Choosing a textbook for ENG 200: Intro to Fiction

Textbooks under evaluation

The Art of StoryThe Art of Story Edited by Daniel Edited by Daniel

HalpernHalpern

Major American Short Major American Short StoriesStories

Edited by A. Walton Edited by A. Walton LitzLitz

The Art of Story

Newer textbookNewer textbook More contemporary More contemporary

authorsauthors More stories from More stories from

which to choosewhich to choose

Major American Short Stories

Contains only Contains only American authors, but American authors, but more detailedmore detailed

Covers a larger time Covers a larger time frameframe

Contains supplemental Contains supplemental essaysessays

Criteria for evaluation

Diversity of short stories (weighted in the Diversity of short stories (weighted in the evaluation)evaluation)

Biographies of authorsBiographies of authors Essays on key groups authors and their Essays on key groups authors and their

stylesstyles

First criterion, diversity of short stories and the authors The Art of StoryThe Art of Story contains text by authors contains text by authors

from twenty countriesfrom twenty countries The Art of Story The Art of Story contains stories of contains stories of

extremely different stylesextremely different styles Major American Short StoriesMajor American Short Stories contains only contains only

American authors but the styles vary American authors but the styles vary significantly over the 150yr. spansignificantly over the 150yr. span

First criterion conclusion

The Art of StoryThe Art of Story has an overall stronger has an overall stronger diversity in its textsdiversity in its texts

Second criterion, Biographies of authors The textbooks have similar biographies of The textbooks have similar biographies of

the authorsthe authors One paragraph summaries in the back of the One paragraph summaries in the back of the

bookbook Teacher can supplement more detailed Teacher can supplement more detailed

biographies if neededbiographies if needed

Second Criterion conclusion

The texts are approximately equal The texts are approximately equal

Third criterion, Essays on key groups of authors and styles Major American Short StoriesMajor American Short Stories includes four includes four

essays essays The Art of Story The Art of Story does not include essaysdoes not include essays

Third criterion conclusion

Clearly, Clearly, Major American Short Stories Major American Short Stories is is stronger in this criterionstronger in this criterion

Conclusion

Major American Short Stories Major American Short Stories is stronger in is stronger in the third criterionthe third criterion

The texts are equal in the second criterionThe texts are equal in the second criterion Since Since The Art of StoryThe Art of Story is significantly is significantly

stronger in the first criterion, it is overall the stronger in the first criterion, it is overall the strongeststrongest

Recommendation

The Art of Story The Art of Story should be used for the should be used for the survey course ENG 200: Intro to Fiction survey course ENG 200: Intro to Fiction based on its strength in diversity, which is based on its strength in diversity, which is key to a survey coursekey to a survey course

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