19th Century American ArtBook Review AssignmentBook reviews are a crucial part of scholarly writing and serve an important function
in regard to intellectual life broadly. We cannot read every book that is published,
and we need an efficient way to know what books are about, how they might be
helpful, strengths and weaknesses, and how the book represent trends in the field.
Book reviews allow, in other words, for a snapshot of a book but also for a snapshot
of the intellectual field that surrounds the book.
You will write a book review of a recently published/important/transformative
book in nineteenth century American art, chosen from the list of approved titles
(available on HuskyCT), and following the paper guidelines detailed below. You
should consider several books from the list that interests you and have several
options because if the book you would like is picked by a classmate you will need
some alternatives. (You will draw numbers from a hat and make your choice on
September 8th). Once you have a book, you need to get to the library ASAP and/or
make arrangements to read the book, and begin reading and analyzing the text. You
should take careful notes, think about the way the book was organized, think about
the methodology the art historian has taken with the project, and think about the
kinds of scholarly questions he/she asks about art. Note on HuskyCT are two very
helpful websites with explanations and suggestions about starting the book review
process and about the writing of a book review. Check those out.
In terms of writing, book reviews generally follow a general pattern.
1. First, there is an introduction that gives the reader a sense of the book, the
topic it covers, and some background about the art historian who wrote it
(books or articles they had written before this book). MOST IMPORTANT,
you the reviewer must summarize the THESIS of the book.
2. Next, there is a detailed description of the book itself; a chapter breakdown,
details about key points in each chapter the author makes, a summation of
the major dialogues of the book. This is the largest part of the review and
should be detailed, with quotes from the book and a close examination of the
kind of evidence the author uses. This is section is primarily summary, but it
needs to reveal a careful reading of the text.
3. Third, you need to locate the book in a larger context of nineteenth century
American art: what does this book add to the dialogue? What is the author
arguing about rethinking the subject? How does the book relate to the ideas,
articles, and books we have read in class?
4. Finally, what is your opinion of the book? Flaws? Strengths? What hole does
it fill? What could have been better? What seems like a major contribution?
There are several sample book reviews posted on HuskyCT to give you a model. You
should also look at and feel free to quote from OTHER book reviews of your text; be
sure to properly cite.
In terms of rough drafts, I am happy to address questions or problems weekly. I will
then accept emailed rough drafts for comments/edits on or before OCTOBER
20th. After that date I cannot read whole drafts. You are not required to submit a
rough draft, but it is encouraged.
Format and Grammar Guidelines:
The review needs be between five and seven pages long. It needs to conform to all
the grammatical and formal criteria set out below. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE
ACCEPTED. The paper should be typed, spellchecked, and free of grammatical and
sentence-level errors. Specifically note:
Your paper should be in #12 font size, with 1-inch margins. DO NOT mess with
this.
__No title needed. Your header should just be name/ section/ course title.
The paper should be double-spaced. Do not include an extra space between
paragraphs.
All pages should be numbered with your last name on them.
All papers MUST be spell-checked; spell-check right before you print.
__Make sure all work is your own.
Relating to Quotes:
In a book review you should include quotes from the book so the reader gets
a sense of the writing style. These quotes, however, should work to prove or
explain some point YOU are making about the book. In short, they are crucial,
but should not be used as filler. Also, when quoting from the book you are
reviewing you only need note the page the quote or idea comes from.
Example: (12).
Outside the author of the book you are reviewing, you must cite all authors
that you quote. For articles that are on the syllabus or are part of this course
assignment that means after the quote please provide the authors last name
and page number in parentheses. Example: (Brown, 16). If you must include
a source outside the course reading list please include the bibliographic
information at the end of the essay. (This means cite as noted above in the
text, but that at the end of the paper, include a bibliography that gives the
author, title, date, publisher and page information.)
NO quotes that are more than 3 typed lines long. These are short papers, no
filler please.
It is not typically advisable to put a quote in the introduction to your essay or
in the conclusion. In the introduction there is not enough room to fully
explain a quote and in the conclusion you should not be introducing new
material. If you must, then the quote needs to serve a crucial thesis or
concluding point YOU are making.
Grammar, etc:
Sentences should never begin with AND or BUT.
NO CONTRACTIONS! That means: dont, cant, shouldnt, etc.
Be careful with however. There should be only one per page. It is a
transition word, so be sure that you transition with it. Also, however never
belongs in the beginning of a sentence. Only in the middle or end.
Paragraphs should have at least 3 sentences in them. Two sentences do not
make a paragraph.
It is fine to use I in your essays but never use We. You can speak for
yourself but not for others.
No rhetorical questions.
No clichs. No old sayings. Use your own ideas. They are always better.
This is a formal essay and you should have a formal tone. Therefore, no
chatty language or slang in your paper. To be chatty in a paper assumes that
the reader is friendly, simpatico, or on your team. Never assume that. Assume
instead that your reader is skeptical and needs to be convinced of everything.
Writing is not a gift or a talent; it is a skill that comes with practice and hard work. If
you think you need help with your writing please ask for help and/or make an
appointment with the writing center (website on HuskyCT site).
Finally, just as a reminder, I take plagiarism very seriously. Thus if there is a
case of plagiarism I will vigorously pursue the issue and if the offender is found
guilty she/he will FAIL THE WHOLE COURSE. Misconduct will be handled in
accordance with the guidelines established in The Student Code as they are outlined
at http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code_appendixa.html.
As stated in these guidelines:
Academic misconduct is dishonest or unethical academic behavior that includes,
but is not limited, to misrepresenting mastery in an academic area (e.g., cheating),
intentionally or knowingly failing to properly credit information, research or ideas
to their rightful originators or representing such information, research or ideas as
your own (e.g., plagiarism).
Cite every source you quote or sources that you pull ideas or facts from. If you are
unclear about citations, are worried that you might not be using sources correctly,
or have any questions about writing, please talk to Prof. Boylan