The first year of a three-year longitudinal study of the English language development of 175 French-speaking elementary and secondary school students in Quebec, Canada, is described. The major study goals are: to obtain precise longitudinal information on ESL development; to describe aspects of classroom interaction, including language used by the…

A determination of the reading grade placement levels (GPLs) and final course grades of community college students in relationship to the GPLs of their assigned social science textbooks was the focus of a study at Citrus Community College (Florida). Dale-Chall readability placement levels were calculated for eight textbooks used in 19 classes of…

The evaluative criteria described in this document are as follows: (1) criterion for analyzing ethnic bias in textbook illustrations, films, and filmstrips; (2) criterion for content analysis of text books for ethnic bias relative to cultural pluralism; and, (3) criterion for content analysis of text books for ethnic bias relative to…

Describes a methodology for discovering how the communicative notion of temporal frequency is expressed in academic English. Almost 300 different linguistic devices are identified and described, along with the number of times they each occur in two large corpora of written academic English. (Author/LMO)

This study indicates that intent to achieve statewide uniformity of curriculum, to ensure selection of high-quality textbooks, and to control textbook costs is firmly grounded in data sources. Adoption processes of "state adoption" states are not monolithic, and insight into adoption processes may be gained from "open" states.…

This article reports research analyzing cultural representations of minorities in Hungarian elementary school textbooks currently used throughout the country. A convenient sample representing more than 75% of first and fourth grade reading books was collected from three academic and public libraries in Hungary. Using content analysis techniques,…

An introductory textbook in English as a Second Language, commonly used in Egyptian schools, was evaluated for the degree to which its stated principles for classroom use of Arabic corresponded to instructions given in the lesson notes. A computer concordance program was used to extract relevant passages from the teacher's introduction and the…

A survey was completed by 194 secondary school English teachers in Switzerland. Data indicate that: (1) a relatively small number of teachers have degrees from universities outside Switzerland; (2) the study of English generally does not begin until the age of 15; (3) the great majority of English classes meet for three or four hours a week; (4)…

Forty-two secondary-level Canadian and American world history, social studies, and geography textbooks on the Middle East are examined for errors in content, oversimplification of complicated issues, and stereotyping. Areas under examination for distortion include Middle East geography and culture, economics, and maldistribution of wealth,…

This 1976 review by the Michigan Department of Education of senior high school government textbooks used in Michigan schools suggests that the majority of textbooks are "grossly lacking" in terms of the fair inclusion of the "achievements and accomplishments of ethnic and racial groups," as specified in Act 127 (Social Studies…

This report on sex discrimination in the Kalamazoo Public Schools describes the findings from a study of materials used during the 1971-72 school year. Conducted by a task force on elementary school textbooks, the study evaluated 172 texts, 65 supplements, and 24 study-print sets for sex stereotyping and sexism. Sex roles depicted for both…

In compliance with the Social Studies Textbook Act of the State of Michigan, 18 elementary, junior high school, and high school level social studies books were examined to determine the extent to which they adequately reflect the multi-racial, multi-ethnic and pluralistic nature of American society, both past and present. A group of 27 educators,…

Reports on a study of introductory college economics textbooks on the quality and quantity of coverage of the economic status of women and minorities. Finds that textbooks still have a tendency to exclude women and minorities from the general discussion and disguise the multiplicity of explanations for observed differences. (CFR)

Presents a study to determine the effects of introducing methods students to the "learning cycle" technique on their ability to adapt science textbooks to the method and employ it in their teaching. Interviews of 24 randomly selected students out of 48 participants indicated that 75 percent used the approach while student teaching and…

This qualitative study is a two-part analysis of first year algebra textbooks adopted for use in South Carolina. Part 1 examines the five books selected in the 1984 adoption. This comparison of first year algebra textbooks examined: (1) whether the textbook authors had adjusted the traditional context of math texts at this level to reflect…