U.S. History 2 (HIST 1302)

BOOK ANALYSIS Assignment – Spring 2020

Dr. T. Thomas

WHO SHOULD DO THIS ASSIGNMENT?

Do this assignment ONLY if:

Ø you are working towards a B in this class, AND

Ø you have at least 95 points on Exams 2 through 5, AND

Ø you made less than 24 points on any of your exams 2 through 5.

THE ASSIGNMENT

Ø Read a book from the Book Analysis Book List and then answer a number of questions about the book

Ø The questions are provided below in the “Book Analysis Questions” section.

Ø What you submit to me will be a paper that shows all the Questions, with your answers typed beneath each question.

Ø There is no required length – however, most Book Analysis papers are about 10 pages long

APPROVED “BOOK ANALYSIS BOOK LIST”

Ø You may choose any book from the Book Analysis Book List.

Ø As long as the book is on the “Approved” list, you don’t have to get my approval.

Ø My suggestion is to choose a book on a topic that interests YOU. That will make the assignment much more enjoyable.

Ø Here is a LINK to the Book Analysis Book List: https://www.austincc.edu/tmthomas/2books.htm

Ø There is ALSO a LINK to the Book Analysis Book List in Blackboard and on my website, www.austincc.edu/tmthomas

WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF A BOOK ON THE “Book Analysis Book List”?

Ø First, look to see if the book is available in any of the ACC Campus libraries. Search the Online Library Catalog. Here’s the LINK to the Library’s Online Catalog: http://library.austincc.edu/

Ø You can also search other area libraries, such as a public library, a high school library, the University of Texas Library. See instructions on the first page of the “Book Analysis Book list”: https://www.austincc.edu/tmthomas/2books.htm

Ø If you prefer to purchase the book, you can try local used book stores or purchase the book from any online bookseller. But first try to find it in a library.

BOOK ANALYSIS FORMAT

Ø Your paper will be a typewritten series of questions and answers. You type the first question and then type your answer just beneath the question. Then you type the second question, with your answer just beneath. And so on. When you’re done, you’ll probably have about 10 pages typed (although there is no required length)

Ø Use 12-point Times New Roman font (or something similar) (This is standard for most college papers.)

Ø Use 1-inch margins. (This is standard for most college papers.)

Ø You can use page numbers if you like, but they’re not required. If you’re not already familiar with how to insert page numbers, it would be good to learn how – as they will often be required on your college papers.

Ø You don’t need a separate “cover page” with your name. You can just type your name at the top of the first page.

Ø Make sure that the paper you submit is “professional” quality

Ø Make sure that you write complete sentences when you type your answers. Don’t use a “fragment”. The sentence should have a subject and a verb. .

Ø Finally, make sure you do a spell-check and grammar-check. Make sure you’ve capitalized properly – and use proper punctuation. This also shows your professional attention to detail.

Time-saving HINT: COPY the Book Analysis Questions from my website or from Blackboard – and PASTE them into a Word document. You can also “abbreviate” the questions.

GRADING THE BOOK ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

Ø The Book Analysis is given a grade of either “Accepted” or “Not Accepted”.

Ø It is not given a number or letter grade. It is not added in with your Exam grades.

Ø Only “Accepted” Book Analysis assignments will fulfill a requirement for a B in this course.

You’ll be graded on the following criteria:

§ a demonstrated understanding of the book you’ve read, as evidenced by your answers to the Book Analysis questions;

§ the thoughtfulness and thoroughness of your answers;

§ your ability to answer each and every question;

§ written expression that is clear and comprehensible, using sentences and, when appropriate, paragraphs;

§ written expression that employs proper English language grammar, spelling, and capitalization.

§ your ability to follow directions.

HINTS: Don’t submit a first draft. First drafts are rarely your best work. Don’t answer a question with just one sentence – make your statement and then explain in a few follow-up sentences. Use the prompts and review the examples given with each sentence.

DUE DATE

Ø Book Analysis Papers are due on Tuesday, May 12^th at 12 NOON.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BOOK ANALYSIS:

Ø Send as an email attachment to me at: tmthomas@austincc.edu

Ø The Book Analysis must be submitted in doc or docx format – do NOT submit pdf, gif, txt, or any other format.

SAMPLE BOOK ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENTS

Ø You are welcome to take a look at “sample” Book Analysis Assignments. These are actual “Accepted” assignments that other students have done in the past. You’ll be able to review them – to get an idea of what your assignment should look like – and what types of answers are acceptable.

