Wikibooks:Textbook ideas

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This is an obsolete archived project page that is preserved for historical value. It may contain out-of-date information.

Here's a page to discuss ideas for textbooks before actually starting them.

• See also Textbook planning for more universal discussion.

• Could not one develop a "study guide" to a subject (essentially an outline with introductory text for each section) that linked to the corresponding entries in Wikipedia? I'm thinking the GUIDE would organize the encyclopedia entries into a course on the subject. I seem to recall that Encyclopedia Brittanica (and probably others) did this way back when for their printed versions. In time, the outline could get fleshed out with its own text, if the ultimate goal were to have a complete textbook on that subject. In any event, the first step in producing a textbook has to be an outline of the text to be. Is their any objection to this outline pointing back to corresponding Wikipedia articles? - Marshman

I see that the current testbook on Japanese Language is doing more or less what I suggest - Marshman 18:51, 3 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Great idea in some areas, particularly (IMHO) for history and some aspects of language. Perhaps an even better idea for obscure topics or books, things like a History of Aviation or History of Industrial Use of Electric Power. But, it may have less use in scientific or enginering areas. LouI 19:15, 3 Sep 2003 (UTC)

I guess I will know the answer to that. I went ahead and started one on Botany and so far, I've encountered some problems but nothing that can not be overcome. I'm finding I need to produce more text than I first thought, to keep the lessons focused; and some annotations on assignments to the Wikipedia; but I think it is working (IMHO) - Marshman 08:12, 9 Sep 2003 (UTC)

In German: Level I, I'm making the table of contents before I'm making the actual lessons. In the TOC, I have a description of each lesson, so it kind of serves as an overview. Is this what you mean? - SamE 13:48, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Actually, did not know I had this page on my watch list. But my discussion above related to the study guide approach (as in the Botany textbook) - Marsh 17:42, 8 Jun 2004 (UTC)

• I just started in this and noticed that no one is really doing anything with the Literature pages. I would like to take a crack at it and it seems like no one really mediates so I'm just going to start doing a Lit textbook. It will be primarily on American Lit and there will be a British book to follow. - Jdl32579 12:54, 14 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Good idea. You will find it rather peaceful over here as compared with Wikipedia, and may even have to beg for others to comment/contribute to your developing book(s). Good luck! - Marsh 17:37, 26 Jul 2004 (UTC)

I've noticed that there are two textbooks dealing with logic begun. I am about to refresh my training and am able to produce a book on effective reasoning that would make a nice companion to the two extant books to round out a pretty complete series on logic. I'll probably need some help with formatting and such (I'm 52 and the only computer I really know well is the one in my office). But I'm willing to try.

I'm a lay statistician, so I'll also be seeing what I can do to help out with the statistics book(s).WolfVanZandt 20:01, 15 March 2006 (UTC)