Book Review & Research Paper

BOOK REVIEW REQUIREMENTS & FORMAT

Use standard margins and Times New Roman 12-pt font.  Double spaced.  Page numbers in the upper right corner.  You must have a works cited page.  Name period and date must be in the left corner of the first page.  No folders or report covers.

For footnotes and the works cited page, use Chicago Style which you will find at the following website:  http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

 

This book will be chosen in consultation with Mr. Turnbull.  Take advantage of online search tools for the San Antonio Public Library and the St. Phillip’s library.  As you search, remember that you want a work by a single author that examines your topic and does so at a university level.  Do not choose novels, edited volumes, or illustrated books.

 

Completing a Book Review

This is not a book report but a critical review of a professional work that demonstrates a student’s ability to write clearly, use good grammar and punctuation, analyze the material in a concise manner, and offer their thoughts on the validity of the work.

 

Read the Entire Book

Authors do not always accomplish the task they set out to do, do you cannot rely on the preface or introduction.  Part of your task is to evaluate how well the author proves his/her point.  Read the entire text.

You must tell me the most important information so that I will clearly understand your analysis of the book’s argument, the evidence the author presents, and your reaction to the work as a whole.

 

Student Expectations

1. Briefly summarize the work
2. Describe the author’s argument or thesis
3. Analyze the evidence
4. Compare the presentation of information in your book to the presentation of the information in 3 other works on the same topic by historians
5. Give your reaction to the book

 

OUTLINE

1. Introduction

In this paragraph, you should briefly summarize the book.  Do not simply rewrite the table of contents.  Tell what the book is about.  Most importantly, tell what you think of the book and why.  In the last sentence of the introduction, tell whether the author succeeded/failed in proving their point and—most importantly—why.  This is YOUR thesis.  Use the review to prove the point you lay out in the thesis statement.

 

2. Analysis
   1. Thesis

Begin your paragraph with a dynamic topic sentence that tells the reader what is coming in the paragraph and why it matters.  When you tell your reader what you are going to talk about, you describe the “what.”  When you explain “why” it matters, now you analyze.  Be sure to start your paragraph with a topic sentence that tells your reader the “what” and “why.”

 

In this paragraph you need to carefully summarize the author’s argument, or thesis.  Explain what the author is trying to prove.  Generally, authors are explicit and will state their purpose up front, but they are not always so helpful.  Many times you have to read closely to understand their purpose.

 

1. 2. Evidence (Have as many evidence sections as you need)

Begin your paragraph with a dynamic topic sentence that tells the reader what is coming in the paragraph and why it matters.  When you tell your reader what you are going to talk about, you describe the “what.”  When you explain “why” it matters, now you analyze.  Be sure to start your paragraph with a topic sentence that tells your reader the “what” and “why.”

 

Here is where you get to play detective.  In the next two paragraphs, you must examine the evidence the author uses.  Does the author prove his/her point?  If so, how?  In not, why not?  Give some examples.  They may do a good job in some areas but not in others.  If this is the case, give examples and explain why.

 

1. 3. Comparison

Begin your paragraph with a dynamic topic sentence that tells the reader what is coming in the paragraph and why it matters.  When you tell your reader what you are going to talk about, you describe the “what.”  When you explain “why” it matters, now you analyze.  Be sure to start your paragraph with a topic sentence that tells your reader the “what” and “why.”

 

This is where you briefly tell what the authors of three secondary sources have to say on the subject of your book.  Secondary sources are books and articles written at a later time, usually by historians who were not participants in the vent.  Encyclopedias and general information sites such as The History Channel, Wikipedia, and History.com are not considered scholarly works and will not be accepted as secondary sources.

 

Then, compare the accounts in your secondary sources with what you learned from your book.  Did the book support or contradict what you read in your secondary sources?  What did you learn that was new?  Give examples from each book to support your comparison.  Demonstrate your points by quoting from your book and the secondary source you are comparing it to.

 

1. 4. Reaction

Begin your paragraph with a dynamic topic sentence that tells the reader what is coming in the paragraph and why it matters.  When you tell your reader what you are going to talk about, you describe the “what.”  When you explain “why” it matters, now you analyze.  Be sure to start your paragraph with a topic sentence that tells your reader the “what” and “why.”

 

This is the most important part of your book review.  In this section, you must describe your reaction to the book.  Do you agree or disagree with the book’s conclusions?  Did you detect any biases on the part of the author?  If so, quote some examples.  How could you have improved the book?  Did you like the book?  Why or why not?  Explain.  Give some examples.  Would you recommend this book?  Again, why or why not?  Explain.  Again, give examples.

 

3. Summary

 

Begin your paragraph with a dynamic topic sentence that tells the reader what is coming in the paragraph and why it matters.  When you tell your reader what you are going to talk about, you describe the “what.”  When you explain “why” it matters, now you analyze.  Be sure to start your paragraph with a topic sentence that tells your reader the “what” and “why.”

