Book review essay

Book review essay

Book Review Essay Examples,Similar Topics

WebOct 13,  · Book Review: A Review Of A Book Review. Book reviews are just that: a review of a book. They can be used for news articles, blogs, or academic journals. A WebA book review is a description, critical analysis, and an evaluation on the quality, meaning, and significance of a book, not a retelling. It should focus on the book’s purpose, WebJan 25,  · A multiple book review essay involves assessing the quality of two or more books that cover the same overall subject area [e.g., analysis of the European debt WebJon Klassen Reviews the Most Complete Collection to Date of Eric Carle’s Animal Art Klassen had been influenced by the quietly revolutionary artist before Carle made a WebFeb 3,  · The three parts of a book review are: 1. Provide a Summary What is the book about? Write about the main characters and what is the conflict that is discussed in ... read more

Sharing these details will help your audience form their own opinion of whether they would enjoy reading the book. For example:. The writing was rough, with especially awkward dialogue, but I thought the premise of the story was brilliant. After sharing your praise and critique, let your audience know your conclusions. Who do you think would enjoy this book? Did you personally dislike it because of the time travel paradoxes, but think that folks who like a good space opera would have fun with it? Is this the 16th book in a series that was starting to grow stale, and you were pleasantly surprised by some new characters? Most review sites provide a star rating system.

Let your audience know your rationale for choosing a particular rating. We still want to hear from you! Let us know what you want to know how to write! How To Write a Book Review Joanna Cutrara. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. Why is it important? In most scholarly works, the author s will state the purpose of their book in the preface or in an introductory chapter. Look for common themes or points of divergence among the books. If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author's own words or if you find that the thesis statement is not well-developed, then you will have to compose your own introductory thesis statement that does cover all the material.

The comparative thesis statement will vary in length depending on the number and complexity of the books under review. Regardless of length, it must be succinct, accurate, unbiased, and clear. If you find it difficult to discern the overall aims and objectives of each book [and, be sure to point this out in your review if you believe it to be a deficiency], you may arrive at an understanding of the purpose by asking yourself a the following questions:. A useful strategy to help organize your thoughts is to create a table with a column for each book and rows for each question. Enter your answer to each book in the chart. When completed, you'll have an easy guide to how each author has addressed the questions. NOTE: Your thesis statement underpins the purpose of your review and helps the reader understand how the books are related.

However, while a book review essay should evaluate books about the same topic [e. If this is the case, then the thesis could, for example, center around the diversity of issues scholars have chosen to examine a topic or the fractured nature of scholarship on the subject. ANOTHER NOTE : Your thesis statement should include the rationale for why the key points you highlight or compare and contrast among the books being reviewed were deliberate and meaningful and not random. Explain their significance. Methods of Organizing the Essay. Organization is critical to writing an essay that compares and contrasts multiple works because you will most likely be discussing a variety of evidence and you must be certain that the logic and narrative flow of your paper can be understood by the reader.

Here are some general guidelines to consider:. There are two general methods of organizing your multiple book review essay. If you believe one work extends another, you'll probably use the block method; if you find that two or more works are essentially engaged in a debate or examine a topic from different perspectives, the point-by-point method will help draw attention to the conflict. However, the point-by-point method can come off as a rhetorical ping-pong match. You can avoid this effect by grouping more than one point together, thereby cutting down on the number of times you alternate from one work to another. No matter which method you choose, you do not need to give equal time to similarities and differences.

In fact, your paper will be more interesting if you state your main argument s as quickly as possible. The rest of the essay, whether organized by block method or point-by-point, will be your analysis of the key differences among the books. The Block Method Present all the information about A, and then present parallel information about B. This pattern tends to work better for shorter book review essays, and those with few sub-topics. The method looks like this:. Introduction A. Briefly introduce the significance of the overall subject matter B.

Thesis Statement --First supporting point --Second supporting point --Third supporting point II. First book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point III. Second book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point IV. Third book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point V. Conclusion A.

