Book Report

You are required to write a book report for this course.  It is worth 100 points.  Keep an electronic and hard copy of your book report. The report should be 2000 words long, typed, and in APA style (1 inch margins all the way around, a cover page, reference page, double spaced throughout, and APA style citations within text). You should plan on using your book report book and at least one other outside reference. Here is a sample of what the cover page and reference page looks like. The reference page goes at the END of your report.

Here are some guidelines for your book report.

Buy your book early. Don't wait to find out that it will take 10 days to get to you through the mail.

Read your book. You will have some class time to discuss your book (even if you haven't finished it yet) with others who are reading that book (see course calendar).

Your next step will be to organize what you are going to say about it in your report. Writing the basic elements down in an outline format can help you to organize your thoughts. You should consider the following when writing your report.

Fiction:

You should introduce your reader to the setting, characters and plot. Notice the word "introduce"--this part of your book report should be very brief--less than 2 pages. It is only to orient your reader. The majority of your report should be focusing on the legal (procedures, point in the criminal justice timeline, etc) and psychological (social, cognitive, perceptual, clinical, developmental, etc) aspects of the book, particularly how they interrelate.

Non-Fiction:

You should introduce your reader to the general topic of the book. This should be very brief (like 1 or 2 paragraphs). The majority of your report should focus on the legal (procedures, point in the criminal justice timeline, etc) and psychological (social, cognitive, perceptual, clinical, developmental, etc) aspects of the book, particularly how they interrelate.

The Final Paper

1. Spell check your paper.

2. Have a friend read and review your paper.

3. Read your paper out loud.

4. Make any changes that your friend and you have pointed out.

5. Spell check again.

Grading:

10pts for APA style cover page

10pts for APA style reference page

10pts for APA style throughout the paper

10pts for appropriate length of paper

25pts for accurate and effective presentation of psychological/legal principles/concepts

25pts for writing style

10pts for spelling/grammar