CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW

College Academic Writing : A Genre – Based Perspective, first published, by Dr. I

Wy. Dirgeyasa, M.Hum. published by KENCANA Jl. Tambra Raya No..23
Rawamangun – Jakarta 13220, 2016.

I. INTRODUCTION
The main book that being reviewed entitled College Academic Writing : A Genre –
Based Perspective, first published, written by Dr. I Wy. Dirgeyasa, M.Hum. published by
KENCANA Jl. Tambra Raya No..23 Rawamangun – Jakarta 13220, 2016. There are 239
pages in this book, consists of fifteen chapters. Chapter 1 discusses Recount Writing, chapter
2 deals with Narrative, then chapter 3 is Spoof Writing, chapter 4 is Anecdote Writing,
chapter 5 is Descriptive Writing, chapter 6 is Report Writing, chapter 7 is Explanation
Writing, chapter 8 is Procedure Writing, chapter 9 is Hortatory Exposition Writing, chapter
10 is Analytical Exposition Writing, chapter 11 Discussion Writing, chapter 12 is News Item
Writing, chapter 13 is Commentary Writing, chapter 14 is Critical Review Writing and the
last chapter deals with Book Review. Writing skills have been highly required in many fields
today. Such skills reflect one’s personal quality since writing, for many people, is very
difficult. During their students in universities, for instance, students often find it hard to
express their thoughts in good organization of writing. And even more, the problem arises
when they are to start, it is difficult for them to generate an idea of what to write.
The aims from this book are presented in order to stimulate and help the students to
write properly and correctly. However, the emphasis of the skill is still writing itself. In other
words, the College Academic Writing: a Genre Based Perspective is not restricted to writing
skill only. This book is designed to integrate some aspects such as reading, structure or
grammatical patterns usages, vocabulary and writing. The process of teaching and learning
writing is done systematically and in a scaffolding way from very guided to independent or
free writing. Students need to encounter language that provides authentic and meaningful
written communication. This book is developed authentically in terms of materials in order to
bring the students into a real context or a real work situation.
 II. SUMMARY OF THE BOOKS
The book is organized based on genre perspective. It teaches and trains the students about
the writing process and content writing. It also guides them to identify to whom the writing
is, for what purpose, and to what context is used.
It is commonly understood, that in teaching writing to the students with low entry level of
English proficiency, there is always the risk of sacrificing creativity in order to achieve
accuracy, or vice versa. This book designes to guide and help students about the process of
writing and the product of the writing itself in such a way that the final work of writing is not
only expressive and rich in content but also clear and accurate , as well as relevant to their
needs.
College Academic Writing: A Genre Based Perspective is designed guide and help
students about the process of writing and the product of the writing itself in such a way that
the final work of writing is not only expressive and rich in content but also clear and accurate.
This book is develop and designed by research. The analysis is carried out in order to know
and find out relevant materials of both the approach to teaching and learning of writing
process and the teaching materials. The materials are expected to be able to meet the
students’ needs in terms of academic and workplace setting. This book discusses the basic
knowledge clues to teaching and learning writing through genre based approach and model of
teaching and learning writing through genre based perspective.
The genre based perspective to writing covers concept of genre, genre as product of
writing and genre as the process of teaching and learning writing. The genre perspective
covers two distinctive dimensions in teaching and learning writing. First, genre is a kind of
text or writing work itself. Second, genre as a process or strategy of how the writing work is
develop, taught and learned.

III. THE STRENGTHS OF THE BOOKS

The internal relations of the book chapter are good enough, because the writers wrote a
good correlation in each part, from the first until the last part. The author explain each topic
by using example and analogy (preview) , so it makes the reader can imaging and understand
the explanation of the topic. The author mention the sources of the expert for the theory that
they write in the book. The author write the source for every theory that author have quote in
their book.
 The author make a good cohesion and coherence in the book writing. It can be seen from
the way author connect one word to the other word is good, and the way author relate one
sentence to other sentence is also good. The author put some conjunctions to connect each
sentence, such as moreover, thus, in line with, even though, etc. So it make the sentences are
connecting each other. And next the author put test or exercise in this book to make sure the
reader really understand about this topic that reader read, to train how deep the reader
mastering the topic itself, this one seldom find in another book. And then the author also used
the table to make the reader easy understand the topic, the author separated in the table which
one the elements and the function p.71, 100 etc. And put the assessment that can assess our
competence to write our own discussion writing independently.
After reviewing this book, the reviewer realizes that this is a good book which contains
many informations for the readers as well. The book is discussing about Academic Writing
how to encourage early years or students become a good writing in doing the academic
writing.

IV. THE WEAKNESS OF THE BOOKS

However, this book also has some weaknesses which make some readers are difficult to
understand the contents of the book, they are: 1) this book is unsuitable with the common
readers since it was too technical and verbose in the writing styles, which made it very hard
to understand. Beside it, there are also some of particularized terminologies in the book that
made average reader frustrated when trying to interpret the authors’ meaning due to overly
complicated language, 2) It better the author used the color to the pictures in the book .

V. IMPLICATION
 For Theories

The implication for the theories of the book is good. The writer put some theories to
support the statement in the book (p.30). Every theory in the book explained clearly and in
every theory was supported by a quote of the expert and it can give the good explanation in
the book. For example, another definition of spoof (1) to deceive or hoax, and (2) to make
good natured fun of (Webster : 1995).
  The Developmental Program in Indonesia

The book is very good and useful for developmental program in Indonesia because this
book can guide and help the students or the young writer to make a writing such tasks,
journal even thesis to finishing the students’ study that can develop or increase the quality of
the students of Indonesia itself. And also help the teachers to explains briefly the nature of
topic of the chapter covering the concepts, the communicative function, the generic structure
and the linguistic features of a genre. And for the students get knowledge and understanding
of the topic in writing.

 Student’s Analysis

College Academic Writing : A Genre – Based Perspective, first published, by Dr. I Wy.
Dirgeyasa, M.Hum. I think is good enough to be studying, because it has been complete
informations and could be the basic of learning as well as guidelines, although in this book
there is little bit weakness. But overall this book contains so many informations that is
important and helpful for teachers, students, researchers and readers.

VI. CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION

Overall, these book are good books for the readers which can give many beneficial
information related to the academic writing especially how to be finishing the tasks for the
early students . So, it really important for students and and teachers also to read these books
as the references in making the tasks, so on. The students who interest about this topic are
also suggested to read these books since it give current information related to the academic
writing.
Writing is difficult and complex, but as a college student writing is part of our daily
academic activities, why, because writing skills help the learner gain independence, fluency
and creative in writing. Writing a genre are specifics abilities which help writers put their
thoughts into word in a meaningful form and to mentally interact with the massage.
Finally it is suggested that this book is essential and invaluable as a textbook for linguists,
students, researchers, teachers even the lecturers of linguistics, especially of academic
writing, and also for those with broader educational concerns. It is hoped that the book
College Academic Writing : A Genre – Based Perspective, first published, by Dr. I Wy.
Dirgeyasa, M.Hum. gives positive effects and valuable contributions to the readers.
 REFERENCE

Dirgeyasa, Wy. I. 2016. College Academic Writing : A Genre – Based Perspective, first
published, KENCANA. Rawamangun, Jakarta.