 

In this paragraph, you must summarize your paper.  Briefly restate your purpose; the author’s thesis; and your evaluation of the evidence.  Finally, you should conclude by answering the following question: how did this book help you to better understand life in the past?

 

SOME TIPS ON WRITING

Begin your paragraph with a dynamic topic sentence that tells the reader what is coming in the paragraph and why it matters.  When you tell your reader what you are going to talk about, you describe the “what.”  When you explain “why” it matters, now you analyze.  Be sure to start your paragraph with a topic sentence that tells your reader the “what” and “why.”

Each paragraph should be at least six, but not more than 12 lines long—not sentences, but lines on the page.  Each paragraph is a mini-paper.  Make the first sentence of each paragraph an introduction to that paragraph.  Tell your reader what to expect in the paragraph.  This is called the topic sentence.  Summarize your point at the end of the paragraph, like the conclusion of a paper.  In between, give lots of evidence to prove your point.

Make your sentences active.  Fill your review with verbs that move the reader along from point to point.  Writing that relies on the verb “to be”—is, was, are, etc.—quickly becomes repetitious and will not convince your reader.  I do not expect you to eliminate the verb “to be” entirely, but come very close.

Quotes help spice up a paper by giving the reader the flavor of the book.  So, include quotations where appropriate to illustrate your points.  Using quotes helps to establish your understanding of the key themes, events, person, etc., in your book.  Hence, the use of quotes constitutes a substantial portion of your final grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH PAPER REQUIREMENTS & FORMAT

Use standard margins and Times New Roman 12-pt font.  Double spaced.  Page numbers in the upper right corner.  You must have a works cited page.  Name period and date must be in the left corner of the first page.  No folders or report covers.

For footnotes and the works cited page, use Chicago Style which you will find at the following website:  http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

 

What is your historical question? Remember, this is what you are answering in your paper! Keep this in mind as you work on your outline.

 

 

What is your thesis statement? Remember your thesis is a concise, typically single sentence, answer to a historical question that contains multiple distinct claims. Your thesis is a summary of your claims and will identify the overall structure that your paper will follow.

 

Directions: What follows is a step-by-step outline for your research paper. Always remember to use quotation marks (" ") when you write down exactly what the author has written and, if you plan to paraphrase, make sure it is in your own words.

Be sure to cite any time you use someone else's words (quotation) or ideas (paraphrase). It is extremely important to do this, so that you do not find yourself frantically searching for where you found your information at the same time that you are trying to write your paper.

                         

                                                            Part I: Introduction

 

1. Establish the setting of your paper (2-3 sentences). Establish the setting by explaining the time and place of your topic and any other basic background knowledge that would be important to your paper.

 

2. Raise your historical question (1-3 sentences). These sentences should connect to the basic background information to your historical question.
3. Thesis Statement (1 sentence, 3-4 claims). Since the thesis is the direct answer to your historical question, and you have already asked it in the previous step, it is logical that the thesis will follow. Write your thesis statement below.

 

                                                    Part II: Claim 1 (Multiple  Paragraphs)

What is your 1^st claim?

                                                        1^st paragraph: Introduce and Explain Claim

1. Write a topic sentence that summarizes one claim from the thesis (1 sentence)
2. Write several sentences that explain why or how your first claim happened (2-3 sentences)

                                             2^nd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                  3^rd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                4^th Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                Part III: Claim 2 (Multiple Paragraphs)

What is your 2^nd claim?

                                                        1^st paragraph: Introduce and Explain Claim

1. Write a topic sentence that summarizes one claim from the thesis (1 sentence)
2. Write several sentences that explain why or how your first claim happened (2-3 sentences)

                                             2^nd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                  3^rd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                4^th Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                  Part IV: Claim 3 (Multiple Paragraphs)

What is your 3^rd claim?

                                                        1^st paragraph: Introduce and Explain Claim

1. Write a topic sentence that summarizes one claim from the thesis (1 sentence)
2. Write several sentences that explain why or how your first claim happened (2-3 sentences)

                                             2^nd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                  3^rd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                4^th Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                 Part V: Claim 4 (Multiple Paragraphs)

What is your 3^rd claim?

                                                        1^st paragraph: Introduce and Explain Claim

1. Write a topic sentence that summarizes one claim from the thesis (1 sentence)
2. Write several sentences that explain why or how your first claim happened (2-3 sentences)

                                             2^nd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                  3^rd Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                4^th Paragraph: Present and Explain Evidence for claim

1. Write a topic sentence that states one reason the claim is accurate (1 sentence)
2. Write down 1-2 pieces of evidence (quotation or paraphrase) and explain how the evidence prove your claim. Be sure to cite your evidence. (author, last name, page#)

                                                 Part VI: Conclusion

Finish the story you have told. Wrap up any loose ends in the story. You could talk about the later days of key figures you talked about or reference the aftermath of an important event you covered.

 

        Summarize the evidence for the claims and restate your thesis.

        Raise other questions your research suggests or questions you have.