Questions and Topics We Can Help You Answering;
Book Reviews: The purpose of a book review is to summarize and analyze a book. Book reviews provide other readers (in this case, your instructor) with the book’s content, as well as a critical analysis of the book’s argument.
Here is a general list of items that must be included in your book reviews:
1. Thesis: What is the author trying to argue—what is the point of the book? Usually, the author makes the argument explicitly clear near the beginning of the book. If you need help isolating the author’s thesis, come see me.
2. Evidence: What does the author use to prove her point? In most cases, look at the bibliographies and the works cited. The next step is to decide whether the evidence given logically leads to the conclusion. Was the evidence sound enough to support the conclusion?
3. Summary: Half to three-fourths of your book review should be a summary. What did the book say? How was it said? Why is it important that it was included? The key here is to paraphrase and put the author’s points in your own words. USE QUOTES SPARINGLY. You will get nowhere by just quoting the author over and over. Prove to me that you understand the book, not that the author does.
4. Analysis: How sound is the conclusion? Does the evidence and points make sense? Is the author missing anything—are there any holes in the book? Do you think the author is being biased with the evidence presented? This is your time to give your arguments on the purpose and usefulness of the book. Your opinions MUST be justified by evidence, just like we ask of the author. “I didn’t like this book” is not analysis. “This book is faulty because of the following reasons” is analysis.
5. Class connection: Does this book connect to any concepts, theories, people, or events that we discussed in class?
Book reviews are to be four pages long, be written in paragraph form with an introduction and conclusion, and be written using full sentences. Formatting requirements are 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, and one inch margins. Failure to follow these requirements will lower your grade. Be forewarned: four pages means four full pages. Three and a half pages is not four full pages.
