Synopses & Reviews
Writing with Your Senses
Visual Image:
Doug and Mizans House, East River, photograph by Margaret Morton the methodthe process Purpose and audience • Dominant impression and thesis • Organization • Details
Focus on specific and concrete languageChecklist for revising a descriptiondescription in academic writing *An art history textbook • A field observation in child development
Nick Fiorelli from Teaching Methodologies at Childs Play Preschool
(annotated student writing)fathers
Brad Manning Arm Wrestling with My Father (
student essay) Brad Manning on Writing
Sarah Vowell Shooting Dad Sarah Vowell on Writing
Elizabeth Gilbert The Best Pizza in the World
*Sven Birkerts Ladder
[e-Page] Joan Didion The Santa Ana (
audio essay)
6 Example: Pointing to InstancesVisual Image: Low-Energy Drinks, cartoon by Glen Le Lievrethe methodthe process The generalization and the thesis • The examplesFocus on sentence varietyChecklist for revising an example essayexamples in academic writing An economics textbook • A job-application letterKharron Reid Letter to E-line Systems (annotated student writing)*obsessions*Kellie Young The Undercurrent (student essay)*Michael Chabon XO9 Michael Chabon on WritingAnna Quindlen Homeless Anna Quindlen on WritingBrent Staples Black Men and Public Space Brent Staples on Writing[e-Page] Luis Alberto Urrea Life on the Mississippi (audio essay) 7 Comparison and Contrast: Setting Things Side by SideVisual Image: American Gothic, painting by Grant Wood; Rural Rehabilitation Client,photograph by Ben Shahnthe method Uses of comparison and contrast • Purposesthe process Subjects for comparison • Basis for comparison and thesis • Organization • Balance and flexibility *Focus on parallelismChecklist for revising a comparison and contrast comparison and contrast in academic writing *A communication textbook • A review of popular musicCharlotte Pak from Beyoncé Knowles: Soloist (annotated student writing)personalitiesSuzanne Britt Neat People vs. Sloppy People Suzanne Britt on WritingDave Barry Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out Dave Barry on Writing*Andrea Roman "Were Not . . ." (student essay) Andrea Roman on WritingDavid Sedaris Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa David Sedaris on Writing[e-Page] Alan Watts Life and Music (flash animation) 8 Process ANalysis: Explaining Step by StepVisual Image: Workers Making Dolls, photograph by Wally McNameethe methodthe processFocus on consistencyChecklist for revising a process analysis process analysis in academic writing A psychology textbook • A chemistry lab reportVictor Khoury from DNA Extraction (annotated student writing)*foodFiroozeh Dumas Sweet, Sour, and Resentful Firoozeh Dumas on Writing*June Melby How to Make a Sno-Cone *Dan Koeppel Taking a FallJessica Mitford Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain
Jessica Mitford on Writing[e-Page] Dove Evolution of a Model (video) 9 Division or Analysis: Slicing into PartsVisual Image: Deconstructing Lunch, cartoon by Roz Chastthe method Kinds of division or analysis • Analysis and critical thinking the process Subject and purpose • Principle of analysis and thesis • EvidenceFocus on paragraph coherenceChecklist for revising a division or analysis essay division or analysis in academic writing *A political science textbook • An annotated bibliography for literatureLauren Soto from Edgar Allan Poes Revenge (annotated student writing)*monstersGuillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan Vampires Never Die Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan on Writing*James Parker Our Zombies, Ourselves James Parker on Writing*Robert Lipsyte Jock Culture Francine Prose What Words Can Tell Francine Prose on Writing[e-Page] Jamaica Kincaid Girl (audio short story)
10 Classification: Sorting into Kinds*Visual Image: How the Poor, the Middle Class, and the Rich Spend Their Money, tableby NPR the method Subjects and reasons for classification • Kinds of classificationthe process Purposes and theses • CategoriesFocus on paragraph developmentChecklist for revising a classification classification in academic writing An anthropology textbook • A computer science résuméKharron Reid Résumé (annotated student writing)*failures to communicateDeborah Tannen But What Do You Mean? Deborah Tannen on WritingWilliam Lutz The World of Doublespeak William Lutz on WritingRussell Baker The Plot against People Russell Baker on Writing*Jeff Wise Deadly Mind Traps[e-Page] US Census Bureau, 2010 Census: United States Profile (map) 11 Cause and Effect: Asking WhyVisual Image: Im txtng while drvg, cartoon by Mike Luckovitchthe methodthe process Subject and purpose • Thesis • Causal relations • Discovery of causes • Educated guessesFocus on clarity and concisenessChecklist for revising a cause-and-effect essay cause and effect in academic writing A history textbook • A letter to the sports editorKate Krueger Letter to the Weekly (annotated student writing)globalizationChitra Divakaruni Live Free and Starve Chitra Divakaruni on WritingMarie Javdani Plato o Plomo: Silver or Lead (documented student essay) Marie Javdani on Writing*Dan Ariely Why We Lie*Christopher Beam Blood Loss[e-Page] Randall Munroe, Everybody Jump (illustrated blog)
12 Definition: Tracing BoundariesVisual Image: Theres Strong, advertisement for the US Armythe methodthe process Discovery of meanings • Methods of development • Thesis • EvidenceFocus on paragraph and essay unityChecklist for revising a definition definition in academic writing A biology textbook • A government essay examMartin Ward Civil Liberties (annotated student writing)hurtful wordsGloria Naylor The Meanings of a Word Glorida Naylor on Writing► Christine Leong Being a Chink (student essay) Christine Leong on Writing*Meghan Daum Narcissist — Give It a Rest Meghan Daum on WritingThomas Sowell "Needs"[e-Page] Schroeder Veidt Dr. Carmellas Guide to Understanding the Introverted (cartoon)13 Argument and Persuasion: Stating Opinions and ProposalsVisual Image: Corporate America Flag, image from Adbusters Media Foundationthe method Audience and common ground • Elements of argument • Reasoningthe process Finding a subject • OrganizingFocus on toneChecklist for revising argument and persuasion argument and persuasion in academic writing A public relations textbook • An environmental proposalAmelia Jones from Environmental Initiative for Corden University (annotated student writing)Linda Chavez Supporting Family Values Linda Chavez on Writingsame-sex marriageKatha Pollitt Whats Wrong with Gay Marriage?Charles Colson Gay "Marriage": Societal Suicide*environment
*Bill McKibben Waste Not, Want Not*Derrick Jensen Forget Shorter Showers Derrick Jensen on Writing*Margaret Lundberg Eating Green (documented student essay) Margaret Lundberg on Writing[e-Page] work-life balance[e-Page] Ann-Marie Slaughter Why Women Still Cant Have It All (magazine feature)[e-Page] Readers Digest The Essay that Rocked the Internet (quotations)[e-Page] Andrew Cohen "Having It All"? How about "Doing the Best I Can"? (blog post)PART THREEMixing the Methods *Sherman Alexie Superman and Me Sherman Alexie on WritingJudy Brady I Want a Wife Judy Brady on WritingMartin Luther King, Jr. I Have a DreamGeorge Orwell Shooting an Elephant
George Orwell on WritingE. B. White Once More to the Lake E. B. White on Writing*AppendixAPA documentationsource citation using APA style APA parenthetical citations • APA references sample pages in APA style Rosie Anaya from The Best Kept Secret on Campus (annotated student writing)
Synopsis
PACKAGE THIS TITLE WITH OUR 2016 MLA SUPPLEMENT, Documenting Sources in MLA Style (package ISBN-13: 9781319084547). Get the most recent updates on MLA citation in a convenient, 40-page resource based on The MLA Handbook, 8th Edition, with plenty of models. Browse our catalog or contact your representative for a full listing of updated titles and packages, or to request a custom ISBN.
A compact version of one of the most popular composition readers available today--at a significant savings to students--
The Brief Bedford Reader provides 45 compelling readings by excellent writers and all the practical instructional material of the full-length book to connect critical reading to academic writing. The unique "Writers on Writing" feature illustrates the many ways writers create meaning from what they read and experience. The twelfth edition provides even more helpful guidance for students on critical reading and writing, a new appendix with advice on APA documentation, and an updated selection of compelling readings. The print text is now integrated with e-Pages for
The Brief Bedford Reader, designed to take advantage of what the Web can do, with provocative new essays and multimodal selections.
