Writing to Be Read

by Ken Macrorie

Writing to Be Read is the high school version of Telling Writing . This third edition reaffirms Ken Macrorie's continuing commitment to young writers, as well as the perennial popularity of Writing to Be Read . Like all fine teachers, Macrorie has remained a student of his subject, and this book is informed by fresh classroom discoveries. The book embodies a carefully articulated writing course that gives students the freedom to find their voices and let their subjects find them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

287 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[J.D. Carabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been a fan of stories where the descriptions are like poetry. There seems to be a trend in modern writing for simplicity, like the reader can't appreciate colorful phrases, that they're too 'wordy'. That writing isn't 'art' as well and clever turns of phrase are just distracting from the story.
I disagree.
I think that a unique and beautiful description or phrase adds to a story. That is makes the reader go 'Oh.' and it sticks with them. It's like Dorothy going from Kansas to Oz, that awe needs to be described in such a way that it stays with you. I think the writing should make you feel, see, smell, taste and hear what's going on the book. I find the same old cliche descriptions bore me and pull me out of the story.
This book is about capturing that style, about how to write without inhibitions, to describe with a child's eyes again. It's a teaching book, so has exercises to help you unlock your inner child again.

[BookChampions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Attention fellow English teachers!

Ken Macrorie's 1968 "textbook" may be just the very thing writing instruction today needs. I feel like the teaching of writing has slowly languished over the past 10 years, weighed down by the pressures of standardized texts, the allure of a dominating AP essay structure, and a step away from workshop methodology that originally aimed to make writing more relevant, personal, and individualized.

I know I was familiar with Macrorie's name, but I'm not exactly sure. I'm pretty certain he's been referenced by many of my favourite teacher-writers, including Tom Romano, Peter Elbow, Donald Murray, and Gerald Graff. Finally getting to read Macrorie myself was so much more enjoyable, validating, and inspiring than I could have hoped. And it's amazing that this text is nearly 50 years old—because English teachers today need to be reminded of this stuff.

Macrorie's voice took me a little while to get used to, but by the end of the book I was hooked—and I'm kinda sad it's over. There are writing exercises here, mentor texts (both by published authors and by students), and several writing lessons that could be culled into an entire semester or year of writing instruction. Thankfully, though, Macrorie isn't creating a step-by-step program for teachers to pick up and apply to their classroom easily. No, Macrorie respects teachers more...urging us to make these ideas our own. That is what true teaching is about...and Macrorie is a superb teacher.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my colleagues from the Oklahoma Writing Project recommended this book to me. I found it difficult to read, but chock full of great teaching ideas. I will definitely come back to this book throughout the school year. One of my favorite little bits in this book is the apple test, i.e., Does your piece of writing pass the apple test? It does if your writing piece has a core, a skin, and is rounded. Neat, huh?

[Patressa Kearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was, loooooong ago, my junior year of high school Composition/Creative Writing textbook. I loved it so much, even as a 16 year-old, that my teacher, Mrs. Lane, let me keep my rented copy at the end of 11th grade. That was 1978, and I still have the book proudly displayed in my writing book collection.

And I still use it.