Woodrow Wilson : a biography, Author: Cooper, John Milton.

1. BOOK INFORMATION AND SUMMARY

 

Give the following information:

 

 

The full book title (Make sure you italicize or underline the book title)

 

Author

 

Publisher & year published

 

 

A general Summary of the book.

 

In about 5 – 7 sentences give basic information about this book, including who and what the book is about, and when and where the book takes place.

 

(HINT: Think of how you might summarize the plot of a movie that you’ve seen.)

 

2. SUMMARY of the Book’s PREFACE

 

What does the author say in the “Preface” (in a few sentences, summarize the Preface)? If the book has no “Preface”, then use the “Introduction”.  If the book has neither, then summarize the “Acknowledgments” section.

 

If the book has none of these sections, then just say “the book has no Preface, no Introduction and no Acknowledgments”.

 

3. Identify and discuss the Book’s THESIS

 

In the Introduction or the first chapter, the author usually says what he/she will be trying to prove in the book; that is, what this book will prove to the reader about a particular topic.

 

 

List and Discuss at least 3 theses – or 3 points that the author will try to prove in the book

 

 

These are usually stated either in the Introduction or in the first chapter; but sometimes they are discussed throughout the book.

Your answer should begin with “In this book, the author hopes to prove that…….” and then discuss at least 3 points that the author hopes to prove about the subject of the book.

 

 

Example:   “In this book, the author hopes to prove that America’s westward expansion in the 19th century resulted in the decline of Native Americans’ culture, language, and population.” Then present at least 2 other points that the author is hoping to prove and briefly explain them.

 

 

 

4. In-depth CHAPTER ANALYSES

 

 

 

For the next 3 sections, you’ll pick ANY 3 chapters from your book, and answer several questions about EACH of the 3 chapters. YOU choose the chapters.

 

 

 

4.1  Give the Chapter number (if there is one) and the Chapter Title.

 

 

 

Chapter Titles should be in Quotation Marks.

 

Example:

 

Chapter 1: “Franklin’s Early Years”

 

 

 

4.2   Give a SUMMARY of the Chapter.

 

 

 

In about 5 – 7 sentences, summarize the chapter (a good summary gives the reader basic information, such as WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. (Think of how you would summarize the plot of a movie to a friend who has not seen the movie )

 

 

 

4.3  State and explain the author’s THESIS for this Chapter

 

 

 

In a few sentences, explain the author’s thesis for this chapter.  That is, what does the author hope to prove about his/her subject in this chapter.

 

 

 

Hint: Look at the chapter title. It often is related to the chapter thesis.

 

 

 

Your answer should begin “In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that……”

 

 

 

Example:

 

“In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves (with the Emancipation Proclamation) for political, not humanitarian, reasons.”  And then explain what the author meant by this.

 

 

 

4.4  Restate the author’s ARGUMENT for this chapter.

 

 

 

In a few sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove the main idea.

 

What did the author argue, in order to convince you that his/her main idea was correct.

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author states that Lincoln freed the slaves because he needed his party’s support for his upcoming re-election campaign and because he wanted the support of the English government.  Freeing the slaves accomplished both of those political goals.”  Then offer another sentence or two to further explain the author’s argument.

 

 

 

4.5  Restate the author’s CONCLUSION(S) for this chapter.

 

 

 

In a few sentences, identify and discuss the conclusions at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter.

 

Don’t say what HAPPENED; Say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.

 

 

 

Hint: the conclusions usually are related to the Main Points.

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author concludes that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem.”

 

 

 

4.6   Evaluating the Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE.

 

 

 

Look in the chapter’s footnotes (sometimes these are listed on the bottom of each page; sometimes they are listed at the back of the book).  If there are no footnotes, look in the Bibliography or “works Cited” section at the back of the book.

 

 

 

4.6.1   Cite one Primary source footnote from this chapter

 

 

 

A Primary source is something written by someone at that time in history; such as a diary, a letter, a piece of legislation, a tax record; a deed; a business ledger; newspapers) Cite the source.

