For this assignment, you will be allowed to select one of five books (or one approved by me) and complete a 5 page (double spaced) book review. Similar to the reading summaries/critiques, the assignment requires you to both summarize the material from the book and extend this with an informed and critical perspective developed throughout this course. The books I am listing relate to and/or encompass a variety of topics we will discuss in this course, including race, class, gender, and larger connections between sport and a host of social institutions and larger social structures.
Please review this website from UNC on what should be in a book review. Pay close attention to the ‘Developing an assessment’ sections and the sections on ‘Writing the review’ for sections and things that should be addressed and covered. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/book-reviews/. (Links to an external site.)
One area in which I diverge from the site and recommendations listed above is the length of the summary. It is just as important to me as is the reflection portion of your review.
I expect an introduction which details the work you are reviewing and summarizing. What are the main themes and/or the primary arguments of the book? For this course, situate this within the primary topics we have covered. You may want to include a statement such as “Kicking Center offers a critical analysis of a crumbled professional women’s soccer league, offering key insight into important associations between gender and sport.” This lets me know you are able to situate her contributions as important primarily to sport. My hope is that as you identify where the material from the book applies, you can return back to those relevant weeks of study and incorporate arguments and evidence from the textbooks and supplementary readings into your analysis. In other words, please let our textbook and our previous course material help you identify things you can write about and discuss.
I do also want an adequate summary of the material following the introduction. This is the section that should detail what the material is about.
Following the summary, I want your analysis/evaluation/reflection of the book. This is the section where I want you to make connections with other course material and the material from the text and other stuff we have discussed. This is NOT a space to share how it connects to your personal experiences. That is fine and recommended for the weekly summaries, but not for this. This is the space for you to weave together and synthesize the material from the book or documentary you selected and the material we have covered over the semester.
Lastly, there should be a conclusion.
My expectation, and goal, is that you spend 2 to 3 pages on a summary, and the remaining 2 to 3 on a reflection. As you are reflecting, you should seek to situate the material and main arguments (or themes if you use Netflix options) within the course material we covered throughout the course. How are they in agreement or how do they diverge? How does the material (or not) supplement and further your understanding of the breadth of material we have studied thus far? You all have for the most part done very well with difficult material and many have really improved to offer a more critical perspective of sport than I believe you started with. This should be an exercise in putting it all together! Just to offer an example, in Rachel Allison’s Kicking Center, there is a much more detailed analysis of gender and sport, women’s representation in the media, consideration of the links between female athletes and femininity and sexual identity, etc, and even youth sports. These are issues that you should now be a little better positioned and informed on than you were at the beginning of the semester. In addition to summarizing key arguments, how is what she saying fitting in or extending what you’ve been learning throughout the semester? The expectation is that you tie the material back to course concepts, citing the textbook or other sources we have used, defining and drawing upon concepts we have discussed during the semester, and even discuss functionalist or conflict arguments.
As I have provided fairly detailed feedback throughout the semester in your weekly summaries, and especially at the beginning, I am going to be more critical and picky in thisassignment. I encourage you to proofread, and even have others proofread. I highly encourage you to partner or group up and switch papers, offering constructive feedback. I am also happy to scan over your work if you send early and give me sufficient time. I am happy to offer suggestions. A rubric I will be grading with is attached below:
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Spelling, Grammar, & Sentence Structure 10% |
Some spelling, grammar, or sentence structure errors (4-7 pts)
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Few spelling, grammar, or sentence structure errors (8-9 pts)
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No spelling, grammar, or sentence structure errors (10 pts)
Score: |
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Introduction 15%
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Does not clearly develop an introduction (0-5 pts)
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Minimal development of introduction (6-10 pts)
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Average development of introduction (11-14 pts)
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Accurate development of introduction (15 pts)
Score: |
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Book Summary 30%
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Does not clearly develop a brief description of the book (0-10 pts)
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Minimally develops a brief description of the book (11-19 pts)
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Average development of a brief description of the book (20-29 pts)
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Accurately develops a brief description of the book (30 pts)
Score: |
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Reflection 30% |
Does not clearly develop the critical review (0-10 pts)
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Minimally develops the critical review (1-19 pts)
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Average development of the critical review (20-29 pts)
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Accurate development of the critical review (30 pts)
Score: |
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Closing Comments and Reflections 15% |
Does not clearly conclude arguments and critiques (0-5 pts)
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Minimally concludes arguments and critiques (6-10 pts)
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Average conclusion of arguments and critiques (11-14 pts)
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Accurately concludes arguments and critiques (15 pts)
Score: |
Book review rubric*