The Bedford Handbook [Hardcover]

Diana Hacker (Author), Nancy Sommers (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312479743 | ISBN-13: 978-0312479749 | Publication Date: October 6, 2009 | Edition: Eighth Edition

The Bedford Handbook carries on the Hacker tradition by responding to student writers’ needs and to the way students need their handbook to work. Still a full-size handbook that doubles as a reference, the Handbook features clear, straightforward advice, hand-edited sentences, a user-friendly index, and a handy format. The eighth edition combines classic Hacker usability with a next-generation focus on academic writing and research and new navigation that helps students pull together advice and models for each assignment. Developed with the help of students and teachers at more than 35 colleges and universities, the new edition reflects the ways students write and revise in their composition course and beyond. What’s more, The Bedford Handbook remains a portable size; it’s still a comprehensive reference that’s as easy to consult as it is to carry.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DIANA HACKER personally class-tested her handbooks with nearly four thousand students over 35 years at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland, where she was a member of the English faculty. Hacker handbooks, built on innovation and on a keen understanding of the challenges facing student writers, are the most widely adopted in America. Other Hacker handbooks, all published by Bedford/St. Martin’s, include A Writer’s Reference, Sixth Edition (2007); Rules for Writers, Sixth Edition (2008); and A Pocket Style Manual, Fifth Edition (2008).

NANCY SOMMERS, who has taught composition and directed composition programs for thirty years, now teaches writing in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. A two-time Braddock Award winner, Sommers is well-known for her research and publications on student writing. Her recent work involves a longitudinal study of undergraduate writing. Nancy Sommers is co-author of Fields of Reading, Ninth Edition (2010) for Bedford/St. Martin’s.

TOM JEHN teaches composition and directs the Expository Writing program at Harvard University. A recipient of numerous teaching awards both at Harvard and at the University of Virginia, he also leads seminars on writing instruction for public high school teachers.

JANE ROSENZWEIG teaches composition and directs the writing center at Harvard University. She has also taught writing at Yale University and the University of Iowa.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 818 pages
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's; Eighth Edition edition (October 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312479743
• ISBN-13: 978-0312479749
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Bedford Handbook, May 17, 2000

By 

Desmond Lee Kok Seng (Vietnam) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bedford Handbook (Hardcover)

Personally after having browsed through many English books of such nature, I find this particular book to be very useful, easy to digest and userfriendly. In my line of work which requires lots of writing of sorts, this book just made my day, taking off all the unnecessary research work and corrections that could have cost me long hours and unproductive. With this book, I can now feel confident in my writing and in my course of work but feeling great and successful. Because the book is very systematic in guiding readers on the proper and correct usage of English in both writing and speaking, it has become a 'must have ' for all readers who are wants to improve their English proficiency. I believe this book will serve me for many years to come, also to my next generation. I can tell you this, you can't find a better book than this in Malaysia, my country, not to mention Vietnam, my present residence. In fact, I just came across this book by chance through my colleague who happened to return from Sweden after visiting her husband. Of course, this book was given to her husband to help him in his course in the Maritime University. That's how I got the name and website of Bedford/St. Martin's before being directed to your site. It's a good buy for anyone who wishes to master the language in a fast, userfriendly manner. I strongly recommend this book.

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soon to become your best friend if you have to write papers, October 23, 2000

By 

Sarah E. Golding (Lowell, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bedford Handbook for Writers (Paperback)

This book has been with me now for three years. During those three years it has saved me hours of corrections and prehaps a few bad grades. This book is easy to follow, easy to use, and a real bargain for the price. I have used many different books in the past and have not found one that has been as useful as Hacker's Handbook for Writers. It is a clear and concise guide to MLA documentaion and writing. This is the only book when it comes to a writing. Great for all students and all ages. My only regret with this book was that I did not find it sooner!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars essential for college students! (me), October 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bedford Handbook (Hardcover)

This book is very useful as a quick referance on writing - everything from grammatical structure to some helpful hints about concise writing style. For the four years I've had it, it has served for reference through high school, and now, In Collge. If you are going to college and are going to take ANY english comp courses, it is well worth the price.