a critical book review (4-6 pages) Read the entire book (Changes in the Land) the book is available PDF online

Writing a Critical Book Review

HI 322: Colonial and Revolutionary America

What is a Critical Book Review?

• An Account and Evaluation of the Arguments and Quality of the Book

• It is NOT a Book Report (i.e., a summary of the book’s contents), although some summary at the beginning and in discussion of the book’s arguments is expected

• Evaluation of the book on its own terms - what was the author trying to accomplish? Did they succeed?

• What’s an effective critique? Your thoughts, responses, reactions, additions to the arguments, analysis, and evidence offered. • Can be positive, negative, or neutral (usually in an interrogative way)

Book Review: Questions to ask and Answer

• What is the thesis—or main argument—of the book? If the author wanted you to get one idea from the book, what would it be? How does it compare or contrast to the world you know? What has the book accomplished?

• What exactly is the subject or topic of the book? Does the author cover the subject adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fashion? What is the approach to the subject (topical, analytical, chronological, descriptive)?

Credit: UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center

Book Review: Questions to ask and Answer

• How does the author support her argument? What evidence do they use? Do you find that evidence convincing? Why or why not? Does any of the author’s information (or conclusions) conflict with other books you’ve read, courses you’ve taken or just previous assumptions you had of the subject?

• How does the author structure their argument? What are the parts that make up the whole? Does the argument make sense? Does it persuade you? Why or why not?

• How has this book helped you understand the subject? Would you recommend the book to your reader?

Credit: UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center

Effective Reviews: Criticize with a Theme or Foil • Is an important descriptive element or tool of analysis missing?

• Is there a different way to the look at the evidence that the author overlooks or downplays?

• Offer help: In what ways could the author strengthen their argument?

• Is the whole project wrongheaded? Why?

Book Reviews: Introduction and Approach

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/book-reviews/

Elements of an Effective Introduction

• Mentions the author and title of the book.

• Describes the genre and/or theme by way of a succinct summary.

• Briefly outlines the author’s thesis or argument.

• States the reviewer’s thesis critiquing the book.

Textual Issues: Writing and Editing the Review

• Use a style guide. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (7th ed.) is the accepted standard for history.

• Review should have a logical organization, but do not include subheadings.

• Be concise and strive to flow smoothly from one section to another.

• Use first-person sparingly; you may use “I” when referring to your opinion but it should not dominate the essay.

Textual Issues: Writing and Editing the Review

• Avoid contractions in formal writing.

• Use active rather than passive voice.

• Use your spell-checker, but do not trust it. A spell-check will not catch all errors. For example: “The whole town voted too pass the amendment.”

• Proofread your paper as you write. Finish the paper, and proofread again. Read it out loud to yourself or a friend. If a sentence does not make sense, rework it. If you find an error, correct it.