Reviews (2)

Superb organization awful content
The range of story and poetry selections is so limited, the materials bore students to death. The issues the texts are obsessed with--morbid existential guilt, death of a spouse or a parent ala Joyce, O'Connor, Cather, etc.,--no longer have the spell-binding effect they once had on the adult sensibility. We now live in an age where more dramatic problems occur. There has got to be some good literature that covers issues of our day, such as mass murder, rape, school-shootings, hysteria, incest, money problems, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, religious intolerance, etc. This textbook is totally out of touch with the current realities of our lives in the 21st century.

Ideal Textbook for Introduction to Literature
I chose to use McMahan's text because it saves me time as an instructor of English.Composition comprises the most significant portion of a student's grade in a college literature class, and this text teaches students how to write an essay about literature from the beginning of the process to the end.I also like the bonus of a novella, The Awakening, which is often taught at the intro. level but under separate cover.Such a deal. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. College readers    3. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    4. Composition & Creative Writing - General    5. English Composition    6. English language    7. General    8. Language Arts & Disciplines    9. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    10. Literary Criticism    11. Problems, exercises, etc    12. Report writing    13. Rhetoric    14. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    15. Literature: History & Criticism   

Reviews (18)

Fantastic Compilation
Regarding the earlier comments about how some books are favored above other, "better" books by certain authors:
Add this one to the list
If the title had instead been "1001 Books Worth Reading" it would have been more accurate but less provocative and thus less marketable. This book is a nice production - synopsis of each book listed, a few key facts or trivia and often an relevant illustration - either a cover the book has appeared in, the author or a film poster.Most of the inclusions are well known but there are a few more obscure and that is really the value of this book.A worthwhile purchase for any library and for anyone interested in books.

Just 1001 Books Some Prof Likes
Like so many bad, bad movies, this book is a beautiful production.It features slick, heavy paper; a million color pictures; attractive, readable typeface; witty contributors.Its proportions seem just right for its weight.
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Subjects:  1. Books & Reading    2. Books And Reading    3. Literary Criticism    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Literary Criticism & Collections / Books & Reading   

Editorial Review

Written by Patricia T. O'Conner, an editor at the Read more

Reviews (93)

A Fun (yes, fun) Grammar Text
Students and teachers dread grammar. Diagramming sentences and misplaced modifiers can spell ruin to a person seeking good grammar. Woe is I avoids those terms and brings grammar back to real English-speakers. This book is good because it not only explains common grammar errors that everyday people make when speaking, but it explains them well and clearly, so that people are not bogged down by complicated rules. And the humor and simplicity makes reading Woe is I enjoyable, and trust me, you'll like grammar more after reading it, but you won't become a grammar nerd who bugs people and tells them not to end a sentence with a preposition. You'll stay the same, but with better grammar.

It deserves more than 5 stars!
Excellent & indispensable. Easy to read, to understand, to remember. Regardless of what you write or your level of expertise, I guarantee you'll learn something.
a very helpfulbook
We can't assume that, just because we use spell check on the computer, we are writing properly.It seems as though nowadays every word ending in an "s" calls for an apostrophe.It is a matter of choice as to whether the apostrophe comes before or after the "s".Menus, signs, and classified ads always feature creative writing, punctuation and spelling.Every edition of the local newspaper is riddled with grammatical errors. I want my writing to say something better about me.I didn't learn to diagram sentences in high school, so I need some extra help to make sure I am communicating effectively and not showing my ignorance any more than necessary.If you find yourself re-writing sentences because you are not sure about your grammar, this is just the book for you.When I read the book I found several areas where my language use was just not up to par."Woe Is I" is short enough and has enough flow that you can read it straight through.Then, when you are in the midst of writing, you can refer back to troublesome areas until you become accustomed to using better English.I keep it right beside the computer at work.Then, if I need help figuring out if I should use "its" or if "it's" is proper, I can quickly double check. "Woe Is I" is a really helpful and portable little book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. English language    2. Grammar    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Usage    8. Reference / General   

Reviews (10)

I found it to be worthwhile.
I have enjoyed reading this book.What great ideas from other teachers and for the different age groups.I'm going to use these ideas for myself as I strive to write.

