A Pocket Style Manual 5e with 2009 MLA [Spiral-bound]

Diana Hacker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312593244 | ISBN-13: 978-0312593247 | Publication Date: June 5, 2009 | Edition: Fifth Edition

Click here to find out more about the 2009 MLA Updates and the 2010 APA Updates.

 

The first of its kind, A Pocket Style Manual continues to help student writers get answers to their writing and research questions. Its concise and straightforward content is flexible enough to suit the needs of writers in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, health professions, business courses, fine arts, teacher training courses, and beyond. Its slim format, brief length, and spiral binding make it a portable and practical tool. With its signature Diana Hacker quick-reference features, A Pocket Style Manual has always provided quick solutions to writing problems. Supplemented by the best free and open Web resources, A Pocket Style Manual offers the best value for students.

In the Hacker tradition, the new contributing authors — Nancy Sommers, Tom Jehn, Jane Rosenzweig, and Marcy Carbajal Van Horn — have crafted solutions for the challenges today’s college students face. Together they give us a new edition that provides more help with research writing and one that works better for a wider range of students.

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 The Bedford Handbook, Seventh Edition (2006); A Writer’s Reference, Sixth Edition (2007); and A Pocket Style Manual, Fifth Edition (2008).

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

NANCY SOMMERS, Sosland Director of Expository Writing at Harvard University, has also taught composition at Rutgers University and at Monmouth College and has directed the writing program at the University of Oklahoma. 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, Eighth Edition (2007) for Bedford/St. Martin’s.

TOM JEHN teaches composition and directs the Writing Across the Disciplines program at Harvard University. A recipient of numerous teaching awards both at Harvard and at the University of Virginia, he also leads professional development 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.

MARCY CARBAJAL VAN HORN, Assistant Professor of English and ESL at Santa Fe Community College (FL), teaches composition to native and nonnative speakers of English and teaches the Advanced ESL Writing course.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's; Fifth Edition edition (June 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312593244
• ISBN-13: 978-0312593247
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Education & Reference > Words & Language
  • #65 in Books > Education & Reference > Writing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Valuable Resource, August 6, 2009

By 

Tax Accountant "Tax Accountant" (Nevada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Pocket Style Manual 5e with 2009 MLA (Spiral-bound)

A Valuable Resource *****

Let's get one thing clear. This book is not a comprehensive book on grammar, syntax, or anything else. It's designed to be a handy little quick-reference for busy people. In this respect, the book succeeds admirably. It covers everything you might need to look up in a pinch--I'm a writer and it's nice to have something that is even faster than the internet to use. That's the goal of this book (I think).

The spiral binding is nice--it's a bother to have a reference book that won't stay open when you are trying to type on a computer. Hacker thought of everything to make the book more efficient to use. The trim size is odd. I think it's designed to fit in a back pocket, although I don't know any woman that would ever stuff a book into her pants, I guess it's possible that a male reader might do it.

It's a little pricey for a quick-reference, but I'm betting that Amazon will discount the book eventually. At least it qualifies for super-saver shipping at full price. Great little reference!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential and Best Reference for Writers, August 20, 2009

By 

Q (Q Continuum) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Pocket Style Manual 5e with 2009 MLA (Spiral-bound)

This is the writing reference I assign for all my college English classes. Most writing handbooks are way too big; this one has just the information you need, clearly laid out and well-organized. Includes how to correct all the most common errors, how to edit for conciseness and clarity. Also includes a handy index and a glossary of usage. The spiral binding allows you to lay it flat when using using it for reference. Very handy and necessary are the included guides to the most common documentation styles: MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style. Buy this one and keep it always for an essential reference for all writers, whether college or professional or amateur.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go-to Guide, March 26, 2010

By 

baltimore book love "baltimore book lover" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Pocket Style Manual 5e with 2009 MLA (Spiral-bound)

As a professional copy editor, this book has proven to be invaluable to me. Yes, I own all of the complete style manuals and I use them for the stickier questions, but most of the time what I need for reference citations is right here. It's well laid out, things are easy to find, and it makes my life a whole lot easier.