Book Review Evaluation Rubric
NAME: ____________________________________ YEAR & SECTION: __________________ TITLE OF THE BOOK REVIEWED:_____________________________
ELEMENTS Excellent (4 points)
- Includes necessary
information about the
INTRODUCTION book’s background (author,
etc.)
- Draws in the reader with
a “hook”
- Describes the book’s value
- Paragraphs have well-
conceived topic
ORGANIZATION
sentences and clear
transitions
- Pacing is appropriate
and the narrative has
structure
- Addresses the main
themes and arguments
inthe book
- Evidence and
examples (including
quotations) are detailed,
accurate, and
CONTENT OF BODY
appropriate
- Includes discussion of
method, sources, theory,
strengths, weaknesses,
etc.
- Analysis demonstrates
critical thinking and
insight
- Places the book within
its historiographical
context
- Includes thorough
assessment of the
CONCLUSION
book’s usefulness
- Describes the significance
of this work to historians
Needs Improvement Unsatisfactory SCORE
Good (3 points)
(2points) (1 point.)
- Includes some - Lists basic - Does not introduce
information about the information, but is not the book, or introduces
book, but is not compelling thorough it inaccurately
- Contains a basic - No “hook” to catch - No discernable
description of the the reader statement about
book’s value - Superficial description of the book’s value
the book’s value
- Paragraphs have - Some noticeable problems - Significant issues that
mostly clear transitions with transitions, order of prevent the reader from
- There are a few places paragraphs, focus, and/or understanding the
where the narrative clarity review
lacks focus and - Problems with
structure internal structure of
paragraphs
- Most of the primary - Some themes are - Addresses only a few
themes are highlighted but not of the major themes
adequately addressed fully developed - No real discussion of
- There is some - Argument is addressed, author’s argument
discussion of the but not explained clearly and/or perspective
argument or thoroughly - Few or no examples
- Examples are - Few examples, and - No mention of theory,
generally accurate and those included lack detail methodology, sources,
detailed - Only a passing mention etc.
- Includes brief mention of sources, theory, etc. - No discussion of
of theory, sources, - Demonstrates only strengths or
strengths, weaknesses, basic understanding of weaknesses
etc. the text - Illustrates only a
- Analysis shows - Very limited grasp of passing comprehension of
critical thinking skills historiographical the text
- Basic mention of context - No
historiographical historiographical
context context
- Includes only a basic - Includes only one - The book’s significance
explanation of the book’s sentence about the is not addressed in any
significance and greater significance way
usefulness and/or is very superficial
 Book Review Evaluation Rubric
NAME: ____________________________________ YEAR & SECTION: __________________ TITLE OF THE BOOK REVIEWED:_____________________________

- Includes no passive - Contains minor - Noticeable grammatical - Has significant

voice, awkward sentence passive voice problems problems (including problems with grammar
constructions, or other and a few awkward passive voice, s/v and style that impede
GRAMMAR grammatical errors sentences, but agreement, wordiness, the reader’s ability to
AND - Very minimal otherwise only a few misplaced modifiers, comprehend the analysis
STYLE problems with grammatical errors fragments, etc.) - Substantial
punctuation - Some problems with - Significant spelling,
- No spelling or punctuation (e.g. punctuation and capitalization, and/or
capitalization commas) capitalization errors punctuation errors
errors - Some spelling and/or - Several spelling/word
capitalization errors choice mistakes
- Includes page numbers - Lacks one of the - Lacks two of the - Has no page numbers
- Uses standard 1” margins following: page numbers, following: page numbers, - Has unacceptable
- Is of the required length double-spaced text, the double- spaced text, the font, margins and/or
FORMATTING - Followed the format given correct font and/or size, correct font and/or size, or spacing
- or standard margins standard margins - Does not meet
- Is of the required length - Barely meets length length requirement
requirement

TOTAL GRADE: __________

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: