Patterns for College Writing [with CompClass for Rules for Writers]

by Laurie G. Kirszner, Stephen R. Mandell, Diana Hacker

Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell, best-selling authors and experienced teachers, know what works in the classroom. They have a knack for picking just the right readings. In Patterns for College Writing, they provide students with exemplary rhetorical models and instructors with class-tested selections. The readings are a balance of classic and contemporary essays by writers such as Sandra Cisneros, Deborah Tannen, E. B. White, and Henry Louis Gates Jr. And with more examples of student writing than any other reader, Patterns has always been an exceptional resource for students.

Patterns also has the most comprehensive coverage of the writing process in a rhetorical reader with a five-chapter mini-rhetoric; the clearest explanations of the patterns of development; and the most thorough support for students of any rhetorical reader. With loads of exciting new readings and updated coverage of working with sources, Patterns for College Writing helps students as no other book does. There’s a reason it is the best-selling reader in the country.

Genres: Writing, Textbooks, School, Reference, Academic, Nonfiction, College

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Ranmali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent reading selections and organization of writing lessons. Readings are predominantly essays, but they do come from a diverse set of authors and they explore current debates (albeit more mainstream debates such as gun control, immigration, etc).

I did not use any of the activities or questions included. I will likely be choosing a different text or eliminating the text altogether for the spring semester as I would like to include more fiction.

[Nat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read parts of it for ivcc english 1001
Just info on how to write good essays

[Franky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful resource book for any beginning college student. Writing and critically reading are two skills that all students must have, and this book explores the relationship between reading and thinking and then planning one’s ideas in the writing process. In this sense, it is a valuable book just to have in your back pocket (not literally, though, as it is nearly 900 pages long).

The book opens with a chapter on “reading to write” and the essence of being a critical reader. There are some helpful and valuable tips, such as tips on determining an author’s purpose, as well as some ideas on prewriting and establishing a thesis statement as well as outlining. From here, the book launches into tips on editing, proofreading and then gives various chapters that focus more specifically on rhetoric, with various passages covering a wide range of ground and topics. The questions within these sections are helpful in drawing a focus on the readings, and the readings are by some established and various writers (Kate Chopin, Sandra Cisneros, Malcolm X, Amy Tan, Aristotle, Jonathan Swift, to name a few). The essence of these reads is to not only generate analysis, but argumentation and discussion for important life issues and topics.

While some of the exercises are as rudimentary as writing a thesis sentence, or writing a few ideas about a given topic, these are in here for a greater purpose. This book, literally, is a wealth of higher range skills centered around thoughtful topics and writing pieces. There are many nuggets of wisdom and advice for beginning writers to more polished writers. Everyone has experience writer’s block at some point, right? Sometimes to a struggling student writer one of the best skills to keep in mind is to simplify ideas first, then expound on this idea to create a much more thoughtful piece of writing. Tips are included here that take you through this process. This resource offers advice to a wide range of writing—research, expository, persuasive, analysis, etc—so I think this book works as a valuable tool for any high school student taking an AP style class or any college student who must write about rhetoric, language, style or take on research projects of some type.

Good resource for college students, one worth a look.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad text for a Comp I class. The selected readings are varied and the chapters are short and to the point. Good for someone who wants/needs the structure of a text book for their class but does not want to necessarily teach from a book.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wealth of information. This is for the very beginning (paper)writer, more than likely in college, but it has some great information. Help with developing essay ideas, brainstorming, clear thesis information and paragraph explanations.

[Lieutenant Thornback (LT) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad for a English Comp text book.

[Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reference this book frequently for rules on proper writting formatting, etc.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beginning was pretty dry/boring. But some of the stories were actually enjoyable. Good source to go to for the correct MLA format.

College class: English 1301 TCC duel credit class

[Linda Su · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book in school.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good source for writing in academic modes. Professionally written essays demonstrate concepts.

[Mostafa]

jkkjjkkj

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that ambitiously attempts to spell out the writing process behind non-fiction, and kinda does it, and--more impressively--doesn't make me wanna sock the authors in the jaw! Impressive.

[Claudia]

good

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely drier than most textbooks, but it is what it is.

[Farrukh Shah]

it is a good book