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