Over your time on the Linux Programme, you will be expected to write book reviews on various technical texts. The aim of these reviews is to increase your understanding of how these types of texts are structured, while also adding to your knowledge bank via their contents.

Each time you are asked to review a text, you are to complete the following tasks:

• Write down the title, the name of the author or editor/s, the publisher, and the place and date of publication. This information can be found on the title page, and on the page directly after the title page.
• Read through the list of contents in order to gain a grasp of the books subject matter.
• Carefully read the overview or introductory section at the beginning of the book.
• Select one area that is of interest to you, and read the chapter relating to it.
• You are then to write a review of the text using the pieces you have just read to justify your perspective. Your review should be of a maximum of 500 words. It will detail the purpose of the text, and will comment on things such as the clarity of information given, the usefulness of the material, the presence of visuals etc. Whenever you comment on something about the text, you will be expected to provide specific examples to back up your points. The quality of your piece will not be based on the number of words used, but the level of substance that they represent. Don’t just write stuff!
• You may be asked to give an oral presentation to the group at the completion of your written review, in order to encourage or discourage them to read the text you have selected.