ESOL Textbook Pilot Evaluation:
ESOL 40, Level 4 Reading
Fill out this form after piloting the text under consideration and present to the SAC.
Part 1. Check “Yes” if the text satisfactorily covers the following objectives. If coverage was missing or
inadequate, check “No” and explain.
Book Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Instructor(s): Daniel Davis
Penguin Active Reading
Term:
Winter09, Summer 09
Content Comprehension
Yes No
x
Identifying topics, main ideas, and supporting details
Comments:
x The difference between narration and other organization types, such as compare/contrast
Comments:
x Spelling rules and common spelling patterns
Comments:
x Basic punctuation (periods, commas, question and quotation marks)
Comments:
x
Interpreting basic maps, tables, graphs, and figures and their relationship to the main
ideas in texts.
Comments:
Critical Thinking Skills
Yes No
Making logical inferences, predictions, and connections
x
Comments:
Relating readings to personal needs and experiences
x
Comments:
Paraphrasing
x
Comments:
Study Skills
Yes No
x
Previewing techniques including tables of contents, indexes, and glossaries.
Comments:
x
Using skimming and scanning to find specific information
Comments:
x
Making effective marginal notes and other markers to assist comprehension
Comments:
x
Developing questions based on readings
Comments:
x
Working in groups to define, analyze, and solve problems
Comments:
x
Using a monolingual, adult ESL dictionary of American English and other
references
Comments:
x
Using the Internet or other sources to gather information
Comments:
x
Reading for comprehension under time constraints
Comments:
Language Analysis
Identifying and understanding the meanings and functions of:
- subjects and verbs, passive voice, clauses and phrases, pronoun reference
x
Comments:
x
- connectors (coordinators, subordinators, and transitions)
Comments:
- vocabulary items and their word families, word forms, and common prefixes
and suffixes in new contexts.
x
Comments:
Using context clues with new vocabulary
x
Comments:
Supplemental Materials
Yes No
x
There is a website associated with the book for supplemental activities
Comments:
There are homework exercises with an answer key in the back of the text.
x
Comments:
x Instructor materials are available online
Comments:
x
Book provides support and guidance in the research process
Comments:
Other Considerations
Yes No
x
The textbook is sensitive to the cultural background and interests of our students.
Comments:
x
This textbook was written for adult learners and is suitable for our student population.
Comments:
x
The textbook reflects learners’ preferences in terms of layout, design, and organization.
Comments:
x
The exercises and activities reinforce what students have already learned and represent
a progression from simple to more complex.
Comments:
x
The exercises and activities are varied in format.
Comments:
Part 2. Written Response. Write on this sheet or attach your response. Be as brief
or expansive as you like.
1) Please tell us what you found to be the book’s strongest points.
The students adored this book. The story is abridged in a manner that retains the humor of
the original, so the students get to experience quite a lot of what they would by reading Huck
Finn as a whole. The CD ROM contains excellent exercises which can improve comprehension
both at home and in the classroom. It also includes an audio disc containing a recitation of the
book as a whole. The exercises in the book itself are varied and engaging.
2) Please tell us what you found to be the book’s weakest points.
Many of the exercises are not particularly conducive to group work and need to be altered for
classroom use.
Part 3. Overall Recommendation.
On a scale of 1 – 10, one being the weakest and 10 being the strongest, how strongly do you
recommend this book for inclusion on the ESOL Approved Booklist?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10