Replace book reports with quiz

Many schools require students to write book reports to increase their interest in reading, but I don't think it works.

I enjoy reading, but I dislike writing book reports. What's the purpose? To make sure the students have read the book? Students can always copy book reports from their classmates.

Reading a book for enjoyment is different from reading it for a school assignment. If reading becomes homework, some students will be put off and might simply skim through the book without learning anything from it.

I think maybe a quiz would be more effective in making sure that everyone has read a book. Book reports make reading tedious.

Yeung Chi-lok, POCA Wong Siu Ching Secondary School

From the Editor

Thank you for your letter, Chi-lok. At Young Post we love reading and anything that encourages it. So we would not want to see book reports banned at all. If students choose to copy their homework, they are the only ones losing out. Reading is a proven and pleasurable way to enhance your language skills. If students choose not to do that, they are stealing that reward from themselves. No one else suffers but the student who skimps on their learning.

Writing a book report helps students to develop writing skills. It's not so much about what you know about the book as it is about how you can convey that information to others. While a quiz is fun and fast, it does not do much for your communication skills.

Susan, Editor