Synopsis
A compact version of one of the most popular composition readers available today—at a significant savings to students—The Brief Bedford Reader provides 45 compelling readings by excellent writers and all the practical instructional material of the full-length book to connect critical reading to academic writing. The unique "Writers on Writing" feature illustrates the many ways writers create meaning from what they read and experience. The twelfth edition provides even more helpful guidance for students on critical reading and writing, a new appendix with advice on APA documentation, and an updated selection of compelling readings. The print text is now integrated with e-Pages for The Brief Bedford Reader, designed to take advantage of what the Web can do, with provocative new essays and multimodal selections.
About the Author
X. J. Kennedy is an acclaimed poet, childrens author, college teacher, and textbook author. He has taught freshman composition at the University of Michigan; the University of North Carolina, Greensboro; and Tufts University. Since 1966, more than 2 million students have treasured his introductory literature texts and The Bedford Reader, coedited with Dorothy M. Kennedy and Jane E. Aaron, now in its ninth edition. Dorothy M. Kennedy is a writer and editor whose articles and reviews have ppeared in both professional and academic journals. She has taught composition at the University of Michigan and Ohio University and, with X. J. Kennedy, is the recipient of the NCTE Teacher's Choice Award for Knock at a Star: A Child's Introduction to Poetry. Jane E. Aaron is a professional writer and editor as well as an experienced teacher. She is the author of the best selling Little, Brown Handbook and coeditor of the best-selling Bedford Reader, Eighth Edition (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003). She has served as consultant, editor, or writer on more than a dozen other textbooks for the first-year composition course. Ellen Kuhl Repetto (M.A., University of Massachusetts Boston) is a freelance editor and writer who has contributed to more than twenty composition readers, handbooks, and rhetorics. She is the author of The Bedford/St. Martin's Textbook Reader (2003), Readings for Discoveries: A Collection of Short Essays (2006), and Hope over Hardship: A History of the Boston Home, 1881 - 2006 (2007).
Table of Contents
*New to this editionPreface
*How to Use This Book
PART ONE: Reading, Writing, and Research 1 Critical Reading Reading Closely
Previewing • Writing while reading
Nancy Mairs Disability (
annotated essay) Developing an Understanding Summarizing • Thinking critically
*Checklist for critical reading Analyzing an Essay
Meaning • Writing strategy • Language
*Questions for analyzing an essayThinking Critically about Visual Images
*Questions for analyzing a visual image The big picture • Analysis • Inference • Synthesis • Evaluation
*Visual Image: Man Fishing by a Power Plant, photograph by Robin Nelson
2 The Writing Process Assessing the Writing Situation Subject • Audience and purpose • GenreDiscovering Ideas Journal writing • Freewriting • Using the methods of developmentFocusing on a Thesis
*Finding a focus • Crafting a thesis statementDrafting
*The body • The introduction and conclusionRevising Purpose and genre • Thesis • Unity • Development • Coherence
Questions for revision Editing Effective language • Clear and engaging sentences • Standard grammar
Questions for editing An Essay-in-Progress Discovering ideas and drafting • Revising • Editing • Final draft
Rosie Anaya Mental Illness on Television (
annotated student essay)
3 Academic Writing Responding to a Text Forming a reponse • Synthesizing your own and anothers viewsworking with evidence *Avoiding plagiarism • Summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting • Integrating source materialwriting from research *Using the library • Evaluating sources • Synthesizing multiple sources
*Questions for evaluating sourcessource citation using MLA style MLA parenthetical citations • MLA list of works citeda sample research paper in MLA style
Rosie Anaya The Best Kept Secret on Campus (
annotated student essay)
Rosie Anaya on Writing PART TWOThe Methods4 Narration: Telling a Story*Visual Image: Missed Connection,
drawing by Adrian Tominethe methodthe process Purpose and shape • The thesis • The narrator in the story • What to emphasize • Organization
Focus on verbsChecklist for revising a narrativenarration in academic writing A geology textbook • A business case study
Emily Thibodeau Company History
(annotated student writing)difference
Maya Angelou Champion of the World Maya Angelou on Writing
Amy Tan Fish Cheeks
Annie Dillard The Chase
Annie Dillard on Writing*Junot Díaz The Dreamer Junot Díaz on Writing[e-Page] National Geographic In the Shadow of Wounded Knee: Pine Ridge Community Storytelling Project (oral histories)
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