Conducting a Text Book Review December 1, 2011

Common Misconceptions Textbooks are: Foundation of Curriculum – Standards are the foundation Used Cover to Cover – Sections are pulled to be used with other material If it is the textbook it should be taught – Standards from 50 states make this impractical – Make things dull

Common Misconceptions If it is the textbook it must be accurate – Duh, that is why we are here. Look at Five Ponds Press stories about VA History. If it isn’t in the textbook it must not be important – Duh 2, that is also why we are hear. – You could give the kids the books and let them read. We wouldn’t need any teachers.

How to do a Book Review Review Standard of Learning for Subject Review Tests - Desired Outcome Document Title, Authors, Issue, ISBN Review Table of Contents – How does author approach subject: – Chronologically – Topically Intended Audience

How to do a Book Review Objective is to Analyze not Summarize Be Objective Include Strengths and Weaknesses Does Author have an objective point of view – Political Ideology - Liberal or Conservative – Religious Ideology Sources – Secondary, Primary, and recommended on-line

Example World Cultures: A Global Mosaic Teacher’s Ed. Pearson Education/Prentice Hall “Jesus, the founder of Christianity, was born in Palestine while it was under Roman rule.” Page 587, Ifkithar Ahmad, Herbert Brodsky, Marylee Susan Crofts, et al., [“The Gospels say Jesus was born in ‘Bethlehem of Judea.”]

Example Standards of Learning The standards depict Islam as “a unifying force that accepted other religions.” particularly during the era of the Ottoman Empire [WHII 5(a)]. This is extremely disingenuous because non-Muslims were consistently treated as second-class citizens in all Muslim empires and jihad, not tolerance remained the unifying force of Islam.

Example When the Ottomans conquered Constantinople they immediately converted the great church of Santa Sophia into a mosque, an act of desecration and dominance that had occurred before and would be repeated again.

Example Like other Muslim rulers, the Ottomans forced Christians and Jews to pay an oppressive tax called the jizya specifically required by the Quran. And, the Ottomans developed a levy known as the devshirme, under which pre-adolescent Christian boys were enslaved, converted to Islam, and forced to fill the ranks of the Janissary Corps, the main infantry unit of the Ottoman army.

How to do a Book Review Sources (Cont) – Old or New – Is there a pattern or other observation Organization – Does it make sense the way it is organized – Suggestions About the author – What other books

How to do a Book Review Author (Continued) – University teacher – Organizational Affiliations – Papers or presentations Contributors – Organizational Affiliations – Background of key participants Reviewers & Their Affiliations

How to do a Book Review Overall Opinion – Did book deliver on its promise – How did book affect you – Back up conclusions you reach Recommended Actions – Remove book from approved list – Distribute errata sheets – Recommend alternative titles

Thank You for Your Kind Attention