SOCI 3422 UM Sociology Black Skin White Masks Book Report
ANSWER
Clearly explain the book’s or article’s specific topic. Also, state the purpose of the work.
Establish the general goal or purpose of the work.
Think about the book’s target audience.
Thesis and Author’s Point of View: Determine whether the author makes a clear case for their major idea or thesis.
Consider whether the author has any prejudices or viewpoints (i.e., whether they have “an axe to grind”).
Examine the theoretical foundations of the author’s argument and determine whether they are openly presented.
Contribution to Course Topic: Examine how the book relates to the course’s overall subject.
Consider how the work interacts with overarching issues and ideas related to your academic field and course.
Determine the materials presented in the book (e.g., primary documents, secondary sources, quantitative data, first-hand experience, etc.).
Describe the techniques the author uses to evaluate and understand these sources.
Use of Source Material to Support Thesis
Examine how the author presents and defends their position using the available evidence.
Quote or paraphrase specific passages to demonstrate the author’s writing style, tone, and presentation.
Engagement with Alternative Perspectives: Consider whether any other arguments could be made based on the same evidence.
Check to see if the author knows these additional viewpoints and how they are handled.
Examine the author’s points of agreement and disagreement with these opposing views.
Finding theoretical issues that the work raises in the context of your course will help you choose discussion topics.
Think of subjects that inspire additional scholarly debate or investigation in light of the book’s content.
Share your thoughts and feelings about the book in the personal responses and opinions section.
Draw on the book’s material to support your reactions and opinions with critical analysis.
Determine the sociologica standpoint that the book employs. Then, list any applicable theories.
Identify and discuss relevant sociological theories that can be used to analyze the text.
QUESTION
Description
FORMAL ACADEMIC BOOK REVIEW GUIDELINES
Guidelines:
Below are some general questions and guidelines you should review and use when writing your book review. Keep in mind this is not a book report, but a review.
When reviewing the book, think especially about what the author is presenting from a sociological perspective. Also, think about our discussions in class regarding the social construction of culture, religion and politics/political systems as well as the various social theories applicable to the work.
Explanation
An analytic or critical review of a book or article is not primarily a summary; rather, it comments on and evaluates the work in the light of specific issues and theoretical concerns in a course. (To help sharpen your analytical reading skills, see our file on Critical Reading.) The literature review puts together a set of such commentaries to map out the current range of positions on a topic; then the writer can define his or her own position in the rest of the paper. Keep questions like these in mind as you read, make notes, and write the review.
1. What is the specific topic of the book or article? What overall purpose does it seem to have? For what readership is it written? (The preface, acknowledgements, bibliography and index can be helpful in answering these questions. Don’t overlook facts about the author’s background and the circumstances of the book’s creation and publication.)
2. Does the author state an explicit thesis? Does he or she noticeably have an axe to grind? What are the theoretical assumptions? Are they discussed explicitly? (Again, look for statements in the preface, etc. and follow them up in the rest of the work.)
3. What exactly does the work contribute to the overall topic of your course? What general problems and concepts in your discipline and course does it engage with?
4. What kinds of material does the work present (e.g. primary documents or secondary material, literary analysis, personal observation, quantitative data, biographical or historical accounts)?
5. How is this material used to demonstrate and argue the thesis? (As well as indicating the overall structure of the work, your review could quote or summarize specific passages to show the characteristics of the author’s presentation, including writing style and tone.)
6. 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?
7. What theoretical issues and topics for further discussion does the work raise?
8. What are your own reactions and considered opinions regarding the work?
9. What sociological perspective does the book take? What theory or theories are most applicable to the text?
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