Describes a class project involving citation verification generated by a student's skepticism of the accuracy of a text. Emphasizes the importance of spontaneity and student interest in the success of such a project. Urges teachers to be alert for a spontaneous, student generated challenge to the credibility of texts in use. (DK)

Two different concepts of STS--the emerging academic discipline of Science and Technology Studies and the social movement Science, Technology and Society--are explored through analysis of two textbooks from non-English-speaking countries. Each textbook represents one of the two STS concepts. Discussion of text organization is augmented by complete…

Outlines an introductory public relations writing course. Presents course topics and objectives, and assignments designed to meet them. Provides a sample grading rubric and evaluates major public relations writing textbooks. Discusses learning and assessment strategies. (SR)

In choosing statistics texts for social science students, both the matter and the mode of presentation must be considered. Selecting a statistics text is not as straightforward as selecting a text in the student's major field. Five instruments were developed to explore aspects of selection of statistics texts. These are: (1) a student survey for…

This study examines the treatment given to libraries, librarians, and library usage in freshman English textbooks. The study follows criteria established by Virginia Tiefel ("Libraries and Librarians as Depicted in Freshman English Textbooks," College English 44, September 1982) in a study of texts published between 1952 and 1980. Tiefel found…

The increasing demand for good business English Second Language courses is stymied by a lack of research and good teaching tools concerning speech acts used in business meetings. This study analyzed speech acts used in two business meetings and evaluated four business English textbooks to determine the type of English used in real business…

A study examined eight business Spanish textbooks for cultural content by looking at commonly appearing cultural topics and themes, presentation of cultural information, activities and techniques used to promote cultural understanding, and incorporation of authentic materials. The texts were evenly divided among beginning, intermediate, and…

Only with the beginnings of a structural system of social classes in America--a system based on both wealth and education--did an ethic of gentility and "correctness" arise in American attitudes toward speaking and writing. Rhetorical instruction was forced to move away from the abstract educational ideal of "mental discipline" and toward the…

Six college health textbooks published between 1980 and 1987 were analyzed to determine the extent of coverage of 10 selected content areas from "Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention." Content areas assessed included: motor vehicle accidents, alcohol and drug misuse, teenage pregnancy,…

To determine whether Olivet Nazarene University's standard freshman writing course requirements measure favorably with those of the majority of the 75 Christian College Coalition (CCC) members, a study compared the textbooks, papers, activities, and evaluation procedures required by each institution. Stephen Witte's "National Survey of…

Students in a teaching methods course evaluated a recently published basal reader to see if it conformed to guidelines for the efficacy of such materials already established by the class. A story selection was read to identify (1) essential background information, (2) text features that might cause comprehension problems (subject matter for…

A model is presented for response to evaluating instruction in a university based on the teaching-at-a-distance concept. Technically appropriate and operationally viable, this model is applied to the National Open University of Venezuela (UNA). The model is based on two principles of educational evaluation: (1) the concept of evaluation as a…

Testing the assumption that textbooks were getting harder while students' abilities have been declining over the years, a study was conducted to determine the readability levels of six college reading textbooks across three editions to see if they were equal or the same in readability. The study also sought to determine whether these texts were…

An examination of eight widely used college English handbooks published since 1974 reveals a range of sexist usage, indicating that authors and editors have not reached a general consensus on which practices they and student writers are to avoid as sexist. Sexism is still manifest in handbooks in such practices as the following: using sexually…

The status of the North American Indian in most history and social studies textbooks has not substantially changed in the last 20 years. The Indian continues to be portrayed in extreme, simplistic, stereotypical roles--on the one hand noble, peaceful, friendly, and helpful and on the other hand fierce and warlike. (JHZ)