Name______

Due:Monday, November 28

Banned/Challenged Book Book Report Assignment

The title of your book report should be the title of the book you read and the author’s name. As a byline, include exactly what the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution is.

You will need to do some investigating to find out some background information about your book. This information is factual. Write a paragraph that answers the following questions:

  1. Where was the book you read banned or challenged?
  2. Why was the book you read banned or challenged? What reasons did the people who felt it was inappropriate give?
  3. When was the book challenged or banned? Is it still banned? If so, where? Include when the book was written here.
  4. How did the challenge or ban come about? For example, did a parent write a letter to the school board?
  5. Make an inference about the community from which it was banned based on the reasons given. For example, The Lorax, by Dr. Suess was challenged in 1989 by the Laytonville, CA Unified School District. They challenged the book based on someone’s belief that it makes the foresting industry look bad. The foresting industry involves harvesting trees and The Lorax promotes saving trees. In this example, you can infer (“read between the lines”) that the people in Laytonville, CA value the jobs they have in the forestry industry. They need these jobs to make a living and support their families. They felt that Dr. Suess’ book made them look like criminals just because they were doing their jobs. They did not want their children thinking negatively about them and their work.

Next, you will write a paragraph explaining your point of view. How do you feel about your book or author being banned or challenged? Why do you feel this way? Give your opinion. Do you think the book you read should be available to everyone? Why or why not?

You should also consider the following:

  • Be polite. Do not use rude language. Talk about issues, not people. For example, do not insult someone for their opinion but rather write about why you disagree with what they have said.
  • Be specific. Use evidence from the book and from yourself as a reader to support your claims. Make your point and then think about how you can give information to prove what you are saying. The more evidence you use to support your point, the more persuasive your opinion will be.
  • Give your opinion. Do you think the book you read should be available to everyone? Why or why not?