NEW--Contains over fifteen new professional selections, with nine full-length essays by authors such as John Muir, Horace Miner, Philip Elmer-DeWitt, Elayne Rapping, Neil Postman, Edward Koch, Connie Koenenn, and Mike Royko.

NEW--Presents a new thematic grouping of five essays on the Internet and the World Wide Web.

NEW--Extensive, new section on locating, evaluating, and documenting Internet and electronic sources.

Escorts students through the writing process and includes:

• Reading and writing activities.
• Collaborative activities.
• Peer-response guidelines help students become better critical readers and more helpful respondents to other students' essays.
• Revision suggestions designed to assist students with their work-in-progress.

Throughout the text, journal writing exercises help students in the process of selecting a topic and idea development.

Includes professional essays illustrating each of the purposes for writing.

"Purpose" chapters feature student essays with complete notes, drafts, and comments.
Available in two hardcover versions--the full text includes a complete reference handbook; the brief paperback edition contains everything from the longer version except the handbook.