| One type of learning activity that faculty commonly assign students is to select a book relevant to our course and prepare a written critique. Many instructors provide their students with clear and specific guidelines for preparing book critiques; when completing these assignments, it is always wise to pay close attention to whatever helpful information your instructor provides. Other instructors, however, allow students the freedom to write critiques in their own fashion (i.e., without providing explicit instructions); in such instances, the following suggestions may prove helpful in getting started. The comments that follow pertain primarily to critiques of non-fiction texts; they are less appropriate to assignments involving literary criticism. |
| First and foremost, when selecting a book make certain to pick a topic area that you are truly interested in learning more about; this will make completing the assignment enjoyable. It is also important to locate a text that is neither too simplistic nor too technical; seek a librarian's assistance if you are having problems finding this type of text. Locate two or more texts to select among and then skim through the Table of Contents and the first two chapters to evaluate the appropriateness of your selections. Don't be afraid to change selections if your first choice later proves to be too dull or difficult for you. |
| When reading the book, read for both comprehension and retention; as you read, take notes identifying both the author's main points and your own personal observations. Write down definitions, short quotations, etc. that you might want to refer to later. The more notes you take the better; your writing time will be reduced significantly if you have a good set of notes to work from. As you read, don't be afraid to criticize or raise questions about the material. Allow yourself ample time to prepare a careful and critical analysis; this will probably take more time than you anticipated. |
| To help begin the writing process, set aside your notes for a short period of time and begin to jot down any ideas you have about what you have read. Let the writing help you to discover your thoughts and feelings; don't worry about the quality of this writing. Write down everything that comes to mind; your thoughts need not be in complete sentence form. you might list these ideas without worrying about issues of organization or sequence. |
| Later, as you start organizing your material, it is wise to create an outline for your paper. Decide what topics will be included and then arrange these topics in a logical order. It is also helpful to insure that you have assembled enough information to write the paper. You have now finished the first half of the task and it's on to the writing of your book critique. |
| When you begin to prepare your first draft, assume that readers have not read the text; summarizing accurately the author's main points is essential. Your summary should be (a) selective (i.e., include only major points or ideas); (b) comprehensive (i.e., it should highlight the entire text and not just the first few chapters); and (c) be written in your own words (i.e., don't string together a continuous series of quotations). Remember also that a book critique is more than just a summary of the text; it is vour analysis and critical view of the material. Your analysis might identify the positive features of the book (i.e., the concepts or ideas you found most provocative, valuable, etc.) -- why you feel this way. Your analysis should also identify possible weaknesses and limitations of the text. Again, indicate why you feel this way. Sometimes it is helpful to compare this book to others written on the topic; make the comparisons as specific as possible. Indicate how this material relates to you and the life experiences you've had. When analyzing the material, cite as many specific examples as possible to illustrate your point. |
| The more you know about the topic, the more insightful your critique will be. It is helpful therefore to seek additional reading material on the topic; as you analyze the strengths and limitations of the text, this additional information should be integrated into your critique. Your critical analysis should be done thoughtfully; know that this will take time, energy, creativity, and concentration. |
| In writing the critique, it is helpful to begin with an introduction that states why the book is important. Try to capture the reader's attention and arouse his or her curiosity; sometimes a well chosen quote or an eyebrow raising statistic can help accomplish this task. Describe the critique's topic and provide a brief outline of your paper. Your outline should provide a coherent and clear structure; follow it closely. Make certain that your thoughts have also been organized within each paragraph; each sentence should lead smoothly into the next. Choose your vocabulary carefully; look for words that clearly and precisely describe your ideas. A dictionary and thesaurus are invaluable tools at this stage of writing. Pay attention to the basic rules of grammar, spelling, and proper word usage. A poorly written paper will cause a reader unnecessary difficulty (i.e., they will lose interest in what you have written). Solicit help from others (e.g., your fellow students, your instructor, the writing center) to improve your first draft; revise your critique based upon the feedback you receive. |
| Be certain to provide proper documentation for each assertion you make. The purpose of a reference or a footnote is to direct the reader to the source of the information cited. The format in which the reference is reported should be consistent with the traditional style of the subject discipline; consult the appropriate style manual (e.g., The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association; The Chicago Manual of Style). |
| Remember to end your critique with a concluding paragraph. Rather than stopping abruptly with your last thought, conclude your paper with a few brief summary remarks. |
| Two final suggestions worth your consideration are: (1) allow ample time for the assignment -- to write an adequate critique will probably require several hours of time after your reading has been completed, and (2) take pride in your work -- make your critique an indicator of the fine job you can do when you put your mind to it. |