 

 

 

Example of a newspaper article from the past:

 

“Custer Defeated at Little Big Horn,” The New York Times, April 14, 1876.

 

 

 

Example of a published diary:

 

Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary of Anne Frank, 4th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).

 

 

 

4.6.2  Cite one Secondary source footnote from this chapter

 

 

 

A Secondary source is something written by someone at a later date; usually a book or article by a historian about some historical event.  Cite the secondary source; that is, make it look like a footnote.  Give the author, title, publisher, and place and date of publication.

 

 

 

Examples:

 

Michael Smith, Witchcraft in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

 

 

 

Julia Juarez, “Mayan Hieroglyphs Decoded,” Journal of Latin American History (June 1994), pp. 366-396.

 

 

 

4.6.3   Identify what TYPE of source or what type of evidence would have made the author’s argument/main idea                              more convincing? (Don’t say “the argument was convincing enough”.)

 

 

 

Example:

 

If your book is about the everyday lives of slaves, you might say:

 

“If the author used letters or diaries written by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been stronger.”

 

 

 

 

 

5. IN-DEPTH CHAPTER ANALYSES – same questions as #4 above, but for a different chapter you’re your book.

 

 

 

 

 

5.1  Give the Chapter number (if there is one) and the Chapter Title.

 

 

 

Chapter Titles should be in Quotation Marks.

 

 

 

Example:

 

Chapter 1: “Franklin’s Early Years”

 

 

 

5.2   Give a SUMMARY of the Chapter.

 

 

 

In about 5 – 7 sentences, summarize the chapter (a good summary gives the reader basic information, such as WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. (Think of how you would summarize the plot of a movie to a friend who has not seen the movie )

 

 

 

5.3  State and explain the author’s THESIS for this Chapter

 

 

 

In a few sentences, explain the author’s thesis for this chapter.  That is, what does the author hope to prove about his/her subject in this chapter.

 

 

 

Hint: Look at the chapter title. It often is related to the chapter thesis.

 

 

 

Your answer should begin “In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that……”

 

 

 

Example:

 

“In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves (with the Emancipation Proclamation) for political, not humanitarian, reasons.”  And then explain what the author meant by this.

 

 

 

5.4  Restate the author’s ARGUMENT for this chapter.

 

 

 

In a few sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove the main idea.

 

What did the author argue, in order to convince you that his/her main idea was correct.

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author states that Lincoln freed the slaves because he needed his party’s support for his upcoming re-election campaign and because he wanted the support of the English government.  Freeing the slaves accomplished both of those political goals.”  Then offer another sentence or two to further explain the author’s argument.

 

 

 

5.5  Restate the author’s CONCLUSION(S) for this chapter.

 

 

 

In a few sentences, identify and discuss the conclusions at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter.

 

Don’t say what HAPPENED; Say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.

 

 

 

Hint: the conclusions usually are related to the Main Points.

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author concludes that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem.”

 

 

 

5.6   Evaluating the Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE.

 

 

 

Look in the chapter’s footnotes (sometimes these are listed on the bottom of each page; sometimes they are listed at the back of the book).  If there are no footnotes, look in the Bibliography or “works Cited” section at the back of the book.

 

 

 

5.6.1   Cite one Primary source footnote from this chapter

 

 

 

A Primary source is something written by someone at that time in history; such as a diary, a letter, a piece of legislation, a tax record; a deed; a business ledger; newspapers) Cite the source.

 

 

 

Example of a newspaper article from the past:

 

“Custer Defeated at Little Big Horn,” The New York Times, April 14, 1876.

 

 

 

Example of a published diary:

 

Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary of Anne Frank, 4th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).

 

 

 

5.6.2  Cite one Secondary source footnote from this chapter

 

 

 

A Secondary source is something written by someone at a later date; usually a book or article by a historian about some historical event.  Cite the secondary source; that is, make it look like a footnote.  Give the author, title, publisher, and place and date of publication.

 

 

 

Examples:

 

Michael Smith, Witchcraft in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

 

 

 

Julia Juarez, “Mayan Hieroglyphs Decoded,” Journal of Latin American History (June 1994), pp. 366-396.

