History 3501

 

Book Review Requirements (Works of Fiction)

 

  1. Identify the book by providing a complete bibliographical citation.
  2. Identify the author—a professional writer, journalist, novelist, etc. Can you identify the level of respect for the person within the writing profession? Does he or she hold membership or office in regional or national professional associations?
  3. Identify the main purpose of the book. In the author’s view, why is this book needed.
  4. Identify the theme, thesis or main ideas put forward in the book.
  5. How is the book organized—chronological, thematic or topically
  6. Does the book reflect an identifiable bias.
  7. Provide a brief, chapter by chapter, summary of the book.
  8. Select from reviews in learned journals (e.g. New York Times Review of Books) a minimum of two book reviews of your book. (Select reviews from the time period of the book.) Give proper citation for the book reviews, read the reviews and report the assessment of your book by the reviewers.
  9. Follow this with your own evaluation and assessment of the book.
  10. Comment on the quality and clarity of the writing—interesting, understandable, dull, boring?
  11. How has the book contributed to your personal knowledge?

 

Format Instructions

 

You may follow the numbered sections format listed under “Requirements” above, or you may use your own organizational format for the paper. In the latter case make sure all required sections are included in the final paper.

 

Use your word processor and double-space the paper.  Use conventional fonts—no eye-catching headlines, color, charts, graphs, or pictures.

 

Write the report in your own words. Use quotes very sparingly. NO Plagiarism. Failure to do your own work or to pass off as your own work the work of another (plagiarism) will result in a grade of zero for this assignment.

 

Your report will be used to assess your progress in meeting the General Education Communication Outcome required of all CCSU students. CCSU writing criteria will be used in the evaluation of your paper.

 

Submit a hard copy and a copy by email attachment.

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