What People Are Saying

about Writing and Developing College Textbook Supplements
by Mary Ellen Lepionka (updated 2/1/06).

"Veteran development editor in higher education publishing Mary Ellen Lepionka presents Writing And Developing College Textbook Supplements, a practical guide for anyone involved in developing, creating, or editing a print or electronic supplement, whether it is an instructor's manual, annotated edition, test bank, study guide, student reader, lab manual, transparency set, multimedia CD-ROM, video or audiotape, PowerPoint presentation, e-text, website, or other format for study material enhancement. Chapters discuss manuscript development and preparation, guidelines for creating sample tests, tips unique to multimedia or online course materials, and much more. Written in plain terms with an eye toward practical usage, Writing And Developing College Textbook Supplements is a "must-have" for academic writers charged with expanding upon standard textbooks to facilitate student learning." --Midwest Book Review

"I just completed your new book-it is fantastic! What a wealth of information for supplement authors-and to my knowledge your book is the only source of this info. Like your first book, this one is thorough yet concise, clearly written, and a pleasure to read....Writing and Developing College Textbook Supplements is a wealth of information and an indispensable resource. Both textbook authors and freelancers will gain a sense of the expectations that publishers have of them, and that they should have of publishers. You thoroughly yet concisely explain both the broad issues-such as understanding your supplement in the context of the textbook's package or market-and specific issues-such as tips for constructing test items and creating web site content. Complete with a glossary and many web site references, the book makes readers fluent in the language of textbooks and their supplements." -–Andrew Pomerantz, Associate Professor of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville

"The longer I have been teaching, the more I am convinced of two points: (1) Most commercially produced textbooks are clones of each other, and there is not much difference in quality or coverage between any of the two dozen main textbooks in my field (psychology). 2. There is much more variability among the learning supplements, and the better done of these are much more effective than any textbook.

"Therefore, WRITING AND DEVELOPING COLLEGE TEXTBOOK SUPPLEMENTS is essential, especially because it is so up-to-date and contains so many useful links. Lepionka describes the different kinds of supplements (e.g., instructor manuals, student guides, test banks, practice tests, authentic assessments, case studies, lab manuals, transparencies, power points, recordings, new online learning objects) and how much the authors (creators) can expect to make (usually just a few thousand, no royalty stream). What publishers are looking for in this role is someone who is available, reliable, reasonable, cooperative, on time, solid, savvy and sound.

"Lepionka points out that if the study guide and other student-oriented ancillaries are good enough, they constitute a sort of "shadow text" which can supplement for purchasing the textbook (rather than complement it). Some of us have come to the conclusion that may be the way to go...!" –-T. L. Brink, Ph.D., M.B.A., Crafton Hill College, California

“It's extremely informative and illuminating, particularly since you address the key teaching and learning issues while also giving us a business primer on the supplements publishing industry.... First I think your materials speak to us at the level of being informed consumers of higher educational materials.... I think your offerings are so useful because they are turning me into a more thoughtful educator and a more proactive consumer regarding both textbooks and supplements.... So, in a nutshell, ...I think your offerings go way beyond simple "how-to" guides and should be of interest for anyone who wants to understand the world of educational publishing.” --Kay Mohlman, Nanyang Technical University, Singapore