A book review includes both summary and analysis. In writing a review on a textbook, you should explain the following, using specific examples as appropriate, to describe the:

• Purpose of the text;
• Intended audience/setting/skill areas;
• Content/skills taught;
• Author’s methodology (pedagogical approach/style);
• Textual organization;
• Supporting materials (for students and instructors);
• Potential applications for other uses/settings/audiences;
• Strengths;
• Weaknesses.

When analyzing the strengths and weaknesses, please consider the following:

• How well does the text fulfill its purpose?
• What does this text do particularly well/unlike any other?
• What is the most relevant/practical/beneficial use of this text (primary vs. supplemental text, small- vs. large-group instruction vs. independent study, accuracy vs. fluency, academic vs. vocational, beginning vs. intermediate, etc.)?
• How adaptable is the text? In what way?
• How well does the text engage students?
• Are there sufficient schema-building activities, vocabulary exercises, explanations, skills activities, authentic language models, critical-thinking exercises, opportunities for extended practice, and so forth?
• Are explanations clear and comprehensible for students?
• Is the suggested time allotted for particular activities, general lessons, and so forth accurate?
• Is the overall design inviting and the pages easy to navigate?
• If part of a series, how well does this text fit with the rest of the series?
• If a new edition, in what ways have the updates improved the text?
• Is there anything inaccurate (linguistically, factually)?
• Considering the intended purpose/audience, what, if anything, is lacking?
• Has anything been poorly executed (design, methodology, content, syllabus organization, etc.)?
• What are the text’s limitations, if any, considering the author’s purpose/target audience?

It can also be helpful, but may not be necessary, to include:

• Comparisons to other texts (others in a series or others by the same author);
• Complementary texts;
• A couple of references to research to help explain the author’s purpose/approach or your analysis of the text.