Ø There are several available in my office at South Austin Campus - during office hours – or by appointment.

WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE TO ANSWER?

They start here:

BOOK ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

Below are the Book Analysis Questions that you must answer. Read the questions carefully then give complete and thoughtful answers to each of the questions. Make sure you type the question AND your answer.

I recommend you COPY and PASTE the questions below into a Word document – then type your answers just below each question. You CAN “abbreviate” the questions.

1. BOOK INFORMATION AND SUMMARY

Give the following information:

The full book title (Make sure you italicize or underline the book title)

Author

Publisher & year published

A general Summary of the book.

In about 5 – 7 sentences give basic information about this book, including who and what the book is about, and when and where the book takes place.

(HINT: Think of how you might summarize the plot of a movie that you’ve seen.)

2. SUMMARY of the Book’s PREFACE

What does the author say in the “Preface” (in a few sentences, summarize the Preface)? If the book has no “Preface”, then use the "Introduction". If the book has neither, then summarize the “Acknowledgments” section.

If the book has none of these sections, then just say “the book has no Preface, no Introduction and no Acknowledgments”.

3. Identify and discuss the Book’s THESIS

In the Introduction or the first chapter, the author usually says what he/she will be trying to prove in the book; that is, what this book will prove to the reader about a particular topic.

List and Discuss at least 3 theses – or 3 points that the author will try to prove in the book

Ø These are usually stated either in the Introduction or in the first chapter; but sometimes they are discussed throughout the book.

Ø Your answer should begin with "In this book, the author hopes to prove that......." and then discuss at least 3 points that the author hopes to prove about the subject of the book.

Example: “In this book, the author hopes to prove that America’s westward expansion in the 19^th century resulted in the decline of Native Americans’ culture, language, and population.” Then present at least 2 other points that the author is hoping to prove and briefly explain them.

4. In-depth CHAPTER ANALYSES

For the next 3 sections, you’ll pick ANY 3 chapters from your book, and answer several questions about EACH of the 3 chapters. YOU choose the chapters.

4.1 Give the Chapter number (if there is one) and the Chapter Title.

Chapter Titles should be in Quotation Marks.

Example:

Chapter 1: "Franklin's Early Years"

4.2 Give a SUMMARY of the Chapter.

In about 5 – 7 sentences, summarize the chapter (a good summary gives the reader basic information, such as WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. (Think of how you would summarize the plot of a movie to a friend who has not seen the movie )

4.3 State and explain the author’s THESIS for this Chapter

In a few sentences, explain the author’s thesis for this chapter. That is, what does the author hope to prove about his/her subject in this chapter.

Hint: Look at the chapter title. It often is related to the chapter thesis.

Your answer should begin "In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that......"

Example:

"In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves (with the Emancipation Proclamation) for political, not humanitarian, reasons." And then explain what the author meant by this.

4.4 Restate the author’s ARGUMENT for this chapter.

In a few sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove the main idea.

What did the author argue, in order to convince you that his/her main idea was correct.

Example:

“The author states that Lincoln freed the slaves because he needed his party’s support for his upcoming re-election campaign and because he wanted the support of the English government. Freeing the slaves accomplished both of those political goals.” Then offer another sentence or two to further explain the author’s argument.

4.5 Restate the author’s CONCLUSION(S) for this chapter.

In a few sentences, identify and discuss the conclusions at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter.

Don’t say what HAPPENED; Say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.

Hint: the conclusions usually are related to the Main Points.

Example:

"The author concludes that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem."

4.6 Evaluating the Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE.

Look in the chapter’s footnotes (sometimes these are listed on the bottom of each page; sometimes they are listed at the back of the book). If there are no footnotes, look in the Bibliography or “works Cited” section at the back of the book.

4.6.1 Cite one Primary source footnote from this chapter

A Primary source is something written by someone at that time in history; such as a diary, a letter, a piece of legislation, a tax record; a deed; a business ledger; newspapers) Cite the source.

Example of a newspaper article from the past:

"Custer Defeated at Little Big Horn," The New York Times, April 14, 1876.

Example of a published diary:

Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary of Anne Frank, 4^th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).

4.6.2 Cite one Secondary source footnote from this chapter

A Secondary source is something written by someone at a later date; usually a book or article by a historian about some historical event. Cite the secondary source; that is, make it look like a footnote. Give the author, title, publisher, and place and date of publication.

