Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) Common Read

Information copied from official submission website.

One exciting aspect of the Common Read program is the yearly writing contest we hold. As a student, you get to decide which prompt you want to explore and write about. It's your chance to showcase your creativity and ideas! 

Prompt Option One 

Personal Reflection on Key Topics of the Book 

In Heather McGhee's The Sum of Us, she delves into the zero-sum paradigm and the concept of the Solidarity Dividend, challenging readers to consider their own roles in shaping a more just society. In your essay, please reflect on your own lived experiences and answer the following: 

• What are your personal thoughts on the zero-sum paradigm? How has the zero-sum paradigm impacted your life and affected your perspective on racial and economic issues?  
• What are your personal thoughts on the solidarity dividend? Have you personally benefited from a solidarity dividend? Please explain. 
• How might you raise awareness of the zero-sum paradigm? What commitments can you make in your daily life to actively practice solidarity across color, origin, and class? How might your awareness raising and commitments challenge your existing beliefs or behaviors? 

Entry Rules 

1. Read The Sum of Us, paying special attention to the introduction and chapter 10, where the author defines these concepts. 
2. Submit your personal reflection essay – 3 pages maximum in 12-point Arial or Helvetica type, double-spaced. Include your name, major, Bronco ID, and CPP email. 
3. Your entry must be submitted by Monday, December 18th online. Submit your work at the link above.

Prompt Option Two 

Book Review 

Book reviews focus on evaluating a recent work, offer a brief description of key points, and a short appraisal of the work. A book review IS NOT a book report which describe what happens in the book or summarizes an account of the plot of a work of fiction or the main idea of a work of non-fiction.  

By contrast, a book review offers a sneak peek at what a book was like for you; how it impacted you personally; and your thoughts on the author’s key points, themes, or topics covered.  

You can pick the author’s central themes OR select one of the chapters in the book that resonated with you. You are encouraged to think reflectively about the theme or chapter; and how it influenced your thinking. Please share this in your review. 

The book review should contain the following: 

1. Complete Bibliographic Information – title of the book, author, publisher, publication date, etc. We suggest MLA or APA citation style.  
2. Short Summary/Background of the Book – this is a non-fiction book, so prepare a brief overview of the book’s main arguments. You can provide an overview of how the book is arranged, the number of chapters, and key topics covered. Review the author’s introduction for insight behind why she wrote this book and what inspired her and the background about the book. 
3. Topics & Themes – As you read the book, make note of the key themes and examples that stand out to you. Here are some questions to consider: 
   1. What is the main idea of the book? Think key topics and themes. How do the various topics or themes contribute to the overall book and author’s main idea? 
   2. What stood out to you the most and why? 
   3. Is there a particular chapter, example, or quote stand out to you?     

     4. Your Opinion – what is your opinion of this book? Would you recommend it? How would you frame your recommendation?  

Entry Rules 

1. Read The Sum of Us  
2. Submit your book review – 3 pages maximum in 12-point Arial or Helvetica type, double-spaced. Include your name, major, Bronco ID, and CPP email. 
3. Your entry must be submitted by Monday, December 18th online. Submit your work at the link above.

Writing a book review for the first time? We've got you covered. Try these steps. 

1) Read the book carefully. You may try annotating the book or taking notes as you read. You'll want to pay close attention to the structure of the book, the major themes, and big ideas presented. Check out the video below for some tips on how to take notes while reading.

2) Review your notes and decide on a few points you want to discuss in your review. This may be quotes you liked, chapters that stood out, sections that confused you, or areas you are interested in learning more about. 

3) Write a draft of your review. Make sure it includes the below information:

• Complete bibliographic information - title of the book, author, publisher, publication date, etc. We suggest MLA or APA citation style.  

• A catchy introduction. Make sure to grab the readers attention quickly. Maybe this is a summary of your favorite points or a quote that you loved. 

• A short summary/background of the book - this is a non-fiction book, so prepare a brief overview of the book’s main arguments. You can provide an overview of how the book is arranged, the number of chapters, and key topics covered. Review the author’s introduction for insight behind why she wrote this book and what inspired her and the background about the book. Don't forget to highlight the areas that stood out to you.

• Your opinion - what is your opinion of this book? Would you recommend it? How would you frame your recommendation?  Make sure to use those points you set aside in step 2. 

4) Review your draft before submitting. Our first draft is not always our best. Make sure you set it aside for a few days and review again before submitting. 

Completed reviews can be submitted here.

Need some examples?

Review from Harvard Educational Review by Maya Holden Cohen 

Review from The Washington Post by Paul C. Taylor

Review from The New York Times by Jennifer Szalai