TEST, a proven self-assessment tool pioneered by Kirszner and Mandell, has been integrated into each writing chapter to empower and guide students. TEST, standing for Topic sentence (or Thesis in essay chapters), Evidence, Summary statement, and Transitions, gives students a simple, easy-to-remember method for revising and editing their work. Students are instructed on using TEST on paragraphs and essays in separate full chapters.
The hallmark “Writing First” strand has been revised and enhanced.
New inductive exercises in the writing chapters ask students to reflect on what they’ve written in response to the chapter-opening visual prompt, in order to discover what they already know about each pattern of writing.
A new design provides a visual link to the chapter-opening prompt and helps students move through material with more focus and greater ease.
A new opening chapter—“Writing and College Success”—gives students practical advice, with an emphasis on academic issues such as the difference between formal and informal writing and how to perform well on writing tests.
Over 50% new readings have been added on topics such as the effects of Facebook on friendships, the rise in popularity of the quinceañera, and the dangers of texting and driving.
More digital choices start at the Writing First companion site, bedfordstmartins.com/writingfirst. In one convenient place, you'll find free and open content — from interactive exercises and activities to sample student writing and reliable research links — as well as access to our innovative premium media, including ReWriting Plus and WritingClass for Writing First, an online course space preloaded with book-specific exercises, diagnostics, video tutorials, writing and commenting tools, and more. Also available for the first time is a value-priced Writing First e-Book, available either as a CourseSmart e-Book or in formats for use with computers, tablets, and e-readers—visit bedfordstmartins/ebooks for more information.