Writing That Matters: A Rhetoric for the New Classroom

by W.T. Pfefferle

Exceptionally easy to read and use, this compact composition/rhetoric "empowers" readers to become writers right from the beginning. Its relaxed and conversational tone immediately sets up a collaborative dialogue between the book and the reader; innovative " workshop/conference- style" samples show writers essays-in-progress and the possibilities of revision and rewriting; and a mix of traditional and innovative writing projects provide readers the freedom to write about things within their own interest range. Throughout, readers are given product-centered goals to reach (an issue paper, a proposal, etc.), but are asked to work on their writing in a very process-centered way (pre-writing, writing, post-writing, etc.) Focuses on seven types of essay -- covering each individually, in depth, in its own chapter -- and featuring a mix of traditional and innovative writing projects -- The Personal Essay (narrative), The Observation Essay, The Evaluation Essay, The Problem/Solution Essay (" call to action" ), The Research Essay (including an innovative " series of steps" approach to the often daunting research process), The Issue Paper -- (a creative style of argument paper or Rogerian essay) The Creed Essay -- (that encourages writers to examine their moral decision making process). Features workshop/conference-style writing samples and explores each paragraph-by-paragraph to provide an " inside" look at how essays are " built" and how " ok" essays become " great" essays. Offers a primer on Internet Tools and researching on the Internet and lists 50 Hot Links to WWW sites on composition and writing. For anyone wantinginstruction in writing the various types of essays.

363 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 1998

About the author

W.T. Pfefferle was born in Winnipeg, and grew up in western Canada.

He relocated to the U.S. in the late 1970s to study. He earned his MFA and PhD in the 1980s, and began a 35 year academic teaching career.
He was the founding director of the Expository Writing Program at Johns Hopkins.

He published five books, and more than a hundred poems, stories, photos, and articles in places like the Chronicle of Higher Education, Poets and Writers, Virginia Quarterly Review, Antioch Review, Carolina Quarterly, Ohio Review, North American Review, and elsewhere.

He retired to Oregon in 2018 and left public life in 2020. He has been married to his college sweetheart for 38 years.