A third of the selections are new. In addition to retaining the powerful writing found in previous editions, this latest edition highlights work by tried favorites, as well as emerging voices.
Anne Fadiman reflects on her bookish reaction to a crisis on a white water rafting trip in “Under Water.”
Malcolm Gladwell explains why social media can’t facilitate social revolution in “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not be Tweeted.”
Christopher Hitchens argues against waterboarding torture techniques using first-hand experience in “Believe Me, It’s Torture.”
Introduction to the writing process through the words of famous writers. An entirely new addition, “Writers on the Writing Process” collects lively, teachable quotations from famous writers. By drawing on the expert perspectives of writers like E.B. White and Maya Angelou, students will gain succinct, engaging ways to conceptualize the task at hand.
New sample student papers. Two source-based sample papers show students what it means to engage meaningfully with professional writing, using ideas on the page to fuel and shape their own perspectives.
More teachable images. The Writer’s Presence now includes author photos with each “Writer at Work” selection, many of which show the writers in their writing environments. New thought-provoking images to teach alongside writing assignments are also included. For example, a vintage corset ad accompanies and illuminates Siri Hustvedt’s piece, “Eight Days in a Corset.”
New reader-friendly design. The pages of The Writer’s Presence have been opened up with a fresh contemporary design. The selections are more readable than ever, making reading and responding to essays a truly pleasurable experience.