The Prose Reader: Essays for Thinking, Reading, and Writing

by Kim Flachmann, Michael Flachmann

Based on the assumption that lucid thinking, reading, and writing are so closely interwoven as to be one process, this rhetorical reader helps users improve their abilities to think, read, and write on progressively more sophisticated levels by providing a collection of 60 provocative, interesting, rhetorically organized essays. The essays are accompanied by apparatus that includes clear, well-developed rhetorical introductions, sample student essays, prewriting questions, and flexible writing assignments. The essays cover a broad range of contemporary topics and portray the universality of human experience as expressed through the viewpoints of men and women, many different ethnic and racial groups, and a variety of ages and social classes. The reader explores all elements of reading, writing and thinking including description, narration, illustrating ideas, process analysis, division/classification, comparison/contrast, limiting the frame of reference, cause/effect and argument and persuasion. For individuals interested in exploring and expanding their abilities to think, read, and write.

Genres: Academic

680 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[A. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. \

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rebecca Waring-Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the required text for my freshman English writing course. So far, so good.

[Tabatha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good compilation of essays so far, I've really enjoyed Wozencraft's "Notes From the Country Club"