The title and author of the book The dates you read which page The amount of time you spent reading each day Key themes of the book Major characters and plot developments Questions you have as you read
Some pre-made templates also exist online. Just search for “reading log template” in your favorite search engine. [2] X Research source
The book’s title The author The publication date The publisher and city where the publisher is located Any other identifying information (such as the edition used, translators, co-authors, etc. )
Never put off entering a reading assignment until later! You might lose track of your work and forget important details.
Take down a few notes as you read, especially if you have questions. Jotting out the main theme of a passage or your question about a chapter while you’re reading will help you fill in the information in your log later.
Plot elements Character names Setting Key argument (if the text is nonfiction or academic)[6] X Research source
Don’t forget to note the page number and speaker whenever you copy a passage.
An excellent first step to writing a formal journal entry is finding 3 or more passages that explore a common theme, such as justice, love, or despair. Use your journal entry to explore how this common theme is treated in these different passages.
If you expect to keep the journal for a long period of time, try to purchase one that has archival paper. This will keep the pages from yellowing and degrading over time.
It is also wise to keep a working pen in the same location.
Read every day, even if only for a few minutes[12] X Research source Turn off the television and resolve to read instead[13] X Research source Feel free to stop reading books you hate–don’t view reading as a chore[14] X Research source Get recommendations for excellent books from friends and family Join a reading group at your local school or library
Do not skip over this part, assuming that you are bound to remember a book’s title and author. People are liable to forget even these details over time, so they are the most important pieces of information to write down.
Who are your favorite and least favorite characters? Why? Have your thoughts about any of the characters changed? What do you find fascinating about the plot? Are there mysteries to solve? Do you like the author’s style? Are there any distinctive elements to the author’s style that make it stand out? What would you have changed about the book if you were the author? Does the book help you understand something about your world, about another country, or about history? How does the book remind you of what’s going on in your own life? What are your personal reactions to the book?
