• Critical Book Analysis (CBA) Assignment Instructions

General- The CBA is a critical thinking and formal writing assignment. As the name suggests it is to be the student's critical analysis of a book they have selected and read dealing with a "negotiations" subject, principle, and/or issue.

Formal Elements:

Length - No less than 1000 words, but no more than 3,000 words (not counting words that are contained in heading).

Typed - Times-Roman 12 pt. font, double-spaced with 1" margins all around.

Body- the body of the CBA should begin on the first numbered page after the title cover page and continue on numbered pages in essay style organized under five headings - General, Author(s), Summary, Analytical Discussion, and References as further described below.

Sections Headings:

1. Summary- in student's own words (not student's opinion) to include the book's point of view, frame of reference, main point(s) and/or its major hypothesis (usually found in the introduction or opening paragraphs), and summarizing the main events/ points in the order they happened in the book using signal words such as "first it was stated," "second," "next," and "finally."

2. Critical Analysis Discussion- In no less than 500 words (and in more words than the summary) a critical analysis of the book which will be graded as follows:

• Overall Critical Analysis Discussion.

• Critical Analysis Points- should include in the following order

- Premise -The student stated that the main premise/point of the book including the issue/problem involved

- Relevance -The student stated that the book's relevance to the course

- Course principles- In regard to course principles discussed in the subject book the student stated

- Evidence- The student stated that the most significant evidence (i.e., facts, statistics, studies, etc.) used in the book and whether the evidence proved the book's point or premise and if so and if not why not.

- Conclusion- the student stated whether the conclusion(s) reached is valid and if so why and if not why not

- Author's affect -As to how the author's background, time, place and/or biases the student stated

- Book's impact - On the student including any previous ideas, biases and thoughts the student had on this subject that were changed, abandoned or reinforced and if so how and why.

- Recommendation- Whether the student recommends the book and why or why not.

Text Book- Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most.