ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses exactly what teachers and students view as a text and why. Novels can be an excellent learning text in History classes and will give students a deeper understanding of the time period and events. Historical fiction can help reluctant students focus on events and make connections instead of trying to memorize information. Propaganda goes pretty closely with most History curriculum, and the comparisons to today's media are a great starting point for analysis. Science brochures are available with topics ranging from disease, volcanoes, rock climbing to genetically modified foods. A science classroom could use the same activity on almost any subject, probably closer to the end of a unit, when students have attained a good understanding of the material. The chapter looks at ways to get students referring back to and using their text for close readings, support, argumentation and research.
