Practical Stylist with Readings and Handbook, The (8th Edition) [Paperback]

Baker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321011821 | ISBN-13: 978-0321011824 | Publication Date: June 27, 1997 | Edition: 8

Based on the premise that all writing involves arguing a thesis, this classic, authoritative rhetoric presents the essential tools for writing graceful, persuasive essays. Emphasizing thesis and the structural integrity of the essay, The Practical Stylist provides a variety of organizational techniques to help students create sound essays, while the expository modes such as description, narration, and exposition are presented as strategies for supporting a thesis. Numerous essay models are provided to illustrate the principles of organization and explore the dynamics of language. A research paper chapter discusses online sources and the computerized library, and a brief handbook section provides help with grammar issues.

Product Details

• Paperback: 540 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 8 edition (June 27, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321011821
• ISBN-13: 978-0321011824
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Says it All, December 28, 2000

By 

Daniel E. Doherty (Overland Park, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practical Stylist with Readings and Handbook, The (8th Edition) (Paperback)

I used (an earlier edition of) this book in an English composition class at the University of Kansas in the late 70's and have kept it with me ever since.

This book has so much to recommend it, it's hard to pick out one thing to emphasize, but the best advise I came away from the book with was Baker's admonition to give your writing the "Argumentative Edge." Like so many students, I found writing exceedingly painful: to sit down with a blank sheet of paper and begin writing inspired me not at all. I thought that I had to sound like Encyclopedia Britannica to write well.

Sheridan Baker slaps you around good to get that notion out of your head. To make your writing interesting (and as a bonus easier), he insists that your writing take a position, express an opinion, argue a point of view. Ditch "fairness" and objectivity--at least to get you started--and all of a sudden, writing becomes pleasurable.

I've never read this advice anywhere else (not even in Stunk and White), and it, along with many other jewels of wisdom have stuck with me for 20 years, making my writing life so much more fun than it otherwise would have been.

Goog work, Sheridan.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of It's Type, May 16, 2000

By 

Dave Heisler - See all my reviews

This review is from: Practical Stylist with Readings and Handbook, The (8th Edition) (Paperback)

I first used this book in 1967 when I was aboard ship taking a course in Expository English offered by The Harvard-M.I.T. Commission on Extension Courses. It has everything one needs to know to become a clear, concise writer. Easy to understand and enjoyable. I used it for many years, then it was stolen. I have been looking for another copy ever since and was afraid it was out of print. I'm about to order my second copy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Practical Stylist by Sheridan Baker, July 13, 2003

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Practical Stylist with Readings and Handbook, The (8th Edition) (Paperback)

This is an excellent volume for teaching quality literary
criticism to collegiate-level students.In primary and secondary
school, the emphasis is on sentence construction.
i.e. A good sentence must have a subject, verb and an object.
Although students may learn the mechanics of writing, they
do not pick up the fine nuances in literary expression.
This work forces the student to develop a basic idea or
theme. Once developed, the point of view must be defended
persuasively. The thesis of the work should be contained
somewhere in the first paragraph. Sentences should be simple
and stated actively. Finally, each work should be developed
in successive drafts from the first to the final drafts.
I've found that students have a problem differentiating
literary criticism from a simple regurgitation of what they
read. The Practical Stylist helps to focus each student's
attention on enunciating criticism of a personal nature or
within the experiential domain of first-hand knowledge.
It's painful to learn to develop quality literary criticism
because the primary and secondary education simply does not
focus on this aspect in any meaningful depth.