Look at the examples of the back jacket of five books which you’ll find on this page. Identify at least five features which are typical of the genre. Consider features of layout and content as well as linguistic features.
You can consider a feature to be typical of the genre if it is found on
at least three of the book jackets.
Then scroll down this page for the suggested answer.
1. Content and layout
a) Barcode with information for retailers indicated at the bottom of the page (Examples – all texts)
b) The small print next to the barcode includes an acknowledgement of the source of the cover photos (1,3, 4, 5 – possibly also 2 but obscured by the price tag)
c) The price in the country of publication is also given at the bottom near the barcode (1,3, 4, 5 – possibly also 2 but obscured by the price tag for the country of sale)
d) Text includes quotations from favourable reviews of the book with indications of where they were published and/or who wrote them. The reviews come from high quality publications and/or are written by well-known writers in the same field. (Examples : all texts)
e) Summary of plot beginning or book topic to make the book seem interesting (Examples : all texts)
f) Summary ends with a “cliffhanger” statement to pique the interest of the reader who picks the book up in a bookshop. Examples, all texts including:
(4) You will never look at a map in quite the same way again.
(3) But to understand how, we need to change radically our ideas of how the universe works…
(1) Whoever holds the Elfstones and their untold powers will surely hold the advantage in the devastating clash to come.
2. Linguistic features
a) Quotes chosen to contain lexis with positive connotations.
(This is also found in the plot/content
summary). Examples, all texts
including:
(5) Tracy Chevalier’s first novel
is a triumph. Excellent.
(3) (Asks) profoundly
interesting questions.
(4) Marvellous historical
writing that captivates the reader.
b) Use of “narrative present” ie present tense verbs – present simple and
present perfect simple, both active and passive – to summarise the plot
/contents, the present tense making it more “immediate” to the reader. Examples :
(5) Ella Turner tries hard
to fit in to the small, closeknit community of the French town that she has
moved to….. she is drawn to investigate…
(4) Jerry Brotton explores
twelve world maps…
(1) But never has a little
knowledge been so dangerous – as Aphenglow quickly learns…
c) Use of co-ordinating conjunctions to start a
sentence, to give a dramatic feel to the text. Examples:
(2) And elsewhere again, the
courtiers of…
(3) But to understand how,
we need to…
(1) But never has a little knowledge been so dangerous…
d) Quotations use 1st and 2nd
person pronouns to emphasise the effect of the book on the reader. Examples:
(1) I can’t even begin to count how many of Terry Brook’s
books I’ve read and re-read…
(2) You won’t set the book down…
(3) I am sure I will read it more than once. I
urge you to do the same.
(4) You will emerge with a detailed insight into….
