Linear Structure

Most textbooks are written in and expected to be read in a linear fashion. The information is structured sequentially and each topic is presented to a certain depth of understanding. Courses using such textbooks generally start near the beginning of the book and proceed forward toward the end.

Of course, some textbooks break this linearity by introducing optional topics - material that can be included, omitted, or postponed without breaking the continuity. Other books include various illustrations or examples to increase understanding without altering the sequence of the material. And some include previews and summaries to provide overviews.

Furthermore, many professors skip certain sections or chapters of the book when they design their courses. And finally, students often read the assigned material several times, scanning or skipping different portions each time they read it.

So, in practice, the linear structure of most textbooks is often violated. Even though the course, itself, is designed sequentially, the actual learning process is rarely accomplished in that fashion.

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