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Each report must be at least two or three typewritten double-spaced pages. If someone else does your typing check for accuracy — the report is still your responsibility.

As a heading to the report, give a complete bibliographical description of the book. Most of this information can be found on the title page or the page immediately following. Include the name of the author, the full title of the book, the place of publication, the publisher, the date of publication, the total number of pages, and the library call number. For example:

David Hawke, The Colonial Experience (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1966), xx, 774 (E188.H3)

The following list of things to be considered in writing the report is not exhaustive. It probably would not be possible in a single report to consider all of them, but you do not have to restrict yourself to considering only these items if others are important to the treatment of the book. Choose wisely.

• Do not try to mention everything contained in the book.
• Do not recite the chapter headings.
• Just explain briefly what the book was about.

You might examine some of the following questions:

• What is the subject covered by the book?
• What is the book’s scope?
• What is the author’s purpose in writing?
• What is the theme or thesis of the book?
• What does the author emphasize?
• What conclusions does the author draw?
• Is the author attempting to disprove some traditional idea on the subject, or to give additional evidence in support of some previously stated thesis?
• Is the author presenting something entirely new?
• Is the book primarily narrative or primarily analytical?
• What is the most important message delivered by the author?

Second, give a critical evaluation of the book. Do not say simply that you found it interesting or uninteresting. Discuss its strong points and its weak points.

• Does the evidence presented by the author support the conclusions?
• Does the author present the evidence clearly, logically, and forcefully?
• Does the book contain evidence of bias or special pleading on the part of the author?
• What are your thoughts on the style of writing?
• Is the book worthwhile, or does some other author have a better book on the same subject?

As noted in the syllabus, you must submit your book reports in two forms. You must submit a paper copy directly to the instructor and a copy in electronic form (either Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, Rich Text Format, or Portable Document Format) to turnitin.com, instructions for which are issued separately.