The purpose of this study was to identify and compare specific writing assignments provided in the four basal mathematics textbook series, grades six through eight, accepted by the state of Texas in 1990. The student and teachers' editions by each publisher were analyzed (1) for the total number and types of writing assignments provided, (2) to compare how the writing assignments compared with the four purposes of writing mandated in the English Language Arts Framework, Kindergarten through Grade 12 for the state of Texas, (3) to compare how the writing assignments compared with the recommendations for communication opportunities stated in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics for grades five through eight, and (4) to compare the number and types of writing assignments among the four publishers. The total number of writing assignments varied among publishers ranging from 151 to 316 in the student editions and from 147 to 523 in the teacher's editions. The findings of this study indicate that from 80 to 98 percent of the writing assignments in the student editions and from 72 to 96 percent of the writing assignments in the teacher's editions corresponded to the Informative purpose of writing. Very few writing assignments were provided corresponding to the Literary, Expressive, and Persuasive purposes of writing. The writing assignments corresponding to the NCTM recommendations varied among publishers. Writing assignments dealing with modeling mathematical situations ranged from 14 to 66 percent in the student editions and from 24 to 39 percent in the teacher's editions. Writing assignments focusing on understanding and definitions ranged 15 to 61 percent in the student editions and from 31 to 53 percent in the teacher's editions. Writing assignments focusing on interpretation and application ranged from 5 to 29 percent in the student editions and from 10 to 15 percent in the teacher's editions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc278719 |
| Date | 05 1900 |
| Creators | Irvin, Barbara Bando |
| Contributors | Hinely, Reginald T., Holcomb, Terry Lynn, Campbell, Lloyd P., Nistler, Robert J. |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | viii, 151 leaves : ill., Text |
| Coverage | United States - Texas |
| Rights | Public, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved., Irvin, Barbara Bando |
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