 

 

 

5.6.3   Identify what TYPE of source or what type of evidence would have made the author’s argument/main idea                              more convincing? (Don’t say “the argument was convincing enough”.)

 

 

 

Example:

 

If your book is about the everyday lives of slaves, you might say:

 

“If the author used letters or diaries written by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been stronger.”

 

 

 

6. IN-DEPTH CHAPTER ANALYSES – same questions as #4 and #5 above, but for a different chapter you’re your book.

 

 

 

 

 

6.1  Give the Chapter number (if there is one) and the Chapter Title.

 

 

 

Chapter Titles should be in Quotation Marks.

 

 

 

Example:

 

Chapter 1: “Franklin’s Early Years”

 

 

 

6.2   Give a SUMMARY of the Chapter.

 

 

 

In about 5 – 7 sentences, summarize the chapter (a good summary gives the reader basic information, such as WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY. (Think of how you would summarize the plot of a movie to a friend who has not seen the movie )

 

 

 

6.3  State and explain the author’s THESIS for this Chapter

 

 

 

In a few sentences, explain the author’s thesis for this chapter.  That is, what does the author hope to prove about his/her subject in this chapter.

 

 

 

Hint: Look at the chapter title. It often is related to the chapter thesis.

 

 

 

Your answer should begin “In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that……”

 

 

 

Example:

 

“In this chapter, the author hopes to prove that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves (with the Emancipation Proclamation) for political, not humanitarian, reasons.”  And then explain what the author meant by this.

 

 

 

6.4  Restate the author’s ARGUMENT for this chapter.

 

 

 

In a few sentences, restate the argument that the author used to prove the main idea.

 

What did the author argue, in order to convince you that his/her main idea was correct.

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author states that Lincoln freed the slaves because he needed his party’s support for his upcoming re-election campaign and because he wanted the support of the English government.  Freeing the slaves accomplished both of those political goals.”  Then offer another sentence or two to further explain the author’s argument.

 

 

 

6.5  Restate the author’s CONCLUSION(S) for this chapter.

 

 

 

In a few sentences, identify and discuss the conclusions at which the author arrives at the end of the chapter.

 

Don’t say what HAPPENED; Say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened.

 

 

 

Hint: the conclusions usually are related to the Main Points.

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author concludes that the accusations of witchcraft in Salem in 1692 were motivated by political and economic disputes between the two prominent families of Salem.”

 

 

 

6.6   Evaluating the Chapter SOURCES/EVIDENCE.

 

 

 

Look in the chapter’s footnotes (sometimes these are listed on the bottom of each page; sometimes they are listed at the back of the book).  If there are no footnotes, look in the Bibliography or “works Cited” section at the back of the book.

 

 

 

6.6.1   Cite one Primary source footnote from this chapter

 

 

 

A Primary source is something written by someone at that time in history; such as a diary, a letter, a piece of legislation, a tax record; a deed; a business ledger; newspapers) Cite the source.

 

 

 

Example of a newspaper article from the past:

 

“Custer Defeated at Little Big Horn,” The New York Times, April 14, 1876.

 

 

 

Example of a published diary:

 

Jennifer Jones, ed., Diary of Anne Frank, 4th edition (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1977).

 

 

 

6.6.2  Cite one Secondary source footnote from this chapter

 

 

 

A Secondary source is something written by someone at a later date; usually a book or article by a historian about some historical event.  Cite the secondary source; that is, make it look like a footnote.  Give the author, title, publisher, and place and date of publication.

 

 

 

Examples:

 

Michael Smith, Witchcraft in the Later Middle Ages (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980).

 

 

 

Julia Juarez, “Mayan Hieroglyphs Decoded,” Journal of Latin American History (June 1994), pp. 366-396.

 

 

 

6.6.3   Identify what TYPE of source or what type of evidence would have made the author’s argument/main idea                              more convincing? (Don’t say “the argument was convincing enough”.)