For all writers everywhere
Ralph Fletcher is my mentor as I teach all aspects of writing to my students. Wonderful mini-lessons and writing strategies are backed up by sound pedagogy and research. A must have book!

Model Mini-lessons for the writing workshop
I'm a relatively new teacher, and have switched grade levels every year.Teaching writing has been one of the biggest challenges for me.I believe in a writing workshop model, and use a lot of 6 Traits ideas.I knew that both relied on the idea of the writing "mini-lesson" but I really didn't know what those should look like or what kinds of topics they should cover.This book has been a godsend.I disagree with those who say that this book is too rigid.Yes, each lesson identifies particular literature resources which can be used.If you have that book, that's awesome.If not, just adapt the lesson for use with a different book that illustrates the same concept.The point is, these are concise 15 minute mini-lessons that really help your students recognize writing craft, and give them accessible ideas which they can use to improve their own writing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. Composition and exercises    3. Creative writing (Elementary e    4. Creative writing (Elementary education)    5. Education    6. Education / Teaching    7. Elementary    8. English language    9. Language Arts & Disciplines    10. Study and teaching (Elementary    11. Study and teaching (Elementary)    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    13. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts   

Reviews (2)

Not very instructive
All the sample essays are great. But their structures, I think, are elusive. The essayists are too professional to choose a college-style method of writing and I had a very difficult time figuring out the elements of those essays. They scatter randomly in the articles and contradict what Alfred Rosa and Paul Eschholz teach us.
solid basic writing text
I use this book to teach a beginning writing class. The variety of essays is quite good; not every one is a winner, but probably 60% are accessible and there are some rarities here that the students have thoroughly enjoyed, including "Dumpster Diving" by Lars Eighner and "A Crime of Compassion" by Barbara Huttmann. There are enough writers the likes of Dillard, MLK, Ackerman, and Orwell to acquaint novices with great writing, balanced with a good variety of more pop-oriented magazine style pieces. The strategies and guidelines for essays are excellent, and a wealth of possible topics for further development is offered throughout. My class prep time is easy and concise thanks to the book's structure and execution. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. College readers    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. English language    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Problems, exercises, etc    8. Report writing    9. Rhetoric    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Editorial Review

Skillfully done, research can be the solid cornerstone of your term paper (or dissertation, essay, or article); inadequately executed, it can cause your whole project to crumble and fall. Yet essential as research is to the ultimate success of your work, performing it is not an innate talent. The precepts, steps, and skills of solid research are readily acquired if you spend some time with Read more

Reviews (30)

Somewhat Useful...
I am a master's student just beginning graduate studies in the humanities.I picked up this book during my first semester and devoured it over the course of a few days (my undergraduate degree is in mathematics, so I figured I was a little behind the curve in my present area).It's the kind of book I think I will return to occasionally throughout my studies.There's some useful stuff here, but the main point of the book is "make sure you make a good argument!"That's really what it boils down to.As someone with a solid background in logic, however, I found much of the book to be reducible to basic principles of common sense.There's a section on "warrants" for example that sounds very sophisticated and difficult, but is really just an exercise in constructing a logical argument by using universally accepted propositions.Now this is fine, but I think the material could be presented in a much simpler manner.Instead of using large tables and graphics with arrows and textboxes and all that jazz, the authors could have taken a more minimalist route and avoided a lot of confusion. I don't know... maybe I would have just preferred a different format.Some of the things in the book really bug me.For example, chapter seven introduces the ideas of claim, warrants, reason, and evidence.To put it simply, you base claims on reasons.Evidence is the cold hard reality upon which the reasoning process rests.Warrants are like propositions which connect reasons to claims in the way antecedents are connected to consequents.If your warrant is something like A=>B then your reasons will need to coincide with A and your claims with B (if your warrant is going to successfully connect reasons to claims).If your claim is more specific than B then your warrant isn't strong enough (and your claim is unjustifiably strong).If your reason is broader than A then your claim won't necessarily follow because your not sticking to the limits of the proposition.This kind of stuff is very basic logical reasoning which everyone is familiar with.So why do the authors say "as we said, this is not easy stuff."Maybe it's not easy because the presentation is muddled.It could have been simplified by taking a more symbolic route (perhaps in addition to, or as a a preliminary, what is already here).

