REVIEWING BOOKS AND OTHER MEDIA 

Format

Bibliographic information begins each annotation and includes author, title, publisher, publication or copyright date, number of pages (book) or length (if AV or video) or size (poster), and suggested grade level and content area, among other descriptors.

Annotations consist of a summary of contents, descriptive evaluation of features, and listing of classroom applications. Additional notations may be used to identify multicultural resources and interdisciplinary links.

Evaluation Criteria

• Accuracy
• Text (writing style or narration, clarity, comprehensive, balanced)
• Organization (scope, format, sequence, page layout)
• Visuals (illustrations, graphics, photographs, film, use of color and white space)
• Strengths
• Weaknesses

Special features or ancillary resources included (teacher guide, study sheets, bibliography, index, blackline masters, lamination, etc.)

"Selectors should note ... " (alerts educators to potential controversy)

Classroom Applications

• What lessons or content area(s) would the item supplement?
• What phase or aspect of instruction does it support?
  (e.g., reinforcement, special projects, small group or whole class, independent study, remediation, browsing)
• For what students is the material best (or least) suited?
  (e.g., motivated, reluctant, at-risk, those with special interests, those with short attention spans, high interest/low vocabulary)
• Does the item support any special emphases in NC schools?
  (cultural diversity, critical thinking, ethics, interdisciplinary/integrated learning, ABCs)