Margaret L. King      

Writing a book report....

The most important requirement for your book report is that you take the time to become engaged in the reading of your selected book and concerned with the problem or figure that it describes. Beyond that --

In a paper of 3-7 pages (750-2000 words) -- typed, double-spaced, plain white, stapled (no plastic covers!) -- you should:

• Cite the book you are reading in proper bibliographical form. If you don't know what that is, look at a style manual. Or do it this way:

  Author (Last name first). Title (Underlined or italicized). City: Publisher, Date of publication.

• Introduce your report by explaining the author's objective: what is he or she trying to argue, prove, convey? This explanation will normally consist of a first, well-focused paragraph.
• In the middle, summarize in a sequence of clear, logical paragraphs what the book is about, and how the author pursues his or her goal.
• At the end, evaluate the book. Has the author succeeded in what he or she has set out to do? Is sufficient evidence presented, and is it properly used? Is the book substantial or thin, well-argued or weakly? Are there unanswered questions?

Format:

• normal font (11 or 12 point)
• double-spaced
• 1-inch margins
• staple upper-left corner -- no clips or covers
• footnotes not necessary -- you may give author's name and page number in parentheses following references or quotations

All work should be original -- go to the statement on Academic Honesty