The Prose Reader promotes the skills of thinking, reading, and writing, enabling the user to think more clearly and logically—both in his/her mind and on paper. Prose models are intended to inspire, encouraging improved writing with a partnership with some of the best examples of professional prose available today. Each chapter begins with an explanation of a single technique, with essays that follow each chapter introduction selected from a wide variety of well-known contemporary authors. It helps readers discover various ways of thinking about and analyzing the essay. The book progresses from selections that require literal skills (Description, Narration, and Example) through readings involving more interpretation (Process Analysis, Division/Classification, Comparison/Contrast, and Definition) to essays that demand a high degree of analytical thought (Cause/Effect and Argument/Persuasion). An excellent and demanding reader for anyone interested in building their reading, writing, and thinking skills.
I read it cover to cover in a week's time. I'm 20 years old. I LOVED every bit of it. I wish they had used this in my high school.
This book offers complete explanations on how to write, how to read, how to think. It doesn't tell you what to think. What I like most is that it gives you a taste of all types of pieces of literature, literature that maybe you wouldn't have known existed or known that you enjoyed reading before you read this book. It allows you to dip your feet into new worlds, tentatively test tasting a few pieces before you decide to delve in. This book is a wonderful "starter guide" for readers who want to explore deeper into the world of books, or for writers hoping to broaden their minds and reading experience and sharpen their skills. The book encourages different perspectives, passion for truth and justice, and looking at things in numerable ways. Anyone who reads these books can teach themselves: The authors fully equip them with what they need to achieve the same, if not better results by reading and teaching themselves compared to in class by a teacher. My writing and reading skills actually HAVE improved after reading these stories presented in the book and after having analyzed them according to the methods and suggestions the book provides. I appreciate the way they repeat concepts and explain concepts and methods in different and thorough ways. I enjoyed EACH story in the book, I couldn't put it down! There were spelling errors and grammatical mistakes, but that isn't too important. \
Can you say boring? OK, I know you can. This is pretty standard fair. Nothing new here. Nothing to see. "Just step away people and go about your lives . . . Please!" A blurb from a critique I found on goodreads states that "Prose models ARE INTENDED TO INSPIRE, encouraging improved writing with a partnership with SOME OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF PROFESSIONAL PROSE AVAILABLE today (my CAPS added)." If this is inspirational, best-of prose then I'm checking out. How 'bout standard fair that blends in with the rest of the readers out there. Ho, hum.