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Writing a book review
A book review looks at the quality meaning and significance of a work of literature.It is a reaction paper and focuses on purpose , content and authority in which strength and weaknesses of the material are analyzed.
Do not confuse a book report and and a book review.
Book report: Usually in middle and high school, you tell your classmates what it is about and what parts you like most of it.
Book review: Especially at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has a much higher standard. You look what the author is trying to do, evaluate it, and look for evidences to support that.
In order to do a book review you have to read the book (it shows when you do not do that)
(Read actively and critically)
Takes notes and highlight passages while reading , it will be more easier for you when you have to write your review.
After the reading process, the writing one starts.
There is no standard discipline-specific way to write a book review
A book review has two parts:
Your summary: The shortest and easiest part , you write on your own words what the book is about , restate the author’s main point and supporting details. Avoid chapter-by-chapter summary, it is important to look the chapter as a whole not as individual parts, avoid also quoting heavily from the source. It should take ¼ of your article.
Your analysis (or critique/evaluation): Most of your paper will be devoted to it. It is a hard section and a detailed evaluation of the thesis/argument/main purpose presented by the author. This look at objective strengths and weaknesses of the book of the article. It is not a matter whether you like it, you have to separate your emotional involvement. It should take ¾ of your article.
(sometimes you are asked to provide information about the author , the background ,your personal opinion)
Writing tips and issues to take into account:
-It is not necessary to work chronologically
-It is acceptable to compare the book you read with another works
-Avoid excessive and block quotes (Do not let the author write the article for you)
-Review the book in front of you not the book you wish the author had written
-Provide a balance analysis , avoid voicing strong agreement or disagreement (not all strengths or all weaknesses)
-Do not be afraid to disagree with the author
-Cite your source and examples
-Give you enough time to write , this type of articles requires time and critical thinking
-The analysis portion requires a lot of critical thinking , you need to interact with the text and ask questions , the first one of those is “Who is the audience?” “Is the author communicating affectively to that audience?”. Look at the sources that were used “Is it just the author’s opinion?” or is there a quality of sources used to back up the assertions?
-Look for the author’s preconceived notions or presuppositions
- Does the author have the necessary expertise to write this book or article?
-Does the book or article relate to other sources on the same topic?
- Does the author define and use appropriate academic terminology?
-Does the author present a clear purpose? Does he have a purpose and fulfill it?
-Does the author contribute anything new to the field?
- Does the author exhibit any bias? Does the author have any inclusive worldview or writing style?
-Are any errors in the author’s logic?
--------------------------------------------------------------
Writing Center of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A book review looks at the quality meaning and significance of a work of literature.It is a reaction paper and focuses on purpose , content and authority in which strength and weaknesses of the material are analyzed.
Do not confuse a book report and and a book review.
Book report: Usually in middle and high school, you tell your classmates what it is about and what parts you like most of it.
Book review: Especially at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and has a much higher standard. You look what the author is trying to do, evaluate it, and look for evidences to support that.
In order to do a book review you have to read the book (it shows when you do not do that)
(Read actively and critically)
Takes notes and highlight passages while reading , it will be more easier for you when you have to write your review.
After the reading process, the writing one starts.
There is no standard discipline-specific way to write a book review
A book review has two parts:
Your summary: The shortest and easiest part , you write on your own words what the book is about , restate the author’s main point and supporting details. Avoid chapter-by-chapter summary, it is important to look the chapter as a whole not as individual parts, avoid also quoting heavily from the source. It should take ¼ of your article.
Your analysis (or critique/evaluation): Most of your paper will be devoted to it. It is a hard section and a detailed evaluation of the thesis/argument/main purpose presented by the author. This look at objective strengths and weaknesses of the book of the article. It is not a matter whether you like it, you have to separate your emotional involvement. It should take ¾ of your article.
(sometimes you are asked to provide information about the author , the background ,your personal opinion)
Writing tips and issues to take into account:
-It is not necessary to work chronologically
-It is acceptable to compare the book you read with another works
-Avoid excessive and block quotes (Do not let the author write the article for you)
-Review the book in front of you not the book you wish the author had written
-Provide a balance analysis , avoid voicing strong agreement or disagreement (not all strengths or all weaknesses)
-Do not be afraid to disagree with the author
-Cite your source and examples
-Give you enough time to write , this type of articles requires time and critical thinking
-The analysis portion requires a lot of critical thinking , you need to interact with the text and ask questions , the first one of those is “Who is the audience?” “Is the author communicating affectively to that audience?”. Look at the sources that were used “Is it just the author’s opinion?” or is there a quality of sources used to back up the assertions?
