[OS X TeX] Card Format

[Alain Schremmer]

On May 6, 2009, at 3:55 PM, David Watson wrote:

> On May 6, 2009, at 2:23 PM, Alain Schremmer wrote:
>
>> Is there a way to get something like the following look for each  
>> single page of a book? (Hence the name "card format")? The idea is  
>> that the outer lines are always on the margins and the inner lines  
>> can be changed to accommodate the contents of the boxes.
>
> I know it's apples and oranges, but I always liked the kinds of  
> textbooks that provided something like the following
>
> ---- begin demo ----
> | Example: given the two functions whose rules are...
> |     ...elaboration of example
> |
> | Solution: to compute fog(x), evaluate f(x)
> |     ...elaboration of solution
>
> Exercise:
> 1)
>
> 2)
>
> 3) ...
> ---- end demo ----
>
> There would be a bar to the left of the example and solution, then  
> exercises would follow.
> This would be simple enough using a self-rolled environment, along  
> with an appropriately placed \vrule

If I can't do it any other way, that is what I will do.
>
> I know this isn't what you are looking for, but it keeps the flow  
> going linearly, instead of breaking up the natural flow of text.

With so-called "developmental students", it seems that the format of  
the attached sample works better: going horizontally from "Example"  
to "Solution" and then vertically through the two or three  
"exercises" while looking up for "help and inspiration".

In any case, I am pretty sure that it is important that things be  
well delineated in boxes. You might call that a "focussing device".

> I think this helps when it comes to challenged students who have a  
> hard time following instructions.

As far as I can see, it isn't so much that as the fact that they  
cannot focus.

Regards
--schremmer