This rhetorical reader is designed to help individuals improve their abilities to think, read, and write on progressively more sophisticated levels. It features a collection of 56 provocative, interesting, rhetorically organized essays accompanied by clear, well-developed rhetorical introductions, sample essays, and carefully sequenced prereading and prewriting questions, comprehension questions, and writing projects. Contains essays representing the four main purposes of writing -- description, narration, exposition, persuasion. Organizes essays to reflect progressively more sophisticated levels of thinking, reading, and writing. The essays cover a broad range of contemporary topics and portray the universality of human experience as expressed through the viewpoints of men and women, many different ethnic and racial groups, and a variety of ages and social classes. Presents biographical information about the authors -- explaining the real experiences from which the essay emerged poses provocative prereading questions that help readers focus on the purpose, audience, and subject of the essay. Provides complete sample essays illustrating each rhetorical pattern, accompanied by the writer's own thorough analysis of the writing experience -- explaining the most enjoyable, exasperating, or noteworthy aspects of writing that particular essay. For anyone interested in refining their basic composition skills.