Writing the Academic Book Review
I no longer teach this course regularly. This workshop aids students in actually writing and publishing a book review for a peer-reviewed journal. At the first session, students receive instruction on why graduate students should (or should not) write book reviews, how to choose a book for review, how to chose a journal for submission, how to read a book for review, how to plan and structure a book review, and five common pitfalls of reviewing. Students also form small groups to discuss the book each plans to review.At the second meeting, students bring a draft of their book review for exchange and feedback. At the third meeting, students arrive with a final version of their essay to submit to an editor for publication. 

      This workshop is sometimes offered by a particular journal with the editors serving on a panel the first night to provide students with specific advice for submitting reviews to their journal. I did such a workshop for Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies, with the editors Chon A. Noriega and Alicia Gaspar de Alba.

      To read the handout, click on Writing the Academic Book Review, which includes information on how to chose a book to review, chose a journal to submit the review, read the book, make an outline and plan, write the reivew, and avoid common pitfalls.

Syllabus
Session 1, Week 1

           Introduction to book reviewing
           Selecting an appropriate book to review
           Five essential elements of any book review
           Typical errors graduate student reviewers make 

Session 2, Week 10
           Assignment:   First draft due
           Discussion of the writing process and challenges
           Exchanging and critiquing first drafts
           Some instructions on revising

Session 3, Week 16
           Assignment:   Final draft due
           Discussion of the writing process and challenges
           Working with editors and the publication process
           Refreshments