Reports on the evaluation of readability levels of 16 public speaking textbooks and 7 skills-oriented interpersonal communication textbooks. Finds sizable differences among public speaking textbooks. Advocates using readability data in the process of textbook selection and suggests how to do so. (SR)

Assails the problem of emphasizing "don'ts" in freshman English composition courses. Suggests remedies for negativism in teaching and calls for "delight" as a professional goal for freshman writing. Offers suggestions on selecting textbooks, maximizing student interaction in class, and bringing teacher writing into the…

According to analysis of the readability of textbooks used in 12 "common body of knowledge" courses in business administration, the higher the readability level, the lower the grade averages, fewer As, and the higher the number of withdrawals from the course. Although readability may not be the only influence, it is an important…

The most frequently chosen textbooks for introductory sociology courses are analyzed. The study reveals that sociology texts change through incrementation rather than through innovative thinking or by rational decisions as to the best way to present sociology to students. Sociology students are not considered in textbook selection; rather,…

New editions of selected college textbooks have been found to be more difficult than former ones, and experiments show that students learn less effectively from the new editions. Guidelines are offered for choosing textbooks, such as writing style, conceptual density, and the utility of readability analyses. (Editor/LBH)

Presents the concerns and ideological agenda of Accuracy in Academia (AIA). Argues that there is a real threat that professors' rights to textbook selection are endangered by such groups. (MS)

Identification of objectives, review of texts, assessment of outcomes, and consideration of students are suggested procedures for effective textbook adoption. (Author)

An experiment to test the effect of textbooks in a one year economic principles course at Temple University (1968-1969) is partially reported. Using the Test of Understanding College Economics (TUCE) as the dependent variable, no significant difference was found between classes using a variety of textbooks. (DB)

The premise that the "subjective" defense of literature is contributing to its demise and that responses to literature are finite and predictable to some degree is proposed. Based on this premise, criteria for selecting texts that give structure to teaching literature are presented. (HTH)

Notes the different approaches to teaching theory found in a survey of 84 journalism and mass communication instructors. Provides a list of reviews of the 55 texts and four articles most often cited in the survey. (RL)

Problems regarding the relationship between college stores and their college communities are addressed. Among the issues addressed are: profit v nonprofit philosophies imposed by the college administration; textbook pricing and markups; academic freedom and textbook selection; bookstore contacts with administrators, students, and faculty; and…

Reports two surveys conducted in 1983 and 1986 to determine physical chemistry textbooks being used. The selection processes and results are discussed. Provides six tables showing the results. (YP)

A survey of 62 college and university faculty determined that 77 different textbooks are being used in courses designed for teachers of the gifted. For textbooks most frequently used, information is provided about the textbook content, course levels used for, and basis for selection. (Author/JDD)

Presents criteria to help teachers choose textbooks for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) composition students, based on how well each text teaches users to write argumentative essays (a form foreign to many ESL students). Evaluates 14 textbooks using these criteria. (SR)

A study investigated leading mass communication scholars' opinions concerning the most influential works in their development as scholars, what books or journal articles they would recommend for aspiring scholars, and which researchers in the field are doing promising work. Fifty-one scholars identified through previous studies as being the most…