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The first thing to do is to look up the
Review Essay
Evaluation Sheet (PDF document).
It will tell you exactly what I am looking for in your paper and how it
will be graded. Please read it carefully, try to address each point and
dont forget to include it with your review essay. This is not only an
evaluation sheet, but also an instruction sheet.
In short, 2 sections of roughly equal length
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The papers are due by November 27, 5 PM.
There will be a drop-off box in front of Room Davis 3284. |
 Who is the
author?
What is the book
about?
Where does it
fit into the literature? (In other words, why was the book written? Is
the author answering someone else's book? Is he/she part of a larger
debate?)
What are the main
arguments?
(Dont use too
many quotes.)
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Section 2: Critical analysis |
What do you think
(dont criticize for its own sake)?
Build upon the
argumentation
Summarized earlier
Book
reviews
Other
sources (you are expected to be familiar with all the relevant suggested
readings).
At the end of your review essay, include the following 3 attachments
Appendix 1:
Marked Proposal
Appendix 2: 4
Printed Book Reviews (to clarify, I want the whole review, not just the
reference)
Appendix 3:
Review Essay Evaluation Sheet (identified)
It is
acceptable to use the "I" form in a review essay.
You can
use whatever referencing style you like as long as you are
consistent.
You can
suggest a change of topic up to, but no longer than, 4 weeks
before the final deadline.
Please
note that you have all semester to write your assignment. No
extra delay will therefore be given with the exception of a
documented
sickness that might prevent you from delivering your assignment on time.
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How do I choose a book for the review
essay? |
UofT libraries are among the best in North
America. Select a topic and see whats there.
Look up the links listed on my website.
You really dont have a clue:
Talk to me during my office hours (and dont wait too long)
My advice:
Choose an
interesting topic rather than shorter book
Look up more than
1 book before making up your mind
Single-authored
books are usually more coherent and easier to review
It is easier to
be critical when you disagree with the author.
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Locating reviews written by experts |
Finding book reviews:
University of Toronto Libraries (Click on "Book Reviews Research
Guide")
Book
Reviews Humanities and Social Sciences
Book
Reviews Sciences
Read the instructions for each database carefully. The UTL personnel have
gone to great length to help facilitate your use of these resources.
Not all indexes provide
direct links with the journals in which you will find the book reviews.
You might have to go back to the UTL
Website and look up the catalogue to find the issue of the journal
in which the book review was published.
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Some advice on research and writing |
The University of Toronto Mississauga Library staff
has compiled several links on researching and writing term papers.
Look them up.
Some additional advice from Professor Daniel
Drezner of Tufts University
On writing a
paper /
On
researching a paper
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