Book Review Project Guide
I. Book review project calendar and due dates:
II. Instructions.
1. Begin to strategically read your book of choice
5. Book reviews will be due on Friday, February 7. For those students with extenuating circumstances like the late arrival of your books on order at the library, PLEASE talk to your instructor.
Spring Semester
Week 1-3: Book selection process.
Week 4-5: Reading and drafting period; in-class and weekend time for reading.
Week 5: Book Review due on Friday, 2/7/14.
II. Instructions.
- 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.
B. Body paragraphs - organize around possible key points:
- Author's background and expertise: Make use of your background research on the author and your notes from reading
- 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: Besides simply restating what has already been said, think of ways in which you as a reviewer of open up something to think about, coming out of reading this book.
II. Length: at least 750 words, preferably 2-3 pages, double spaced.
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