Book Review Assignment for AP Biology
Science has been undermined in the news numerous times. You are assigned to do a critical analysis on one nonfiction science book of your choice from the list provided. Your job is to convince the community how the themes and messages in your book are important issues to consider. Your goal is to make your book SHINE as an important literary piece that EVERYONE must read!
Book selection due by January 11, 2012 .
Article and presentation are due on ______
ARTICLE (Word Count 1400-1600 words)
Summary
Offer a general summary of the book. Your summary must be more detailed than the summary offered on Amazon and the paragraphs on the book description.
Include in your summary:
· USE EVIDENCE: Offer at least 3 multiple examples of your favorite parts of the book,
· USE EVIDENCE: Identify themes and/or the "big messages" that the author is trying to portray. Offer at least 3 examples to support this theme.
Significance: Why should we care?
· Why are the themes and/or messages in this book significant to others? How is this book important? Use: current events connection and/or statistical data
· Forecast the applicability of the author’s message to future studies/technology or societal problems.
Bibliography: In APA format
PRESENTATION (5 minutes) Summarize the findings from the report in a brief presentation to the class. At the end, describe whether or not you would recommend this book for your peers to read over the summer.
Book List
Additional books will be posted online on my website. If you would like to choose a book that is not on this list or the list online, you must see me for confirmation.
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body by Neil Shubin
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollen
The Great Influenza: The story of the deadliest pandemic in history by John M. Barry
The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic--and How It Changed Science, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson
Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA by Brenda Maddox
Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales by William Bass
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough
The Secret Life of Sharks by A. Peter Klimley
The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Molecules of Emotion: The science behind Mind-Body Medicine by Candace B. Pert, Ph.D.
Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach
Migraine by Oliver Sacks
The Island of the Colorblind by Oliver Sacks
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for A Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks
Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab by Christine Montross
Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture by Jeremy Rifkin
The River: A Journey to the Source of HIV and AIDS by Edward Hooper
Absolute Zero and the Conquest of the Cold by Tom Shachtman
Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks? By Rebecca Skloot
Good Germs, Bad Germs: Health and Survival in a Bacterial World [Hardcover] Jessica Snyder
BOOK REVIEW RUBRIC
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT UNSATISFACTORY SCORE (Level 4 – 80-100%) (Level 3 – 70-79%) (Level 2 – 60-69%) (Level 1 – 50-59%)
SUMMARY Summary consists of a discussion Summary consists of a discussion Summary consists of a discussion of Summary is mostly an outline of
of major themes, ideas, and of major themes, ideas, and major themes, ideas and characters the book and does not discuss
10 pts characters providing at least 4 characters, providing at least 3 providing at least 2 excerpts from the themes or major ideas of the work.
excerpts from the work. It combines excerpts from the work. It combines work. It combines ideas from the There may be one direct quote
ideas from the book into new ideas from the book into new book into new sentences using your "thrown in" for effect.
sentences using your own words. sentences using your own words. own words.
QUOTES All direct quotes from the novel are 2 or 3 direct quotes from the novel 1 or 2 direct quotes from the novel are The summary contains direct
noted by citing page numbers in are noted by citing page numbers in noted by citing page numbers in quotes without any citation of
10 pts parenthesis. e.g. (48) (no more than 5) parenthesis. Quotes overused parenthesis. e.g. (48) page numbers.
AUTHOR Student provides a detailed discussion of Student provides a limited discussion Student provides little discussion of The discussion of author and sources
SOURCES the author’s qualifications. Sources were of the author’s qualifications. Sources the author’s qualifications. Sources is vague or missing and lacks detail.
examined in detail and the student are examined in a limited manner, and may or may not be briefly examined.
determined whether or not they were the analysis may be limited.
20 pts appropriate for the work.
CRITIQUE Critique consists of thoughts, Critique consists of thoughts, Critique consists of thoughts, Critique consists of a basic opinion
responses and reaction to the novel. responses and reaction to the novel. responses and reaction to the novel. based on personal feeling of "I
The student reviewer reacts to the The student reviewer may discuss The student may discuss only liked it" or "I hated it" and is not
themes, the author's aims or intent, only two aspects, for example, one aspect of the novel, such as considered a critique because it
20 pts the subject of the book, how well it is themes and writer's style. There is not themes. This review just states, 'Well, does not focus on themes, author's
written and overall success or failure a thorough review of various aspects. I liked it." or 'Well, I hated it." It lacks a intent, or writer's style.
of the book. critical eye.
ORGANIZATION Structure of the paper flows and is Structure of the paper flows and is Structure of the paper does NOT follow Structure of the paper does NOT
easily read because of smooth easily read, but 1 or 2 transitions may a logical order. The writing or ideas follow a logical order. There are no
transitions from paragraph to be faulty or missing. There is some may "jump" around; it is not cohesive. transitional phrases that make it
10 pts paragraph. The sequence of topics is illogical order in sequence of topics. there is not a clear introduction, easy to read the paper...OR...
in logical order. There is a clear cut There is a clear cut introduction, body or conclusion. review is just a copying of
introduction, body, and conclusion. and conclusion. the original book.
Impact Provided details concerning the link Two references to the book included No direct references to the book, but The references were poorly
understood or lacking
Between the theme(s) present in the All outstanding critieria included. current issues and future impact were altogether.
book and current issues along with discussed.
future impact.
Details were well-developed with at
10 pts least 3 references to parts of the book. . .
SPELLING 0-2 spelling errors 3-5 spelling errors 6-8 spelling errors Over 9 spelling errors
10 pts
FORMAT 0-2 formatting errors 3-5 formatting errors 6-8 formatting errors Over 9 formatting errors
10 pts