Understanding of american cold war history.

Assignment Help Humanities
Reference no: EM13209529

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?

Reference no: EM13209529

Questions Cloud

Explain dibenzalacetone is commonly used in sunscreens : Dibenzalacetone is commonly used in sunscreens. Suggest what properties are valuable in a compound for use as a sunscreen.
State symbol x represents a central atom : If the symbol X represents a central atom, Y represents outer atoms, and Z represents lone pairs on the central atom, the structure that could be abbreviated as XY2Z2.
Determine what would be the maximum interest rate : A. If the interest rate is 35%, what is the maximum you can spend in the current period B. If the interest rate was lower, you probably would be able to spend more than that. What would be the maximum interest rate that would allow you to spend $2..
State how many grams of cobalt metal will be deposited : How many grams of cobalt metal will be deposited when a solution of cobalt(II) chloride is electrolyzed with a current of 10. amperes for 109 mintues?
Understanding of american cold war history. : The essay is to be a critical book review Due to the broad expanse of American history that is available to us
What is present value of lifetime resource available to abby : A. If the interest rate is 15% for the time period for both borrowing and saving, what is the maximum she can borrow against her future income B. What is the present value of lifetime resources available to Abby
Explain the binding energy of titanium : Determine the lowest frequency of light (in Hz) required to remove an electron from a sample of Ti metal, if the binding energy of titanium
Determine whether the demand or supply changes : Once you have shown that on your graph, you must state what happened to equilibrium price and quantity. Now remember, when demand and supply change, you will not be able to determine either the direction of price or quantity.
Explain which one has the larger standard entropy value : which one has the larger standard entropy value at 25C(assume thesame molar amount in the comparison) explain the reason why

Reviews

Write a Review

 

Humanities Questions & Answers

  Watch film good will hunting and write a two page analysis

Analyze the role of gender in the film, and in particular in the relationship between Will and Skylar. How do gender role expectations affect the characters in the film?

  Describe and analyse the influence of the independent sector

Describe and analyse the influence of the independent sector on health care provision in England.

  Design would you use to test the hypothesis

Eating a sugary lunch causes children to be sleepy during the class period following their lunch break - design would you use to test the following hypothesis?

  Evaluate your own personal computing habits

Evaluate your own personal computing habits and explain reasonable adjustments you can and should make to do a better job of protecting yourself from viruses/malware

  Significant role in the transformation

The use of gunpowder changed the nature of warfare and played a significant role in the transformation of European Society. Yet in China, its land of origin, gunpowder did not have this effect.

  What are the most important communication barriers

What are the most important communication barriers that affect your chosen area of diversity and how is this group affected by discrimination, prejudice, stereotypes, or ethnocentrism?

  Relationship between theory and research

What is the relationship between theory and research? Explain your answer using one example from the readings and define causality and its applicability to social science research

  What is the origin of this religion

What is the origin of this religion? Who originated it, where and when and what are the beliefs (state significant differences and if they have major synods or divisions)?

  Significance for history of the second world war

The War that began in Europe in 1939 was caused by the injustices, misguided ambitions, and unrealistic political and territorial changes imposed by the treaties forced upon Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey following the First World ..

  What will be the major source of resistance to these measure

What do you consider to be the greatest environmental threat facing the world today? What sort of measures need to be taken to counter it? What will be the major source of resistance to these measures?

  Write a paragraph discussing your discipline

Find an article, website, or section of a textbook that is written by someone in your discipline. Write a paragraph discussing your discipline, what you read, and how it was organized.

  Project plan written report

Sufficient information to enable the organisation's Board of Executives to understand the rationale for the program and the activities required to design, implement and evaluate the program including any additional data that would need to be colle..

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd