Reading and Writing for Civic Literacy: The Critical Citizen's Guide to Argumentative Rhetoric (Cultural Politics and the Promise of Democracy) [Paperback]

Donald Lazere (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2005 | ISBN-10: 1594510857 | ISBN-13: 978-1594510854 | Edition: Edition Unstated

This innovative textbook, for first-year and more advanced composition and critical thinking courses, addresses the need for college students to develop critical reading, writing, and thinking skills for self-defense in the contentious arena of American civic rhetoric. It presents a comprehensive perspective on American public discourse an dpractical methods for its analysis. Exercises following the text sections and readings help students understand the ideological positions and rhetorical patterns that underlie opposing viewpoints in current controversies--such as the growing inequality of wealth in American and its impact on the finances of college students--as expressed in paired sets of readings from the political left and right. Widely debated issues of whether objectivity is possible and whether there is a liberal or conservative bias in news and entertainment media, as well as in education itself, are foregrounded as topics for rhetorical analysis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lazere has given us a thoughtful, beautifully organized, and eminently user-friendly book that enables teachers to [give] their students a way in to some of the most important and contentious public controversies of our time." -Gerald Graff, University of Illinois at Chicago "Don Lazere has produced one of the most intelligent, relevant, and important books in composition studies in the last decade. Give this to every student, adult, and citizen who believes that learning, writing, and democracy mutually inform each other." -Henry A. Giroux, Global Television Network Chair, Communication and English, McMaster University "What a smart book! Here is an intelligent rhetoric text that honestly faces the politics of our times. Writing teachers will benefit from the tools Lazere provides and students will benefit by becoming better writers and more informed readers of their society." -Ira Shor, CUNY Graduate Center "Lazere's [text] is heaven-sent, and will provide a crucial link in the chain of understanding how conflicts are structured and, most important, how they can be rationally addressed-a healthy antidote to the skepticism that has become so pervasive in academic life." -Alan Hausman, Hunter College"

From the Inside Flap

Praise for the book:

"Lazere has given us a thoughtful, beautifully organized, and eminently user-friendly book that enables teachers to [give] their students a way in to some of the most important and contentious public controversies of our time."
—Gerald Graff, Professor of English and Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
"Don Lazere has produced one of the most intelligent, relevant, and important books in composition studies in the last decade. Give this to every student, adult, and citizen who believes that learning, writing, and democracy mutually inform each other."
—Henry A. Giroux, Professor of Education, Pennsylvania State University
"What a smart book! Here is an intelligent rhetoric text that honestly faces the politics of our times. Writing teachers will benefit from the tools Lazere provides and students will benefit by becoming better writers and more informed readers of their society."
—Ira Shor, Professor of Education, CUNY Graduate Center
"Lazere's [text] is heaven-sent, and will provide a crucial link in the chain of understanding how conflicts are structured and, most important, how they can be rationally addressed—a healthy antidote to the skepticism that has become so pervasive in academic life."
—Alan Hausman, Professor of Philosophy, Hunter College

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Paradigm Publishers; Edition Unstated edition (February 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594510857
• ISBN-13: 978-1594510854
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #894,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simply wonderful, September 12, 2005

By 

Michael M. Reavey - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reading and Writing for Civic Literacy: The Critical Citizen's Guide to Argumentative Rhetoric (Cultural Politics and the Promise of Democracy) (Paperback)

I found this book by accident, doing an inter-library loan request in the state of Penna. I teach english 8+9 and I wanted to do some research on propaganda.

I was immediately impressed by the front cover overleaf which has a thirteen element checklist one should use when analyzing your own or others' arguments. The back coverleaf lists American Media, Journalists, and Commentators and sorts them according to their political philosphy. The list is very current.

Surprisingly, the conversitives list is larger than the liberal.
Most of the liberals on the list are quite obscure, for example,Todd Glitlen. The conservative list: Hannity, Coulter, Matalin seems to include many more notables.

The book includes several sample student papers and a glossary of rhehtoic and critical thinking terms.

The end of every chapter has many writing prompts a student could use for a deeper understanding of the examples of rhetoric in the various chapters.

For a long time I've been wondering what propaganda techniques are being used on popular talk radio shows and faux news.
This book has the answer.

Usualy, I prefer paperback versions. But, with this, I'd go for the hardbound
I think it is well worth buying. An interested person will get years of enjoyment studying the material presented.