The Rape Of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust Of World War II

Iris Chang. The Rape Of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust Of World War II

Publisher Basic Books Published on Mar 11, 2014 Pages 360 ISBN 9780465028252 Book Review Instructions You are required to complete a scholarly book review by the midpoint in the semester. Part of being a historian involves keeping abreast of new books and research in your field. Even senior historians write book reviews. Some of you have written book reviews for other courses, while for some of you this will be a new type of writing assignment. Regardless of whether you have written book reviews before or not, the following are some general guidelines for success in this course. Reading historical monographs is not like reading a novel or a textbook. Historians write books for a purpose. It is how the historical profession communicates new knowledge and new perspectives on both old and new questions. As you read, you should focus on the author’s arguments and the evidence used to support them. Read the preface/introduction and conclusion especially carefully. Usually, but not always, these sections are where the author sets out the book’s thesis and summarizes key points. 1. Choose Your Book: You must receive permission from the instructor for your book selection before proceeding. If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask. 2. Content of the Review: The purpose of a scholarly review is: 1) to explain briefly what the book is about (scope), 2) to analyze its argument and evidence (thesis), 3) to offer a critical assessment of the book’s strengths and weaknesses, and 4) to appraise its historical value. If you would like to see examples of scholarly book reviews, consult an academic journal such as The American Historical Review and The Journal of American History, each of which can be found on the library website. 3. Keys to a Successful Scholarly Review: • Read the book thoroughly and reflect upon it • Identify the author, including credentials and major publications • Identify the major theme or thesis of the book • Summarize the author’s supporting arguments and evidence • Give the reader a flavor of the book by quoting from it or describing the layout or other features of the book • Offer both praise as well as constructive criticism, as appropriate • Incorporate your own insights • You are not permitted to review any required course reading 4. Format of the Review: The review should be double-spaced, and approximately 1,500 words in length (+/- 10%). It should be written clearly and free of grammatical errors. Put your name and the date at the top of the first page, followed by the book’s full citation data according to the following example (see the Chicago/Turabian for additional examples):