-Look for the author’s preconceived notions or presuppositions
- Does the author have the necessary expertise to write this book or article?
-Does the book or article relate to other sources on the same topic?
- Does the author define and use appropriate academic terminology?
-Does the author present a clear purpose? Does he have a purpose and fulfill it?
-Does the author contribute anything new to the field?
- Does the author exhibit any bias? Does the author have any inclusive worldview or writing style?
-Are any errors in the author’s logic?
--------------------------------------------------------------
Writing Center of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
What
is a review?
A review is a critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon. Reviews can consider books, articles, entire genres or fields of literature, architecture, art, fashion, restaurants, policies, exhibitions, performances, and many other forms.
A review is a critical evaluation of a text, event, object, or phenomenon. Reviews can consider books, articles, entire genres or fields of literature, architecture, art, fashion, restaurants, policies, exhibitions, performances, and many other forms.
Above all, a review makes an argument. The
most important element of a review is that it is a commentary, not merely a
summary.
Typically, reviews are brief. Some reviews
may vary in tone, subject, and style,
they share some common features:
- First, a review gives the reader a concise summary of the
content. This includes a relevant
description of the topic as well as its overall perspective, argument, or
purpose.
- Second, and more importantly, a review offers a critical
assessment of the content. This involves
your reactions to the work under review: what strikes you as noteworthy,
whether or not it was effective or persuasive, and how it enhanced your
understanding of the issues at hand.
- Finally, in addition to analyzing the work, a review often
suggests whether or not the audience would appreciate it.
What follows is a series of questions to
focus your thinking as you dig into the work at hand:
What is the thesis—or main argument—of the book?
What exactly is the subject or topic of the book?
How does the author support her argument?
How does the author structure her argument?
How has this book helped you understand the subject?
What is the thesis—or main argument—of the book?
What exactly is the subject or topic of the book?
How does the author support her argument?
How does the author structure her argument?
How has this book helped you understand the subject?
You may
also consider some information about the author and the circumstances of the
text’s production:
-Who is the author?
-What is the book’s genre?
Writing the review
survey your notes and attempt to unify your impressions into a statement that will describe the purpose or thesis of your review.Then, outline the arguments that support your thesis.
Your arguments should develop the thesis in a logical manner
-Who is the author?
-What is the book’s genre?
Writing the review
survey your notes and attempt to unify your impressions into a statement that will describe the purpose or thesis of your review.Then, outline the arguments that support your thesis.
Your arguments should develop the thesis in a logical manner
Introduction
In general, you should include:
-The name of the author , the book title and the main theme
-Relevant details about who the author is and where he/she stands in the genre or field
-The context of the book and/or your review
-The thesis of the book
-Your thesis about the book
Summary of the content
This should be brief, as analysis takes priority.
The necessary amount of summary also depends on your audience.
Analysis and evaluation of the book
Your analysis and evaluation should be organized into paragraphs that deal with single aspects of your argument. You do not necessarily need to work chronologically through the book as you discuss it. Given the argument you want to make, you can organize your paragraphs more usefully by themes, methods, or other elements of the book.
Conclusion
Sum up or restate your thesis or make the final judgment regarding the book. You should not introduce new evidence for your argument in the conclusion.This paragraph needs to balance the book’s strengths and weaknesses in order to unify your evaluation.
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/book-reviews/
Book review: From paragraph to essay
This book, written by Maurice Imhoof and Herman Hudson in 1976, is for advance learners of English who are interested or required to get involved in academic writing. “From paragraph to essay” provides an explanation of different kinds of paragraphs , for example paragraphs by listing, examples, comparison, contrast, definition and classification, and also gives some examples and questions in order to recognize them and put in practice the theory you read in the book at the beginning of each chapter.
I consider that this work is very helpful for everybody who wants to write a well-written paper. It tackles not only with theory and definitions but also with practical issues, for example you will require to answer questions , choose the best option , complete and finish an idea , put some statements in order, among others. It shows that the authors wants to make sure that the reader comprehends the explanations , but also fully understand them by plenty of exercises. Something I find it very fruitful is the fact that many examples of the same paragraph are provided, it allows the reader to compare the different examples and see whether the information stated before is shown in them. Another aspect that is beneficial is the organization of the book, its well organized structure is very profitable for students because firstly the definition of each paragraph is given and then a range of different kinds of exercises. I do not find any negative aspect regarding this book , but it seems quiet old and today may be obsolete, maybe an update of it adding information could be very advantageous.
In conclusion, I think that this book can help a lot of people to improve their writings . Many times it occurs that papers are messy and it is really hard to understand it, a good solution is reading this work in order to learn how to organize your paragraphs and have an absolutely well-written essay.
