Blog 7

Describe the features, functions, and student activity of a textbook for a single field, such as American History. Write a paper analyzing the genre.

When it comes to studying American History, memorization is key to being able to remember and understand this complicated subject. I personally love history and it mostly has to do with the textbooks I was taught with.
Most textbooks need to start of with a history of its own and to explain the goals and aspects contained within the book. All of the chapters are outlined in a particular way, whether they are set up by timeline or genre of history. In each of those chapters, many textbooks have a series of vocabulary words that are important in learning the basis to the subject the textbook is addressing. The textbook also aids in repeating certain vocabulary, people, times, and places to enable the student to memorize the subject easier and to be able to fully understand it.
In all of the history books I have encountered there will most always be a chapter summary full of the vocabulary, and outline of the chapter, and also great study questions to aid the student in studying for upcoming exams. Some of the study questions also involve group work, which can help each student learn different views and perhaps understand things better with the help of a classmate. I personally do not like group work. I find that all students learn in a different way and that is why many books give you the option for group or solitary work.
One of the most important functions of a textbook can also be found in the back of the book. Those two functions are the index and the glossary. The index can help narrow down the search for a particular subject a student is looking for and everything that is related to that subject. The glossary is always a great way to find the complete definition of the vocabulary that is important in the particular subject.
Another great aspect of history textbooks that have always helped me envision the things I was reading were pictures people, places, and events that occurred centuries ago. Whether they are real photographs or paintings they always helped me put a name to a face or a place.
Textbooks are always a great learning tool and can really help a student who uses it to their advantage remember key points while taking a test or being asked questions years later.