Select an individual who influenced American History from 1607-1865.

Note: The individual may have been born before 1607 or died after 1865, however the majority of his/her influence needs to impact a period between 1607 and 1865.

Read a biography/auto-biography on the individual selected. Note: You are free to select the biography/auto-biography of your choice. However, random checks will be made to ensure that the books selected are an appropriate reading level for a college course.

Your 3-5 page review will be both a report (tell me about the book) and a review (tell me what you think of the book, and why). See rubric for further information.

Formatting instructions:

Double Spaced

Times New Roman

12 point font

1 inch margins all the way around

I. Introduce the biography/auto-biography (1-2 paragraphs).

A. Subject.

B. Writer.

C. Title.

D. Publishing Information: bibliographic content and number of pages.

E. The first sentence should be something like: In John Doe's, The Perils of Philosophy Class (New York: University of Maysville Press, 2012) iv-142, we find a discussion of Alex's philosophy classes. Doe attempts to . . .

F. State purpose and aim of writer; use the writer's own words if possible.

II. Body of Report/Review (2-3 pages)

A. Summarize the main events of the book/story. Make sure you connect these events to the first half of US History.

B. Give strengths of each major section.

C. Give weaknesses of each major section.

D. Show how writer made transition from one section to the next.

E. Things to consider while reading and writing body of your paper:

What is the writer's bias? Was it handled well, or did it get in the way?

Did the writer support his thesis with evidence or just speculation?

Did the writer write clearly, precisely, and in an engaging style?

Did anything else stand out as peculiar or fantastic?

III. Conclusion (1-2 paragraphs):

A. Give your own recommendation for the readership level.

B. Your recommendation for the text for others to read. Why? BE SPECIFIC

C. Overall conclusion of the biography/auto-biography. What did you learn? How were you inspired? What should others know?