 

 

 

Example:

 

If your book is about the everyday lives of slaves, you might say:

 

“If the author used letters or diaries written by slaves, his argument about the hardships of slave life would have been stronger.”

 

 

 

You have now completed the In-Depth Analyses of your 3 chosen chapters.  The remaining questions pertain to the entire book.

 

 

 

7. Identify and Discuss the Book’s OVERALL CONCLUSIONS

 

 

 

 

List and discuss at least 3 conclusions at which the author arrives. These are usually found in the concluding chapter, and are usually related to the points the author sought to prove throughout the book.

 

 

 

Don’t say what HAPPENED; DO say what the author CONCLUDES ABOUT what happened

 

 

 

Example:

 

“The author concludes that the witchcraft hysteria in Salem in 1692 resulted from a conflict between two prominent families.”  Then discuss what the author means by this.

 

 

 

Remember: Don’t give one-sentence answers.

 

 

 

8. Identify and Evaluate the AUTHOR’S SOURCES

 

 

 

A good book review or book “analysis” will evaluate the sources that the author used when writing the book. So it’s useful to take a look at where the author got his/her information – that is, what “sources” the author used.

 

 

 

8.1   PERIODICALS.

 

List the names of 5 periodicals that the author cites in the book’s footnotes or bibliography.

 

Periodicals are newspapers, magazines, & scholarly journals.

 

 

 

Examples of periodicals:

 

Journal of Early American History

 

American Historical Review

 

Psychology Today

 

William & Mary Quarterly

 

The New York Times

 

Austin American-Statesman

 

Ladies’ Home Journal

 

 

 

8.2   PRIMARY SOURCES.

 

List three types of primary sources the author uses. Examples of Primary sources are:  letters, diaries, interviews, legislation, photographs (from that time period), films (from that time period).

 

 

 

8.3   BENEFITS OF PRIMARY SOURCES.

 

If you were writing a history book, WHY would your book benefit from using PRIMARY sources (letters, diaries,

 

etc.) from that time period?

 

 

 

Assume that the sources ARE available and that you ARE able to read the sources.  So, what might be a benefit of using primary sources when writing history?

 

 

 

Don’t say “Primary sources give a first-hand account of the event.”  Say WHY a “first-hand” account would be helpful if you were writing a history book.

 

 

 

8.4   PROBLEMS USING PRIMARY SOURCES.

 

If you were writing a history book, what might be a problem in using primary sources for the book you’re

 

writing?

 

 

 

8.5   BOOKS ON SAME SUBJECT.

 

List 3 books that deal with the same subject matter as your book. Give author, title, place of publication, publisher, and date of publication – just as this information would appear in a footnote.

 

 

 

Hint: use the “subject search” feature of the library’s computerized card catalog to find these books.  Consult with a librarian if you need help.

 

 

 

8.6   ARTICLES ON SAME SUBJECT.

 

List 3 articles (from scholarly publications or newspapers) that deal with the same subject matter as your book. Give author, title of article, publication in which article appears, date of publication, and page numbers – just as this information would appear in a footnote.

 

 

 

Hint: do a subject search in an on-line “periodicals index” to find articles. On ACC’s library webpage, there is a link to various periodicals indexes. Choose “social and behavioral sciences” category and then do a subject search. For example, if your book was about the Salem witch trials, you’d do a subject search on “Salem witch trials”. Your search should return periodical articles on the Salem witch trials. Get assistance from a reference librarian if needed.

 

 

 

9. Some Final IMPRESSIONS, OPINIONS, AND COMPARISONS

 

 

 

Answer the following questions thoughtfully, and thoroughly.

 

9.1   What did you like best about the book? What did you like least about the book?

 

 

 

9.2   Did you feel that the author was biased in presenting the subject matter? How so?

 

 

 

9.3   List 3 facts that you learned from the book. List 3 FACTS, not “impressions” or interpretations.

 

 

 

An example of a FACT is:

 

“George Washington was the only president unanimously elected”.

 

 

 

An example of an IMPRESSION (or INTERPRETATION) is:

 

“George Washington was the best military commander of all time.”