I. Book review project calendar and due dates:
Week 1-3: Book selection process.
Week 3-4: Reading and drafting period; in-class and weekend time for reading.
Week 4 and 5: First round of book review drafts due on Friday, 1/30/2015,
and second round extensions for first drafts are due Friday, February 6.
**For those students with extenuating circumstances
like the late arrival of your books on order at the library, PLEASE talk to
your instructor about adjusting due dates.
*** Please remember that there is an English paper due on February 9, the following week, so plan accordingly.
*** Please remember that there is an English paper due on February 9, the following week, so plan accordingly.
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. Books that focus on some aspect of world history are preferred. Students may choose a book more closely related to US history, in consultation with the instructor and librarians, but MUST focus further research on the global dimensions of that particular aspect of US history, e.g., the global history of cotton or the global dimensions of the US Civil War.
- Look over the table of contents and general layout of the book, e.g., chapter topics, index, glossary, works cited, etc.
- 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, note how they organize their
book into chapters, and decide which chapters or sections would be the most helpful for
your research. FOCUS on those sections in your reading.
- 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 peer book reviews, please see the Student Magazine archive on the Haiku Learning.
4. For examples of professional book
reviews, please follow the links to these two reviews:
OR to search further: please check out
5. 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
- 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.
A. Introduction
- 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.
-
Keep in mind that your reader may know nothing about this book or the
subject; it may help to draw your reader's attention to the larger
question or topic of the book. Make sure to write for a reader that you
do not know. Assume the reader knows nothing about this topic or book.
B. Body paragraphs - organize around possible key points:
- Develop strong topic sentences that capture key points you want to make.
- Usually start with the strengths of the book, where possible, and end with constructive criticism
- Usually start with the strengths of the book, where possible, and end with constructive criticism
- Where it makes sense, discuss the author's background and expertise
- Explain the author(s) aims with his, her or their book project
- Briefly note information on how the book is organized.
- Discuss key chapters that illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the book.
- Identify key arguments they want to make and evaluate the quality of the evidence they use.
- Write about what strikes you about the book, i.e., how it is written, why might someone want to read this book, 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.
- Explain the author(s) aims with his, her or their book project
- Briefly note information on how the book is organized.
- Discuss key chapters that illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the book.
- Identify key arguments they want to make and evaluate the quality of the evidence they use.
- Write about what strikes you about the book, i.e., how it is written, why might someone want to read this book, 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:
- Avoid simply summarizing what you have already stated.
-
If possible, link discussion in your conclusion to the bigger picture
and what this book has to offer for general readers or more specialized
researchers.
II. Additional notes:
II. Additional notes:
- Length: at least 750 words, preferably 2-3 pages, double spaced.
- Create a Google Document or paper-based document; format either form of document with student name and title of the document.
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