Features

New to This Edition

A new introduction establishes the book’s rhetorical framework and makes the concept of genre easy to understand. In response to instructor and student feedback, the book now begins by showing how genre (and subgenre) works and serves as an invitation to write across a wide variety of genres. With a focus on audience, structure, and style, the chapter highlights the importance of rhetorical context.

New activities help students use the best strategies for their writing. New Reading the Genre activities in the Guide help students analyze the relationship between genre and content in professional and student writing, while Genre Moves, a new annotated model in the Reader, uses classic essays to illustrate successful writing strategies.

A new chapter on writing portfolios encourages students to reflect on their own processes as they curate collections of their work. With a careful consideration of audience and a model reflective statement, this chapter helps students think about their work in a meaningful way and consciously apply their best learning strategies to their work in other courses.

New readings on high-interest topics and in genres that challenge students to try something new. With a focus on student-friendly and accessible topics, selections often have a surprising element (such as a comic on depression by Allie Brosh). New voices include Matt Bors with a visual argument about millennials, Allegra Goodman with a literacy narrative, Zadie Smith with an in-depth textual analysis, Patton Oswalt on pop culture, and Jane McGonigal on how gaming can improve your life. Online multimodal readings include a proposal on school lunches by Michael Pollan.

Get the most out of your course with LaunchPad. LaunchPad combines an interactive e-book with high-quality multimedia content and ready-made assessment options, including LearningCurve adaptive quizzing. Pre-built, curated units are easy to assign or adapt with your own material, such as readings, videos, quizzes, discussion groups, and more. LaunchPad also provides access to a gradebook that provide a clear window on performance for your whole class, for individual students, and for individual assignments. While a streamlined interface helps students focus on what’s due next, social commenting tools let them engage, make connections, and learn from each other. Use LaunchPad on its own or integrate it with your school’s learning management system so your class is always on the same page. Contact your rep to make sure you have access.