Mirror on America: Short Essays and Images from Popular Culture

by Joan T. Mims, Elizabeth M. Nollen

Students come to college already equipped with plenty of knowledge about popular culture and are more than ready to talk about the topics that interest them. Mirror on America: Short Essays and Images from Popular Culture draws on that knowledge and interest and gives students the context they need to understand the culture around them. Composed primarily of short, high-interest essays and rich visual images, the text's thematic chapters present material that students will already be familiar with, but in new and provocative ways. Abundant apparatus guides their responses and helps them think and write critically about American popular culture.

Genres: Nonfiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2000

Reviews

[Adam Floridia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather than use the traditional textbook to teach my developmental reading class, I'm opting to go with this reader. Personally, I think the best way to increase reading skills is to actually read and then discuss the readings. Instead of learning about the skills they'll need, students are applying those skills. Plus, this is $50 cheaper than most texts--you're welcome, students.

Overall, a good mix of articles on a variety of topics. The thematic organization is nice and the articles all tend to be very short and at the perfect reading level for the class. There is something lacking in the questions at the end of each selection, and the vast majority of proposed exercises just seem too juvenile for college and/or unlikely to actually teach students anything about reading. Finally, the online quizzes that accompany each reading are absolute shit!

All of that said, I'll be using this again in the fall and just actually taking the time to create my own quizzes (you know, like a good teacher should...).

[Araminta Matthews · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not a bad reader for college comp students. Using pop culture to demonstrate proper academic writing skills and to help students to relate to the material is a solid method that I think is more and more important as we move away from the more traditional forms of media. Pop culture is almost intrinsic now, inherent in everything. It is a good platform for teaching basic analytical skills to comp students.

[Jess Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am using this to teach my night class about rhetorical essay strategies, using the pop culture lure of the articles. I find it very intriguing; however, the language is a bit difficult for my students who struggle with vocab and reading. This would be a wonderful core text for an essay class/ pop culture class.

[Mohamed Abouzid · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book is worth reading, as it was a collection of the elite articles which were written by diverse ages. More important it was targeting the situation in America by each category. The message of the book was clear and I hope it becomes true one day.