Assignment Overview:
You are tasked with writing a comparative book review that explores the histories of cricket and football, focusing on their roles in shaping and reflecting global sociopolitical landscapes. The assignment involves selecting one book on cricket and one on football from a provided list, analyzing their content, comparing the authors’ methodologies, and examining how each sport has influenced global identity and politics.
Book Selection:
Cricket: “Globalizing Cricket: Englishness, Empire and Identity” by Dominic Malcolm
Football: “More noble than war: a soccer history of Israel-Palestine” by Nicholas Blincoe
Objectives:
Understand the Books: Read each book thoroughly with an eye toward understanding not just the historical narrative of each sport but also the broader sociopolitical implications discussed by the authors.
Compare and Contrast: Focus on comparing and contrasting the development and global spread of cricket and football, their cultural and social impacts, and how they have been shaped by and have shaped global identities and politics.
Analyze Methodologies: Examine the methods used by each author to approach their subject. Consider the types of sources they use, how they frame their narratives, and the analytical lenses they apply to the history of the sport. Give a lot of emphasis on the author’s comparisons, as this assignment specifically tests that! How the autors differed in their writing and methods.
Reflect on Global Significance: Consider what the histories of these sports reveal about broader historical trends, including colonialism, globalization, and the construction of national identities.
Writing the Paper:
Introduction: Briefly introduce the books, their authors, and the main themes you will explore in your review.
Body:
Historical Overview: Summarize the key historical developments of cricket and football as presented in the books.
Comparative Analysis: Compare and contrast the two sports’ impacts on global sociopolitical landscapes.
Methodological Analysis: Discuss the authors’ methodologies and how they contribute to our understanding of the sports.
Conclusion: Sum up your findings and reflect on the importance of these sports in global history.
Tips for Success:
Engage Critically: Go beyond summarizing the books. Engage critically with the authors’ arguments, methodologies, and conclusions.
Look for Connections: Draw connections between the historical narratives of cricket and football and broader global themes.
Consult Additional Sources: Consider consulting additional sources to enrich your analysis and support your arguments.
Title:
Your paper will be titled “Pitched Battles: Cricket, Football, and Global Identity”, capturing the essence of your comparative review and its exploration of sports in global sociopolitical contexts.
