* Materials are presented to guide the reader with ease through a difficult subject by providing extra help whenever needed to overcome the more demanding technical and conceptual aspects
* Active reading strategies (conceptual problems, discussion questions, worked examples with comments, end of chapter problems, further reading etc.) to stimulate engagement with the text through active, critical thought
* Well-balanced textbook design (including introductions, illustrations, keywords defined, highlights, notes in margins, summary of key ideas and concepts, boxes with additional topics that complement the materials presented in the main text)