BOOK REVIEW

                                  United States History 1302

Due date: First Book Review      and Second Book Review

How to do Book Review:

      Submit two double spaced, typewritten copies.

      Select a book about the subject and period we are studying in the this course History 1302: History of the United States, After 1877. You will find a bibliography of suggested books in the College Library Electronic Catalog, use the handout to help find the list. The books listed in the reading list are catalogued in the library. The library site address is: http://208.189.120.165/ or you can use the home page for this class to get to the Electronic Catalog.

      Be sure you are selecting suggested books from the reading list of History 1302. If you wish to review a book that is not on the recommended list, bring the book to your instructor before reading the book for him to ok.

Steps in preparing a book review:

1. Read the book.

2. Determine the book's subject and time period.

3. Determine whether the author is trying to give the reader a broad picture, or is concentrating on a very limited subject.

4. Determine whether the author is presenting a particular interpretation of the subject, or is trying to describe the subject without presenting a particular slant or special emphasis.

5. Select a topic, analysis a argument, or a perspective the author presents which impressed you either positively or negatively.

6. Present your personal impression and/or reaction to the book, and to the author's interpretation.

7. Write a rough draft review of the book, incorporating the key elements form steps 2-6 (not necessarily in the listed order). The review should be approximately 2 pages in length double spaced. It should not be more than 3 pages long.

8. After the review has rested for a day or so, read it over, checking to see that you have written a clear, comprehensible review that encompasses the key elements listed in steps 2-6. Check your spelling, punctuation, grammar and composition. Type your final draft. Proof read it and correct and correct any errors you find. Make a second copy.

9. In the upper right hand corner of the first page should be your name and course number (History 1302.??).

     At the top of the first page use as a heading the essential information about the book:

Title. Author. (Location of publisher: Publisher's name, publication date. Number of pages.)

Age of Excess. Ginger, Ray. (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1965. 386 pp.).

10. Turn in 2 copies of your review on or before due date.

ORAL HISTORY

      Conducting an oral history interview can be enlightening and fascinating. It also can help you see an aspect of a major national or world event from the perspective of a participant. In the case of the Great Depression you can learn form a participant just what people experienced, how they reacted, and what consequences resulted from that time of history.

      Oral History Report: If you know someone (perhaps a relative of a friend of a relative) who has strong recollections of:

a. the Great Depression (1930's)

b. United States involvement in World War II (1941-45)

c. the "McCarthy scare"

d. the "Civil Rights crusade" (1960-68)

e. United States involvement in the Vietnam War (1961-73)

f. Student protests movement (1964-1970)

g. Other topics your teacher feels are important

      If you wish to prepare an oral history your instructor will give you a separate set of guidelines to follow. The paper will be a short (3-5 page) written report.