Reading Blog Criteria:

Acceptable blogs include at least 5 sentences that some of which directly reference the story you are reading. You can use any of the following as idea starters:

1. Make a prediction – What will happen next? How will the story end?
2. React to the prediction you made. Would you revise it? Why?
3. React to the title of the book. To what or whom does it refer? At what point in the story does the title tie in? What (if any) would be a better title? (Why)
4. Why did you choose this book?
5. React to a character and explain your reaction. What is your first impression of this character?
6. As you think ahead to your next day’s reading, what possible directions might the story take? How do you hope the story will unfold?
7. What surprised you about the section you read today? How does this change affect what might happen next in the story?
8. What questions do you hope to have answered as you read more of this story?
9. After reading this far, what more do you hope to learn about what these characters plan to do, what they think, feel, believe, or what happens to them? Write a summary of what you’ve read today.
10. At this point in the story I would…
11. I like this part of the book because…
12. I don’t like this part of the book because…
13. I don’t understand this… (discuss area of confusion) Perhaps they mean/are talking about…
14. React to the beginning of the book. Was it exciting, revealing, etc.? Why?
15. The events in this book are (realistic or unrealistic) because… Be specific.
16. Compare a situation in the book to a situation in your own life.
17. Discuss what an event or an idea in the story means.
18. This section of the book made me think about… It was effective because...
19. Describe the book’s setting. What are the time, place, and environment of the story?
20. How is the setting or a scene in this book similar to another in a different book or movie?
21. What is the mood of the story?
22. Describe a conflict in the book. What does each conflicting force try to do?
23. Compare a character in this book to another in a different book or movie.
24. What motivates the characters to act as they do? Explain.
25. In my story the author makes a reference to the song ________. I feel this song is mentioned because…
26. The following setting/s ___________ is/are important because…
27. What startling/unusual/effective words, phrases, expressions, or images did you come across in your reading today that you would like to have explained or clarified? Which ones would you like to use in your own writing?
28. Compare this book to another by the same author of another of the same type, i.e. mystery, science fiction, realistic fiction, etc.
29. Compare a situation in the book to a situation in your own life.

Reading Blog Examples

Acceptable Blog: “This book is boring! I read the first three chapters but nothing happened. It was supposed to be about two boys that sleep in a haunted house. The boys slept there and talked about the ghost stories but there was no actual haunting in the first three chapters so I gave up. Has anyone else read this book? Is it worth continuing?”

Unacceptable Blog: “This book is boring!”

Acceptable Blog: “This was a really exciting, and true, story about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II. After a Japanese submarine sank the ship with a torpedo, the crew found themselves floating alone in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean. Actually, they weren't alone, as the area was infested with sharks. They fought for survival for four days before the few remaining survivors were found by accident - no one knew they were even missing! Read this book to find out what happens when, many years later, a 6th-grader researches the sinking for his school history project and ends up rewriting history.”

Unacceptable Blog: “I loved this book!” I recommend it to anyone that likes adventure stories.”