English 1118, Independent Reading
The Book Review : Due December 6th
Independent Reading =10% of the Final Grade
Students will be responsible to do some independent reading during this term. Each student will select a novel of his/her own choice (with the instructor’s approval). The book must be fiction and suited for older teens or adults with a page range no less than around 200 pages but not to exceed 600. Students will write informal reflections each time they read (with a minimum of 5 entries, no specific length requirement – think quality over quantity. Make the writing meaningful to you), and at the end, students will write a book review for their novel. See details below.
Book Review Assignment Requirements:
• MLA format
• 2 pages
• 2 source minimum
Assignment:
Locate two published reviews pertaining to the novel you read for your independent reading. These reviews should be made by professionals – not just customer reviews on GoodReads or Amazon. Copy, paste and cite these published reviews. Add a third review of your own. In your review, be sure to address what the other reviewers got right, and also, address what they either got wrong or maybe just left out. Don’t give away any spoilers, but do address the themes, any important messages, and your overall recommendation for other readers.
Your review should be around 200-500 words.
Rubric: 100 total points
• Meets requirements – 15
• Addresses the assignment – 20
• Demonstrates critical thinking -20
• Demonstrates creative thought and advanced writing style-30
• Is grammatically and mechanically correct-15