PS 441/541, Fall 2011

Guidelines for the Book Review

Undergraduate essays should be 6-7 pages in length, double-spaced (that’s 1,800-2,100 words); graduate essays, 9-10 pages (2,700-3,000 words). You are to critically review the book, not simply summarize it. A brief overview of the book is fine, but focus on an issue (or two or three) that most interests or provokes youa nd evaluate the author’s arguments.

You should quote the author. This will demonstrate your familiarity with the books and their arguments. For lengthy quotes, indent and single space. For all quotes, use parenthetical page references—no “ibids” or “op cits” (I’ll know what book you’re referring to). You may discuss and cite other work, but you need not. If you do, keep this discussion very brief; your primary focus throughout the essay should be the books under review.

Some good examples of book reviews can be found on the Books page of the New York Times website. Your review should be somewhat more scholarly than one written for a general audience; that is, you will want to pay some attention to relevant concepts and theories from the academic discipline of world politics as covered in this course to date.

Do not submit sloppy work. Papers should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. If you struggle with with writing, or simply want to polish your essay before turning it in, please consult with PSU’s Writing Center.