Arranged rhetorically, this anthology of short essays and paragraphs suits both essay-level developmental writing and low-level freshman composition courses. Each chapter focuses on a different rhetorical mode, including narration, description, and process writing. The Eighth Edition features an engaging mix of nonfiction, fiction, and student essays that reflect careful consideration of cross-cultural issues. Pedagogical tools have been updated to offer developmental students exactly what they need to master the content, including pre-reading, vocabulary, and post-reading questions that test comprehension and encourage critical analysis of each selection. The introductory chapter lays the foundation for the entire text, offering an in-depth presentation of the writing process and the structure of paragraphs and essays. Conlin also touches on two key themes that appear consistently throughout the text: the importance of revising and the process of collaborative writing. Two alternate tables of contents (Thematic and Writing Across the Curriculum) provide instructors with the flexibility to choose readings according to their own lesson plan and schedule of assignments.