Problem Solving Strategies for Writing in College and Community [Paperback]

Linda Flower (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0155054961 | ISBN-13: 978-0155054967 | Edition: 1

This new edition of PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES FOR WRITING IN COLLEGE AND COMMUNITY, marks a watershed in the evolution and extension of a rhetorical approach to writing. It supports a growing connection between colleges and communities in which students exist, between individuals and the societies they make.

Product Details

• Paperback: 477 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 1 edition (December 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155054961
• ISBN-13: 978-0155054967
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A useful perspective on how to write, September 12, 2008

By 

Mr. A. Wentzel "Arnold Wentzel" (Cresta, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Problem Solving Strategies for Writing in College and Community (Paperback)

Sometimes I am tempted to think there isn't much more to learn about writing, until I come across books like this one. Linda Flower investigated the writing strategies of experienced and inexperienced writers, and came to the conclusion that the overall approach of good writers is that of treating writing as problem-solving. From this she derived nine steps for such an approach and almost thirty different sub-strategies. All of this is presented in the order a writer would approach a paper.

Here are the steps: (1) Explore the rhetorical problem (2) Make a plan (3) Generate new idea (4) Organize your ideas (5) Know the needs of your readers (6) Transform writer-based prose into reader-based prose (7) Review your paper and your purpose (8) Test and edit your writing (9) Edit for connections and coherence.

What I found particularly useful was her many examples that illustrate the points quite well. Of the steps, I found her discussion of building an issue tree to organize ideas (step 4), dealing with the "creative reader" (step 6) and the layered approach to editing (steps 7, 8 and 9) to be most most useful.

I think that inexperienced writers will benefit from the book by learning from the strategies used by experienced writers. Experienced writers will also benefit from the book since the book makes the strategies they probably use explicit, and so will help them to consistently produce good writing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Flower at her best., December 12, 2011

By 

S. Stamerra "SuzQ" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Problem Solving Strategies for Writing in College and Community (Paperback)

I used this book as a graduate student while studying with Dr. Flower. Her direct, clear prose is a joy to work with, and her theory is top-notch. Even if you don't have the immeasurable advantage of studying at Carnegie Mellon, I highly recommend this book. If you are planning to teach rhetoric, language, composition or theory, this is a must-have to be sure.

1 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have, May 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Problem Solving Strategies for Writing in College and Community (Paperback)

This is a must have book.