BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION



HYPERLINK "" understand your own reaction to the book, you need to read it carefully and critically.As a critical reader, you are not passive; you should ask questions of the book and note reactions as you read. Your book review then discusses those questions and reactions. Though there is no "correct" way to structure a review, the following is one possible approach.Summarize the book and relate the author's main point, or thesis. (Somewhere early in the paper, identify the author briefly.) [One paragraph]Describe the author's viewpoint and purpose for writing; note any aspects of the author's background that are important for understanding the book. [One paragraph]Note the most important evidence the author presents to support his or her thesis.? [One or two paragraphs]Evaluate the author's use of evidence, and describe how he or she deals with counter evidence. (See pp. 18-19 for a discussion of counter evidence.) [One paragraph]Is the book's argument convincing? If so why, if not, why not. Cite examples from the text. [One paragraph]Compare this book with other books or articles you have read on the same subject. [One paragraph]Conclude with a final evaluation of the book. You might discuss who would find this book useful and why. [One paragraph]NOTE: "Critical" does not mean negative; skeptical does not mean cynical. If a book is well written and presents an original thesis supported by convincing evidence, say so. A good book review does not have to be negative; it does have to be fair and analytical.…The beginning, we know, is important. The first of your twelve paragraphs should present an idea of interest to the readers who will leaf through the magazine. If your first words are "This book . . ." they will not be able to distinguish your review from twenty others, and they will be entitled to conclude that you have not expended much thought on enlisting their attention. The opening statement takes the readers from where they presumably stand in point of knowledge and brings them to the book under review. The briefest possible description of its aim, scope, and place in the world therefore follows the baited opening sentence and completes the first paragraph.The second classifies the book: what thesis, tendency, bias does it uphold, suggest, evince? Paragraphs 3 to 5 go into the author's main contentions and discuss them. Do not repeat anything you said in the classificatory paragraph, but rather give detailed evidence of the grounds for your classification.Paragraphs 6 and 7 may deal with additional or contrary points to be found in other authors or in your own research; but so far, these only amend or qualify what is acceptable in the new book. In 8 and 9 you deliver your chief objections and summarize shortcomings. If you have found errors, mention only the important ones--do not waste space on typographical or minor slips.From errors you modulate into the broad field: how is our conception of it changed by the book? What further work is needed to clear up doubtful points? Where have gaps been left that must he filled? You have now used up paragraphs 10 and 11 and you have one more in which to strike a balance of merits and faults, ending with some words about the author--not yourself or the subject.For with book reviewing goes a moral obligation: you hold the author's fate in your hands as far as one group of readers is concerned. Author and work should, through you, be given the floor, have the last word. What you say in the review will, rightly or wrongly, be taken seriously. You are in honor bound to be scrupulously fair. Never use the author's admissions against him, saying, "Mr. X entirely neglects the foreign implications," when it was he who warned you of this in the preface. Do not expect him to have written the book you have in mind, but the one?he?had. Recognize the amount of work that has gone into the product and be magnanimous: you may be severe on serious faults of interpretation and inference; but unless they are continual, forget the trifling errors in his text just as?you concentrate?on them in yours. Book reviewers are?not infallible.If you ever have any doubts about what tone to adopt in a review of a book you end up hating, consider this sage advice from an unknown editor: "write your most critical review as though it would appear the day after the reviewed author's death, without embarrassing you."? report?presents the content and structure of a book as objectively as possible, without comparison. It provides not only a summary of content but also an analysis of structure. The purpose of the report is to give enough information about a book to help decide whether it will be of use or interest to the reader.A?book review?is a descriptive and critical or evaluative account of a book. Like the book report, it provides a summary of content and an analysis of structure, yet you will also assess the value of a book and recommend (or not recommend) the book to other readers.Reports and reviews are concerned mainly with the one book presented, relying upon only a few standard reference works for brief and relevant comments on the author and on any special circumstances about the writing of the book. Book reports and book reviews are not research papers. The research paper is based on material from as many sources as are needed to back up its topic.The kind of information that should be given in?both?a book report and a book review is covered in points 1-7. Point 8,?Critical Comments, needs to be covered in book reviews.BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATIONGive the author's name; full title of book including subtitle; editor, if any; place, publisher and date of publication; edition, if necessary; and the number of pages - all this in bibliographical form under the title of the report.BACKGROUND INFORMATIONSupply any information about the author which shows their credentials for writing in this field or which reveals any influences, which may have affected the author's point of view. Note any interesting circumstances that led to the writing of the book.CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF THE KIND OF BOOKThe book is non fiction, but classify it further according to its subject area, such as history, philosophy, travel, biography, autobiography, psychology, anthropology, etc. Clues for this classification may be found in the title, subtitle, table of contents, reviewers' comments, author's preface, and introduction.CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF THE AUTHOR'S INTENTIONThe author's intention may be apparent by the way the author treats the subject. Is the material meant for specialists, students, or the general public? Is it limited to a narrow area or is it a survey of the subject? Several areas may provide clues: appendices, bibliographies and general indexes usually accompany scholarly works; prefaces and introductions often contain an author's explicit statement of intention; the content and style of expression will be a good indication of the intended audience.SUBJECT AND THESIS STATEMENTWhat is the book about? Tell your reader not only the main concern of the book in its entirety (subject) but also what the author's particular point of view is on that subject (thesis statement). If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author's own words or if you feel that the stated thesis statement is not that which the book actually develops (make sure you check for yourself), then you will have to compose a thesis statement that does cover all the material. This statement must be brief (a sentence or a paragraph), accurate and comprehensive.ANALYSIS OF STRUCTUREThe thesis statement will clearly indicate the major idea of the book, but you must also point out the organization of subsidiary ideas, and how they relate to the thesis statement and to one another. The chapter headings and sectional divisions will reveal most of the outline of the book; however, on reading the book, you may see another plan, with somewhat different divisions. If so, make your own plan, showing clearly the order and relation of the parts. Whether your own or the author's it should include the thesis statement, major parts, their division into sections and the main points in these sections (summary of content).SUMMARY OF CONTENTThe summary is based on your reading notes, follows the author's order, and is drastically reduced to the chief ideas which advance the author's argument. It may be presented with the analysis of structure or discussed separately.CRITICAL COMMENTSAlthough the book report is mainly concerned with content and structure, it may contain some critical comment or your opinion about the book; check with your professor whether such comments are required.Critical comments should form the bulk of the book review. State whether or not you feel the author's treatment of the subject matter is appropriate for the intended audience. Ask yourself:Has the purpose of the book been achieved?What contribution does the book make to the field?Is the treatment of the subject matter objective?Are there facts and evidence that have been omitted?What kinds of data, if any, are used to support the author's thesis statement?Can the same data be interpreted to alternate ends?Is the writing style clear and effective?Does the book raise issues or topics for discussion?Support your evaluation with evidence from the text. In conclusion, you may want to state whether you liked or disliked the book. of a Book Review1. Mention these details at the beginning of a book review: Name of the Book, Author, Publisher, Year of Publication, Place of Publication, Binding, number of pages, Price, ISBN, Translation and editions if any. These specifications can be taken from the book cover or the first few pages of the book. These details help reader locate the book under review.2. Introduction: When writing an introduction, you can be flexible exploring the creative and interesting ways to introduce the book. Begin by sharing your first impression of the book and how it changed over your reading, you may also choose to begin with a comparison of the text with a similar one you had read, whatever be the introduction, make sure it your genuine impression of the book.3. Summary: Writing a summary of a book is a skill. Make sure you brief the reader not more than what is already mentioned as a book blurb. The summary should be a teaser rather than a retelling.4. Highlights: There are many ways of writing a book review, while you can choose to simply relate your impressions and reading experience, on the other hand you can also opt for detailed and evaluative review analyzing a text from a viewpoint or a perspective. When writing an analytical book review as your?English coursework, bring to forefront the key points of the text and analyze them in the respective light.5. Development: Trace the development of the characters and the plot. You may choose to structure your review as per the chapter division or framing your own parameters and structures.6. Comparison and Conclusion: Make sure you conclude a review by comparing the text with a work of similar theme and content. Bring to light the other works of the author and trace the development of themes, symbols and motifs in the author’s oeuvre.7. Indent Quotations along with parenthesis: When citing sentences from the book for reference, you must indent the quotations an inch from the text margin, along with parenthetical details. This helps the reader locate the dialogue or the text in the book and use it for reference. Parenthetical details must include the page number of the book, name of the speaker, if not mentioned in the paragraph.Do not confuse a Book review with a Book report. When writing a review for your?English coursework,?you have to simply share your reading experience. for Writing a Good Book ReviewIntroduce the subject, scope, and type of bookIdentify the book by?author,?title, and sometimes?publishing information.Specify the?type?of book (for example, fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography). Help your readers to review with perspective.Mention the book's?theme.Sometimes you will need to include?background?to enable reader(s) to place the book into a specific context. For example, you might want to describe the general problem the book addresses or earlier work the author or others have done.Briefly summarize the contentFor a nonfiction book,?provide an overview, including paraphrases and quotations, of the book's thesis and primary supporting points.For a work of fiction,?briefly review the story line for readers, being careful not to give away anything that would lessen the suspense for readers.Provide your reactions to the bookDescribe the book:?Is it interesting, memorable, entertaining, instructive? Why?Respond to the author's opinions:?What do you agree with? And why? What do you disagree with? And why?Explore issues the book raises:?What possibilities does the book suggest? Explain. What matters does the book leave out? Explain.Relate your argument to other books or authors:?Support your argument for or against the author's opinions by bringing in other authors you agree with.Relate the book to larger issues:?How did the book affect you? How have your opinions about the topic changed? How is the book related to your own course or personal agenda.Conclude by summarizing your ideasClose with a direct comment on the book, and tie together issues raised in the review. Briefly restate your main points and your thesis statement if your teacher requires it. If you like, you can offer advice for potential readers.Sample book reviewIn his latest book, What Young India Wants, Chetan Bhagat asks hard questions, demands answers and presents solutions for a better, more prosperous India.* Why do our students regularly commit suicide?* Why is there so much corruption in India?* Cant our political parties ever work together?* Does our vote make any difference at all?* We love our India, but shouldnt some things be different?All of us have asked these questions at some time or the other. So does Chetan Bhagat, Indias most loved writer, in What Young India Wants, his first book of non-fiction.What Young India Wants is based on Chetan Bhagats vast experience as a very successful writer and motivational speaker. In clear, simple prose, and with great insight, he analyses some of the complex issues facing modern India, offers solutions and invites discussion on them. And, at the end, he asks this important question: Unless we are all in agreement on what it is going to take to make our country better, how will things ever change? Non-fiction If you want to understand contemporary India, the problems that face it, and want to be a part of the solution, What Young India Wants is the book for you.A much more serious example: how to sites ................
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