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Writing an article
review as an assignment in this course has the
following important four objectives:
- effective
writing,
- a
substantive knowledge about a particular topic,
- an
understanding of the nature and use of historical
research,
- an
ability to think critically about the work of
others.
An article review goes beyond mere summary and
inquires into the overall worth of the work. There
are five steps to prepare an article for review:
- Introduction
– After reading the assigned article,
briefly discuss the purpose of the article.
Why did the author write the article? What is
the reason for this article? The opening statement
takes the readers from where they presumably
stand in point of knowledge and brings them
to the article under review; e.g., “In
the article “A Little Commonwealth”
John Demos analyzes the structure and development
of Puritan society in seventeenth century Massachusetts.”
- Critical
Summary – What is the
thesis of the article? What are the author’s
major contentions? Summarize the contents of
the article indicating how the thesis is developed.
Use examples. While this will be the longest
part of your review, you should make sure that
your paper does not become a mere summary without
analysis. How does the author use the evidence
to support the thesis and secondary points?
- Historical
Relationship – Discuss
the ways in which the article contributes to
your understanding of the historical period;
e.g. what does the article teach you about colonial
America that the textbook and class lectures/discussions
do not? Be very specific, noting how the article
contributes to your knowledge of the historical
period. Why is this an important article for
you to read as we study a particular historical
period?
- Conclusion
– Briefly discuss the major strengths
and weaknesses of the article. Does it fit into
the prevailing interpretation/consensus about
the topic? Is this information different from
that you previously learned? If so, how? Discuss
the overall worth of the article to your understanding
of United States History.
- Writing the Review
–
- At
the top of the page, give the title and
author of the work under review.
- Type
the review. Double-spaced. The typical review
is 300 to 1000 words long. Try not to exceed
three pages. Reviews may be hand written
in ink, on one side of the page.
- If
you quote from the article, simply follow
the quotation with the page number(s) in
parenthesis; e.g. “The author makes
the incredible assertion that Jefferson
turned out to be one of America’s
worst presidents.” (123)
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