Sample Guidelines For Critical Book Review (Page 3 of 3) in pdf

Sample Guidelines For Critical Book Review Page 3

• What did you learn from this book?

• How might you apply the lessons of this book in your ministry context?

• Would you recommend the book to other ministers? to seminary students? to

laypersons? Why, or why not?

Do not allow your response to this question to become lengthy (for this paper is not primarily

an evaluation of your ministry), but do make some application.

Throughout your critique, be specific in your evaluations. Do not just tell the reader about the

book; tell and show the reader with concrete examples from the book. As previously

suggested, include page numbers when making specific reference to the book.

F. The length of the review should be between five and seven pages, double-spaced.

Style Issues for a Critical Book Review

Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (7

ed.) is the

accepted standard for style issues.

The following guidelines are included to counter common style errors:

A. Utilize this suggested outline to guide your book review, but do not include the specific

subheadings (“Bibliographical Entry,” “Summary of the Book,” etc.) in the essay. The

brevity of the review demands a smooth flow from one section to another without including

the subheadings.

B. Use first-person sparingly; however, you may use “I” when referring to your opinion of a

text.

C. Avoid contractions in formal writing.

D. Use active voice as much as possible.

E. Be clear and concise. A brief review allows no room for wandering from your objective.

F. Use your spell-checker, but do not trust it. A spell-check will not catch the error in such

sentences as, “The whole church voted too pass the amendment.” Use your eyes as well as

your spell-checker.

G. Proofread your paper. Finish the paper, and proof it. Lay it aside, and proof it again at a

later time. If you do not catch your errors, someone else will.

Sample Guidelines For Critical Book Review Page 3