Criteria for Grading a Book Review Assignment

Criteria

Does/Is the review…

Pitfalls

Maximum

Thoroughness:

…include in First ¶: author’s full name & the complete title of book [5] along with a clear explanation of the author’s thesis? [10]

…cover the entire book?[10]

…conclude with an evaluation of the book? [10]

…uneven coverage of content (suggests that the book was not read to the end!)

…omission of evaluation in conclusion.

35

Organization:

Aptness:

…remain focused on the book rather than the reader’s personal reactions; avoid statements that are your personal reactions to the book, but fail to describe the work itself.?

Instead of “I liked it,”  write “It was well expressed and contained good ideas.”

10

Accuracy:

 

…free of misstatements of fact? [Points deducted  for inaccuracy.]

Historians are always careful with facts.

0

Clarity of thought and expression:

… include fair and logical criticisms ?

All positive, all negative or artificially “balanced” comment.

15

Originality:

…free of plagiarism? [Points will be deducted, up to the full value of the assignment.]

Reading published reviews before writing your own. Using copy/paste.

0

…contain fresh insights, original analyses, or alternate viewpoints?

 

…demonstrate a fluent writing style?

 

…show good use of quotations?

These may greatly enhance the overall impression made by a paper, but only if they are well supported by evidence or logic.

10

Grammar

…use Standard English, accurate spelling.

…free of egregious vocabulary errors

…correctly punctuate quoted matter

Avoid using big words where simple ones will do; writing over-long, complex sentences.

10

5

5

Presentation

…follow the guidelines on formatting posted on the website or with the assignment.  This includes filenames of uploaded documents.

Omit your name, omit a title line at the top.  (title can be in the form of a bibliographic entry for the book.)

10

TOTAL

See also “How to Write a Book Review” on my website.

100