9780312613389

A compact version of one of the most popular composition readers on the market -- at a significant savings to students -- The Brief Bedford Readerprovides 49 compelling readings by excellent writers and all the practical instructional material of the full-length book. The unique "Writers on Writing" feature for 40 of the selections illustrates the many ways writers create meaning from what they read and experience. More coverage of revising and editing, discussion examples of academic genres, and coverage of academic language guides students through their own academic writing.

X. J. KENNEDY is an acclaimed poet, children's writer, college teacher, and textbook author. He has taught freshman composition at the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Tufts University. Since 1966, more than two million students have treasured his introductory literature texts and The Bedford Guide for College Writers, Eighth Edition (2009), coauthored with Dorothy M. Kennedy and Marcia F. Muth. DOROTHY M. KENNEDY is a writer and editor whose articles and reviews have appeared 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 writer and editor who has taught composition at New York University and New School University. She is the author of four popular composition handbooks, and, for Bedford/St. Martin's, she is the editor of The Compact Reader, Eighth Edition, and 40 Model Essays: A Portable Anthology.

Preface for Instructors
Thematic Table of Contents
Introduction
Reading, Writing, and Research
Critical Reading
Reading an Essay
Nancy Mairs, Disability
Thinking Critically about Visual Images
Visual Image: A Deployed Soldier and His Daughter, photograph by Erik S. Lesser
The Writing Process
Analyzing the Writing Situation
Discovering Ideas
Focusing on the Thesis and the Thesis Statement
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Collaborating
An Essay-in-Progress
Rosie Anaya, Mental Illness on Television
Academic Writing
Responding to a Text
Integrating Source Material
Writing from Research
Avoiding Plagiarism
Source Citation Using MLA Style
Sample Research Paper
Rosie Anaya, The Best Kept Secret On Campus
The Methods
Narration: Telling a Story
Visual Image: How Joe's Body Brought Him Fame Instead of Shame, advertisement for
Charles Atlas
The Method
The Process
Narration in Paragraphs
Narration in a Case Study
Paired Selections: Difference
Maya Angelou, Champion of the World
Maya Angelou on Writing
Amy Tan, Fish Cheeks
Amy Tan on Writing
Annie Dillard, The Chase
Annie Dillard on Writing
Howard Markel, Mary Ellen's Story
Description: Writing with Your Senses
Visual Image: Doug and Mizan's House, East River, photograph by Margaret Morton
The Method
The Process
Description in Paragraphs
Description in a Field Observation
Paired Selections: Fathers
Brad Manning, Arm Wrestling with My Father
Brad Manning on Writing
Sarah Vowell, Shooting Dad
Sarah Vowell on Writing
Elizabeth Gilbert, The Best Pizza in the World
Elizabeth Gilbert on Writing
William Least Heat-Moon, Dance of the Hobs
William Least Heat-Moon on Writing
Example: Pointing to Instances
Visual Image: Low-Energy Drinks, cartoon by Glen LeLievre
The Method
The Process
Example in Paragraphs
Example in a Job Application Letter
Paired Selections: Homelessness
Barbara Lazear Ascher, On Compassion
Barbara Lazear Ascher on Writing
Anna Quindlen, Homeless
Anna Quindlen on Writing
Brent Staples, Black Men and Public Space
Brent Staples on Writing
David Foster Wallace, This Is Water
David Foster Wallace on Writing
Comparison and Contrast: Setting Things Side by Side
Visual Image: American Gothic, painting by Grant Wood; Rural Rehabilitation Client, photograph by Ben Shahn
The Method
The Process
Comparison and Contrast in Paragraphs
Comparison and Contrast in a Review
Paired Selections: Personalities
Suzanne Britt, Neat People vs. Sloppy People
Suzanne Britt on Writing
Dave Barry, Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out
Dave Barry on Writing
Bruce Catton, Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts
Bruce Catton on Writing
David Sedaris, Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa
David Sedaris on Writing
Process Analysis: Explaining Step by Step
Visual Image: Workers Making Dolls, photograph by Wally McNamee
The Method
The Process
Process Analysis in Paragraphs
Process Analysis in a Lab Report
Paired Selections: The Environment
Linnea Saukko, How to Poison the Earth
Linnea Saukko on Writing
Gretel Ehrlich, Chronicles of Ice
Gretel Ehrlich on Writing
Jessica Mitford, Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain
Jessica Mitford on Writing
Michael Pollan, Corn Walking
Michael Pollan on Writing
Division or Analysis: Slicing into Parts
Visual Image: Deconstructing Lunch, cartoon by Roz Chast
The Method
The Process
Division or Analysis in Paragraphs
Division or Analysis in an Annotated Bibliography
Paired Selections: Women and Men
Judy Brady, I Want a Wife
Judy Brady on Writing
Christina Hoff Sommers, Men-It's in Their Nature
Christina Hoff Sommers on Writing
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, Vampires Never Die
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan on Writing
Bella DePaulo, The Myth of Doomed Kids
Bella DePaulo on Writing
Classification: Sorting into Kinds
Visual Image: Maple Ridge Curbside Recycling, illustrated chart by Ridge Meadows Recycling Society
The Method
The Process
Classification in Paragraphs
Classification in a Résumé
Paired Selections: Telling Lies
Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie
Stephanie Ericsson on Writing
William Lutz, The World of Doublespeak
William Lutz on Writing
Russell Baker, The Plot Against People
Russell Baker on Writing
Dacher Keltner, A Vocabulary of Smiles
Cause and Effect: Asking Why
Visual Image: Im txtng while drvng, cartoon by Mike Luckovich
The Method
The Process
Cause and Effect in Paragraphs
Cause and Effect in a Letter to the Editor
Paired Selections: Globalization
Chitra Divakaruni, Live Free and Starve
Chitra Divakaruni on Writing
Marie Javdani, Plato o Plomo: Silver or Lead
Marie Javdani on Writing
Charles Fishman, The Squeeze
Charles Fishman on Writing
Chris Anderson, The Rise and Fall of the Hit
Chris Anderson on Writing
Definition: Tracing Boundaries
Visual Image: Army Strong, advertisement for the U.S. Army
The Method
The Process
Definition in Paragraphs
Definition in an Essay Exam
Paired Selections: Hurtful Words
Gloria Naylor, The Meanings of a Word
Gloria Naylor on Writing
Christine Leong, Being a Chink
Christine Leong on Writing
Thomas Sowell, âÇ£Needs
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

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The Brief Bedford Reader

The Brief Bedford Reader

0312613385

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials