1.Describe the contents of the book (what the book is about, topics it covers, etc.). However, you must also provide an analysis of the book: what you think about it? Do you want others to read the book? Is the book not worth a reader’s time? Note: I expect you to know the difference between a general opinionand an informed opinion. You book review should not be based simply on what you feel; everyone has an opinion on just about everything. But what is the basis of their opinion. Your informed opinion is based in evidence. You evidence is the text of RaceBecomes Tomorrowor some other relevant book or article. 2.What’s the structure of the book? (e.g., how many chapters, sections or parts, etc.)3.Highlight important features of the book (new perspectives, unique or distinctive insights, etc.)4.Identify strengths and weaknesses of the book (e.g., readability, writing style, impact, appeal to target audience, contributions, etc.).5.Is the book appropriate for a first year undergraduate student like yourself? Why or why not? HAS TO BE 750 WORDS OR LESS OR AROUND 750 NOT TO MUCH HIGER OR LOWER AND I WILL PROVIDE THE BOOK
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Assignment #4
ANTH 89 – Race, Racialization, Blackness
Spring 2019
Essay Due: April 30, 2019, 12pm – 3 pm
Maximum Points: 20
Writing a useful book review is an important ability to develop. Writing a useful book
review, of course, depends on one’s ability to read and understand a given book. Your
final writing assignment is a review of Gerald Sider’s book Race Becomes Tomorrow.
Please note that you are writing a book review not a book report. You must do more
than show that you read the book. You must show that you understand the book and
understand what others can learn (or not learn) from the reading the book. Your job is to
assist prospective readers in making an informed decision as to whether to read the
book after reading your review.
The maximum length of your book review should be 750 words. You must obey this
instruction. Book reviews are usually limited to a specific number of words in order to
meet the space requirements of journals, magazines, or other media.
Failure to follow instructions will adversely affect your grade. Make sure to:
❖ Write multiple drafts of your review (use the writing tools I introduced you to;
visit the writing lab if you need)
❖ Write clearly
❖ Make sure you carefully proofread your review before handing it in (consider
reading it aloud; have someone read a draft of your review)
❖ Number your pages
❖ Double space your review
❖ Do not exceed the word limit
❖ Write your name at the end of the review; do not put your name in a page header.
I want you to be anonymous until I complete the review.
❖ Put a copy of your book review in your Sakai Dropbox. Bring hard copy to class on
Final Examination day, April 30 (or before).
While there are many ways to approach and write a book review, I offer some
general guidelines tailored to you as a first-year student (for instance, academic book
reviews often address how the author’s book relates to other relevant books and topics.
However, as a FYS student you may not yet be prepared to conduct such an
assessment):
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1.
Describe the contents of the book (what the book is about, topics it covers, etc.).
However, you must also provide an analysis of the book: what you think about it?
Do you want others to read the book? Is the book not worth a reader’s time?
Note: I expect you to know the difference between a general opinion and an
informed opinion. You book review should not be based simply on what you feel;
everyone has an opinion on just about everything. But what is the basis of their
opinion. Your informed opinion is based in evidence. You evidence is the text of
Race Becomes Tomorrow or some other relevant book or article.
2.
What’s the structure of the book? (e.g., how many chapters, sections or parts,
etc.)
3.
Highlight important features of the book (new perspectives, unique or distinctive
insights, etc.)
4.
Identify strengths and weaknesses of the book (e.g., readability, writing style,
impact, appeal to target audience, contributions, etc.).
5.
Is the book appropriate for a first year undergraduate student like yourself? Why
or why not?
Additional Tips:
Think of your book review as a story and try to tell it as such
Mention the author and book title early in the review; get to the main focus of the
book right away
As often as you can, restrain yourself to making a single main point per paragraph
Support your points and opinions. Do not say, “I really dislike this book because it is
difficult to read,” or “I highly recommend this book because it is fun,” without
explaining why or providing illustrative examples
Quote the author to support or illustrate your points. Depending on the quotes that
you use, you can use them to provide a sense of the author’s style
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Additional Guidance:
UNC-Chapel Hill Online Writing Lab
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/book-reviews/
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/704/1/
Evaluation (15.6 =78 or c+)
__ 1 Author & title mentioned early in review
__ 4 Clear sentences, good word choice, few errors
__ 4 Describes book well enough for a reader to know what the book is about without
reading it
__ 3 Identifies strengths & weaknesses of the book
__ 2 Reviewer relates experience of the book
__ 2 Uses at least two quotes from book
__ 2 Uses at least three illustrative examples from book
__ 2 Professor’s evaluation & latitude
4/29/17; 5/8/17; 4/26/18;
…
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