19 Textbook Outline
Before you begin writing, create an outline that details the topics to be covered in your textbook and how they will be organized in a table of contents. Consider the type of students who will use your textbook and the course level and program for which the textbook is intended. Taking time to consider the audience and classroom will direct the tone and complexity of your writing. As such, it should be scheduled in your project timeline. This vital step will save time and money, reduce mistakes, and hopefully result in a more useful, engaging textbook. (See Project Timeline.)
Details and decisions
An outline is most useful when it includes all the details needed to build and arrange your book. Recruiting a copy editor at this early stage, someone who can ensure that all elements and layout are covered, will save time later in the project. The copy editor can also assist you with selecting a style guide and setting up a style sheet, which they will reference during the copy-editing and proofreading phases. (See How to Copy Edit and Create a Style Sheet.)
Front matter
The front matter is the introductory section of your textbook and the first thing readers see. If you’re using an authoring platform such as Pressbooks, the system will set up some of these sections for you, including a copyright page and a table of contents. The following table lists the items typically included in the front matter and the order in which they appear. While most open textbooks will have many of these elements, very few will have all of them. Only include the sections relevant to your textbook.
| Item | Responsibility | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Half title | Publisher | Includes just the title of the book on the recto (front side of the page) with a blank verso (back side of the page). |
| Title page | Publisher | Book title is repeated along with subtitle (if any), author(s) and/or editor(s), and illustrator (if any). |
| Copyright page | Publisher | On the verso of title page, the following may be included:
|
| Disclaimers | Publisher | These can appear on the colophon or separately after the title page. |
| Dedication | Author | The person or people for whom the author has written or dedicated the book. |
| Table of contents | Publisher | A list of all parts and chapters (or chapters and chapter sections) together with their respective page numbers. Front-matter items that appear after the table of contents are also included. |
| About this book | Publisher | This page is used to define open textbooks and other OER, and any other unique features for this type of book. Funding provided by the author’s institution, a public body, or philanthropic organization can also be noted. |
| List of illustrations and/or tables | Publisher | This summary is useful for the reader. |
| Foreword | Expert (not the author) | The forward is typically written by an outside expert in the field at the request of the primary author. The foreword author’s name, place, a