This assignment is patterned after the book reviews that historians draft for professional journals such as the Journal of American History and the American Historical Review. One of the goals is to introduce a new topic, a different interpretation, or to allow you to examine more deeply a topic of your choice. Another goal of this assignment is to develop your critical thinking and analytical means because unlike a book report that merely discusses the book, a review is a critical examination of the author’s thesis, evidence, and conclusion. Your review will be, at a minimum, 4 full pages in length. Remember, 4 pages is the minimum. It will be double-spaced, using Times New Roman 12 font with margins no greater than 1.00”.
Grade: Your grade for this assignment will be based on form and content to include grammar, spelling, analysis, and critical thinking.
I. Heading. At the top of the first page only you need to place the proper citation. Please follow this model precisely:
Title of Book. By Author (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication). Page
numbers. Reviewed by Your Name, Date of Review.
II. Body. The review itself is a critical examination of the author’s theses, evidence, and analysis.
A. One (1) to Two (2) Paragraph Introduction
1. Tell the reader about the author
2. Why is the author interested in the subject?
3. Why did the author write the book?
B. Two (2) to Three (3) Pages on the subject
1. What is/are the author’s thesis/theses?
2. What evidence does the author use?
3. Is the author’s argument(s) effective? Defend your answer.
C. Two (2) to Three (3) Paragraphs on what worked or did not work for you
1. What was interesting?
2. What did not work for you? Defend your answer.
D. One (1) Paragraph Conclusion
1. Who would be interested in reading this book?
2. What level (novice, secondary school, undergrads, grad students,
etc.) of expertise is this book written for?
3. End on a positive note.