Customer Reviews

Shape of Reason, The: Argumentative Writing in College

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This book is wonderful! I've learned so much about writing and the responsibilities of a writer to his/her audience. The enthymeme--which can seem esoteric at first--makes sense to me now because it emphasizes the need to provide supportive reasons. Most importantly, I love the fact that this book highlights the need to see writing as an ongoing process.

This is the third worst and most boring book I have ever read, after William Doty's "Mythography" and Claire Robertson's "Trouble Showed the Way." And guess what? All these books were required reading- and total stinkers. My teacher thinks Shape of Reason is the best thing since sliced bread, probably only because he was a student of Gage. Not only does the prose make absolutely no sense, I don't agree with his points. If anything, following Gage's advice would probably make you a worse writer. But most likely, you will be reading this for a class, and you won't have the option of saying no. At 45 dollars, this book is a rip-off, too.