The Craft of Research
Excellent way to learn the steps required to write an quality research paper.Learning the proper way to do reseach will remove stress and make writing fun.I am a 1 year MBA student at WSU but I wish I learned these techniques in high school.The next edition should have examples and resources for business students.

Notes from an English Instructor
The Craft of Research is an excellent guide for students of all ages and levels.I teach Freshman Composition, and I am using it this year as a basis of lectures in my Research Class.I am considering requiring my students to buy it next year.The book is not written as a textbook, but as a guide that individual students could read and use.The language is straight forward and easy to follow.The authors, English professors, take students through the research process, step by step.I highly recommend this book for anyone from high school seniors through graduate school, especially for those who are a few years removed from Freshman Comp. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Methodology    3. Reference    4. Research    5. Research & Methodology    6. Science    7. Technical writing    8. Encyclopaedias & Reference Works    9. Research methods: general    10. Science / Methodology    11. Writing skills   

Reviews (5)

How to Write a Proposal That's Accepted Every Time - You Need This Book!
I purchased this book earlier this year.While we don't often submit written proposals, we used the techniques to close over $200,000 in business in the first few months.
It worked the FIRST TIME I used it
While I do not often submit many written proposals, since most of my negotiation is done over the phone or in person, the few written proposals I have been required to sumbit were accepted every time!The key was following the advice provided in this book.
Not at all worth the price
Thank goodness my company paid for this book.In no way is it worth more than $100.Consideringing that every other page is a notes page, you effectively get a 60-page book.Exclude the related information (ex: sales questions, presentation tips) and maybe 15 pages of this book actually relate to writing a proposal.I have read most of the books out there on developing proposals and any of them are better than this one at helping you develop a proposal.And they cost a tenth as much. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Business Writing    3. Careers - General    4. Business & Economics    5. Career/Job   

Reviews (2)

this is a great book
This is a great book that will help future teachers and parents to teach their children literacy.It has information about how to help children to understand reading and how one can help them to learn.This book has good information for anyone who wants to become a better reader.The only thing that I dislike about the book is that the chapters are long, but it is worth it.

Very useful text
This is a very useful, and up to date text. I'm in an education program right now that focuses heavily on literacy. This text book has become my bible! This text even carries complete lists of children's books to use for teaching certain ages and subjects!
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Subjects:  1. Composition and exercises    2. Education    3. Education / Teaching    4. Elementary    5. English Composition    6. English language    7. Reading (Elementary)    8. Reading In Elementary Education    9. Study and teaching (Elementary    10. Study and teaching (Elementary)    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    12. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    13. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    14. English    15. English (ie as school subject)    16. Teaching of a specific subject   

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. English language    3. Grammar    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Report writing    9. Rhetoric    10. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (6)

Great Resource for the Dissertation
I found this book to be a great resource as I am doing research for my dissertation. It has helped me to look at the lit review in a new light and has given me several ideas of others avenues to search.

so good my advisor is going to use it
This book is great.It has all you need to complete a research paper at any level.I used it for my bachelor's project which, according to my advisor, is equivalent to a Master's thesis in content requirement.My advisor has asked me to lend him the book so he can use it to revise the current research manual supplied by the college.This book is easy to read and has a lot of useful tables and charts.

