Essentials of Good Textbook
Good textbook helps to structure content and provide solid groundwork for further learning. For inexperienced teachers, the textbook may provide information in a well-organised, coherent framework and could well-save their precious time that might otherwise be used for research rather than for preparing ways of making the material interesting to students.
Principles of Good Textbook
Some of the principles textbooks should follow are-
1. Objective of the book:- While writing the textbook, author must keep in mind the objectives.
2. Correctness of the content:- The writer should use correct contents for writing a textbook.
3. Completeness of the content:- The writer should cover complete content in the textbook.
4. Relevance of the content:- The author should keep in mind the content given in the book is relevant to the theme of the book.
5. Presentation of the content:- Content should be presented properly by dividing the contents into proper sections and sub-sections and their proper arrangement.
6. Style of writing:- The author should develop styles of writing. This means vivid expression, lucidity and dignity.
Qualities of a Good Textbook
In modern era, it becomes important to have parameters for the essential characteristics of a good book. Important characteristics and qualities of a textbook are listed below:-
a. Textbooks that are intended to be used should be useful for the students as well as teachers. They should be so designed that on one hand, they may be written according to the psychological requirements of the students and on the other hand, they should serve the purpose of the teacher who wishes to impart knowledge to the students in a successful and interesting manner. It should provide sufficient material to motivate the students to solve problems.
b. The language of the book should be simple, clear, lucid, scientific and precise.
c. They should serve the purpose of the subject matter as well as the aims and objectives of teaching.
d.
Subject matter should lead to inculcation of scientific attitudes,
disciplinary and cultural values.
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e. The textbook should be accurately written. They should present the subject ,matter in such a manner that there is no fault in them.
f. The textbook should contain all the necessary and relative material required for a particular stage of education.
g. The textbooks of different stages should be complementary to each other.
h. Textbooks should be free from prejudice. The presentation of the subject matter should be unbiased.
i. The textbook should contain charts, maps and diagrams as and where required.
j. At the end of every chapter of the textbook, there should be certain questions that may be used for the revision of the subject matter.
k. The problems should relate to the real life needs and physical and social environments of the learners.
l. The students should get ample opportunities of learning through initiative and independent efforts.
Printing of Good Textbook
After the author has finished the task of preparing a book, now it is ready for the publishing house to take charge. Therefore, the essential points that are to be kept in mind while printing the books are the followings:-
i. The print and paper used and the binding of the textbook should be attractive. It should be hard and durable.
ii. The printing should be clear, legible and appropriately spaced.
Iii. Heading and sub-headings are given in bold letters.
iv. Each textbook should contain detailed table of contents and an index.
v.
The size of the book should be handy. It should be possible for the
students to carry them properly. They should not be bulky.
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vi. Printing and presentation of the books should be interesting and attractive.
vii. It should be free from typing mistakes.
viii. There should be diagrams and figures wherever necessary.
ix. The left hand, right hand, top and bottom margins should be appropriate. The spacing between lines and paragraphs should be appropriate.
x. The font size used for chapter title, sub-titles, footnotes and exercises should be suitable for the age group of students.
xi. Bibliography should be given correctly and according to the uniform system.
xii. The title page should give necessary information, i.e. suitable title, authors name, publishers name, place of publication and year of publication.