Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide and Reader (8th Edition) [Paperback]

James A. Reinking (Author), Robert von der Osten (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0132320304 | ISBN-13: 978-0132320306 | Publication Date: January 7, 2007 | Edition: 8

The authors of Strategies for Successful Writing: a Rhetoric, Research Guide, and Reader have strived to achieve the same steadfast goals that have motivated them from the beginning: create a rhetorically-organized writing guide that combines three books into one convenient and flexible teaching tool while offering students an exceptional value. By having at their disposal a comprehensive textbook that offers ample material for a full-year composition course, instructors teaching a one-term course can make various selections from Chapters 1-17, from whatever types of specialized writing suits the needs of their students, and from the appropriate essays in the reader. As well, because the authors believe strongly that an effective composition textbook should address students directly, they've aimed for a conversational yet clear style that invites students into the book, lessens their apprehensions about writing, and provides a model for their own prose. This style complements the authors' strong student-based approach to writing, and together they help create a text that genuinely meets student needs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Written in a clear, engaging style, this text combines three books -- a rhetoric, a research guide, and a reader -- into one convenient teaching tool. The rhetoric section presents a full range of writing strategies, along with chapters in paragraphs, sentences, style, and three specialized types of writing. The research guide section includes three comprehensive chapters on the research paper making supplemental handouts or guides unnecessary. The reader section contains forty-two essays that illustrate the different writing strategies and display a wide variety of styles, tones, and themes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Written in a clear, engaging style, this 3-in-1 volume combines three books—a rhetoric, a research guide, and a reader—into one convenient learning/reference tool. The Rhetoric section presents a full range of writing strategies, along with chapters on paragraphs, sentences, style, and three specialized types of writing, and in-depth chapters on planning and drafting, as well as revising and editing a paper. The Research Guide section includes three comprehensive chapters on the research process. The Reader section contains forty-four essays that illustrate the different writing strategies and display a wide variety of styles, tones, and themes. (The book is available in an alternate version—with a convenient Handbook section.) For anyone wanting an all-in-one resource for learning or reviewing rhetorical writing strategies. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 8 edition (January 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0132320304
• ISBN-13: 978-0132320306
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #585,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For both native-language AND ESL/EFL writers in English, November 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide and Reader (Paperback)

This book is an excellent study guide and reference for the home or office. The editing, spelling, and research sections are very well done. There are chapters on business letters, resumes, diction, narration, argument, making yourself clear, documenting sources, punctuation and mechanics.

This is probably the best single collection of all this material for a writer that I have ever seen in one book! I would recommend this book to both native-English writers and also ESL/EFL learners who are writing in English not as their first language. For them especially, this book would help them make a great leap to first-rate or even professional writing quality!

If I'd have any complaint, it is that the authors obviously chose mostly politically-correct ("PC") topics for their "Reader" section of the book. All the "diversity" articles over and over get old quick and I would not want to find "Women's Issues" in a book like this at all, which is not the place for pushing an author's PC agendas! Otherwise, the whole rest of the writing instruction is useful.

2.0 out of 5 stars Strategies for Successful Writing:A Rhetoric, research Guide and Reader, October 9, 2009

By 

PRK - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide and Reader (8th Edition) (Paperback)

If the student had not desperately needed this book, we would have returned it. We did not realize we were buying a condensed version; therefore, the teacher has to make necessary copies for the student so he will have the information that the other students have. We were very disappointed.

3.0 out of 5 stars Book is only ONE of a BUNDLE., September 25, 2009

By 

Donna "Smith" (South Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strategies for Successful Writing: A Rhetoric, Research Guide and Reader (8th Edition) (Paperback)

I purchased this book not realizing that it was part of a bundle of books that my child needed for school. Evidently, the book comes with a workbook, another smaller instructional book, and a couple of others. It MAY be worth it to purchase each book separately, but that would take a lot of time and it is a little chancey. I did not have the time to search for the other books, so I ended up buying the bundle-NEW. This is a rip-off from the schools and teachers, but that is another story. My purchase turned out to be the correct book, but I had to return it since it was not the complete bundle.