The Concise Guide to Writing

This landmark approach to the writing process contains thirteen student and professional readings. The authors combine reading instruction with writing instruction because they see a close relationship between the abilities to read critically and write intelligently. The text integrates reading and writing to teach students three types of nonfiction writing: personal writing, informative writing, and argumentative writing. Chapter 2-6 of Part 1 guide the student through the stages of invention, drafting, and revision of an essay, with opportunities to think about writing across the disciplines and exercises for group inquiry. The Writer at Work sections show the student essayist's progression from initial idea to first draft. Part 2 offers overviews of invention, drafting, and revision, in three chapters. Through the five essay assignments, students experience four fundamentally different kinds of inquiry and composing: remembering events, observing people and places first hand, explaining learned information, and convincing readers to take seriously positions on issues or solutions to problems.