Abstract

SOUZA, Pedro Henrique Ribeiro de  and  ROCHA, Marcelo Borges. Language analyses of popular science texts in textbooks: contributions to Biology teaching. Ciência educ. [online]. 2017, vol.23, n.2, pp.321-340. ISSN 1980-850X.  https://doi.org/10.1590/1516-731320170020003.

The use of popular science texts in science education is encouraged by several authors to contextualize the school content. Dedicated to non-experts, popular science articulates both didactic and scientific discourses, making them easier to read. Science and Biology textbooks have popular science texts, selected to diversify their sources of information. This study analysed language and discourse of 17 popular science texts of Animal Biology, from five didactic collections of Biology for Secondary Education. There is preference for texts that are more didactic or with a balance of didactic, scientific and secular traits. We identified analogies and metaphors, which help in the explanation of scientific terms, and a few misconceptions. We conclude that the relationship between popular science and Biology Education, promoted by textbooks, can contribute to the formation of readers; it is up to the teacher to read and select texts that best fit their classes.

Keywords : Popular science; Textbooks; Biology teaching.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )