Essay Instructions: Book Critique Guidelines
*This assignment is not a book review, but a critique.
The following content should be addressed, but not necessarily in the following order
1. Who is the author? What are his/her credentials?
• What makes this author credible, are they a professor or government official, or is the author also the main subject of the book?
2. When was the book published?
3. What is the time frame or setting in the book?
4. Can you identify the thesis, if so what is it?
• What is the author’s argument or agenda? Why is the author writing the book or telling the story?
• Do you believe the argument?
5. What sources does the author depend upon most?
• Are they primary sources, secondary sources?
• If there are not sources listed then do you know if the story is fact or fiction?
6. Identify major themes in the book (i.e. escape from slavery, loss of faith, transformation of author, etc.)
7. Was this book an interesting read?
• If not, where could the author improve?
• Any significant flaws with the book?
• What did you really like about the book?
8. Place the book in historical context. Does the book reflect ideas that we have learned in class?
• How does it fit into the course? (Work in major events surrounding subject matter within the book)
• Did you come across information that was new and should be worked into the lecture material?
Additional (format-related) grade point criteria
Meets length requirements
Title page, page numbers on each page
Works cited page complete with proper requirements
Page references used must be used within the paper to support your argument, evidence, or examples. REMEMBER, citing the book means including references when making any major contribution, not just when quoting. Grammar, 10-12 pt. font
Tips to Consider:
1. If you find that you have met all the requirements but still have space to fill, then you should elaborate on the book. This includes discussing details or highlighting specific moments that caught your attention. However, aim first to meet the guidelines.
2. Do not use outside (internet) resources: Outside resources are not necessary; this is not a research paper. my grade will be penalized for including information that did not come from the book.
i have listed all book choice but you just pick any one book from this list but no other.
Book Choices
Read one of the following books and write a 3 page paper with a works cited page.
1. Chaning, Slavery
2. Craft, Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom
3 . DuBois, Feminism and suffrage: the emergence of an independent women?s movement in America, 1848-1869
4. Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
5 . Oates, Nat Turner's Rebellion
6 . McLaurin's Celia, A Slave
7 . Ruiz, The Mexican War; Was it Manifest Destiny?
8 . Stewart, Holy Warriors: The Abolitionists and American Slavery
9 .Calloway, World Turned Upside Down
10. Rakove, Declaring Rights, Brief History with Documents
11 .Barth, Lewis and Clark Expedition
12. Sklar, Women’s Rights Emerges….Anti-Slavery
13 .Finkelman, Defending Slavery
14. Peabody, Slavery, Freedom, and Law in Atlantic World
please just use from this list pick any one book from this list.