Restate thesis B. Briefly summarize how you proved your argument The Point-by-Point Method Present one point about A, and then go to the parallel point about B. Move to the next point, and do the same thing. This pattern tends to work better for long book review essays and those with many sub-topics. Briefly introduce significance of overall subject matter B. Thesis statement II. Brief explanation of first book III. Brief explanation of second book IV. First comparative point A. Relation of point to first book B. Relation of point to second book V. Second comparative point A. Relation of point to second book VI. Third comparative point A. Relation of point to second book VII.

Briefly summarize how your proved your argument. Critically Evaluate the Contents. Regardless of whether you choose the block method or the point-by-point method, critical comments should form the bulk of your book review essay. State whether or not you feel the author's treatment of the subject matter is appropriate for the intended audience. Ask yourself:. Support your evaluation with evidence from the text of each book and, when possible, in relation to other sources. If relevant, make note of each book's format, such as, layout, binding, typography, etc. Are there maps, illustrations? Do they aid in understanding the research problem? This is particular important in books that contain a lot of non-textual elements, such as tables, charts, pictures, and illustrations.

Examine the Front Matter and Back Matter. Front matter refers to anything before the first chapter of the book. Back matter refers to any information included after the final chapter of the book. Front matter is most often numbered separately from the rest of the text in lower case Roman numerals [i. i-xi ]. Critical commentary about front or back matter is generally only necessary if you believe there is something that diminishes the overall quality of the work [e. The following front matter may be included in a book and may be considered for evaluation when reviewing its overall quality:.

The following back matter may be included in a book and may be considered for evaluation when reviewing the overall quality of the book:. NOTE: Typically, multiple book review essays do not compare and contrast the quality of the back and front matter unless the books share a common deficiency [e. Summarize and Comment. Your conclusion should synthesize the key similarities and differences among the books and their collective contributions to understanding of the research problem. Avoid re-stating your assessment word for word; your goal is to provide a sense of closure and to leave the reader with a final perspective about the overall topic under review and whether you believe each book has effectively contributed to the overall research literature on the subject.

Do not introduce new information in the conclusion. If you've compared the books to any other studies or used other sources in writing the review, be sure to cite them at the end of your book review essay. University of Western Ontario; Rhetorical Strategies: Comparison and Contrast. Hunter College; Hartley, James. Apples to Oranges: Writing a Compare and Contrast Paper. Webster University; Oinas, Päivi and Samuli Leppälä. It looks like you're using Internet Explorer 11 or older. This website works best with modern browsers such as the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you continue with this browser, you may see unexpected results. USC Libraries Research Guides Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments Multiple Book Review Essay Search this Guide Search.

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments This guide describes how to successfully complete specific assignments commonly assigned in social sciences and behavioral sciences courses. Home Annotated Bibliography Analyzing a Scholarly Journal Article Giving an Oral Presentation Toggle Dropdown Group Presentations Dealing with Nervousness Using Visual Aids Grading Someone Else's Paper How to Manage Group Projects Toggle Dropdown Types of Structured Group Activities Group Project Survival Skills Leading a Class Discussion Writing a Book Review Multiple Book Review Essay Reviewing Collected Works Writing a Case Analysis Paper Writing a Case Study Writing a Field Report Toggle Dropdown About Informed Consent Writing Field Notes Writing a Policy Memo Writing a Reflective Paper Writing a Research Proposal Acknowledgments.

Definition A multiple book review essay involves assessing the quality of two or more books that cover the same overall subject area [e. How to Approach Writing Your Review Developing an Assessment Strategy An important first step in approaching how to write a review of two or more books is to identify and think critically about the research problem that ties each of the books together. Here are a series of questions to focus your thinking: What is the thesis—or main argument—of each 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 each book? Does the author cover the subject adequately? Does the author cover all aspects of the subject in a balanced fashion? Can you detect any biases? What is the approach to the subject [topical, historical, analytical, chronological, descriptive]? How does the author of each book support his or her argument? What evidence [i. 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 about the research problem under study?

