Comparative Book Review
Part of this course is focused on developing critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. The comparative book review assignment is designed with these goals in mind. You are to read Carol Berkins Revolutionary Mothers and Gary Nashs The Forgotten Fifth. Both seek to question and expand the historical narrative of the American Revolution. Rather than a book report that simply restates each main argument, you will analyze, critique, and wrestle with the historical arguments each historian posits. In your comparative book review you will summarize the key arguments of both texts. Then you will analyze the historical discussion between these two texts.
A successful review will first:
Summarize each authors main argument
Explain how each author supports their main argument
Provide the strengths and weaknesses of the authors argument
Compare and contrast the argument put forward
Discuss how or how not Berkin and Nash are in conversation with each other
Your comparative book review will be evaluated on the following grading scale.
Grading Scale:
Author and Title- 3 points
Be sure to include the authors and titles of the book you are reviewing
Introduction/Attention Grabber- 3 points
A brief introduction to the books that quickly grabs your readers attention
Summary- 8 points
Summary of the major arguments and plot points. Be concise, include enough information to demonstrate that you have read and understood the argument while leaving the majority of word count for your detailed analysis. Remember I care far more about your analysis than a summary of the books.
Correctly Highlighted Main Argument/Thesis- 6 points
Have you correctly indicated what each author is trying to argue?
Critical Examination of Argument- 20 points
This is the key to this assignment. Have you critically engaged with the arguments puts forth by the authors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments? Are there strengths in the authors arguments that you had not thought about before? Are there any potential problems with the argument? Do you agree with the authors conclusions?
Editing- 10 points
Have you edited your paper? Is your writing eloquent? Did you write with complete and concise sentences?
Total of 50 points
Nuts and Bolts:
12-point font
Times New Roman
Minimum word count 700 words
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