Anatomy of a Textbook
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This document provides an overview of the typical sections found in textbooks and their purposes. It describes sections like the preface, foreword, author profile, table of contents, chapter previews, introductions, applied practice elements, chapter summaries, review material, endnotes and bibliographies. The document explains what each section contains and why students might find it helpful for understanding the content and perspective of the textbook.
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Anatomy of a Textbook
- 2. Preface or Introduction What It Is A section at the beginning of a book in which the author or editor outlines its purpose and scope, acknowledges individuals who helped prepare the book, and perhaps outlines the features of the book. Why You Might Find It Helpful You will gain perspective on the authors point of view, what the author considers important. If the preface is written with the student in mind, it will also give you guidance on how to use the textbook and its features.
- 3. Foreword What It Is A section at the beginning of the book, often written by an expert in the subject matter (different from the author) endorsing the authors work and explaining why the work is significant. Why You Might Find It Helpful A foreword will give you an idea about what makes this book different from others in the field. It may provide hints as to why your instructor selected the book for your course.
- 4. Author Profile What It Is A short biography of the author illustrating the authors credibility in the subject matter. Why You Might Find It Helpful This will help you understand the authors perspective and what the author considers important.
- 5. Table of Contents What It Is A listing of all the chapters in the book and, in most cases, primary sections within chapters. Why You Might Find It Helpful The table of contents is an outline of the entire book. It will be very helpful in establishing links among the text, the course objectives, and the syllabus.
- 6. Chapter Preview or Learning Objectives What It Is A section at the beginning of each chapter in which the author outlines what will be covered in the chapter and what the student should expect to know or be able to do at the end of the chapter. Why You Might Find It Helpful These sections are invaluable for determining what you should pay special attention to. Be sure to compare these outcomes with the objectives stated in the course syllabus.
- 7. Introduction What It Is The first paragraph(s) of a chapter, which states the chapters objectives and key themes. An introduction is also common at the beginning of primary chapter sections. Why You Might Find It Helpful Introductions to chapters or sections are must reads because they give you a road map to the material you are about to read, pointing you to what is truly important in the chapter or section.
- 8. Applied Practice Elements What It Is Exercises, activities, or drills designed to let students apply their knowledge gained from the reading. Some of these features may be presented via Web sites designed to supplement the text. Why You Might Find It Helpful These features provide you with a great way to confirm your understanding of the material. If you have trouble with them, you should go back and reread the section. They also have the additional benefit of improving your recall of the material.
- 9. Chapter Summary What It Is A section at the end of a chapter that confirms key ideas presented in the chapter. Why You Might Find It Helpful It is a good idea to read this section before you read the body of the chapter. It will help you strategize about where you should invest your reading effort.
- 10. Review Material What It Is A section at the end of the chapter that includes additional applied practice exercises, review questions, and suggestions for further reading. Why You Might Find It Helpful The review questions will help you confirm your understanding of the material.
- 11. Endnotes and Bibliographies What It Is Formal citations of sources used to prepare the text. Why You Might Find It Helpful These will help you infer the authors biases and are also valuable if doing further research on the subject for a paper.