Blair Reader, The [Paperback]

Laurie G. Kirszner (Author, Editor), Stephen R. Mandell (Author, Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130801402 | ISBN-13: 978-0130801401 | Publication Date: August 12, 1998 | Edition: 3

This thematic reader offers provocative readings, discussion question, and writing assignments designed to appeal to students with varied backgrounds and reading levels. New edition includes approximately 1/3 new readings and new focus sections at end of each chapter which asks questions and goes into greater depth on a particular issue.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This thematic reader offers provocative readings, discussion questions, and writing assignments designed to appeal to students with varied backgrounds and reading levels. Easy to use in the classroom and accessible and engaging for students, this text encourages them to think critically and make their own contributions through discussion and writing to the issues that shape the world. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

This thematic reader offers provocative readings, questions, and writing suggestions designed to appeal to readers with varied backgrounds and reading levels. It encourages them to think critically and make their own contributions through discussion and writing to the issues that shape the world. Features 121 diverse, high-interest readings including 112 essays, 1 short story, and 8 poems arranged in 10 thematic chapters -- Family and Memory, Issues in Education, The Politics of Language, The Media's Message, Women and Men, The American Dream, The Way We Live Now, Medical Practice and Responsibility, Earth in the Balance, and Making Choices. The reading selections combine time-tested favorites with provocative new pieces and represent a balance of genders, races, cultures, and viewpoints. Includes an Introduction to Critical Reading that explains and illustrates the process of reading and reacting critically to texts — applying the most current reader-response theory to readers' reading, thinking, and writing activities. Each chapter includes interactive learning aids for getting the most out of each reading. For anyone who wants to sharpen their critical reading/thinking skills.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 838 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall College Div; 3 edition (August 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130801402
• ISBN-13: 978-0130801401
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,632,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Mandell is a bestselling author and a practicing teacher who is well known nationally. Mandell, together with coauthor Laurie G. Kirszner, has written bestsellers for nearly every English market. They have the deepest publishing record of any handbook author team and have successfully published up and down the curriculum from Developmental to Literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Core text for my college English classes., September 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blair Reader, The (Paperback)

As a core text for my freshman writing classes, I use the Blair Reader to integrate the diverse ethnic backgrounds of my students through writers with whom they can relate. The Blair Reader also provides an instructor's resource manual that guides the teacher through the use of collaborative group and multimedia activities to stimulate student writing. I would highly recommend this text to any writing or reading instructor who faces the challenge of the diversified classroom.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blair Reader--- Full and Divers, April 16, 2001

By 

vanessa brown (lakeland, fl, fl USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blair Reader, The (Paperback)

This book was a core requirement for my freshman english class in college. It is a great text that familiarizes the student with many diverse writing styles and subjects, as well as the essentials of analyzing and interpreting literature. Though this is no doubt a dread to most college students, I really enjoyed the discussion in-class that was brought about by entries in this book (and i'm not even a nerdy English major!). One that stands out to me is an excerpt from Jonathan Kozol on illiteracy in america. I wrote an in-depth analysis of that work for the class, and have kept the skills I learned to this day. Whether used as a text, for leisurely reading, or for exposure to critical thought, the Blair Reader is an exellent volume. I highly recommend this book (even if your Enlgish professor doesn't make you buy it!).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book!, July 8, 2003

By 

nikki (Greenville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blair Reader (4th Edition) (Paperback)

The Blair Reader is a book of different essays that everyone can relate to. There are stories in this book that will make some people say,"thats what happened to me". Some of the stories in the Blair Reader will have you looking at certain situations differently. It acually opens your mind up to things around you in everyday life that you don't normally think about.So, read it, and you'll probably find it enjoying too.