High School Book Reports

Examples of how typical freshman and sophomore students write

De: C. Lynn Yarberry

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

After teaching for several years, it occurred to me that teachers, students, and parents need to see sample writing from actual students. Is too much or too little being demanded of them? What is reasonable for a high school freshman or sophomore?Presented only the best of the best, such as classic books or essays by renown writers, students can sometimes feel inadequate. Like Barbie dolls given to young girls, any view of subject matter which presents the top 1% as “ normal” subdues pride. We humans, unlike Athena born fully mature from Zeus’ head, must go from zero to our full potential, in small increments. If the only view of a mountain you have seen is Matterhorn, the pursuit of climbing may seem a waste of time.The book reports here are not the best or the worst. They are above average but with occasional errors, poor construction, and even sexism left intact. The point is to show writing of real freshman and sophomores, not ideal essays. My hope is that you, as parents, students, and teachers, use these writing samples to get a sense of young men and women’s capabilities—both the limits of age and thresholds of excellence.