How does the author structure their argument? What are the parts that make up the whole? Does the argument make sense to you? Does it persuade you? Were there any questions left unanswered? Were limitations to the study effectively addressed? How has each book helped you understand the subject? Would you recommend the books to others? In what ways have the books collectively expanded your understanding of the research problem? Beyond the content of the book, you may also consider some information about each author and the circumstances of the text's production: Who is the author? Nationality, political persuasion, education, intellectual interests, personal history, and historical context may provide crucial details about how a work takes shape.

Does it matter, for example, that the author is affiliated with a particular organization? What difference would it make if the author participated in the events he or she writes about? What other topics has the author written about? Does this work build on prior research or does it seem to represent a new area of research? What is each book's genre? Out of what discipline do they emerge? Do they conform to or depart from the conventions of its genre? These questions can provide a historical or other contextual standard upon which to base your evaluations. If you are reviewing a book described as the first book ever written on the subject, it will be important for your readers to know this.

Structure and Writing Style I. Bibliographic Information Provide the essential information about each book using the writing style asked for by your professor [e. In general, they would be arranged alphabetically by title and look like this: Racing the Storm: Racial Implications and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina. Reviewed by [your full name] II.

A multiple book review essay involves assessing the quality of two or more books that cover the same overall subject area [e. The review is written in the form of a short scholarly paper [essay] rather than as a descriptive book review. The purpose is to compare and contrast the works under review, to identify key themes and critical issues, and to evaluate each writer's contributions to understanding the overarching topics common to each book. Professors assign reviews of multiple books to help students gain experience critically evaluating the ways in which different researchers examine and interpret issues related to a specific research problem.

Erwin, R. Joseph M. Moxley and Todd Taylor. Lanham, MD: Roman and Littlefield, , pp. Developing an Assessment Strategy. An important first step in approaching how to write a review of two or more books is to identify and think critically about the research problem that ties each of the books together. This information is usually summarized in the preface or introductory chapter of each book. The challenge is to develop an argument about each book you are reviewing and then clearly compare, contrast, and ultimately synthesize your analysis into an well organized and well supported essay. Think of a multiple book review essay as a type of compare and contrast paper similar to what you may have written for a general issue-oriented composition class. As you read through each book, write down questions concerning what you want to know about each book and answer them as you read [remember to note the page numbers from the book you got the information from so you can refer back it later!

Which questions to ask yourself will depend upon the type of books you are reviewing and how the books are related to each other. Here are a series of questions to focus your thinking:. Beyond the content of the book, you may also consider some information about each author and the circumstances of the text's production:. Bazerman, Charles. Comparing and Synthesizing Sources. The Informed Writer: Using Sources in the Disciplines. Writing CSU. Colorado State University; Comparing and Contrasting. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Comparison and Contrast Essays.

Writing Support Centre. University of Western Ontario; Hartley, James. How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Paper. Writing Center. Princeton Writing Program; Rhetorical Strategies: Comparison and Contrast. The Comparative Essay. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre. CLRC Writing Center. Santa Barbara City College. Bibliographic Information. Provide the essential information about each book using the writing style asked for by your professor [e. Depending on how your professor wants you to organize your review, the bibliographic information represents the heading of your review. In general, they would be arranged alphabetically by title and look like this:.

Racing the Storm: Racial Implications and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina. Hillary Potter, ed. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, David L. Brunsma, David Overfelt, and J. Steven Picou, eds. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, Through the Eye of Katrina: Social Justice in the United States. Kristin A. Bates and Richelle S. Swan, eds. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, Reviewed by [your full name]. Thesis Statement. The thesis statement of an essay that compares and contrasts multiple works should contain an idea or claim that unites the discussion of each text under review.

It should include the argument that will be advanced in support of the claims being made. To begin, ask yourself: What is the overarching subject or issue that ties together all of the books? Why is it important? In most scholarly works, the author s will state the purpose of their book in the preface or in an introductory chapter. Look for common themes or points of divergence among the books. If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author's own words or if you find that the thesis statement is not well-developed, then you will have to compose your own introductory thesis statement that does cover all the material. The comparative thesis statement will vary in length depending on the number and complexity of the books under review.

