Using methods he developed through grant-funded research, award-winning instructor Chris Juzwiak has documented a 15% increase in basic writers' success rates on his campus. These methods serve as the foundation for Touchstones, a paragraph-to-essay level book that begins with a focus on academic paragraphs and essays, then moves to higher-level skills such as using precise language and working with sources. Like Stepping Stones, Juzwiak's book for the sentence-to-paragraph level, Touchstonesincludes scaffolded exercises and instruction, color-coded parts of speech, and creative activities that keep students engaged. By moving progressively from simple to more complex skills in each part of the book and in each chapter Touchstonesensures that all students feel confident in what they're learning and empowered to continue.