Book Critique

HIST 1301/1302
Instructor: Renée Celeste
Book Critique Instructions & Format
Both HIST 1301 and HIST 1302 students are responsible for completing two
book critiques in each class to fulfill the requirements of the course(s). Every semester,
I receive several questions regarding the assignment, but I feel that this document will
provide you with some key guidelines and answers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I complete the book critique?
a. First and foremost: read each book in its entirety. As you read the book,
take notes, underline/highlight, and pay attention to the author’s argument
on the topic. After reading the book, the student is responsible for writing a
short paper over the contents and the argument of the book.
2. Which book(s) do I read?
a. The books that are required for each course (HIST 1301/HIST 1302) are
listed in your Master Syllabus and on the Syllabus Addendum
documents. You must read each book in the order listed on your Course
Schedule. Students cannot choose which book critique they complete first.
3. What is the argument of the book?
a. This is for the students to discover when reading the specified book.
Students should not be writing a summary of the book, but should
understand what the author’s argument is. If you want to think of this in a
different way, think of these questions: What does the author believe
about this person/place/event? What sort of evidence is the author using
to create this argument about the person/place/event? What is significant
about this specific book, in comparison to others on the same topic?
4. Do I have to use quotes from the book?
a. YES. In order for students to succeed at the book critique, students must
use quotes from the book and properly cite the page numbers
corresponding to the quote. By using quotes, the student is showing that
he/she has read the book, and understands the significance and argument
of the book. Quotes must be located inside quotation marks and
include the proper page numbers.
5. How do I properly cite the page numbers for the quotes?
a. MLA format requires students to place the page number inside
parentheses after the quote. For example: “Here is the quote that I am
using for my paper” (120). Notice that the period for the sentence comes
after the page number and not before.
6. How long does the paper have to be?
a. The assignment only requires the student to write a 2-page doublespaced paper over the contents of the book. If you are confused as to
what is considered two pages, I always require the student’s words to
reach the very bottom of the second page. Significant points are taken off
for the assignment if students do not write at least 2 pages for their paper.
7. What is the format?
a. Most students follow the MLA format, which is what I prefer. I must see
your name, the instructor’s name, the course name and number, and the
date (placed in the upper left-hand corner of the paper). Students must
use Times New Roman font, 12 pt., and should not double space
between paragraphs. I take off points if students use a different font,
different size font, and if they double space between paragraphs. See
MLA format below.
8. What else is required with the book critique?
a. Students are required to submit their completed paper to Blackboard and
to check the box labeled “SafeAssign” so that their paper is checked for
plagiarism. There will likely always be some sentences marked as
“plagiarism” due to the use of quotes, so do not worry if you see that your
paper was marked for some plagiarism. When I see that plagiarism is
marked, I check the paper to make sure the quotes are properly cited.
9. What happens if I heavily plagiarize the paper?
a. Students who heavily plagiarize (for example: no quotation marks on
known quotes, no citing of page numbers, slightly changing the wording of
the book’s content, etc.) will receive a zero the first time that it is done.
If the same student plagiarizes on the second paper, the student will
receive an F in the class.
10. The Second Book Critique:
a. For the second book critique, there is an added element. Students have to
submit a paper, as explained above, and to complete a PowerPoint
Presentation over their findings of the book. For HIST 1301, the second book
critique is Celia, a Slave, and for HIST 1302, the second book critique is Black
Like Me. The PowerPoint Presentation is explained on the Common
Assignment document, but overall it is a way for students to creatively express
their findings over the books’ argument and the authors’ purpose for writing the
book(s). The PowerPoint Presentation must have an included voice recording of
the student explaining the book’s argument, or the student has the option of
making an in-person appointment with the instructor to discuss the book.
Over the years of grading these book critiques, I have come to realize that the
students who make A’s on their papers are the ones who follow a simple format:
John Smith
Mrs. Renee Celeste
HIST 1301 or HIST 1302
23 September 2018
Title (Create your own; do not use book title)
1. Introduction paragraph: (Student should use 1-inch margins, should indent
the first sentence of each paragraph, and use the correct font and font size.
This is just an example of what the student should do for their paper) The
introduction paragraph should include the full book title (Italicized) and the
author’s name; in the introduction paragraph, the student should give a brief
summary on what the book is about in its entirety. The student must allude
to what the author’s argument is over the book’s topic (this is the most
important part of the introduction). The introduction should be only about 3-4
sentences.
2. Second paragraph: Student discusses information about the author (from
their own research) and why the author wanted to write the book. The student
can discuss why it is significant that the author is writing this specific book.
Students may not find exactly why the author has written the book, so the
student should rely on their own reasoning as to why the author wanted to
write it.
3. Third, fourth, fifth paragraphs: The student should dedicate most of their
writing and space to these paragraphs. These paragraphs should include
discussion about the contents of the book, the most significant parts (not a
summary), and the author’s argument. These are the paragraphs where
quotes from the book are most important. Students should discover the
author’s argument and how exactly the author arrived at this conclusion. For
example: If the author argues that Pocahontas did not have a relationship
with John Smith, what sort of evidence does the author give to support that
conclusion? This paragraph shows that you have actually read the book.
4. Conclusion: The concluding paragraph is a wrap-up of your paper. You can
repeat what is most significant about the book and why you think others
should read it. Also, since this is a book critique, you will need to critique
what the author does or does not do well. Students should not critique the
topic of the book, but should be critiquing if the author used his/her evidence
well, or if they convinced you of their argument.

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