History 3001

 

Book Review Requirements

 

  1. Identify the book by providing a complete bibliographical citation.
  2. Identify the author—a professional historian, writer, journalist,etc. Can you identify the level of respect for the person in the 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 thesis or major explanatory interpretation or conclusion. The thesis is the author’s interpretation of the facts and it is the thesis that makes a book or article distinctive. It is  the glue that ties together the facts presented. Look in the Preface or in the first or last chapters for information about the thesis. Usually the author will tell you the thesis up front.  Sometimes the author is less overt or even covert.
  5. Provide a brief, chapter by chapter, summary of the book—Identify the author’s point of view or agenda.
    1. How is the book organized—chronological, thematic or topically
    2. How does the author approach the subject—economic, political, biographical, social (groups), ideas (intellectual), military, diplomatic, everyday life, etc.
    3. Does the book reflect an identifiable bias and, in your view, has the author’s point of view dominated the selection of material or the conclusions.
  6. Evaluate the evidence used.
  7. Does the evidence used support the author’s conclusions.
  8. Select from reviews in learned journals (e.g. American Historical Review, Journal of American History) a minimum of two book reviews of your 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 evaluation and comments about the book.  
  10. Include comments about the quality and clarity of the writing—interesting, understandable, dull, boring?
  11. How has the book contributed the field of history?
  12. 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.

.