4 page History Book Review

Write a 4 page book REVIEW. NOT a report. The instructions are below. PLEASE read them THOROUGHLY! I need an A+++.

My professors instructions are below.

This assignment is aimed at developing your reading, writing, critical thinking skills, and adding

to your knowledge of the subject you are studying. THIS IS NOT A BOOK REPORT – IT IS A

BOOK REVIEW! IF I JUDGE YOUR PAPER TO BE A BOOK REPORT RATHER THEN A

BOOK REVIEW, YOUR GRADE WILL BEGIN AT 65 AND GO DOWN FROM THERE

DEPENDING ON HOW MANY ERRORS YOU HAVE.

Topic: The book must be a biographical or non-fictional historical account set anytime between

the period of United States history from 1865 to the present.

Book Review Length:

The review must be at least four (FULL) typed pages of text (double-spaced), not

including the cover page and works cited page. Use standard one-inch margins all around, a

12 point font in either Arial, or Times New Roman style and number each page (except the

Cover page and Works cited page). If numbered incorrectly, 1 point per page will be

deducted. (EACH PAGE OF TEXT HAS 23 LINES DOUBLE SPACED. 23 X 4= 92 LINES

MINIMUM) (NO DOUBLE SIDED PAGES)

Book Review Grading:

 If you do not turn in the minimum number of double spaced pages required (4 FULL

pages), I will deduct 5 points per page. Don’t try to extend the pages of your review by using

large font, indenting too much for paragraphs, utilizing too many paragraphs, using too many

quotes, quadruple spacing between paragraphs/sentences or using pictures in the first 4 pages. If

you do 1 point per occurrence will be deducted.

Book Review Format: (Total 10 points)

There should be a cover page on which you type your name, this class title and the semester.

Two lines below your name and section, type the following information: the full title of the

book, the edition, the full name of the author, the place of publication, the publisher, the date of

publication, and the number of pages. COVER PAGE INFORMATION SHOULD BEGIN ONE

INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE PAGE (CENTER INFORMATION). YOU MUST

USE THE SAME 12 POINT FONT AS USED IN THE TEXT OF THE REVIEW. Refer to the

following as an example:

The Ancient World: A Social and Cultural History. Second Edition. D. Brendan Nagle

Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1989. 436.

This cover page does not count toward the minimum of four typed pages requirement and

should not be given a page number. The body of your review should start on the next page

and should be numbered as page 1. NO PICTURES ON COVER PAGE.

Book Review Documentation Style:

Your review should include quotations from the book being reviewed. Document direct

quotations and/or paraphrased material with the Modern Language Association (MLA)

documentation style. Information about this style is available in the English 1010 textbook, or in

the College’s Library, or any local public library. MLA is posted on Blackboard.

Use quotes from the book, or other sources, sparingly; do not write a review consisting only of a

series of long quotations linked only by a few of your own sentences. Avoid using long

quotations; a quotation of six or seven lines should be sufficient.

BookReviewBreakdown: (Total 14 points)

Summarize or describe the subject of the book in the first two pages of your review.

Criticize or comment on each of the following: (-1 pt. for each point not commented on)

- author's organization,

- writing style,

- fairness,

- use of aids (charts, graphs, maps, photographs, etc.); and

- some of the persons and/or events the author has discussed.

Describe each of the following: (-1 pt. for each point not commented on)

- the value of the book in helping you to achieve a greater understanding of the historical

topic(s) discussed,

- the importance of the historical topic(s) discussed to Western Civilization and

- your personal opinion of the book.

Respond to the following questions about the book you selected: (-1 pt. for each point not

commented on)

- Why did you select this book?

- Who is the author? -- Provide a brief biography. (< http://biography.com/ > may be a useful

source.)

- What is the author's purpose for writing the book? -- The author should provide his/her

reason(s) for writing the book in the Foreword, Introduction, Preface, etc..

- Is the book controversial?-- The author may challenge accepted historical interpretations or

present a new interpretation. A starting point for this issue would be to see what your textbook

or reference being used for contrast/comparison states about the subject discussed in the book

being reviewed.

- What were the main sources used by the author in obtaining information? -- Look at the

author's endnotes/footnotes to determine which sources the author cites consistently: Provide two

or three specific examples.

On a separate "Works Cited" page at the end of the review, list the book being reviewed and any

cited references according to MLA bibliographic style. If you use an Internet source, you will

need to provide annotation briefly describing the source and content of the Internet site. (-1

POINT IF THERE IS NO WORK CITED PAGE)

Book Review Penalties:

Penalty points will be subtracted from your book review grade, if applicable, as follows: one

point for each misspelled/ misused words or any other grammatical errors. You will also receive

a lower grade if you fail to follow any of the above mentioned book review requirements

The book for this assignment is:

Last Call: the rise and fall of prohibition

By Daniel Okrent