Book Review
Task
Students will choose a book from the list of options. You will read the book, keeping in mind the learning objectives for the course. In a written paper, you will provide a summary and critique of the book, discussing how it addresses the guiding questions for the course and discussing how it affected your thinking about schools.
Paper
A feature of a good book review is the reviewer’s ability to write concisely so that a comprehensive evaluation of the book can be obtained from a brief reading. So, do not write more, write more concisely — find creative ways to communicate your critical evaluation of the book in a short essay. Book reviews are typically less than 1000 words (roughly 2-3 pages) in length.
The purpose of a book review is not to summarize the book, rather to evaluate the author’s purpose, thesis, contentions, and methods of analysis. The review will serve to evaluate the author’s claims and will be a commentary on the book’s contribution to our understanding of important issues in education.
Basic Structure of a book review:
Introduction
Summary of Content
Analysis and Evaluation of the book
Conclusion[unique_solution]
Resources for writing book reviews:
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/CriNonfiction.html
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/book-reviews/
Outstanding – 3 | Acceptable-2 | Needs Improvement-1 | Unsatisfactory-0 | |
Introduction | Title and author listed. Introduction is attention-getting and provides relevant information. Discusses genre and details. Star ranking designated. Strong catchphrase. | Title and author listed. Includes genre and details. Star ranking designated. Solid catchphrase is designated and/or catchphrase. | Title and author are not immediately mentioned, but are eventually provided. Missing or random star ranking and/or catchphrase.
| Title and/or author is omitted. Missing star designation and catchphrase.
|
Summary | Summary consists of a discussion of major themes, ideas, and characters providing exemplary ideas from the work. It includes very strong opinions and new ideas using your own words. Summary does not give away too much.
| Summary consists of a discussion of major themes, ideas, and/or characters with some opinion and new ideas from the work. Summary does not give away key events, but may lack detail. | Summary consists of a discussion of major themes, ideas or character. There is little opinion or mention of new ideas. Summary reveals ending of novel (too much) and/or lacks details.
| Summary is mostly an outline of the book and does not discuss opinion or new ideas. Summary reveals too much, in general, or entirely lacks an overview.
|
Critique | Critique consists of thoughts, responses and reaction to the novel. The student reviewer reacts to the themes, the author’s aims or intent, the subject of the book, how well it is written and overall success or failure of the book. | Critique consists of thoughts, responses and reaction to the novel. The student reviewer may discuss only two aspects, for example, themes and writer’s style. There is not a thorough review of various aspects.
| Critique consists of thoughts, responses and reaction to the novel. The student may discuss only one aspect of the novel, such as themes. This review just states, ‘Well, I liked it.” or ‘Well, I hated it.” It lacks a critical eye. | Critique consists of a basic opinion based on personal feeling of “I liked it” or “I hated it” and is not considered a critique because it does not focus on themes, author’s intent, or writer’s style. |
Organization & Voice | Structure of the paper flows and is easily read because of smooth transitions from paragraph to paragraph. The sequence of topics is in logical order. There is a clear cut introduction, body, and conclusion. Your creative voice is strong. | Structure of the paper flows and is easily read, but 1 or 2 transitions may be faulty or missing. There is some illogical order in sequence of topics. There is a clear cut introduction, body and conclusion. Your voice is solid.
| Structure of the paper does NOT follow a logical order. The writing or ideas may “jump” around; it is not cohesive. there is not a clear introduction, or conclusion. Review lacks your voice. | Structure of the paper does NOT follow a logical order. There are no transitional phrases that make it easy to read the paper…OR… review is just a copying of the text. No voice at all. |
Mechanics & Language | Uses complete sentences and a variety of sentence types. Vibrant, effective vocabulary included. | Uses complete sentences and a variety of sentence types. Word choice is effective. | There are 1-2 incomplete sentences or fragments. There are also run-on sentences. Basic word choice.
| There are more than 2 incomplete sentences or fragments. There are more than 2 run-ons. Dull words. |
Book List
Adequate Yearly Progress by Roxanna Elden (Novel)
Justice on Both Sides: Transforming Education Through Restorative Justice by Maisha Winn
Start Where You Are, but Don’t Stay There: Understanding Diversity, Opportunity Gaps, and Teaching in Today’s Classroom by Richard Milner IV
Transformative Schooling: Towards Racial Equity in Education by Vajra Watson
Seeing Like a State: How Certain Schemes to Improve the Human Condition Have Failed by James C. Scott
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant
Troublemakers: Lessons in Freedom from Young Children at School by Carla Shalaby
The Power of Their Ideas by Deborah Meier
Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in The Classroom by Lisa Delpit
Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequity and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O’Neil
The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein
Made in America by Laurie Olsen
The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal by Jonathan Mooney
(Un)Normalizing Education: Addressing Homophobia in Higher Education and K-12 Schools by Joseph R. Jones
The New Childhood: Raising Kids to Thrive in a Connected World by Jordan Shapiro