Writing With a Purpose

by James McNab McCrimmon, Joseph F. Trimmer, Nancy Sommers

Writing with a Purpose has always been distinguished by its emphasis on the role of purpose in the writing process, its comprehensive coverage for first-year writing, and its effective use of examples and exercises. Designed as a four-in-one (rhetoric, reader, research guide, handbook) for one- and two-semester composition courses, this respected and reliable text has helped train hundreds of thousands of students over the past three decades. The Fourteenth Edition retains the traditional strengths of the book, yet this classic has been revised and updated with a contemporary, full-color design to better engage visually oriented learners. Streamlined coverage has reduced or eliminated topics rarely taught in first-semester composition to allow for expanded material on such critical topics as research and argumentation. Available for fall 2003 courses, this edition is accompanied by a new technology program, Writing with a Purpose Online, that allows students to access writing guidance as needed while drafting and revising. New! Complete chapter on designing documents guides students in creating effective visual texts. New! Image Gallery at the end of each chapter engages students in responding to evocative groupings of visual images. New! Model student web projects provide opportunities for expanding on writing and research topics and guide students in evaluating and creating web-based resources. New! Four-color design, with photos, cartoons, advertisements, and annotated examples, demonstrates the importance of considering purpose when creating visual texts New! Argument coverage with added visual dimension offers stronger advice on critical thinking and analysis and guides students in using textual/visual formats and appeals to create effective arguments in various contexts and media New! Enhanced research coverage in each chapter, identified by icons and special boxes, emphasizes the importance of researching to good writing and includes new information on selecting, evaluating, and documenting sources, with special emphasis on online sources. New! Thirty percent new readings feature both professional and student selections New! Writing with a Purpose Contact your local Houghton Mifflin Sales Representative or call 800-733-1717, ext. 4020, for details on this interactive program with activities, assignments, and online composing help for students drafting papers.

Genres: Writing, Education, Nonfiction, Reference, Language, Textbooks

601 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

Reviews

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me a lot of knowledge in writing my college essays. Other than information regarding language, it brilliantly shows how to selection the audience, subject and the purpose. This also has a lot of tips in planning, drafting and revising your writing, not particularly in creative writing but in general.

Most useful part for me was Chapter 12, which has step by step guidance to how to get your essay right in examinations. Other than that, I found The Part 2 of the book which is focused on "The expression of ideas" very useful. This part is mainly focused on creative writing. This is an excellent book.

[Monty Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Covers grammatical rules inclusive for the students who didn’t pay attention in high school.

Good source of rules for writing and preserving literature.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freshman college textbook for English composition. Excellent resource book. I still have a copy half a century later.

[Fitri]

Writing with a PurposeWriting with a PurposeWriting with a Purpose