Summer Reading Asssignment (Ap Biology)

SUMMER READING ASSSIGNMENT (AP BIOLOGY) 2014-2015 Book Reviews

You will Submit: Title page + all four (4) reviews stapled together  Times New Roman Font  Size 12  1 inch margins  APA Book reference at the end of each review o Ex: Castillo, R. J. (1996). Culture and mental illness: A client centered approach. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. o Great Resource: OWL Purdue On-line Writing Lab https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

DUE DATE: Tuesday, JULY 29, 2014

Must Read BOTH 1. Bones of Contention: The Archaeopteryx Scandals by Paul Chambers 2. The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA by James D. Watson Ph.D.

Choose TWO from the following: 1. Charles Darwin: And the Evolution Revolution by Rebecca Stefoff 2. Cosmos by Carl Sagan, Ann Druyan and Neil deGrasse Tyson 3. Darwin and the Science of Evolution (Abrams Discoveries) by Patrick Tort 4. Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives by Jeanette Farrell (Author) 5. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins 6. Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing by Margaret S. Livingstone (Author) 7. Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine by Randolph M. Nesse (Author), George C. Williams (Author)

WRITNG YOUR BOOK REVIEWS

Book reviews are not book reports. Above all, a review makes an argument. The most important element of a review is that it is a commentary, not merely a summary. A book review describes the books key points, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the work, and the reasons for enjoying/ not enjoying the book. You should clearly state your opinion of the work in question, and that statement will probably resemble other types of academic writing, with a thesis statement, supporting body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Reading "critically" does not mean the same thing as "criticizing," in everyday language (complaining or griping, fault-finding, nit-picking). Your "critique" can and should be positive and praise the book as much as possible, as well as pointing out any possible problems, disagreements and shortcomings. Title of book:

Introduction: 1. What is the theme of the book? Provide the reader with background or describe a problem the book addresses. 2. Write a summary. This includes a relevant description of the topic as well as its overall perspective, argument, or purpose. Give an overview of the plot for a fiction book; give the thrust of the author's argument for a nonfiction book. Quote passages from the book to support your summary.

Body: multiple paragraphs 3. React to the book: a. How much does the book agree or clash with your view of the world, and what you consider right and wrong? Use quotes as examples of how it agrees with and supports what you think about the world, about right and wrong, and about what you think it is to be human. Use quotes and examples to discuss how the text agrees or disagrees with what you think about the world, history, and about right and wrong. b. How were your views and opinions challenged or changed by this text, if at all? Did the text communicate with you? Why or why not? Give examples of how your views might have changed or been strengthened (or perhaps, of why the text failed to convince you, the way it is). Please do not write "I agree with everything the author wrote," since everybody disagrees about something, even if it is a tiny point. Use quotes to illustrate your points of challenge, or where you were persuaded, or where it left you cold. c. How well does the book address things that you, personally, care about and consider important to the world? How does it relate to things that are important to your family, your community, your ethnic group, to people of your economic or social class or background, or your faith tradition? If not, who does or did the text serve? Did it pass the "Who cares?" test? Use quotes to illustrate. d. To sum up, what is your overall reaction to the text? To whom would you recommend this text? Would you read something else like this, or by this same author, in the future or not? Why or why not?

Conclusion 4. Make the review relevant. Make connections between the book and other issues. Compare the book to the author's previous works or to other books in the same you read this summer. Evaluate how the book relates to current events or contributes to an ongoing debate.

APA Book Reference BOOK REVIEW RUBRIC OUTSTANDING 10 EXCELLENT 7 NEEDS IMPROVEMENT 5 UNSATISFACTORY 3 SCORE

SUMMARY Summary consists of a discussion Summary consists of a discussion Summary consists of a discussion of Summary is mostly an outline of of major themes, ideas, and of major themes, ideas, and major themes, ideas and characters the book and does not discuss 10 pts characters providing at least 4 characters, providing at least 3 providing at least 2 excerpts from the themes or major ideas of the work. excerpts from the work. It combines excerpts from the work. It combines work. It combines ideas from the There may be one direct quote ideas from the book into new ideas from the book into new book into new sentences using your "thrown in" for effect. sentences using your own words. sentences using your own words. own words.

QUOTES All direct quotes from the novel are 2 or 3 direct quotes from the novel 1 or 2 direct quotes from the novel are The summary contains direct noted by citing page numbers in are noted by citing page numbers in noted by citing page numbers in quotes without any citation of 10 pts parenthesis. e.g. (48) (no more than 5) parenthesis. Quotes overused parenthesis. e.g. (48) page numbers.

AUTHOR & Student provides a detailed discussion of Student provides a limited discussion Student provides little discussion of The discussion of author and sources SOURCES the author’s qualifications. Sources were of the author’s qualifications. Sources the author’s qualifications. Sources is vague or missing and lacks detail. examined in detail and the student are examined in a limited manner, and may or may not be briefly examined. determined whether or not they were the analysis may be limited. 20 pts appropriate for the work.

CRITIQUE Critique consists of thoughts, Critique consists of thoughts, Critique consists of thoughts, Critique consists of a basic opinion responses and reaction to the novel. responses and reaction to the novel. responses and reaction to the novel. based on personal feeling of "I The student reviewer reacts to the The student reviewer may discuss The student may discuss only liked it" or "I hated it" and is not themes, the author's aims or intent, only two aspects, for example, one aspect of the novel, such as considered a critique because it 20 pts the subject of the book, how well it is themes and writer's style. There is not themes. This review just states, 'Well, does not focus on themes, author's written and overall success or failure a thorough review of various aspects. I liked it." or 'Well, I hated it." It lacks a intent, or writer's style. of the book. critical eye. ORGANIZATION Structure of the paper flows and is Structure of the paper flows and is Structure of the paper does NOT follow Structure of the paper does NOT easily read because of smooth easily read, but 1 or 2 transitions may a logical order. The writing or ideas follow a logical order. There are no transitions from paragraph to be faulty or missing. There is some may "jump" around; it is not cohesive. transitional phrases that make it 10pts paragraph. The sequence of topics is illogical order in sequence of topics. there is not a clear introduction, easy to read the paper...OR... in logical order. There is a clear cut There is a clear cut introduction, body or conclusion. review is just a copying of introduction, body, and conclusion. and conclusion. the original book.

MECHANICS Uses complete sentences and a Uses complete sentences and a There are 1-2 incomplete sentences There are more than 2 incomplete variety of sentence types. variety of sentence types. or fragments. There are also run-on sentences or fragments. There 10 pts sentences. are more than 2 run-ons. SPELLING 0-2 spelling errors 3-5 spelling errors 6-8 spelling errors Over 9 spelling errors 10 pts

FORMAT 0-2 formatting errors 3-5 formatting errors 6-8 formatting errors Over 9 formatting errors 10 pts