Gender, Development and Globalization

Book Review Assignment: Please write a 6-7 pages book review in double space, Times New Roman, (1500-1750 words) on ONE of the following books:
EITHER
Nusrat Sabina Chowdhury. 2019. Paradoxes of the Popular: Crowd Politics in Bangladesh. Stanford University Press.
OR
Vandana Shiva. 2015. Soil Not Oil: Environmental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis. North Atlantic Books; Reprint edition.
OR
Richa Nagar and Sangtin Writers (2006). Playing with Fire: Feminist Thought and Activism through Seven Lives in India. Minnesota University Press.

Rubric for book review assignment:
A short and clear introduction that introduces the book and its key argument (s). 4%
An outline of the content of each of the chapters of the book — in two or more paragraphs. 4%
A well-organized and analytical review of the book that draws on some of the concepts we used in class– you may write a review of the whole book or focus on one or two chapters — but say what you decided to do so. 12%.
A discussion of what you liked about the book, whether you disliked the book or parts of it, and why. 4%
A brief conclusion that sums up your key argument(s). 4%
A clear and coherent review that is free from grammar mistakes, typos, and other errors. 4%
A bibliography of all references used, using American Psychological Association (APA) Style. 3% What this means is that you should not just list the titles of the books or the names of the authors. You should follow the APA style guide. You can do so by using the ‘References’ function on Word. Click on References, click on ‘insert citations’, choose the APA style and follow the instructions to add information about the book. When you have finished your paper, place the mouse at the end of the paper and then click bibliography. Follow instructions to generate the bibliography.
Guidelines for Writing your Book Review
Objective of the Assignment:
The objective of this assignment is for you to 1) build or refine your book review writing skills. 2) demonstrate that you completed the readings, read the lectures, understood the key concepts we discussed in class during this Summer session, and 3) that you are able to apply the concepts and themes we discussed in class to a specific case study. It is important that you integrate a discussion of some of the concepts we discussed in class into your book review. This does not mean that you should impose odd or random themes, concepts, or ideas of authors whose work we covered in class on your analysis. Choose relevant ideas and concepts and show how these relate to the subject matter of the book.
Structure of your Book Review:
Your book review should consist of 1) an introduction; 2) an outline of the content of each of the chapters; 2) discussion of the authors’ key arguments, 3) your views on the content of the book as a whole and on specific arguments. You may choose to focus on one key aspect of the book, and 4) a conclusion that sums-up your main argument and your thoughts on the book
Skimming the Book:
It is best to start by skimming through the book by reading it superficially. The purpose of reading at this level is for you to form a general idea about the theme of the book and its main content, why the author(s) wrote it, and how the book is structured. You can do so by 1) reading the table of contents, the introduction and the conclusion. 2) Read the first and last paragraph of each chapter. Note any key words or recurring concepts. Jot your ideas down on a piece of paper or using Word.
Reading Analytically:
Reading analytically is about being a demanding reader. As M. J. Adler and C. V. Doren write in How to Read A Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading (Touchstone, 1972):
Analytical reading is thorough reading, complete reading or good reading [for the sake of understanding and interpreting]—The best possible reading you can do. If inspectional reading [skimming—see above] is the best and most complete reading that is possible given a limited time, then analytical reading is the best and most complete reading given unlimited time.
The analytical reader must ask many, and organized questions of what he [or she] is reading…Analytical reading is always intensely active. On this level of reading, the reader grasps a book…and works at it until the book becomes his [or her/their] own. (p. 19)
Questions to consider:
-What is the main theme of the book? Why has the author written it?
-Do you think the author is a feminist? What kind of feminist is she? Why do you think so?
-What are the key questions the authors are addressing? What are the main points of view?
-What are the main conclusions?
-What concepts do the authors use?
-In what ways is the subject matter of the book related to what we discussed throughout this Semester?
-What happens if we failed to take the reasoning in the book seriously?