The essay is to be a critical book review of between 2000 and 2500 words in length (8 to 10 pages). Due to the broad expanse of American history that is available to us and the time constraints of the course, the students will write their analysis based on Mutton and Welch history of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the professor to help guide them in this endeavor. Using the attached sheet as a guideline, the emphasis is on a critical analysis of the author's arguments, the supporting information and how he or she used it to prove their case and provide an indication of the value of the work to our understanding of American Cold War history.

To facilitate this, you need more information about the book and its interpretation as well as the events in question. You will need to find a minimum of three (3) journal articles on the subject, ideally with at least one of them arguing an opposing view or at least a different view of the topic presented to be able to judge the authors argument. For example if you were looking at a revisionist author you will need to find an orthodox historian to provide a differing interpretation. You may want to use more than three (3) articles but no more than three (3) are required because this will distract you from the critical analysis. You also need to find a minimum of two (2) or three (3) book reviews (one of which from the American Historical Review or Diplomatic History) to see what other historians think about the book. You also need two (2) to three (3) books on the subject to ground your assessment of the author and his or her work. The core of your paper should focus on the book that you have chosen to read and review. The journal article(s) and reviews that you may find are meant to give you a differing point of view to either support your arguments or to provide some differing views to challenge your interpretation. Remember, this is a "critical" book review. Comments on the quality of images, etc are of no value to you. What is the author arguing? Does he/she prove their argument? Do you find some flaws in it? How and why?

Suggestions for Book Reviews

In general, book reviews (unlike "book reports") should be both (A) descriptive and (B) analytical.

A. Description usually includes the following:

1. Listing of the author or editor, complete title, translator (if any), publisher, place of publication, date of publication, and number of pages
2. Some description of the author, his qualifications or special interest, former works or experience, occupation, and any circumstance which may affect his outlook - nationality, religion, party affiliation, and so on, unless discussed in the analysis.
3. Some description,usually condensed into two or three paragraphs, of the outline and contents of the book.
4. Some information on the following:

a) length, organization, sequence
b) style (personal or impersonal, flowing or pedestrian, verbose or concise, well or poorly translated, detached or emotional, extravagant or restrained, etc.).
c) format (only if unusual in any significant way)

B. Analysis should answer some of the following questions:

1. Is the book important? Why or why not?
2. What questions does it answer or fail to answer, raise or fail to raise? What may be the reason for this?
3. Does the book offer new information or a fresh approach and interpretation? At the time of writing?
4. Does the author show prejudice or does he plead for a special view? Does this mar the book? (Note: in an important sense, it need not mar the work or enhance its value!).
5. Are certain available sources of information used well or ignored? Is the book credible?
6. How does the work compare with (a) similar works; (b) current opinion; (c) "official" view, etc?
7. Does the author fulfill his promise, or your expectations?

C. Conclusions may include consideration of some of the following points:

1. Is the book valuable - and to whom?
2. Does it have current or more permanent interest?
3. Is the book to be recommended over other works on the same subject?
4. Do you agree with the opinion of others about the book?