Contrary to David Olson's claim that authority is conveyed by textbook language, it is mainly the school context of textbooks that establishes their authority--and that of teachers--in students' minds. The curriculum is not in the text but in the social rules reflected by school organization and teachers' authority. (JW)

Although Luke, de Castell, and Luke rightly notice the role of social structure in the authority of the textbook, the pattern of social authority outside the school is primarily reflected in the text itself. The task for writers, then, is to clarify the grounds for their authoritative claims. (JM)

Beginning communication course textbooks typically discuss language theory and skills--the authors' attempts to help students learn and use language appropriate to the occasion and the audience. These discussions are usually included in public speaking and hybrid textbooks for the basic course. There is a movement in general education requirements…

To provide a rationale for textbook evaluation, a study examined the major and minor topics covered in 20 selected college-level business communication textbooks, the readability level presented for each text, and the number of schools currently using the text. (HOD)

An examination of eight widely used college English handbooks published since 1974 reveals a range of sexist usage, indicating that authors and editors have not reached a general consensus on which practices they and student writers are to avoid as sexist. Sexism is still manifest in handbooks in such practices as the following: using sexually…