Models for Writers: Short Essays for Composition

by Alfred Rosa, Paul Eschholz

It's a simple, best-selling combination that's worked for over 20 years -- short, accessible essays and helpful, thorough writing instruction. Models for Writers continues to offer thought-provoking selections organized to demonstrate not only the rhetorical patterns that students will use in their own essays but also the elements and language that will make those essays effective. With a wide variety of new selections and new attention to sentence grammar, reading comprehension, and critical thinking, the new edition of Models for Writers once again stakes its claim as America's best-selling short essay reader.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, School, Reference, Textbooks, Language, Teaching

Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Alfred F. Rosa is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Vermont. Has directed statewide writing programs and conducted numerous workshops throughout the country on writing and the teaching of writing.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've said, a lot of these readers are too similar. That being said, this one's pretty good: covers the basics (prewriting; idea generating; paragraphs and their development, unity, coherence; etc.), and it's contents pages are helpful (writing process; reading to writing; essay elements; etc.) But this one goes beyond the other readers a touch. It specifically speaks of diction and tone and figurative language. You don't see that in many readers, especially brief one's like this.

But the topics are, once again, rather ho-hum and a little too liberal, touchy-feely: education policy, parenting, heroes / role models, growing up, the sensual world, recreation, pop-culture, places and scenes, sense of self, friends and family. Some of these always kill me. Stuff like "the sensual world," "recreation," "pop-culture," "places and scenes," and "sense of self."

What we need to teach is that our youth should get away from the "self" (too much focus there anyway--main downfall to the "express yourself" generation), look beyond "pop-culture" (hell, at one time slavery and the oppression of women were popular!), and "places and scenes"? Who cares? I've read essays that talk about parks and public places / spaces. Who cares?

What of science and its importance in understanding who we are? Math? Why does it exist? What of the intellectual mind wasted? ala J. Swift's intellectuals on the Island of Laputa. What of politics? Our country's history? Who were these guys and why is this country so great?--many come here to this country than to any other. What about understanding finance?(so many in debt, stuck in their financial matrix) Relationships? (so many people, so many divorces), and other far more important, essential, primary topics.

Our youth needs to wake from the myriad of existing matrices: financial, education, marriage, life / death, material, etc.) Let's get our kids out of the powder room, away from the mirror and all that pointless, self-serving glancing and preening and into the frying pan of essential life knowledge that not only effects their lives but, more importantly, the inter-relationships of the live of others.

[Zoe Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

oh brother. boring ahhhh

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book for a freshman composition course I taught this summer.

It's one of the best I've seen, out of the five or six other similar textbooks out there. It had short, engaging essays and plenty of them. That's why I bought it.

Rosa does a decent job covering the material students need to know, such as different rhetorical styles, the parts of an essay, and major skills like transitioning and incorporating sources. But I would have liked more discussion on logic and argumentation, including fallacies.

The one example of an MLA research essay is terrible. I could barely read it. The essays by professionals are much better and there are myriad to choose from.

[Layal khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really interesting to read, there are many stories and tips for writing. I am studying parts of the book as a material in my English school and I am working on the rest in my own free time.

[Miriam Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

My department's choice for an English I reader is okay, especially the supporting materials. The readings for the most part are only modestly interesting. I could use them but not deeply enjoy them. My students' taste paralleled mine. They liked Langston Hughes and Brent Staples but were otherwise unmoved.

[Khuram Shahzad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing less than 5 stars. I find it as one the best books on essay structure. Almost every issue have been discussed with beautiful examples.

[Noor Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

[Rashaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text really guided and informed the curriculum for Basic Writing/Writing Development. The summer six-week course unfolded smoothly and logically because the book was so easy to use, well-organized and comprehensive. The students seemed to enjoy and understand the readings. The writing exercises and assignments were very insightful and fulfilled the course and professor objectives.

[Mrs.navarroツ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the book for my English Class at San Jose City. It was very helpful and very easy to read. There are many essays as examples and many of them are so intriguing that you forget this is a book to illustrate how to be a good writer. I enjoyed it very much & I passed my class with an "A" = D

[EscaPe iNTo thE PaGEs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am using this book in my english 110 class and, for someone who hasn't taken an english course in a class in a few years, this book is a must. I loved all the professional short essays and examples for up and coming writers.

[angrykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you have the "50 essays" book you will find some overlap with this book, however, there are some really good selections here if you're teaching nonfiction.....

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the essays in here are varied and imaginative, I'd like to see more rhetorical content on the process of writing in order to be able to use it for my classes.

[Nacho Saavedra]

colll

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the textbook I used for the Business English class I teach.

[Sarah Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for general essay writing techniques with plenty of fine samples. The only drawback is the relatively heavy focus on first-person writing.

[Amber]

Eleventh Edition 1 Copy

[Joseph Spence Sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent models for writers to follow with their craft. I love it. Great job! Keep this book handy!

[Joseph Spence Sr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite an awesome book to use when writing. It has great examples to keep you on track. Keep it handy while writing.

[Cameo · Rating 2 out of 5]

for comp I

[Bora Hourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is good overall