Writing Book Reviews

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Back to Form and Technique

• Exposition (provides information)-facts and interpretation; intellectual appeal.
• Use of source material and authority.
• Use of definition; illustrations and examples; comparison and contrast; cause and effect.
• Use of generalization and subsequent conclusions.
• Persuasion (forwards an idea or plan)-a stance on an issue; proposed solution; call to action.
• Tone; authority; approach to subject and audience.
• Degree of convincingness.
• Worth of proposal; practicality; need.
• Comparison with other possible policies.
• Costs or difficulties involved.
• Ultimate promise, solution, or plan
• Argumentation (presents points and draws conclusions)-appeal to reason and logic.
• Tone; authority; approach to subject and audience.
• Methods of deduction or induction.
• Synthesis; formation of separate elements into a coherent whole.
• Syllogism; major premise, minor premise, and conclusion.
• Dialectics; arrival at truth through conversation involving question and answer.
• Casuistry; determination of right and wrong by applying generalized ethics principles.
• Fallacy; begging the question, ignoring the question, etc.