Great resource!
Great, current resource for writing a lit review.Especially appreciated the specific information about how to analyze and synthesize information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Humanities    3. Reference    4. Report writing    5. Research    6. Social Science    7. Social sciences    8. Sociology    9. Education / Study Skills    10. Social research & statistics    11. Study & learning skills   

Reviews (14)

An Excellent Guide
The Bedford Handbook is an excellent guide for anyone enrolled in a college English course. The book gives details on correct grammar usage, as well as descriptions of different essay styles. The book is very helpful to me with my English class.

www.sportofdistraction.com
This guide will prove indispensable for those of us who lack grammatical expertise.It's the little things that this book provides that are the most helpful.If you plan on training yourself to improve your writing--this guide will serve your needs.

Fastest Handbook in the West
I have written many papers with the help of this literary wonder.It works well with the resources on http://www.dianahacker.com and is consistent with current MLA formatting.The information is well-organized and easy to find.I couldn't be happier with this book!It's even a good conversation starter if you happen to be with friends who write!Check out the section on ellipses... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    3. Reference    4. Research    5. Writing Skills    6. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (52)

a must for secondary and post-secondary students
The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Editions is a must for anyone who is attending secondary or post-secondary school, because it shows them how to properly cite their sources when writing a research paper. It show them how to create a bibliograhy and works cited page for just about any kind of source that they are using, whether it is a book, scientfic journal, newspaper, magazine article, or online source.

A Must-Have Book for College Students
I have used this book extensively since I began my Master's degree program, and I have been very pleased with both the content and simplicity of use.Having been out of school for several years, I found myself confused as to how to correctly cite various types of media for a bibliography, but this great book is loaded with examples of how to correctly cite any type of media.
MLA Handbook: The Savior of College Students
The MLA Handbook is the most useful writing instruction manual available.The handbook's straight-forward English and clear-cut presentation of its contents, will make writing research papers, formal letters and yes, citations, a smooth and swift task.College freshmen and sophomores will be sharpened and formed into skilled and knowledgeable writers.And their anxieties will be consumed by a confidence that no longer fears those dreadful words "research paper."But this does not mean that you should sell it back after you meet your requisites!The MLA handbook is a not something you discard like those odious textbooks that are reprinted and updated every semester.It is a trustworthy handbook there for your literary refinement, always.The MLA handbook should be issued to all incoming students at orientation. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Editing & Proofreading    3. Handbooks & Manuals    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    6. Reference    7. Report writing    8. Research    9. Writing Skills   

Reviews (5)

The Brief Bedford Reader
This book is filled with lots of different stories that are very interesting.The story that I liked was the Champion of the World by Maya Angelou.In this story she writes about how African Americans were treated and how afraid they were.She telling us about a fight between Joe Louis an African American and a white boy.She says if the white man wins they'll have to go back to slavery.The store they were watching the fight at was full with people watching the fight, who didn't leave until the fight was over.It was a close fight.But at the end Joe Louis is the winner.The blacks were afraid to drive home after the fight so they spend the night in town.Who knows what could of happened if they did drive home after Joe Louis had defeated the white boy.

The Power of the Essay
The Bedford Reader provides the teacher of writing with a powerful tool.Provocative, interesting, varied essays are presented within a coherent framework of rhetorical strategies.
The Best I've Ever Seen
I was required to get this book for an Intermediate Composition course in college and it has to be the best college textbook I have ever had.First there is a wide variety of stories to choose from and at least one will appeal to everyone.Even though it is a educational textbook I still read it in my leisure time, as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    6. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. English language    3. Grammar    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Report writing    9. Rhetoric    10. Writing Skills    11. Language & Linguistics    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (1)

An Excellent Resource For Novel and Short Story Writers
I purchased the 2007 NOVEL AND SHORT STORY WRITER'S MARKET because I 2007 will be the year. Of course I've purchased the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 versions of the short story and novel edition or the overall WRITER'S MARKET for the same reason, because each year: 2003, 2004, 2005, or 2006 was supposed to be the year. I've since realized that getting a manuscript to work is not as easy as I had thought and 2003, 2004, and 2005 were unrealistic at best.
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Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Directories    3. Fiction    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Marketing    8. Publishers and publishing    9. Publishing    10. Publishing (General)    11. United States    12. Creative writing guides    13. Publishing industry    14. Reference works    15. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (3)

