Book Report

How to Lie with Maps

by Mark Monmonier

First. Read the below - and take notes as you read the book.

then, put your report together in the following format, following the order exactly (that will make it easier for me to read and grade all of 'em).

Introduction

Here you want to provide basic information about the book, and a sense of what your report will be about. You should include:

1. Title (underlined)/Author
2. Publication Information: Publisher, year, number of pages
3. A brief (1-2 sentences) introduction to the book.

Body

There are two main sections for this part. The first is an explanation of what the book is about. The second is your opinions about the book and how successful it is.

What it's about:

Provide a general overview of the author's topic, main points, and argument. What is the thesis? What are the important conclusions?

Analysis and Evaluation

In this section you analyze or critique the book. You can write about your own opinions; just be sure that you explain and support them with examples. Some questions you might want to consider:

• What is your overall response to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving, dull?
• Was it well written?
• Did the author achieve his or her purpose?
• Is the writing effective, powerful, difficult, beautiful?
• What are the strengths and weaknesss of the book?
• Was there an obvious slant or bias?
• What are the author's qualifications to write about the subject? Do you agree with the author's arguments and conclusions?

Conclusion

Briefly conclude by pulling your thoughts together. You may want to say what impression the book left you with, or emphasize what you want your reader to know about it.

• What did you think was the best part of the book?
• What are your favorite new words from the piece?
• Do you have any quotations you saved?
• What new facts did you learn that you hadn't known before?
• Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?
• Would you like to read other books by the same author? Why?
• If you could talk to the author, what would you say? --ask?

The nitpicky details: 12 point times new roman font. 1 inch margins. 1.5 line spacing. Minimum - 5 full pages. Maximum - 8 pages. Don't forget to reference other authors, etc if you quote them or use their ideas. Otherwise..... see the syllabus section on plagarism.

Grading: You will be graded upon a combination of:

1. did you follow the above instructions?
2. Is it clear from your answers you read the book and thought about the answers?
3. Proper English counts. I highly recommend you bang out a draft and get it over to the Writing Center and have them help you out. Don't wait until the due date.

Worth 6 points (6% of your grade).