1. The history of the book has become a hot topic in academia. Search the Web for this topic, or go directly to the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing at www.sharpweb.org/. Go to "Exhibits," find one specialized area of book history and write a brief report outlining its major eras or events and their significance.
Weekly Update Archives
2. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 2. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Media, read 03-29-04, "On Writing Books: Romance and Reality." Would you be discouraged from becoming an author on the basis of the information in this article? Why or why not?
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Industry
Web Excursion
3. Which online bookstore has the best software for the potential book buyer?
Go to www.amazon.com,
look up three books and critique the software that is used to access them.
Then try another site such as www.barnesandnoble.com or www.varsitybooks.com and
compare their software in terms of such characteristics as ease of selection
and information provided about the book. Also, compare the ease of finding
and accessing books online with finding books in traditional bookstores.
Weekly Update Archives
4. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 2. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Media, read 12-09-02, "The Cost of Books." Using the information presented in this article, present an argument for why books currently are (or are not) too expensive.
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
6. View track 9, Publisher of "The Wind Done Gone"Ordered to Stop Publication (from NBC’s Today Show). Author Alice Randall, publisher Wendy Strothman and attorney Marty Garbus, who represented the estate of Gone With The Wind author Margaret Mitchell, discuss the controversial court order to stop publication. Where is the line drawn between parody and piracy? What lasting effects could this decision have on the publishing industry as a whole?
Weekly Update Archives
7. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 2. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Media, read 5-27-02, "Heard Any Good Books Lately?" Do you agree or disagree that the audiobook market will increase? Explain why you feel the way you do.
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
