This handout should summarize and also analyze the reviews and other forms of critical reception that the book received. Each student will be responsible for preparing a written review of two books on reading lists prepared by the instructor. These reviews should be 5-6 typed pages. The object of this assignment is to prepare a concise written assessment of the thesis, specific findings, organization, and documentation of the book. It should be remembered that the desired goal of the review is an evaluation, a critique, of the book, not a mere summary of its contents nor an outline of its major points.
Reviews are due on the day that the classes discusses the book.
Each student will prepare a review essay of approximately twelve typed pages. The essay should discuss at least four books, including a minimum of one of the book's assigned for this course. The purpose of the assignment is to provide the students with the opportunity to develop and exercise skills in historiographical analysis and to synthesize their own thinking regarding historical themes that interest them. Students are encouraged to use this assignment to familiar themselves with the historical literature on topics that they might someday research. In a relatively brief essay of this nature, the student should be highly selective in choosing the criteria for comparison of these works, e.g. originality and clarity of thesis, significance of author biases, skill at exploiting primary and secondary sources, suitability of methodology, strength of author's argument and evidence, etc.