Book Review Requirements: Book reviews should do more than inform the reader as to what the book is about. Truly effective book reviews provide a critical analysis of the author’s core argument and the ideological structure of the book. In the reviews that you will write for this class, you must provide a clear and well-written analysis of the two books presented. Each review should clearly define the author’s argument, discuss strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide commentary on the overall presentation and effectiveness of the work. I do not simply want 7 you to regurgitate what the author has written nor do I want you to merely summarize the books; each review should showcase your ability to critically analyze historical arguments, identify suppositions and dissect points of view. Both reviews should also discuss the relevancy of the arguments and solutions the authors present for the problems of their time to those same problems today or whether you believe the issues discussed continue to be problematic. Plagiarism and Citation: In this course, you are required to cite sources for any material quoted or paraphrased in any written work or assignment. Please use the citation style relevant to your academic major. Those using footnotes, please use the Chicago style manual for citations. Again, this course operates under an established and ENFORCED system of ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. Please feel free to contact the professor if you have any questions. For further discussions regarding the Chicago style citation methods, see Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide.
