The first page after the title page is usually the table of contents—a
chapter-by-chapter list of the book’s contents. Some are surprisingly
detailed, listing every major point or topic covered in each chapter.
The first prose section (after the title page, table of contents, and,
perhaps, an acknowledgments page) is the preface, usually a descrip-
tion of the information you will find in the book. Authors may also
use the preface to point out unique aspects of their books.
The introductionmay be in place of or in addition to the preface
and may be written by the author or some “name” the author has
recruited to lend additional prestige to his or her work. Most intro-
ductions are an even more detailed overview of the book—chapter-
by-chapter summaries are often included to give the reader a feel
for the material to be covered.
Footnotes may be found throughout the text (a slightly elevated
number following a sentence or quote, e.g., “jim dandy”^24 ) and either
explained at the bottom of the page on which they appear or in a
special section at the back of the text. Footnotes may be used to cite
sources of direct quotes or ideas and/or to further explain a point, or
to add information outside of the text. You may make it a habit to
ferret out sources cited in this way for further reading.
If a text tends to use an alarmingly large number of terms with which
you may not be familiar, the considerate author will include a
glossary—essentially an abridged dictionary that defines all such
terms.
The bibliography, usually at the end of the book, may include the
source material the author used to research the textbook, a list of
“recommended reading,” or both. It is usually organized alphabeti-
cally by subject, making it easy for you to find more information on a
specific topic.
Chapter 3 ■How to Read and Remember 47