Examples:

Michael Smith, Witchcraft in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

Julia Juarez, "Mayan Hieroglyphs Decoded," Journal of Latin American History (June 1994), pp. 366-396.

4.6.3 Identify what TYPE of source or what type of evidence would have made the author's argument/main idea more convincing? (Don't say "the argument was convincing enough".)

Example:

If your book is about the everyday lives of slaves, you might say:

"If the author used letters or diaries written by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been stronger."

5. IN-DEPTH CHAPTER ANALYSES – same questions as #4 above, but for a different chapter you’re your book.

5.1 Give the Chapter number (if there is one) and the Chapter Title.

Chapter Titles should be in Quotation Marks.

Example:

Chapter 1: "Franklin's Early Years"

5.2 Give a SUMMARY of the Chapter.

5.3 State and explain the author’s THESIS for this Chapter

In a few sentences, explain the author’s thesis for this chapter. That is, what does the author hope to prove about his/her subject in this chapter.

Hint: Look at the chapter title. It often is related to the chapter thesis.

Your answer should begin "In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that......"

Example:

5.4 Restate the author’s ARGUMENT for this chapter.

In a few sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove the main idea.

What did the author argue, in order to convince you that his/her main idea was correct.

Example:

5.5 Restate the author’s CONCLUSION(S) for this chapter.

In a few sentences, identify and discuss the conclusions at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter.

Don’t say what HAPPENED; Say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.

Hint: the conclusions usually are related to the Main Points.

Example:

"The author concludes that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem."

5.6 Evaluating the Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE.

5.6.1 Cite one Primary source footnote from this chapter

Example of a newspaper article from the past:

"Custer Defeated at Little Big Horn," The New York Times, April 14, 1876.

Example of a published diary:

Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary of Anne Frank, 4^th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).

5.6.2 Cite one Secondary source footnote from this chapter

Examples:

Michael Smith, Witchcraft in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

Julia Juarez, "Mayan Hieroglyphs Decoded," Journal of Latin American History (June 1994), pp. 366-396.

5.6.3 Identify what TYPE of source or what type of evidence would have made the author's argument/main idea more convincing? (Don't say "the argument was convincing enough".)

Example:

If your book is about the everyday lives of slaves, you might say:

"If the author used letters or diaries written by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been stronger."

6. IN-DEPTH CHAPTER ANALYSES – same questions as #4 and #5 above, but for a different chapter you’re your book.

6.1 Give the Chapter number (if there is one) and the Chapter Title.

Chapter Titles should be in Quotation Marks.

Example:

Chapter 1: "Franklin's Early Years"

6.2 Give a SUMMARY of the Chapter.

6.3 State and explain the author’s THESIS for this Chapter

In a few sentences, explain the author’s thesis for this chapter. That is, what does the author hope to prove about his/her subject in this chapter.

Hint: Look at the chapter title. It often is related to the chapter thesis.

Your answer should begin "In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that......"

Example:

6.4 Restate the author’s ARGUMENT for this chapter.

In a few sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove the main idea.

What did the author argue, in order to convince you that his/her main idea was correct.

Example:

6.5 Restate the author’s CONCLUSION(S) for this chapter.

In a few sentences, identify and discuss the conclusions at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter.

Don’t say what HAPPENED; Say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.

Hint: the conclusions usually are related to the Main Points.

Example:

"The author concludes that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem."

6.6 Evaluating the Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE.

6.6.1 Cite one Primary source footnote from this chapter

Example of a newspaper article from the past:

"Custer Defeated at Little Big Horn," The New York Times, April 14, 1876.

Example of a published diary:

Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary of Anne Frank, 4^th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).

6.6.2 Cite one Secondary source footnote from this chapter

Examples:

Michael Smith, Witchcraft in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

Julia Juarez, "Mayan Hieroglyphs Decoded," Journal of Latin American History (June 1994), pp. 366-396.

6.6.3 Identify what TYPE of source or what type of evidence would have made the author's argument/main idea more convincing? (Don't say "the argument was convincing enough".)

Example:

If your book is about the everyday lives of slaves, you might say:

"If the author used letters or diaries written by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been stronger."

You have now completed the In-Depth Analyses of your 3 chosen chapters. The remaining questions pertain to the entire book.

7. Identify and Discuss the Book’s OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

List and discuss at least 3 conclusions at which the author arrives. These are usually found in the concluding chapter, and are usually related to the points the author sought to prove throughout the book.

