Book Review

There are five parts to writing a critical review of a piece of literature:

 

 

For the Mares text, you must incorporate the Acknowledgements and the Introduction when addressing all three of the questions below.          

 

In at least three and no more than four well-organized paragraphs answer the following questions:

 

 

Summarize the contents of the book in five concise paragraphs.  Pay attention to how the chapters of the book provide important information that supports what you think the author is arguing for or against.  Take notes on each chapters themes and photographs, if any.  Can you find meaningful examples which support the authors purpose, focus, and perspective above?  Avoid re-telling the story.  Write short summary statements that identify the themes and topics of each chapter that convey the authors purpose, focus, and perspective.  Always connect the ideas presented in a chapter to the authors intent.  Provide examples from the authors writing and photographs that help you understand the major arguments being made.  A useful summation of content succinctly conveys the authors organizational structure and presentation of ideas, relaying important thoughts that are central to the authors argument.  After taking extensive notes based on the information above, you are prepared to write a brief summary of the information in five well-organized paragraphs.  Remember: avoid re-telling the story.

 

Mares offers a concluding chapter.  Address the conclusions she reaches in at least two and no more than three paragraphs.   How do the parts relate to the whole?   Connect the five chapters to the entire textbook.  Come to an assessment of the work by answering the following question: Given the purpose, focus, and perspective, and understanding how the subject matter was presented, are the conclusions warranted?  This is coherence of analysis.

 

 

This step is central to the review: relating the book to the course.  In at least three paragraphs, address how the work helped you understand the historical concepts introduced in class.  How did the information assist you in appreciating the historical experience of Mexicans and Latin Americans?  Assess the works value in relationship to the content of the course and the concepts used to understand the Mexican and Latin American immigrant experience.  Look at the instructors presentation of the contemporary era in Unit 5.  How does Mares text relate to what you learned in Unit 5 and any other previous Unit?  How does Mares text relate to what you learned from the Chavez text The Latino Threat.  How do the books complement each other?  Understand how the text under review relays the subject matter via the course presentations and the course readings.  Connect the sources of information together.  Show you have been engaged with the course over the semester and reflect on how the book brings what you have learned together. 

 

 

Now you are ready to conclude with your personal opinion.  The previous sections dealt with the author on her terms, not yours.  In a very concise paragraph, address the following questions: What was positive and negative about reading the piece of literature?  How valuable was it in your quest to gain knowledge? Would you recommend the work to others?