19th Century American Art Book Review Assignment

19th Century American Art Book Review AssignmentBook reviews are a crucial part of scholarly writing and serve an important functionin regard to intellectual life broadly. We cannot read every book that is published,and we need an efficient way to know what books are about, how they might behelpful, strengths and weaknesses, and how the book represent trends in the field.Book reviews allow, in other words, for a snapshot of a book but also for a snapshotof the intellectual field that surrounds the book.You will write a book review of a recently published/important/transformativebook in nineteenth century American art, chosen from the list of approved titles(available on HuskyCT), and following the paper guidelines detailed below. Youshould consider several books from the list that interests you and have severaloptions because if the book you would like is picked by a classmate you will needsome alternatives. (You will draw numbers from a hat and make your choice onSeptember 8th). Once you have a book, you need to get to the library ASAP and/ormake arrangements to read the book, and begin reading and analyzing the text. Youshould take careful notes, think about the way the book was organized, think aboutthe methodology the art historian has taken with the project, and think about thekinds of scholarly questions he/she asks about art. Note on HuskyCT are two veryhelpful websites with explanations and suggestions about starting the book reviewprocess and about the writing of a book review. Check those out.In terms of writing, book reviews generally follow a general pattern.1. First, there is an introduction that gives the reader a sense of the book, thetopic it covers, and some background about the art historian who wrote it(books or articles they had written before this book). MOST IMPORTANT,you the reviewer must summarize the THESIS of the book.2. Next, there is a detailed description of the book itself; a chapter breakdown,details about key points in each chapter the author makes, a summation ofthe major dialogues of the book. This is the largest part of the review andshould be detailed, with quotes from the book and a close examination of thekind of evidence the author uses. This is section is primarily summary, but itneeds to reveal a careful reading of the text.3. Third, you need to locate the book in a larger context of nineteenth centuryAmerican art: what does this book add to the dialogue? What is the authorarguing about rethinking the subject? How does the book relate to the ideas,articles, and books we have read in class?4. Finally, what is your opinion of the book? Flaws? Strengths? What hole doesit fill? What could have been better? What seems like a major contribution?There are several sample book reviews posted on HuskyCT to give you a model. Youshould also look at and feel free to quote from OTHER book reviews of your text; besure to properly cite.In terms of rough drafts, I am happy to address questions or problems weekly. I willthen accept emailed rough drafts for comments/edits on or before OCTOBER20th. After that date I cannot read whole drafts. You are not required to submit arough draft, but it is encouraged.Format and Grammar Guidelines:The review needs be between five and seven pages long. It needs to conform to allthe grammatical and formal criteria set out below. NO LATE PAPERS WILL BEACCEPTED. The paper should be typed, spellchecked, and free of grammatical andsentence-level errors. Specifically note:—Your paper should be in #12 font size, with 1-inch margins. DO NOT mess withthis.__No title needed. Your header should just be name/ section/ course title.—The paper should be double-spaced. Do not include an extra space betweenparagraphs.—All pages should be numbered with your last name on them.—All papers MUST be spell-checked; spell-check right before you print.__Make sure all work is your own.Relating to Quotes:• In a book review you should include quotes from the book so the reader getsa sense of the writing style. These quotes, however, should work to prove orexplain some point YOU are making about the book. In short, they are crucial,but should not be used as filler. Also, when quoting from the book you arereviewing you only need note the page the quote or idea comes from.Example: (12).• Outside the author of the book you are reviewing, you must cite all authorsthat you quote. For articles that are on the syllabus or are part of this courseassignment that means after the quote please provide the author’s last nameand page number in parentheses. Example: (Brown, 16). If you must includea source outside the course reading list please include the bibliographicinformation at the end of the essay. (This means cite as noted above in thetext, but that at the end of the paper, include a bibliography that gives theauthor, title, date, publisher and page information.)• NO quotes that are more than 3 typed lines long. These are short papers, nofiller please.• It is not typically advisable to put a quote in the introduction to your essay orin the conclusion. In the introduction there is not enough room to fullyexplain a quote and in the conclusion you should not be introducing newmaterial. If you must, then the quote needs to serve a crucial thesis orconcluding point YOU are making.Grammar, etc:• Sentences should never begin with AND or BUT.• NO CONTRACTIONS! That means: don’t, can’t, shouldn’t, etc.• Be careful with “however.” There should be only one per page. It is atransition word, so be sure that you transition with it. Also, “however” neverbelongs in the beginning of a sentence. Only in the middle or end.• Paragraphs should have at least 3 sentences in them. Two sentences do notmake a paragraph.• It is fine to use “I” in your essays but never use “We.” You can speak foryourself but not for others.• No rhetorical questions.• No clichés. No old sayings. Use your own ideas. They are always better.• This is a formal essay and you should have a formal tone. Therefore, nochatty language or slang in your paper. To be chatty in a paper assumes thatthe reader is friendly, simpatico, or on your team. Never assume that. Assumeinstead that your reader is skeptical and needs to be convinced of everything.Writing is not a gift or a talent; it is a skill that comes with practice and hard work. Ifyou think you need help with your writing please ask for help and/or make anappointment with the writing center (website on HuskyCT site).Finally, just as a reminder, I take plagiarism very seriously. Thus if there is acase of plagiarism I will vigorously pursue the issue and if the offender is foundguilty she/he will FAIL THE WHOLE COURSE. Misconduct will be handled inaccordance with the guidelines established in The Student Code as they are outlinedat http://www.dosa.uconn.edu/student_code_appendixa.html.As stated in these guidelines:“Academic misconduct is dishonest or unethical academic behavior that includes,but is not limited, to misrepresenting mastery in an academic area (e.g., cheating),intentionally or knowingly failing to properly credit information, research or ideasto their rightful originators or representing such information, research or ideas asyour own (e.g., plagiarism).”Cite every source you quote or sources that you pull ideas or facts from. If you areunclear about citations, are worried that you might not be using sources correctly,or have any questions about writing, please talk to Prof. Boylan