Don’t say what HAPPENED; DO say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened

Example:

“The author concludes that the witchcraft hysteria in Salem in 1692 resulted from a conflict between two prominent families.” Then discuss what the author means by this.

Remember: Don’t give one-sentence answers.

8. Identify and Evaluate the AUTHOR’S SOURCES

A good book review or book “analysis” will evaluate the sources that the author used when writing the book. So it’s useful to take a look at where the author got his/her information – that is, what “sources” the author used.

8.1 PERIODICALS.

List the names of 5 periodicals that the author cites in the book’s footnotes or bibliography.

Periodicals are newspapers, magazines, & scholarly journals.

Examples of periodicals:

Journal of Early American History

American Historical Review

Psychology Today

William & Mary Quarterly

The New York Times

Austin American-Statesman

Ladies' Home Journal

8.2 PRIMARY SOURCES.

List three types of primary sources the author uses. Examples of Primary sources are: letters, diaries, interviews, legislation, photographs (from that time period), films (from that time period).

8.3 BENEFITS OF PRIMARY SOURCES.

If you were writing a history book, WHY would your book benefit from using PRIMARY sources (letters, diaries,

etc.) from that time period?

Assume that the sources ARE available and that you ARE able to read the sources. So, what might be a benefit of using primary sources when writing history?

Don’t say “Primary sources give a first-hand account of the event.” Say WHY a “first-hand” account would be helpful if you were writing a history book.

8.4 PROBLEMS USING PRIMARY SOURCES.

If you were writing a history book, what might be a problem in using primary sources for the book you’re

writing?

8.5 BOOKS ON SAME SUBJECT.

List 3 books that deal with the same subject matter as your book. Give author, title, place of publication, publisher, and date of publication – just as this information would appear in a footnote.

Hint: use the “subject search” feature of the library’s computerized card catalog to find these books. Consult with a librarian if you need help.

8.6 ARTICLES ON SAME SUBJECT.

List 3 articles (from scholarly publications or newspapers) that deal with the same subject matter as your book. Give author, title of article, publication in which article appears, date of publication, and page numbers - just as this information would appear in a footnote.

Hint: do a subject search in an on-line "periodicals index" to find articles. On ACC's library webpage, there is a link to various periodicals indexes. Choose "social and behavioral sciences" category and then do a subject search. For example, if your book was about the Salem witch trials, you'd do a subject search on "Salem witch trials". Your search should return periodical articles on the Salem witch trials. Get assistance from a reference librarian if needed.

YOU’RE ALMOST DONE!!

9. Some Final IMPRESSIONS, OPINIONS, AND COMPARISONS

Answer the following questions thoughtfully, and thoroughly.

9.1 What did you like best about the book? What did you like least about the book?

9.2 Did you feel that the author was biased in presenting the subject matter? How so?

9.3 List 3 facts that you learned from the book. List 3 FACTS, not "impressions" or interpretations.

An example of a FACT is:

"George Washington was the only president unanimously elected".

An example of an IMPRESSION (or INTERPRETATION) is:

"George Washington was the best military commander of all time."

9.4 COMPARE YOUR BOOK WITH THE CLASS TEXTBOOK

How does our textbook’s treatment of the topic compare with the author’s treatment of the topic

List and discuss at least 3 similarities and 3 differences. Discuss content, not form or format.

DON'T say: "The book gave a more in-depth view of Franklin's life, while the textbook was more general." That is a statement of form, not content.

DO say: "My book discussed Franklin's diplomatic efforts in France, while the textbook did not mention his work in France." This compares content.

9.5 Would you recommend the book to someone else? Why or why not?

9.6 If you could write a book on some historical topic, what topic would you choose, and why?

OK, Congratulations - You are DONE with the Book Analysis!

Before you submit your Book Analysis, check to make sure that you have:

1 typed each question and under it, your answer (you can abbreviate the questions)

1 answered the questions using complete sentences (not sentence “fragments”)

1 answered EVERY question

1 used spell-check and grammar-check

1 proofread your paper (or had someone else proofread it)

1 used 1-inch margins

1 used 12-point Times New Roman font (or something similar)

1 typed your name at the top (top, right-hand side is best)

1 completed your paper at least one day before it’s due! (Don’t wait to finish the morning it’s due. What if something

goes wrong?? You’ll have no time to fix it. So, plan to be done a day ahead of the due date.)

Want your paper to look even MORE professional?

1 use page numbers (bottom right or bottom center of the page is best)