BIOS 331 — Ecology

Book Report Rubric Criteria (100 Points)

Description: Each student will read one of the suggested science books during the semester and write a
book review following the style of journal Ecology, a monthly publication by the Ecological Society of
America. A standard book review contains 1000 words, though you are encouraged to write more (up to
2000) if you find it necessary.

Structure: The review should critically assess the aims, arguments, and content of the book. Be concise.

1. Title and bibliographic information

a. Complete book title, author, publisher and place of publication, publication date, ISBN
number, and number of pages.
2. Introductory paragraph (Hook)
a. Start the report by setting the scene. For example, the book may focus the challenges of
studying ecology in the Arctic, so you might set the scene by briefly describing the
formidable conditions of the area (vivid landscape descriptions), or some other striking
aspect of the context of the book (e.g., accounts of inquisitive animal behaviors or
seemingly bizarre plant adaptations, or treaties on environmental issues on climate,
invasive species, collapse of fisheries, etc.). Consider researching the author’s
background. The inclusion of some of this information in the introductory paragraph
often works well in providing context. Was the author always walking around, looking
and poking into things, typified by Gilbert White or Henry Thoreau, who developed
models of human life integrated into a beloved landscape in their writings? Or was
author more like Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold or Loren Eisely, institutionally trained,
who worked with expanded knowledge (not from intuition) of the biosphere's
interdependence (stuff of ecology). How did the author translate information into
feelings and visions? Perhaps some of this info should also go to the main text.
3. Establish aim of book and summarize it (Body)
a. Include the aim(s) of the book and whether or not the aim(s) are achieved.
b. Describe how the authors partition the book to meet the aim. Avoid falling into the trap
of stating what every single Chapter looked at.
c. Succinctly highlight aspects of chapters that interested you. Were there any arguments in
the book that you found particularly persuasive or ingenious? Were there any actions
described in the book that you found unusual, innovative, or intrepid? What is special
about those arguments or those actions?
d. Consider answering the following questions if relevant to your book:
i. Has the author imbued, in the essay or book, his or her field of studies (marine
biology, anthropology, cellular biology, astronomy, botany or whatever s/he was
trained in), with humanistic concerns and poetic resonance?
ii. No idea has been more influential and inspiring than the grand spectacle of
evolution, to understand the nature of nature and arrays of biodiversity. Ecology
provides physical place or environment for this evolutionary dance that species
perform. Where do you think the author stands in that regard? In other words,
has the writer explained his or her observations of nature in light of evolution?
Note that the web of life is composed of two distinct threads – one that links
BIOS 331 — Ecology

organisms at any given moment in time through the flow of energy (ecology),
and another that connects all biota through deep time via genetic information and
shared common ancestry (evolution). Ecology and evolution (that is, ecology
from the perspective of evolution), in a single theme, provide a robust scientific
platform for understanding nature and appreciating its diversity.
iii. How does the author use his personal voice/perspective/experiences and his
scientific knowledge to explore the complexities of the natural world?
Remember that the overall aim of ecological science is to understand biodiversity
and the factors influencing species distribution and abundance and their
interactions with their biotic and abiotic environment (as members of
communities and in the context of ecosystems they are part of). The bigger goal
is to understand our place in this grand design of nature: Where do we really
belong in this bewildering design?
4. Emphasize the strengths and weaknesses (Body)
a. Address positives/strengths by highlighting the objective value of the content of the book
and your own personal experience reading it. However, avoid making the book report
about you.
b. Address negatives/weaknesses in a constructive light. While writing about the
weaknesses of the book, think always in terms of positive criticisms. State the issue and
describe how a future edition could address your concerns. Again, make sure that you
keep the book report on the book, and not on you.
c. To do this, ensure your review focuses on the book’s contents, its main argument (or your
argument about the book) and don’t wander. Do not spread yourself too thinly. In that
case, you will lose your potential readers. Remember that you need to hook the readers
from the beginning to the end.
d. Minimize quotations. If you must quote, select a short one and do not go beyond two
quotes. Any more and the book report starts looking like, well, the book!
e. Independently, state the problems and issues the world currently face and challenges to
overcome these problems. [The author may have stated the contemporary problems the
world faces with his or her own lens that may differ from yours]. How the author, in
your opinion, should have addressed the important challenges the humanity is currently
facing.
5. Resolution (Conclusion)
a. The last paragraph should include a few sentences that state what the book succeeds in
doing and how the fields of research explored by this book are enriched by the book’s
addition.
BIOS 331 — Ecology

4
Rubric:

Note: Meeting everything on this rubric will net you 90 points. To get the missing 10, make sure to turn in a Book Report Outline
by the deadline on the syllabus.

Performance Exceeds Expectations: Meets Expectations: Below Expectations:

Criterion Indicators   Indicators   Indicators
Book review Book review is largely
Book review succeeds in informing sufficiently presents off track. Context
Focus the reader about the content and value the reader with an largely misrepresented
of the book through critical evaluation of the value or missing.
(20 Points) evaluation. Context is properly and of the book. Context is
succinctly described. adequately provided.

Review has an engaging hook, Review has proper Review appears to be

provides descriptive partitioning of structure. The content hastily written. Lacks
Structure & book, states aims, highlights and aim of the book the basic structure of a
Flow strengths/weaknesses, includes are clear. Ideas book review.
engrossing thoughts, and wraps up in explored throughout Movement among ideas
(20 Points) a logical order that is clear to the the review are well- is abrupt or illogical.
reader. Transitions between written and connected. Sentences incoherent.
paragraphs are seamless.
Review focuses on the content of the Review provides Reviewer appears to not
book and what the objective of the adequate content from have read the book
Use of
book is. Quotations are brief and the book. It is clear the carefully, if at all. Use
Content
limited to striking statements or material is properly of content is
examples where precise wording is understood by the inappropriate, false, or
(20 Points)
important. Evidence strongly reviewer. illogical. Overuse of
supports interpretation. quotes.
Writing follows the grammatical and Writing generally Writing is riddled with
spelling conventions of standard follows the grammatical and
Grammar & English. Book’s bibliographic grammatical and spelling mistakes.
Bibliography information properly provided. spelling conventions of Bibliographic
standard English. information not
(15 Points) Book’s bibliographic provided or poorly
information provided. constructed.

Word choice is precise and Word choice is formal. Word choice colloquial.
Voice/Style sophisticated. Sentences are Review is well-written Sentence structure
stylistically interesting and formal. and largely focused on simplistic.
(15 Points) Review focuses on the book and not the book.
the experience of the reader.