Reading and Writing Skills

COMPOSING
ACADEMIC
WRITING
"Academic writing you have to get right.
Fiction you have to get plausible. And
there's a world of difference."
-Elliott Colla
 COMPOSING
ACADEMIC WRITING
LESSON 1 LESSON 4
1 Book Review 4 Project Proposal
Article Critique

LESSON 2 LESSON 5
2 Literature Review 5 Position Paper

LESSON 3
3 Research Report
 Writing
BOOK REVIEWS
ARTICLE CRITIQUES
"That's the thing about books. They let
you travel without moving your feet."

-Jhumpa Lahiri
Book Review
• Describes and evaluates a work of
fiction or nonfiction and offers the
book's overall purpose, structure, and
style of narration to the unknown
readers.

• It is a sneak peek at a book, NOT A

SUMMARY.

• Combine skills of: describing the

content of the pages, analyzing how
the book achieved its purpose, and
expressing your most personal
comments, reactions, and suggestions.
Book Review
• The length of the review depends upon
the length of the book itself, and a
review should not be less than 100
words. Longer books usually ask for
more than 500 words.

• Reviews generally range from 500-

2000 words, but may be longer or
shorter depending on several factors:
 the length and complexity of the book
being reviewed,
 overall purpose of the review, and
 whether the review examines two or
more books that focus on the same
topic.
Questions to Ask Yourself
When Writing a Book Review
• What are the author's viewpoint and purpose?
• What are the author's main points?
• What kind of evidence does the author use to prove his or her
points?
• How does this book relate to other books on the same topic?
• Does the author have the necessary expertise to write the
book?
• What are the most appropriate criteria by which to judge the
book?
• How successful do you think the author was in carrying out the
overall purposes of the book?
Two General Approaches to
Reviewing a Book
Descriptive Review
• Presents the content and
structure of a book as
objectively as possible.
• States the perceived aims
and purposes of the study.
Two General Approaches to
Reviewing a Book
Critical Review
• Evaluates the book in
relation to accepted literary
and historical standards.
• Shows possible comparison
and contrast with the
review of others.
Two General Approaches to
Reviewing a Book
Critical Review
• States what the author has
tried to do, evaluates how well
you believe the author has
succeeded in meeting the
objectives of the study, and
presents evidence to support
this assessment.
Why Book Reviews Matter?
(For Authors)
• Reviews can provide an author with an idea
of who is reading their book.
• Reviews can offer authors insights into
what they did well in their book.
• Reviews can make an author feel good.
Why Book Reviews Matter?
(For Readers)
• Reviews can influences readers/buyers as to
whether or not they should purchase a book.
• Reviews allow readers to let their voices be
heard.
• Reviews can be considered a thank you note to
the writer/author.
• Reviews help you determine the book’s value
beyond the blurb.
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: How do you
START writing a book review?
(Catchy Introduction)
• Can be a short summary of the book, but
be careful not to tell too much.
• Here are some examples of summaries
reviewers from The New York Times have
written:
A new picture book tells a magically simple tale of a lonely boy, a
stranded whale and a dad who rises to the occasion.

In this middle-grade novel, a girl finds a way forward after the

loss of her mother.“

Reared by ghosts, werewolves and other residents of the hillside

cemetery he calls home, an orphan named Nobody Owens
wonders how he will manage to survive among the living having
learned all his lessons from the dead. And the man Jack — who
killed the rest of Nobody's family — is itching to finish the job.
In vivid poems that reflect the joy of
finding her voice through writing
stories, an award-winning author
shares what it was like to grow up in the
1960s and 1970s in both the North and
the South.
 Other ways to begin a review include:

• Quote:
A striking quote from the book ("It was a bright cold day
in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.") can make for
a powerful beginning. This quote begins George Orwell's
novel 1984.

• Background:
What makes this book important or interesting? Is the
author famous? Is it a series? This is This is how Amazon
introduces Divergent.
• Interesting Fact:
In this review of The Middle East by Philip Steele, Zander H.
of Mid-America Mensa asks, "Did you know that the Saudi
Arabia's Rub' al-Khali desert reaches temperatures of 140
degrees Fahrenheit in the day and plummets to the freezing
point at night?“

