How to write a comparative book review

How to write a comparative book review

 · Comparative Book Review. 1) The book review should provide a brief overview of what was contained in the books, an analysis of what the authors are trying to say, a comparison of their framework and research, an indication of the value that the book (s) had in helping you understand an issue related to school improvement, and a conclusion critiquing whether or not the The comparative book review of Value-a dded leadership and T he school l eaders t hat o ur s chools d eserves revealed that effective school leaders share common characteristics. All conv erg e How to Write a Comparative Analysis. Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on. "Classic" compare-and-contrast papers, in which you weight A and B equally, may be about two similar things that have crucial differences (two pesticides with different effects on

Comparative Book Review - Academic Research Writers

A multiple book review essay involves assessing the quality of two or more books that cover the same overall subject area [e. The review is written in the form of a short scholarly paper [essay] rather than as a descriptive book review. The purpose is to compare and contrast the works under review, to identify key themes and critical issues, and to evaluate each writer's contributions to understanding the overarching topics common to each book.

Professors assign reviews of multiple books to help students gain experience critically evaluating the ways in which different researchers examine and interpret issues related to a specific research problem.

Developing an Assessment Strategy. An important first step in approaching how to write a review of two or more books is to identify and think critically about the research problem that ties each of the books together. This information is usually summarized in the preface or introductory chapter of each book.

The challenge is to develop an argument about each book you are reviewing and then clearly compare, contrast, and ultimately synthesize your analysis into an well organized and well supported essay. Think of a multiple book review essay as a type of compare and contrast paper similar to what you may have written for a general issue-oriented composition class.

As you read through each how to write a comparative book review, write down questions concerning what you want to know about each book and answer them as you read [remember to note the page numbers from the book you got the information from so you can refer back it later!

Which questions to ask yourself will depend upon the type of books you are reviewing and how the books are related to each other. Here are a series of questions to focus your thinking:.

Beyond the content of the book, you may also consider some information about each author and the circumstances of the text's production:. Bazerman, how to write a comparative book review, Charles. Comparing and Synthesizing Sources.

The Informed Writer: Using Sources in the Disciplines. Writing CSU. Colorado State University; Comparing and Contrasting. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Comparison and Contrast Essays.

Writing Support Centre. University of Western Ontario; Hartley, James. How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Paper. Writing Center. Princeton Writing Program; Rhetorical Strategies: Comparison and Contrast. The Comparative Essay. The Lab Report. University College Writing Centre.

CLRC Writing Center. Santa Barbara City College. Bibliographic Information. Provide the essential information about each book using the writing style asked for by your professor [e. Depending on how your professor wants you to organize your review, the bibliographic information represents the heading of your review. In general, they would be arranged alphabetically by title and look like this:.

Racing the Storm: Racial Implications and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina. Hillary Potter, ed. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, David L. Brunsma, David Overfelt, and J.

Steven Picou, eds. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, Through the Eye of Katrina: Social Justice in the United States. Kristin A. Bates and Richelle S. Swan, eds. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, Reviewed by [your full name]. Thesis Statement. The thesis statement of an essay that compares and contrasts multiple works should contain an idea or claim that unites the discussion of each text under review. It should include the argument that will be advanced in support of the claims being made.

To begin, ask yourself: What is the overarching subject or issue that ties together all of the books? Why is it important? In most scholarly works, the author s will state the purpose of their book in the preface or in an introductory chapter.

Look for common themes or points of divergence among the books. If you cannot find an adequate statement in the author's own words or if you find that the thesis statement is not well-developed, then you will have to compose your own introductory thesis statement that does cover all the material.

The comparative thesis statement will vary in length depending on the number and complexity of the books under review. Regardless of length, it must be succinct, accurate, unbiased, and clear.

If you find it difficult to discern the overall aims and objectives of each book [and, be sure to point this out in your review if you believe it to be a deficiency], you may arrive at an understanding of the purpose by asking yourself a the following questions:. A useful strategy to help organize your how to write a comparative book review is to create a table with a column for each book and rows for each question.

Enter your answer to each book in the chart. When completed, you'll have an easy guide to how each author has addressed the questions, how to write a comparative book review. NOTE: Your thesis statement underpins the purpose of your review and helps the reader understand how the books are related. However, while a book review essay should evaluate books about the same topic [e.

If this is the case, then the thesis could, for example, center around the diversity of issues scholars have chosen to examine a topic or the fractured nature of scholarship on the subject.

ANOTHER NOTE : Your thesis statement should include the rationale for why the key points you highlight or compare and contrast among the books being reviewed were deliberate and meaningful and not how to write a comparative book review. Explain their significance. Methods of Organizing the Essay. Organization is critical to writing an essay that compares and contrasts multiple works because you will most likely be discussing a variety of evidence and you must be certain that the logic and narrative flow of your paper can be understood by the reader.

Here are some general guidelines to consider:. There are two general methods of organizing your multiple book review essay. If you believe one work extends another, you'll probably use the block method; if you find that two or more works are essentially engaged in a debate or examine a topic from different perspectives, the point-by-point method will help draw attention to the conflict. However, the point-by-point method can come off as a rhetorical ping-pong match. You can avoid this effect by grouping more than one point together, thereby cutting down on the number of times you alternate from one work to another.

No matter which method how to write a comparative book review choose, you do not need to give equal time to similarities and differences. In fact, your paper will be more interesting if you state your main argument s as quickly as possible. The rest of the essay, whether organized by block method or point-by-point, will be your analysis of the key differences among the books.

The Block Method Present all the information about A, and then present parallel information about B. This pattern tends to work better for shorter book review essays, and those with few sub-topics. The method looks like this:. Introduction A. Briefly introduce the significance of the overall subject matter B.

Thesis Statement --First supporting point --Second supporting point --Third supporting point II. First book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point III. Second book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point IV. Third book A. Summary of book --Relationship of work to first point --Relationship of work to second point --Relationship of work to third point V.

Conclusion A. Restate thesis B. Briefly summarize how you proved your argument The Point-by-Point Method Present one point about A, and then go to the parallel point about B, how to write a comparative book review. Move to the next point, and do the same thing. This pattern tends to work better for long book review essays and those with many sub-topics, how to write a comparative book review. Briefly introduce significance of overall subject matter B.

Thesis statement II. Brief explanation of first book III. Brief explanation of second book IV. First comparative point A. Relation of point how to write a comparative book review first book B.

Writing a Comparative Essay What is it

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How to Write a Comparative Analysis |

How to Write a Comparative Analysis. Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on. "Classic" compare-and-contrast papers, in which you weight A and B equally, may be about two similar things that have crucial differences (two pesticides with different effects on Comparative Book Review Introduction Human civilisation has progressed since ages and the procedure of its progression has neither been easy nor it has occurred at a very StudentShare Our website is a unique platform where students can share their papers in a matter of giving an example of the work to be blogger.com: Ahand  · This pattern tends to work better for long book review essays and those with many sub-topics. The method looks like this: I. Introduction A. Briefly introduce significance of overall subject matter B. Thesis statement II. Brief explanation of first book III. Brief explanation of second book IV. First comparative point A. Relation of point to first bookAuthor: Robert V. Labaree