Rigoberta Menchu and Elisabeth Burgos-Debray

The Book is Rigoberta Menchu and Elisabeth Burgos-Debray, I Rigoberta Menchu

Writing a Critical Review

A critical review is an evaluation of a book’s strengths, weaknesses and validity. It is used to inform readers of a book’s value through explanation, interpretation and analysis. The reviewer must present information that will allow the reader to make a value judgment about the book.

Reviews of a single book must have an introductory section to establish a focal point for discussion. The second part characterizes the author’s treatment of the subject, and the final section brings the paper to a conclusion. A conclusion must deal with the essence of the author’s arguments. Students are free to agree with the author on every point, disagree with the author on every point, or any combination of the two. The important thing is that students offer insights into what contribution they believe the book makes to the literature on the subject and who might benefit from reading it.

Reviews of two or more books contain the same elements as reviews of one book, but the emphasis is on comparison. Therefore, the introductory section establishes a focal point of comparison between the two books. The second part characterizes each author’s treatment of the “problem”. The final section brings the paper to a conclusion by way of synthesis or repudiation, in other words, the conclusion offers a suggestion of an interpretive orientation consisting of elements of both perspectives under review or an argument against one or both authors.
Guidelines
– Reviews will begin with a single-spaced full bibliographic citation (author, title, publisher and date of publication).
– Students must put their name and page numbers of each page.
– The critical review will be a full 8 pages in length including the introduction and conclusion.
– It will contain an introduction and conclusion that are each one page in length and six full pages of discussion.
– The book(s) will be discussed in class and students are expected to participate in all discussions.
– Students are advised that late assignments will be assessed a penalty of one percent of the final mark per day for each day that elapses between the due date and the actual date of submission.
– Students are advised that they are responsible for knowing what plagiarism is and for avoiding it because students will be penalized for academic dishonesty.
While reading the assigned book
Students should ask themselves the following questions while reading the assigned books. By trying to develop answers to these questions students will develop a better and more critical understanding of the book and its place in the literature on the subject.
– What are the author’s qualifications and authority?
– Who is the intended audience?
– Define the general problem area. What does the author intend to discuss? Why?
– Does the author build on past research?
– What is the objective or purpose of the research? Is it clearly stated?
– Does the author define any terms? Are the definitions specific and useful?
– Are references given? Are the references recent, important?
– What are the author’s major findings and conclusions? Have these been supported by the author’s analysis, arguments, findings or evidence? Has the author overlooked anything?
– Does the author accomplish his or her objective? Does the author do what he or she has set out to do?
– Does the author suggest areas for further research or discussion?

(Please note that these questions are meant for you to develop a critical understanding of the reading and are not meant as a guide to writing the review. Students who write a review that is merely a laundry list of answers to the above questions will be disappointed with the marks they receive for the assignment.)