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 < back to full question list < back to academic authors question list < back to textbook authors question list Q: "I am an assistant professor at a major public university. I would like to write a textbook, but a senior member of the faculty told me to focus instead on research and scholarly articles. He said textbooks are "cut and paste" projects that lack real scholarly merit. Should I postpone writing the textbook?" A: John Vivian, former TAA president: Text and Academic Authors has a firm position that writing instructional materials is a worthwhile academic activity. Ask TAA headquarters for a copy of the TAA white paper on the subject. You might also look at Bob Diamond's 1995 book, Serving on Tenure and Promotion Committees, in which he quotes policy statements from numerous learned societies on the academic value of creating instructional material. In short, an excellent case can be made that textbooks should be considered seriously as part of your promotion and tenure package. A reality, however, is that promotion and tenure is an iffy undertaking. The best advice is to take time now to sound out everyone who might be on the promotion and tenure committee when your time comes. Then make your decision, realizing that writing a textbook probably will consume the bulk of your intellectual energies for at least 18 months and nothing much else will get done in the meantime.
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