• Explanation of a term:
If a word or phrase in the book or title is confusing or vitally
important to understand, you may wish to begin the review
explaining that term.
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: How do you START
writing a book review (Introduction Proper)?
• Identify the book by author, title, and sometimes publishing
information.
• Specify the type of book (for example: fiction, nonfiction, biography,
and autobiography). Help your readers to review with perspective.
• Mention the book's theme.
• Does the book belong to a series?
• How long is the book? Is it an easy or a challenging read?
• Is there anything that would be helpful for the reader to know about
the author? For instance, is the author an expert in the field, the
author of other popular books, or a first-time author?
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: How do you START
writing a book review (Introduction Proper)?
•How does the book compare to other books on
the same topic or in the same genre?
•Is the book written in a formal or informal style?
Is the language remarkable in any way?
•What ages is the book geared to?
•Is the book written in normal prose? If it is
written in poetic form, does it rhyme?
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: What do you DO with
the content (Body)?
• For nonfiction books: pay primary attention to the major
points (the argument) the author is putting forth and to
the sources the author has drawn upon to hack up
his/her point of view.
• For fictional works: pay attention primarily to the novel
or book's setting, plot, style, characters, theme/s, use of
language and voice. Do not give away the story for no
one appreciates a spoiler!
• Describe the book.
• Explore issues the book raises.
• Describing and Analyzing the PLOT: never give away the ending. No one
likes a spoiler.
• Describing and Analyzing the CHARACTERS:
Who are the main characters? Include the protagonist and antagonist.
What makes them interesting?
Do they act like real people act or are they too good or too evil to be
believable?
Are they human?
What conflicts do they face?
Are they likeable or understandable?
How do they connect with each other?
Do they appear in other books?
Could you relate to any of the characters in the story?
What problems did the main characters face?
Who was your favorite character, and why?
 • Describing and analyzing the THEME: This isn’t the plot,
but rather the IDEAS behind the story.

• Describing and analyzing the SETTING: include more

than just the location.

 Is the book set in the past, present or future?

 Is it set in the world we know or is it a fantastical world?
 Is it mostly realistic with elements of fantasy (animals
that can talk, for example)?
 Is the setting unclear and fuzzy, or can you easily make
the movie in your mind?
 How much does the author draw you into the setting
and how does s/he accomplish that?
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: What do you DO with
the content (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:

 Did the author achieve his or her purpose?

 Is the writing effective?
 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book?
 For nonfiction, what are the author’s qualifications to write about the
subject? Do you agree with the author’s arguments and conclusions?
 What is your overall response to the book? Did you find it interesting,
moving, dull?
 Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not?
How well do you think the author achieved what s/he was going for
in the writing of the book? Do you think you felt what the author was
hoping you would feel?
Did the book feel complete, or did it feel as though key elements
were left out?
How does the book compare to other books like it you've read?
Are there mistakes?
Would you describe the book as for entertainment, self-
improvement, or information?
What was your favorite part of the book?
Would you have done anything differently had you been the
author?
Would any reader enjoy this book? If not, to what ages or type of
reader would it appeal?
Why do you think other readers would enjoy it? Why did
you enjoy it (if you did) or why didn't you (if you didn't).
What ages or types of readers do you think would like the
book?
How does it compare with other books that are in the
same genre or by the same author?
Does the book engage your emotions? If a book made
you laugh or cry or think about it for days, be sure to
include that.
What do you like or dislike about the author's writing
style? Is it funny? Is it hard to follow? Is it engaging and
conversational in tone?
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: How do you
CONCLUDE (Conclusion)? “Overall, this book
is … ”
• Relate your argument to other books or authors.
• Relate the book to larger issues.
• Tie together issues raised in the review.
• Briefly restate your main points and your thesis statement.
• Indicate how well the book has achieved its goal, what
possibilities are suggested by the book, what the book has
left out, how the book compares to others on the subject,
what specific points are not convincing, and what personal
experiences you’ve had related to the subject.
 BOOK REVIEW FORMAT: How do you ADD TITLE
to your book review? (Book’s
Essence/Reader’s Curiosity)

Captivating the Essence:

"Unveiling the Enigmatic: A Review of [Book Title]"

"Exploring the Depths: An In-Depth Analysis of
[Book Title]"
"A Literary Journey into [Book Title]: A Review“
 Emphasizing Impact:
"A Life-Altering Tale: [Book Title] Book Review"
"Provocative and Profound: Unraveling [Book Title] in
Review"
"Powerful Insights and Emotional Resonance: [Book Title]
Review“

 Highlighting Genre or Style:

"Thrills, Chills, and Page-Turning Suspense: [Book Title]
Review"
"Masterpiece of Historical Fiction: A Review of [Book
Title]"
"Exploring the Fantastical: [Book Title] Book Review"
Adding a Personal Touch:
"A Personal Journey Through [Book Title]: A Review"
"Discovering New Perspectives: My Take on [Book
Title]"
"One Reader's Reflections: [Book Title] Book Review“

Using Descriptive Language:

"Heartfelt and Poignant: [Book Title] Book Review"
"Brilliantly Crafted and Unforgettable: A Review of
[Book Title]"
"An Intoxicating Literary Delight: [Book Title] Review"
 TITLE
Maximum of 2 ”Catchy” Introduction
paragraphs Introduction Proper

3-5 Body(Describing the Content of the

paragraphs Book)

3-5 Body (Evaluating/Analyzing the

paragraphs Content Book)

At least 1
Conclusion
paragraph