home a few days later Jim had finished reading Tom Sawyer and began to plan his book report he had already made out his Library file card it told the author's name the title of the book and that it was fiction then what the book was about and Jim's opinion of the book at the bottom was his name Jim had checked for errors in spelling and grammar he wanted his card to be just right cards like this helped the class choose books now could Jim plan his report so he could avoid Fred's mistakes he tried to remember back to the day when Fred had given his report before class that day Fred had told about an incident in his book so well that his friends had been very interested in it but later in front of the class it was easy to see that Fred's full report hadn't been well prepared Jim decided he would have to be well prepared if he wanted the class to share the enjoyment of his book so he organized his report he made an outline a brief list of points that would help remind him of the information that should be in his report report first he would tell the title of the book and the author The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain the pen name of Samuel L Clemens then he would tell the subject of the book what it was about he had told briefly what the book was about on the card for the room Library file but for his report Jim thought he should tell more he pictured Tom Sawyer and and his friends as they played along the Mississippi River more than a hundred years ago Jim would tell some of the adventures Tom had and some of the pranks he played but Jim wouldn't tell too much that would spoil the book for those who wanted to read it he would just hint at some of Tom's Adventures he would tell about life on the Mississippi River how Tom attended his own funeral and what happened to him in the cave Jim decided he would tell something about the main characters too he had grown to know them so well he hoped he could make them as real to the class as they were for him two of the most interesting characters in the book were Tom and Aunt Polly Jim also wanted to tell at least one interesting incident there were many good ones to choose from but he knew which one he especially wanted to talk about yes this one how Tom whitewashed the fence Tom Sawyer had been able to get his friends to pay to do his own work for him in a very amusing way he convinced them that hard work was really fun yes Jim would enjoy telling about this incident so that he would be sure to remember this incident he made a note in the outline at the end of his report Jim wanted to give his opinion of the book he had enjoyed the book very much and felt it was worth reading if only he could share his enjoyment with the class by following this outline Jim would be able to remember everything he wanted to say in front of the class he had organized all the information for his report but was that enough was there anything else he could do to help him be sure of giving a good report Jim remembered that when you give a report people are looking at you he wanted to make a good appearance he thought of the way Fred had looked when when he gave his report not too good Jim stood up straight but would he remember to stand that way in class his father said it might help Jim give a better report in class if he practiced giving it at home in front of the family Jim thought that might be a good idea his mother and father and sister were happy to listen to his book report they helped Jim remember to stand up straight and speak distinctly in complete sentences Jim was careful to use correct English he spoke with expression so that what he said was interesting he wanted to be able to hold the attention of the whole class when he had finished practicing his report his family showed how much they had enjoyed it now if he could just as well in school the next day in class it was Jim's turn to give his book report he was well prepared he turned in his Library file card and then began would you like to meet a boy who can get you to do his work for him and still make you think it was fun you can meet him in the book called The Adventures of Tom sawer by Samuel L Clemens whose pseudonym is Mark Twain this book is fiction it's about the adventures of some people who lived in a small town in the banks of the Mississippi River more than a hundred years ago the adventures they have are often funny and sometimes very exciting can you imagine what would happen if you turned up at your own funeral or what it would be like to be lost in a large cave you can find out by reading this book the main character of course is Tom saer without even trying he could get himself into more trouble and then just as fast he would be out of it again Tom was an orphan who lived with his Aunt Polly she often punished him because she really loved him so much she really did but Tom had a way of getting around his Aunt Polly once she wanted him to whitewash a fence that's a job of something like painting the fence Tom went to whitewash the fence but while he was working some of his friends came by Jim's book report was given so well that it was attracting the interest of the whole class they were sharing Jim's book with him yeah that was pretty funny Point by Point Jim followed his outline until his report was finished when it was time for questions many wanted to know more about the book the book report had made it sound so interesting some of the class had learned that the book was worth reading Mrs Norton thought it was a fine report some of the the children in the room were going to read the book too and when Mrs Norton asked the class if they would like to dramatize the whitewashing incident everyone thought it was a fine idea you can be sure Jim was pleased all that preparation had really been worthwhile he had shared his book with the whole class by making a good book report [Music]