Stress: Its Nature and Management

OnLine Course Assignment

BOOK CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to help you become more aware of the self-help books related to stress management and the value of such books in helping people deal with stress in their lives. Self-help books are a billion dollar a year business. They are a readily accessible and low-cost means to help people manage stress in their lives. However, not all self-help books contain appropriate information and/or present information in a way that is helpful to the user. For this assignment, you will read and critique a self-help book of your choosing.

Selection: Select any self-help book of your choosing. But, DO NOT select a book with the word STRESS in its title.

Locating a book - locate by specific topic such as nutrition, time management, procrastination or browse in bookstores under such headings as self-help, self-improvement, health, psychology, addiction and recovery, healing, etc. You can find books at the college library,the public library, bookstores, and used bookstores.

Book approval - To make sure that your selection is appropriate for the assignment, please let me know via email the title, author, and date of publication of the book. Once that information is submitted, I can let you know quickly if it is appropriate.

Written critique - Typewritten, maximum of 5 pages in length, double-spaced, 1 1/2 inch margins. In your paper you must address the following items:

  • Name - What is the correct title of your book?
  • Why did you select the book? Explain what led you to select this book over many others. Were you interested in the topic? Was the topic one that was leading to stress in your life?Was the book recommended by a friend/family member? Did you have the book on your shelf and meant to read it someday? Did the length, cover, organization, illustrations, etc. appeal to you?
  • What was the purpose of the book? In one paragraph, convey the overall purpose of the book. What was the central idea? Why was it written? What is it designed to help the reader do?
  • What were the key points of advice offered by this self-help book? Identify the key points of advice offered by your book. Remember that the book is designed to be a self-help book, so it should offer the reader some advice on how to solve a specific problem (e.g., overcome depression) or attain a specific goal (e.g.,to be happier). For example, if you read the book "Eight Steps to Overcoming Shyness", what are the eight steps? Tell a little about each step and the essence of the advice offered.
  • Critique the book. Now is the opportunity to critique the book. Remember that the self-help book industry is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, that is not regulated -- no one monitors the advice or information given. Some items you might address in writing a critique are the writing style, readibility, content and organization of information, accuracu, clarity, etc. The critique portion of the paper should reflect your critical thinking about the book. Haven't written a critique for a while? It may be helpful to search the web for critique-writing suggestions and guidelines.
  • What is the application of the book to stress managment? Relate the content of the book to what you have learned relative to stress management. Be sure to cite specific instances of application, using your textbook as a reference.
  • Recommendation. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest rating, would you recommend this book to another person? Give one or two reasons for your recommendation.
  • Reference Citation. Using any acceptable format, give a full citation, including title of book, full name of author, date of publication, publisher, and place of publication.

In organizing your critique, using the following headings in your paper:

  • Name of the book
  • Why I selected the book
  • Purpose of the book
  • Key points of advice
  • Critique
  • Application to stress management
  • Recommendation
  • Reference citation

Evaluation - your paper will be evaluated on mechanics, presentation, clarity, and critical analysis.

Submission - Submit your paper via CourseInfo using the Student Drop Box.

Dr. Deborah A. Wuest

Hill Center Room 31

Phone: 607-274-3108

This page is maintained by Dr. Deborah A. Wuest and was last updated on May 28, 2001.