JCE Book and Media reviews should provide the busy readers of the
Journal, primarily college chemistry faculty, but also high school teachers and
others interested in chemical education, with informed guidance concerning
textbooks, software, multimedia and video that might be adopted in courses,
or books to be recommended for library purchase. Reviews should be concise,
usually 500-1000 words, and accurate, but also interesting to read.
Reviewers are encouraged to write in a lively personal style.
Texts
In reviewing textbooks try to provide the readers with enough information
to make a decision about whether they should consider the book as a serious
candidate for adoption in a course. A new textbook merits a more detailed
review than a new edition of an existing book. For new editions, it is
important to highlight the changes: what has been added, what has been
removed. In a textbook review, it is always useful to identify the students
who will most benefit from the book. For example, is it designed only for
chemistry majors, or for a broader audience, or perhaps for an honors course?
General-Interest and Specialized Books
In reviewing general-interest or more specialized books,
such as monographs
and graduate-level texts, the review should provide the reader with a
summary of the content of the book, the audience to which it is directed,
and its potential use. For example, is this a book that should be in any
chemistry library collection, even one at a small college, or is it so
specialized that only a large research library should purchase it? Is this
a book that would be a good supplementary reference for an undergraduate or
graduate course, or is it just fun to read?
Media Reviews
Media reviews should discuss both the content and the unique features of
the software. How might the materials be used in conjunction with a text,
or to replace a text, lectures, or other traditional components of a
course. Readers will also want to know where the software might be used
and, perhaps most important, how easy it is to install and learn.
Thoughtful, well-written book reviews are an important part of the Journal
of Chemical Education. Your contribution is appreciated by both the
editorial staff and by the chemical education community. If you have agreed
to do a review we will depend on you to do it. If you find you are unable
to, please return the materials to us as soon as you can. We receive only
one copy of each book or media for review--the copy you have. If you have
questions or comments, please contact me.
