What exactly is the difference between a book report and a research paper (both college level)?

honestly_eyeliner_tears: What exactly is the difference between a book report and a research paper (both college level)?
For my History and Culture of India class, we have to pick a topic for a book report or research paper by Thursday. I narrowed my choices down to two books, so I’m good on that. But I’m confused on the difference between a book report or research paper; don’t you need to do some research to back up your opinions in a book report, too?

Thank you!

Answers and Views:

Answer by Tina
book report is just that a report about a book which often is one’s opinion of the book supported by passages found in the book. Book reports are limited to what information you find within that one tome that you writing upon.

Whereas a research paper is research into a specific topic, not a book. For example if you were to do a research paper on topics such as suttee or thuggee which are parts of the Indian culture. Suttee being that ritualistic death of a widow at the funeral of her spouse and thuggee being a cult group that worships the god Kali and murdered hundreds as part of their worship. your research paper would be footnoted by other books you used to support your facts on the history and circumstances of the topic chosen.