COMM 3373 Leadership Communication

This research guide assists research assignments for COMM 3373 Leadership Communication

Research Paper: Popular Press Book Analysis

This paper is your 10+ page analysis (not counting title page and reference list) of a popular press book about leadership.

At its most basic, your analysis is focused on the author’s argument(s) in light of academic research (i.e. peer-reviewed or recognized scholarly source). As you consider your analysis remember that an analysis is not only negative. You may want to include elements of the author’s arguments that support or extend the academic research you locate. While you may utilize materials from class in your analysis, you must incorporate at least six additional academic sources from your own research. In this type of analysis, you should not report on each source and its relation to the author’s argument individually—rather you are building broader arguments that might utilize several sources. And do not be afraid to use more than six sources.

As you think about your overall argument, you might begin by considering the following questions:

  • Would this book be helpful to leaders in multiple contexts?
  • What is the author’s overall argument?
  • What are the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s argument and supporting material?
  • How do the author’s arguments compare/fit with other authors you have read?
  • What arguments, examples, evidence, etc. does the author use well?
  • What’s missing, if anything, from the author’s argument?

Pre-Approved Books

If you choose a book not on this list, contact your professor who will let you know if the book will work for this assignment.In either case (choosing from the list or finding your own), you should choose your book carefully. You should be interested in the topic and the book you select must have enough substance to allow you to write the review.

In addition to the above titles that are available through the Libraries, these titles not owned by the University of Arkansas Libraries have been approved and can be requested through Interlibrary Loan. Click the link to the book you want, then sign in with your UARK username and password to order via Interlibrary Loan.