to write paper based on book review

TRS 201: FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING

GUIDELINES FOR BOOK REVIEWS

Stylistic and Other Requirements

1)Bibliographical information should head the first page of the review according to the following format:

SHARING IN CHRIST’S VIRTUES: FOR A RENEWAL OF MORAL THEOLOGY IN LIGHT OF VERITATIS SPLENDOR.By Livio Melina. Trans. William E. May. Washington, DC: CUA Press, 2001.Pp x + 211.

2)The body of the review should not exceed 525 words.

3)Reviewers should give their name and location (institution and/or city) at the end of the review.

4) Please indicate the total word count for the body of the review (i.e., everything except bibliographical information, name and institution).

5)When running off book reviews make one copy for the instructor and post an electronic copy on the course Bb site (in the Discussion Board section) for access by other members of the course.

Additional Guidelines/Suggestions

1)Page numbers may be cited in parentheses if you use direct quotations from the text.

2) Typical format:

First paragraph: give the context.Who is the author debating with?What studies have preceded it?What are the theological or other issues which the book seeks to address?Does the book serve to advance scholarship?

Second paragraph:Describe the thesis of the book–in the light of the preceding paragraph.

Third paragraph:Describe briefly the structure or contents of the book–i.e. try to show the logical development of the thesis in the structure of the text.If the book does not have a thesis or does not hang together this is a point for criticism.

3)What kinds of sources are used?What is the principle which guides their selection?

4)Look for pertinent ideas or themes which run throughout the text.

5)Identify the strengths of the text.Identify its weaknesses.

6)Do you recommend it or not?and if you recommend it, for whom? for what purpose? at what level (introductory or research)?

7)Does it have an index?(i.e., can it be easily used as a resource–librarians in particular like to know this).

8)Examples of proper style and format may be found by consulting the reviews in Theological Studies.

The instructor will provide a list of books from which students may choose.Titles not on the list are welcome but should be approved by the instructor before work begins.It is recommended but not required that students choose a book pertaining to the topic on which they intend to write their paper.The book could then be one of the three required theological sources.

Due date: March 16

Completion of this assignment is intended to result in the following Student Learning Outcomes:

• Interpret theological texts of different eras and genres with care and precision
• Express theological ideas and arguments clearly in writing.
• Utilize scholarly tools effectively for continued learning in the discipline of theology.