Fall Semester
I. Book review project calendar and due dates:
Week 4-5: Book selection process.
Week 5-6: Reading and drafting period;
in-class and weekend time for reading.
Week 7: Book Review due on Wednesday, 10/9/2013.
II. Instructions
1.
Begin to strategically read your book of choice
- Make sure you have
chosen a book that you want to read, which is both interesting and potentially
helpful for your research.
- Read the introduction
to gain a sense of what the author(s) aims to do with his, her or their book
project. Identify the key arguments they want to make, how they organize their
book into chapters and which chapters or sections would be the most helpful for
your research. FOCUS on those sections.
- Search the index, if
included, for key terms to help guide your reading and follow the footnotes or
endnotes for leads on more primary and secondary sources, which could be
helpful for further research.
- Take notes on what
strikes you about the book, i.e., how it is written, what one can learn from it, if
the author(s) successfully accomplished what they set out to do in terms of the argument, research and use of evidence, and/or any
questions, comments or criticism you might have about the book.
- Research: Find out
more about the history behind the story of the book you have selected; also
find out more about the author, his or her background and expertise and what
else they have written, all of which could provide useful background for your
review and your readers.
2. For additional book review guidelines: please check out the following websites:
3. For examples of book
reviews, please follow the links to these two reviews:
OR to search further: please check out
4. Begin to outline your review of the book you have chosen to read.
Title: Think of a title that can hook the reader.
I. Format:
A. Introduction
- Keep in mind that your reader may know nothing about this book or the subject.
- There are different ways to start your book review, but find a way to hook your reader's interest to continue reading your review and to learn more about this book.
- Make use of your background research on the author and your notes from reading.
B. Body paragraphs - organize around possible key points:
- Author's background and expertise
- The author(s) aims with his, her or their book project
- Brief information on how the book is organized.
- Discussion of key chapters that illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the book.
- Key arguments they want to make
- What strikes you about the book, i.e., how it is written, what one can learn from it, if the author(s) successfully accomplished what they set out to do in terms of the argument, research and use of evidence, and/or any questions, comments or criticism you might have about the book.
C. Conclusions
II. Length: at least 500-750 words, preferably 2-3 pages, double spaced.
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