Book AnalysisBackground. The impetus for this project is to make you especially familiar with one
particular movement such that you can be one of the class ?experts? on the particularities
of that movement as the quarter unfolds. This should be especially helpful as we work
through social movement theories and seek evidence to support or refute those theories.
The book analysis. In writing this paper, students should demonstrate a careful reading of
the text and consider how their specific case study might be used in order to generalize to
the dynamics of social movements in general. The book analysis, therefore, should be not
just an overview of the book, but should Discuss (check midcourse.net for the help you need), in as much detail as space permits, how
this case study relates to the questions raised below. The paper should be written in a
standard 12-pt. font with 1-inch margins all around, and must be between 6-7 pages in
length, or approximately 1500-1750 words. It goes without saying that copying or
paraphrasing an existing review of the book will be considered plagiarism and treated
accordingly; the same goes for collaboration between students in the course, as this is a
solo (not collaborative) assignment.
Selecting a book. Choose one of the following six books on which to write your analysis.
Reviews of books not on this list will not be accepted. All should be available through the
library, although you will likely find it worthwhile to purchase a copy so that you can mark
up the pages.
Almeida, Paul. 2008. Waves of Protest: Popular Struggle in El Salvador, 1925-2005.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Dale, John D. 2011. Free Burma: Transnational Legal Action and Corporate Accountability.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Martin, Isaac W. 2013. Rich People?s Movements: Grassroots Campaigns to Untax the
One Percent. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Milkman, Ruth. 2006. LA Story: Immigrant Workers and the Future of the U.S. Labor
Movement. New York: Russell Sage Foundation Press.
Raeburn, Nicole. 2004. Changing Corporate America From Inside Out: Lesbian and Gay
Workplace Rights. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Skocpol, Theda and Vanessa Williamson. 2012. The Tea Party and the Remaking of
Republican Conservatism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
While reading the book: Students are encouraged to take notes while reading. This will not
only help with the review but will make it much easier to write a high-quality analysis.
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Analysis content. The paper should begin with the bibliographic information (i.e. an ASAformatted
reference for the book, which can be copy-and-pasted from the list above) and a
brief (less than two pages) description of the content of the book. The dominant portion of
the piece should address the below issues. Since these are broad issues, and one could
not possibly address all of these issues in a single analysis of this length, I leave it up to
you to choose the questions that are most relevant to the movement you are studying.
A. How did external factors influence the movement? For example, did the movement
depend upon another group for support? What role did the state play in facilitating or
repressing the movement? Did the movement arise in order to express specific
grievances? Did other movements influence this movement? Were there any major
historical events that shaped the movement?
B. How important were internal factors for this movement? For example, what types of
organizational form(s) were most prevalent in the movement and what
consequences did this have for the movement? How were leaders chosen in the
movement and what power did they have compared to other participants? What
significance did class, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other axes of difference
have for this movement?
C. To what extent were culture and identity important for this movement? For example,
were the goals of the movement challenging of the larger culture or supportive of it?
What role did cultural or identity factors play in the movement?s attempts to recruit
participants? Did participants have a sense of larger purpose in their participation?
Was the movement successful in framing its goals, ideals, and practices to other
(outside) groups?
D. Other questions such as: What types of tactics did the movement employ (and were
some more successful than others? If so, why)? What was the response of the state
and/or other institutions that the movement targeted? Was the movement
successful (both in terms of its self-defined goals and also in the opinion of the
author)? What were the consequences of the movement?s success or failure for the
internal structure of the movement?
All papers should describe the methodology used by the author in studying this movement.
What were their sources: interviews with participants? Participant observation? Newspaper
records? Archival data?
In addition, all papers should conclude with a brief critique of the major strengths and/or
weaknesses of the book manuscript under revieTO ORDER FOR THIS QUESTION OR A SIMILAR ONE, CLICK THE ORDER NOW BUTTON AND ON THE ORDER FORM, FILL ALL THE REQUIRED DETAILS THEN TRACE THE DISCOUNT CODE, TYPE IT ON THE DISCOUNT BOX AND CLICK ON ?USE CODE? TO EFFECT YOUR DISCOUNT. THANK YOU
