a. Select a book that deals with some topic related to women's relationship to religion. The book should have been published after 1980. For a list of books that Rutgers owns that are approved for this assignment, click here. This list is not exhaustive. One of the best ways to pick a book is to go to the shelf in the library that has books on women and religion and browse through what's there to see if something appeals to you. If you start reading a book and cannot understand it at all, find another book

b. Obtain instructor's approval of your selection. [This will save you unnecessary work if you have chosen an inappropriate book.]

c. As you read the book, pay attention to the type of religious phenomena described [sacred scripture, religious institutions and clergy, rituals, theology, symbols, stories, etc.] Take note of how the author positions herself in relation to the topic [Is she defending the tradition, reinterpreting it, rejecting it, etc] If the books covers too many topics, focus on 2-3 chapters.

d. Write a review of 500-700 words. The first half of the review should summarize the main thesis of the book or the most important points it makes about women's place in religion. The second half of the review should evaluate the book's interpretation. This is the more important part of the review and shows your intellectual creativity. Try to analyze the strengths or weaknesses of the book's argument, consider how those who disagree with it might respond or if there are any ideas that would make it stronger. What new ideas about women and religion have the authors contributed? Do you give the book "thumbs up" or "thumbs down"? Why?