the critical review

Assignment: Critical Review/Reflection Papers

The book the critical review is done on is:

Michelle Miller, Branding Miss G___ (Toronto: Sumach Press, 2008).

Remember – a review is not primarily a summary. Rather, it analyses, comments on and evaluates the book. Very important: it should also situate the book in the larger context of your learning. Your review should show that you can recognize arguments and engage in critical thinking. Keep these questions in mind as you read, make notes and then write the Critical Review/Reflection paper:

1. What is the specific topic of the book? What overall purpose does it seem to have? For what readership is it written? (Be sure to look in the preface, acknowledgments, reference list and index for clues about where and how the piece was originally published, and about the author’s background and position.)

2. Does the author state a specific thesis? Does she or he have an “axe to grind”? What are the author’s theoretical assumptions? Are these discussed explicitly?

3. What kinds of material does the book present (e.g. primary documents or secondary material, personal observations, literary analysis, quantitative data, biographical or historical accounts, etc.)?

4. How is this material used to demonstrate and argue the thesis?

5. Are there alternative ways of arguing from the same material? Does the author show awareness of them? In what respects does the author agree or disagree with these approaches?

6. What theoretical issues and topics for further discussion does the book raise?

7. What are your own reactions and informed opinions regarding the work?

8. What exactly does the book contribute to the overall topic of our course, Women in Protest?

As you write your Critical Reviews/Reflections, remind yourself that the assignment is primarily to discuss the book’s treatment of the topic, not the topic itself. Your key sentences should begin, “This book shows . . .”, “The author argues . . .” rather than “This happened . . .”

Notes to the writer:

1. Please try to answer all of the 8 questions listed above.

2. The ONLY source that should be used is the book.

3. Cite everything properly. If for example there are two authors of this book, don’t just use one of the authors to cite the reference.

4. Don’t be vague, try to example all of the points you are ting to get across. Use further support with ideas from the book.

5. Use the book a lot when it comes to sourcing. Don’t just use it once or twice, use it many times.

6. I have attached the rubric also, so please take a look at that.