Write to Learn [Paperback]

Donald M. Murray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 27, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0155065122 | ISBN-13: 978-0155065123 | Edition: 7

Written by one of the pioneers of the process-writing approach, the seventh edition of Donald Murrays brief rhetoric continues to help students find their own style of writing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Murray's friendly tone encourages students to forget their fears and to start writing for fun. He speaks directly to the reader in a familiar way, and students feel empowered and passionate about writing."

"Author Donald Murray's enthusiasm for writing is infectious, and his breezy, conversational tone inspires confidence in even the most self-conscious writers."

"WRITE TO LEARN is a 'great little book.' It is substantive enough for teaching, yet fun. Murray's voice is easy on the ear. The writer's ear that is. . . . .He gets it and wants us to get it too!" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Donald M. Murray is a Professor Emeritus of English at the University of New Hampshire where he inaugurated a journalism program, helped establish a graduate program in Composition Studies, and served as director of Freshman English and English Department chairperson. He twice won awards for his teaching and was awarded honorary doctoral degrees by the University of New Hampshire in 1990, Fitchburg State College in 1992, and New Hampshire College in 1997. As a journalist, Murray won a number of awards including the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in the Boston Herald in 1954. He was an editor of Time and has served as writing coach for several newspapers, including the Boston Globe and the Providence Journal. In 1991 Boston magazine and in 1996 Improper Bostonian magazine selected him best columnist in Boston. In 1997 the University of New Hampshire opened the Donald M. Murray Journalism Library. He received recognition for Lifetime Achievement during the New Hampshire Literary Awards in 2001. In 2003 Writing on the Edge established the Donald M. Murray Prize. This award is given to the author of the best work of creative nonfiction on the subject of writing published the previous year. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Heinle; 7 edition (July 27, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155065122
• ISBN-13: 978-0155065123
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,437,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true book on How to Write, April 17, 2002

By 

P. A. Snelling (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Write to Learn (Paperback)

Anyone who is serious about becoming a writer, non-fiction or fiction, should get this book, write in it, highlight the points and study it like they are taking his course.
He starts you out with writing to yourself. Then takes you through each step of the process of preparing what you wrote for the reader.
Murray talks to you like are sitting in front of you. You feel like he can hear your questions, answers them, and then shows you what he is talking about.
The most important part of the whole book is Chapter 9, "'Read' as a Writer". He analyzes today's writers as a writer, a major step to really understanding the craft.
Other writing books tell you about practice sessions, structure, and voice. Murray shows you how to do the work.
Yes it is a very...book, but weather it is a textbook or not, it is a book of valuable information for those of us who can't work at the Boston Globe or go to Harvard--yet our passion to write is very real.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best idea-generation book for writers, January 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Write to Learn (Paperback)

I read the second edition of this wonderful book in preparation for creating a user guide for a software program based on its principles. The book was so effective I used the techniques in it to write the guide. Murray's method actually addresses the creative process, rather than the usual "find a quiet well-lit room and have plenty of paper handy" type of writing advice. Before you know it, you're drawn into trying his techniques and they work

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Write to Learn, 2nd edition, January 3, 2002

By 

Cheryl Richardson (Salt Lake, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Write to Learn (Paperback)

Author, Donald M, Murray, practices what he teaches: he writes with a singular voice. I could picture him talking to me in an earnest, friendly way.
I liked the way he led us through his process of writing an article about his grandmother. I also enjoyed reading drafts of his students writings and their finished, successful product. I was enticed to keep reading and therefore learning.
The book has widespread application. My nephew, a college professor, used this as his favorite textbook, yet I adapted the information easily for younger students. It works for both enthusiastic or reticent writers.
I was going to purchase a later edition at our local college bookstore, but found the topics written about were too controversial for my taste and too adult for me to use to teach younger students.
"Write to Learn", 2nd edition, is more than a textbook. It is a LIVING book!