This paper suggests that teachers concentrate on the ideational and structural properties of text rather than on information acquired from readability formulas when selecting and using texts. Emphasis is given to the importance of context in the analysis of text, and a framework is suggested for examining the text considering the functions texts…

Reviews the treatment of 15 different, often unrelated topics and eras, as found in the first volumes of 19 widely-used U.S. history survey textbooks. Topics reviewed include Jamestown, American slavery, the Constitution, and Fort Sumter. The review focuses on factual errors, questionable interpretations, boring prose, and the question of…

Briefly reviews six textbooks for teaching about complex organizations: ORGANIZATIONS: STRUCTURES, PROCESSES, AND OUTCOMES (Hall, 1987); ORGANIZATIONS: RATIONAL, NATURAL, AND OPEN SYSTEMS (Scott, 1987); ORGANIZATIONS IN SOCIETY (Etzioni, 1985); ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR (Hellriegel et al, 1986); ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR: EXPERIENCES AND CASES (Hai,…

Reviews TEXTBOOK OF PSYCHOLOGY and the accompanying instructor's manual by Hebb, Donderi, and Henderson (1987). States that, although the book is well written, it omits the general psychology topics that most students find interesting. Includes a response by the authors in which they discuss the purpose of the book. (GEA)

Discusses the use of "The Federalist Papers" in U.S. government textbooks to explain the political theory on which the U.S. Constitution is based. Presents an assessment of how 18 introductory texts covered the papers. (GEA)

Reviews nine speech communication textbooks specifically written for high school students. Comments on the state-of-the-art of contemporary high school textbooks in speech communication. (PD)

Stresses the importance of recognizing bias in written language (often referred to as critical thinking/reading) and suggests activities to help elementary school social studies teachers improve their bias recognition skills. A multiple choice quiz is presented in which teachers are directed to analyze bias in quotations from newspapers and social…

Provides guidelines for analyzing and evaluating textbooks based on their comprehensibility rather than their readability. (MKM)

Discusses issues involved in the selection of textbooks for family life education: diversity of marriage and family course offerings; difficulties in locating appropriate materials; and criteria for text selection. Reviews 14 university texts published in 1987 and 1988. Calls for texts which cover aspects of marriage and family with greater depth.…

Reviews the terminological, methodological, and pedagogical confusion present in the German textbooks of the past 15 years, and proposes an improved terminology for teaching 4 basic grammatical components: strong verbs, mixed verbs, declensions, and the subjunctive. The new terminology is based on the principle of rational simplicity. (21…

Analyzes nine of the leading textbooks in the field of curriculum to determine if there are common domains of content knowledge. Points out that there is no dominant textbook in curriculum which establishes a format for other textbooks to follow because there is no consensus on what content knowledge is important for curriculum study. (GG)

Investigates whether textbooks are appropriate for a college library collection. Discussion includes an overview of collection development policies; the definition of a textbook; textbook references; and selection criteria for evaluating a textbook=FEs desirability as a library resource. (28 references) (SLW)

Safe, noncontroversial social studies textbooks are neither meaningful nor necessary according to many students. As an alternative, teachers can integrate well-written trade books into the social studies curriculum. Well-researched diaries, journals, biographies, and autobiographies should become an integral part of the curriculum. (28 references)…

Argues that the textbook presentation of the concept of natural monopolies has changed little since the early 1960s. Suggests that most economics textbooks have ignored the issue of economies of scale versus fixed costs. Notes that educators often discuss economies of scale without explaining why certain industries enjoy greater scale economies…

Discusses emerging tools implied by recent reform efforts in mathematics education. Critiques current textbooks based on three factors (rate content is introduced, efficacy of explanations, adequacy of practice and review). Identifies four attributes of mathematics educational tools that may help teachers reduce failure of diverse learners…