A book report of this size for Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction should go into some detail about the book's primary claims, how it supports those claims, and whether those claims are convincing. Let's get you started by looking at some of what the author has to say and how you might organize your paper.

Kolbert focuses her book around the argument that human beings have negatively impacted the world and that the next major extinction of other species will come as a result of human behaviors. She goes on to examine past extinctions, present threats, and the behaviors that could lead to future disasters. In your introduction, you will want to discuss Kolbert's major claims. You might lead off your paper with a striking quotation from the book.

In the body of your paper, you are asked to provide a detailed summary of each chapter. Since there are thirteen chapters, you will probably want to write about two hundred words for each of them (along with a similarly sized introduction and conclusion to reach your three thousand words). For each chapter, identify the primary claim, and then point out some of the evidence the author uses to support that claim. Also, identify how the claim and evidence ties into the book's overall thesis. The first chapter, for instance, is about frog extinction and how it may be foreshadowing a catastrophe. The author also looks at how humans are responsible, at least in part, for the troubles with the frogs.

The conclusion of your report will sum up the book, restating its main thesis. You might then talk about whether or not you have been convinced by the argument. Be sure to give a couple of good reasons for your opinion.