Regardless of length, it must be succinct, accurate, unbiased, and clear. If you find it difficult to discern the overall aims and objectives of each book [and, be sure to point this out in your review if you believe it to be a deficiency], you may arrive at an understanding of the purpose by asking yourself a the following questions:. A useful strategy to help organize your thoughts is to create a table with a column for each book and rows for each question. Enter your answer to each book in the chart. When completed, you'll have an easy guide to how each author has addressed the questions. NOTE: Your thesis statement underpins the purpose of your review and helps the reader understand how the books are related. However, while a book review essay should evaluate books about the same topic [e.

If this is the case, then the thesis could, for example, center around the diversity of issues scholars have chosen to examine a topic or the fractured nature of scholarship on the subject. ANOTHER NOTE : Your thesis statement should include the rationale for why the key points you highlight or compare and contrast among the books being reviewed were deliberate and meaningful and not random. Explain their significance. Methods of Organizing the Essay. Organization is critical to writing an essay that compares and contrasts multiple works because you will most likely be discussing a variety of evidence and you must be certain that the logic and narrative flow of your paper can be understood by the reader.

Here are some general guidelines to consider:. There are two general methods of organizing your multiple book review essay. If you believe one work extends another, you'll probably use the block method; if you find that two or more works are essentially engaged in a debate or examine a topic from different perspectives, the point-by-point method will help draw attention to the conflict. However, the point-by-point method can come off as a rhetorical ping-pong match. You can avoid this effect by grouping more than one point together, thereby cutting down on the number of times you alternate from one work to another. No matter which method you choose, you do not need to give equal time to similarities and differences.

In fact, your paper will be more interesting if you state your main argument s as quickly as possible. The rest of the essay, whether organized by block method or point-by-point, will be your analysis of the key differences among the books. The Block Method Present all the information about A, and then present parallel information about B. This pattern tends to work better for shorter book review essays, and those with few sub-topics. The method looks like this:. Introduction A. Briefly introduce the significance of the overall subject matter B. Thesis Statement --First supporting point --Second supporting point --Third supporting point II. First book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point III.

Second book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point IV. Third book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point V. Conclusion A. Restate thesis B. Briefly summarize how you proved your argument The Point-by-Point Method Present one point about A, and then go to the parallel point about B. Move to the next point, and do the same thing. This pattern tends to work better for long book review essays and those with many sub-topics. Briefly introduce significance of overall subject matter B.

Thesis statement II.

Essays on Book Review,What to Include in Your Book Review

WebFeb 3,  · The three parts of a book review are: 1. Provide a Summary What is the book about? Write about the main characters and what is the conflict that is discussed in WebJan 25,  · A multiple book review essay involves assessing the quality of two or more books that cover the same overall subject area [e.g., analysis of the European debt WebOct 13,  · Book Review: A Review Of A Book Review. Book reviews are just that: a review of a book. They can be used for news articles, blogs, or academic journals. A WebA Reflection on The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Essay words | 4 Pages Alchemist is novel on the struggle of a young Andalusian shepherd named, Santiago, written by Paulo WebBook Review: How Did Martin Luther King Changed the World The book that I read was titled, Martin Luther King Jr.:Fulfilling a Dream, written by Jacqueline Conciatore Senter. WebA book review is a description, critical analysis, and an evaluation on the quality, meaning, and significance of a book, not a retelling. It should focus on the book’s purpose, ... read more

In this heartrending piece, Rana Bitar highlighted the impact of war on people and Women rarely had power and most systems were patriarchal. Share any general information about the book that is important for readers to know. Writing a book review is a great way to let fellow readers know about an exciting new page-turner—or give a heads up that a book might not meet expectations. Stark uses a quantitative approach to explain his theories on how Christians could have gained so many converts without miraculous methods. Gloria Jean Watkins, better known as Bell Hooks, is a prominent figure not only in literature, but also in feminist and civil rights movements.

A critical book review is not a book report or a summary. The Glass Castle Book Review Forgiveness. It is also encouraged to include your own point-of-view and the way you interpret the quote, book review essay. Book Review: Bold Tricks By Karina Halle. Does it reflect the true contents of the book? The Power of Book review essay by Eckhart Tolle Book Review A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment is a self help book that is a shortened route to spiritual enlightenment.