Textbook contents account for more than 75% of content learned in the classroom. It is one of the necessary and essential resources in a classroom setting. Teachers, especially new teachers, find the textbook as a more valuable source. Besides, textbooks give organized units of work required for a topic, thereby allowing the teacher to plan appropriately for the lessons he or she needs to cover a topic. As such, a textbook is compulsory and essential teaching and learning aid for both teachers and learners. However, sometimes, the content within the textbook can be complex for the targeted learners. The complexity of texts is determined by the purpose of the topic, the structure of the topic, which includes the organization features and graphics used, the complexity of language and knowledge demand. This paper provides texts evaluation for two textbooks, including Mike Holt’s Basic Electrical Theory and Ohms Law, Electrical Math and Voltage Drop Calculations by Tom Henry.
Informational Text Complexities Evaluation of Ohms Law, Electrical Math, and Voltage Drop Calculations by Tom Henry
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Purpose
Henry has clearly stated the purpose of the book. He says, “This book was written as a study-aid for an electrician preparing to take an electrical examination… The intent of this book is to give the electrician aa refresher on theory, Ohm’s Law, explain DC and AC in layman terms, give you easier to understand formulas, show sketches of circuits, explain the function of the material conductor, etc.” From this extensive explanation, it is clear that the purpose of the texts is explicitly stated. Moreover, the author is clear on the learners he targets with the content. The complexity of the purpose is low.
Structure
Organization
The subtopics are organized in such a way that, they start by the explanation of individual concepts before moving to complex concepts developing a law. For instance, the author first covers the theory of the concept of Electricity, thereby providing the meaning of Electricity, the concepts, and components of Electricity. After that is when he addresses Ohm’s law. In other words, the book starts from much easier concepts before moving to complex concepts. The more straightforward concepts make up the complex concepts by making the texts in the book easier to understand when the protocol is followed. Therefore, the organization of this book may be complicated, but the concepts within the texts are explicitly interrelated. Hence, the complexity of the organization of the texts is moderately low.
Text Features
The author of the book states that the book is written to aid electricians prepare to take an electrical examination. In other words, the book is a revision book. The author has complied broad concepts into much more straightforward and short statements and charts. As such, if the texts are used, they enhance the readers’ understanding of the concepts. However, one must have previous knowledge on the concept to understand the concept more. Therefore, the complexity of the text features is moderately low.
Use of Graphics
Even though the book has complicated electrical formulas, circuits and graphs, it has provided concise and clear explanations of the illustrations, thereby making it easier for the reader to understand the concept. All that is contained in the illustrations are as well important.
For instance, the concept illustrated below is provided in the book.
The author states individual formulas contained in the organizer and then give an example of how to apply the formula in a very concise and clear manner. Therefore, the illustrations used are most supplementary and straightforward in understanding the concepts. As such, the complexity of the use of graphics is middle-low. Thus, the complexity of the structure of the textbook is middle-low.
Language
Conventionality
Some of the texts are provided in figurative language, but the texts are primarily contemporary. As such, the complexity of conventionality of the language used in the book is middle-low.
Clarity
The author says that the illustrations are explained in “clear, concise, understandable language for the electrician.” It is reflected in how the author explains every point he puts across. For instance, he says, “Persons working with near batteries should always wear rubber gloves, a rubber apron, and protective google. If the electrolyte is spilt on the skin or cloth, the exposed area should be rinsed immediately with water.” Then the statement is followed by the illustration below.
From this, it is clear that the author wants to be clear why he recommends the protective dressing while working with batteries. As such, the author makes the clarity of the language used in the text to be explicitly familiar, comfortable to understand and academic. As such, the complexity of the clarity of the language used in the book is middle-low.
Knowledge Demands
Subject Matter Knowledge
The texts require common practical knowledge of electricians. As such, it requires a specific discipline. Therefore, the complexity of the subject matter knowledge is middle-low.
Intertextuality
The author has not referred to any outside source. As such, the complexity of intertextuality is low.
Complexity Text Evaluation of Mike Holt’s Basic Electrical Theory
Purpose
The book covers a wide range of knowledge on Electricity and therefore has multiple purposes. For instance, the book includes six units, including Matter, Electron Theory, Electricity, Electromagnetism, and Uses of Electromagnetism. Besides, all six topics are explicitly covered. As such, the complexity of the purpose of the textbook is high.
Structure
Organization
The topics in the book are implicitly related and conform to the electrical industry, meaning that they fit a specific discipline. As such, the organization of the texts in the book is highly complex.
Text Features
The text features are used important in understanding the content. For instance, the first Unit ‘Matter’ has subtopics that include Atomic Theory, Law of Atomic Charges, charge materials, and many others, which helps in understanding electricity transfer matter. As such, the text uses features of high complexity.
Use of Graphics
The graphics used to interpret complicated texts, which are essential in understanding the book. For instance, let’s consider one of the illustrations shown below.
The graphics demonstrate the laws of magnetism. The graphics used are highly complex.
Language
Conventionality
The texts contain figurative language. For instance, the statement, “The magnetic field of a magnet is visualized as lines of force that radiate from the magnetic north-seeking pole to the south-seeking pole.” The terms, ‘lines of force,’ ‘north pole’ and ‘south pole’ are very crucial in the definition outlined. As such, the conventionality of the language used is highly complex.
Clarity
The language used is more of discipline-specific. The terms used are more directed towards the topic addressed. As such, the clarity of the language is highly complex.
Knowledge Demands
Subject Matter Knowledge
For one to understand the texts in the book requires theoretical discipline-specific content knowledge. For instance, terms like those that ‘Retentivity’ and ‘permeability’ (pg. 26) are used in the texts, yet not everyone can understand what they mean. As such, the subject matter knowledge of the texts is highly complex.
Intertextuality
The texts use many references to outside sources, and if the author’s comments are separated from the texts from other sources.
Conclusion
From the text complexity evaluation of the book Ohms Law, Electrical Math, and Voltage Drop Calculations by Tom Henry, it is clear that the complexity of the texts of the book is low. However, it is clear that teachers to assist the students who specialize in electricity to revise while preparing for exams can use such texts. Therefore, such texts are good to use if the learners have learned the in-depth of the context prior.
On the other hand, Mike Holt’s Basic Electrical Theory uses complex texts, which are specified to the discipline. These texts are essential for understanding the fundamental characteristics of the subject. As such, the teacher can use this textbook to provide a clear concept of the discipline to enable the students to understand the essential requirements.