Clinicians Thesaurus6th Ed.
As a clinician in an Emergency Room, this is a very important tool of the trade. This offers concise, descriptive information on the symptoms, and enhance accurate report writting. It is compliant to HIPAA/JCAHO guildlines. It's presentation is easy to understand and presentation has an interview like flow to the presentation of the information. It offers definations, formats, concise medical terminalogy, and dual listing with the MSM-IV-TR as well as the ICD-9.

Where is the CD?
While the text portion of this book is acceptable there is NO CD that accompanies it. That one is told after buying the book is available by spending another $50.00 to get edition #6 which was just released this month. I wished I had known that before...would have saved the $$$ and bought #6.

Every clinician will benefit!
This guidebook offers so much you will use it time and time again.With sections on what questions to ask, different formats for writing reports and progress notes, abbreviations, DSMreference, and medical conditions that masquerade as mental illness, you will find this book invaluable.Great for students who are new to diagnosis and report writing and a wonderful tool for the skilled clinician in avoiding stale reports and progress notes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assessment, Testing & Measurement    2. Clinical Psychology    3. Composition & Creative Writing - General    4. Interviewing in psychiatry    5. Mental Illness    6. Mental status examination    7. Neuropsychological report writ    8. Neuropsychological report writing    9. Psychiatric records    10. Psychology    11. Reference    12. Terminology    13. Psychology & Psychiatry / Clinical Psychology   

Reviews (18)

Very helpful as a starting point for developing a solid writing program
This is a thoughtful book that helps to put you into the mindset of being an excellent teacher by really listening to and valuing the world around you, listening to and valuing your students, and encouraging them to cultivate the wonder in themselves.

A Must Read for Writers and Teachers
I'm in the process of obtaining a masters degree in elementary education and I read this book for a class. But in my opinion, it's a worthwhile read for anyone who teaches writing at any level or for anyone who writes on a regular basis for that matter.
Review of The Art of Teaching Writing
Calkins book was an easy, yet informative read.As a education student, I learned a lot about how to motivate children to want to write.Calkins techniques are practical and simple.It seems that the book could be geared to not just elementary grades, but also to middle school ages.The examples of student writings were great.I will definitely be re-reading this book when I begin teaching in a couple of years. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition and exercises    2. Education / Teaching    3. English language    4. Report writing    5. Rhetoric    6. Study and teaching    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Classroom Planning    8. Teaching of a specific subject    9. Writing & editing guides   

Subjects:  1. College readers    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. English language    4. Higher    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Problems, exercises, etc    9. Report writing    10. Rhetoric    11. Creative writing guides    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing    13. Language teaching & learning material & coursework    14. Teaching of a specific subject    15. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (7)

Usefulness of the Handbook
This handbook is a great asset for any college student that requires a great reference on all types of writing formats in an English course. The Handbook does clearify alot of misconceptions with writing formats such as MLA, APA, Chicago Manual, and many others. It also provides you examples on how the papers using such writing formats should appear on a paper.
BEST Writers Handbook of All ! !

Just what I expected
The book that I recieved what in the exact quality that it was listed to be in.I was a little disappointed in the amount of time that it took to get the book compared to other companies I have worked with on Amazon, but I understand it might not be the companies fault. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. English Grammar    4. English language    5. Grammar    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Language    8. Language Arts & Disciplines    9. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    10. Report writing    11. Rhetoric    12. English    13. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing    14. Writing & editing guides   

Subjects:  1. Collections    2. Drama    3. General    4. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    5. Literary Criticism    6. Literature    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Poetry    9. Rhetoric    10. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    11. Literary studies: general