Blurb:

This chapter focuses on the types of information textbooks provide to both teachers and students in regards to writing a commonplace school genre: the book review. Textbook directions commonly place specific emphasis on important features of particular genres of writing, but are often vague and do not readily aid teachers or students. A sample book review from a well-known writing textbook will be analyzed using a systematic functional linguistics approach highlighting important findings. By using both the textbook directions and the SFL analysis, a more well-rounded and informed approach to teaching book reviews can help teachers and students master this important genre.