A diverse and popular selection of readings chosen by authors who know what works in the classroom. Offering a variety of subjects, styles, and cultural perspectives, the 69 professional readings provide outstanding models for student writing. Instructors can choose from a mix of essays by classic writers (such as George Orwell, Shirley Jackson, and Martin Luther King Jr.) and contemporary voices (such as Sherman Alexie, David Leonhardt, and Jhumpa Lahiri). A dozen visual texts give students practice in reading and interpreting photographs, fine art, comic book panels, and more.
Comprehensive coverage of the writing process, the patterns of development, and research. With helpful explanations, examples, and exercises, Part One, "The Writing Process," offers students essential advice on planning, drafting, revising, and editing an essay in five short chapters that form a brief rhetoric. Part Two, "Readings for Writers," provides detailed introductions to each chapter's rhetorical pattern, with plenty of examples of student writing, clear explanations of writing strategies, and accessible discussions of how the patterns can help organize ideas. Part Three, “Working with Sources,” covers finding, evaluating, and integrating sources; avoiding plagiarism; and MLA style. An appendix provides coverage of documenting sources in APA style.
Excellent student support with more examples of student writing than any other reader. Reflecting Kirszner and Mandell's commitment to students, Patterns includes 16 annotated student essays that provide students with realistic models for improving their own writing. In addition, Grammar-in-Context boxes, checklists, and editing worksheets offer specific advice on how to identify and correct the problems that students find most challenging.
Extensive cultural and historical background contexts for all readings. Each reading is prefaced by essential cultural and historical background information — updated and revised for this edition — to help students better understand the context in which each essay was written.