The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, Third Edition [Hardcover]

Cheryl Glenn (Author), Loretta Gray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1413010326 | ISBN-13: 978-1413010329 | Edition: 003

The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, Third Edition, is grounded in the belief that an understanding of the rhetorical situation-the writer, reader, message, context, and exigence (the reason for writing)-provides the best starting place for effective writing and reading. This edition guides student writers in employing that rhetorical understanding as they choose the most effective information to include, the best arrangement of that information, and the most appropriate language to use. This writing-first handbook moves students through the steps that constitute successful writing, from finding appropriate topics and writing clear thesis statements to arranging ideas and developing initial drafts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I like the profesional examples used throughout the book-especially the excerpts from professional works illustrating particular grammatical principles."

"The most effective features are the book’s concise explanations of principles; focused organization; thorough, thoughtful coverage; use of electronic media for composition and research; and currency and topical relevance."

"In my view, the most effective aspects of Harbrace are 1) excellent discussion of grammar, 2) strong discussion of commas and other punctuation, 3) strong information concerning writing and revising of paragraphs and essays."

"[Harbrace] is authoritative, accurate, thorough, and well organized." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Cheryl Glenn, associate professor of English and Women's Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, is widely known for her scholarship, leadership, and teaching. Besides co-authoring the Harbrace Handbook, she is author of the prize-winning Rhetoric Retold: Regendering the Tradition from Antiquity Through the Renaissance; as well as several other titles. Glenn's rhetorical scholarship has earned her three National Endowment for the Humanities awards, the Conference on College Composition and Communication's Richard Braddock Award, Rhetoric Review's Outstanding Essay Award, and Best Book/Honorable Mention from the Society for the Study of Early Modern Women. She has served as president of the Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition, as member of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) Executive Committee, Chair of the Modern Language Association (MLA) Division on the History and Theory of Rhetoric and Composition, and as member of the MLA Delegate Assembly. Her teaching and scholarship earned her the Oregon State Elizabeth Ritchie Distinguished Professor Award and her teaching has earned her two other university-wide teaching awards. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 928 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 003 edition (February 14, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1413010326
• ISBN-13: 978-1413010329
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #881,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and Convenient, November 19, 2000

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Writer's Harbrace Handbook (Hardcover)

Here is a terrific reference resource for anyone who frequently composes letters, e-mails, reports, etc. That is, for just about everyone. Even with various aids provided within software (eg to correct spelling), basic mistakes of grammar go undetected...and "send the wrong message" (both literally and symbolically) to recipients of what you write. Inside the front cover, the authors provide an especially handy detailed index (for questions concerning writing, grammar, effective sentences, diction, punctuation, and mechanics as well as glossaries of usage and terms) which directs their reader to the appropriate page or pages in the Handbook; on the back inside cover of the book, they then provide an equally handy list of checklists (also with page references) followed by a list of revision symbols. There are several such reference resources which will serve you well. In my opinion, this is the most comprehensive...and the easiest to use on a regular basis. I also urge you to check out Strunk & White's The Elements of Style and Stephen King's On Writing.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Too flashy, August 28, 2005

By 

Ty O'Bryan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, Brief Edition (with InfoTrac ) (Spiral-bound)

There is nothing that ruins a good reference book so much as over-attention to graphics. This book is very busy in both its design and implementation. Compared to other writing handbooks (particularly Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference), this book is very hard to use. For example, the ToC for the MLA documentation section is not listed on the tab for MLA, but is buried several pages in. There are nearly 200 pages that start this book that are a mixed and confusing grab-bag of the greatest hits of rhetoric and writing, but do little to engage students in the act of crafting a written artifact. Also, after using this book for a semester, the tabs began to fray. As a teacher of first-year composition, I strongly recommend A Writer's Reference if you are looking for a user-friendly and comprehensive handbook for writing courses. This Harbrace book, which is the "Brief" version at 592 pages, is difficult to use as a teacher and as a student, and some information is nearly impossible to find (e.g. block quotation style guidelines).

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Educational, January 12, 2012

By 

Jennifer Haas (Breckenridge) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Writer's Harbrace Handbook, 5th Edition (Kindle Edition)

This book is a very thorough guide on how to properly write any piece. I learned how get my point across to the reader with ease and comfort. Even though creativity through writing is fluid, pieces of writing need structure in order to contain that fluid.