The Compact Reader with 2016 MLA Update Short Essays by Method and Theme

Combining rhetorical and thematic teachings, Compact Reader with 2016 MLA Update uses brief readings with each mode to teach you the full range and flexibility of writing.

Ellen Kuhl Repetto (M.A., University of Massachusetts Boston) is an editor and writer who has contributed to more than twenty composition readers, handbooks, and rhetorics. She is the author of The Bedford/St. Martin's Textbook Reader, The Compact Reader 10e, and Common Threads.

PART ONE: A COMPACT GUIDE TO READING AND WRITING

1 READING 
Reading Attentively 
Reading Critically 
Checklist for Critical Reading 
Analyzing a Sample Essay 
*EDWARD P. JONES, Shacks 
Reading Visuals 
*DAMON WINTER, from The Women at West Point (PHOTOGRAPH) 

2 DEVELOPING AN ESSAY 
Getting Started 
Forming a Thesis 
Checklist for an Effective Thesis 
Organizing 
Drafting  
Nicole Lang’s First Draft 

3 REVISING 
Reading Your Own Work Critically 
Looking at the Whole Draft 
Using a Revision Checklist 
Checklist for Revision 
Nicole Lang’s Revised Draft  

4 EDITING 
Checking Grammar and Punctuation 
Making Sentences Clear and Effective  
Choosing the Best Words 
Using an Editing Checklist 
Checklist for Editing 
*NICOLE LANG, Foundations (STUDENT ESSAY)  

PART TWO: SHORT ESSAYS BY METHOD AND THEME 

5 NARRATION: Growing Up  
Reading Narration 
Analyzing Narration in Paragraphs 
MICHAEL ONDAATJE, from Running in the Family 
*JONATHAN RAUCH, from Denial 
Developing a Narrative Essay 
Focus on Verbs 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
ANNIE DILLARD, from An American Childhood 
LANGSTON HUGHES, Salvation 
*LAUREN FULMORE, Chasing Fairy Tales  (STUDENT ESSAY) 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

6 DESCRIPTION: Experiencing New Places 
Reading Description 
Analyzing Description in Paragraphs 
*RICK BRAGG, from The Prince of Frogtown  
HELENE COOPER, from The House at Sugar Beach  
Developing a Descriptive Essay 
Focus on Concrete and Specific Language 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
MARTA K. TAYLOR, Desert Dance (STUDENT ESSAY) 
WILLIAM LEAST HEAT-MOON, Starrucca Viaduct 
*KEN CHEN, City Out of Breath  
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

7 EXAMPLE: Using Language 
Reading Examples 
Analyzing Examples in Paragraphs 
DEBORAH TANNEN, from Talking from 9 to 5 
WILLIAM LUTZ, from Doublespeak 
Developing an Essay by Example 
Focus on Sentence Variety  
A Note on Thematic Connections 
KIM KESSLER, Blah Blah Blah (STUDENT ESSAY) 
*DAVID SEDARIS, Me Talk Pretty One Day 
PERRI KLASS, She’s Your Basic LOL in NAD 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

8 DIVISION OR ANALYSIS: Looking at Popular Culture 000
Reading Division or Analysis 
Analyzing Division or Analysis in Paragraphs 
JON PARELES, from “Gather No Moss, Take No Prisoners, but Be Cool
LUCI TAPAHONSO, from Sign Language 
Developing an Essay by Division or Analysis 
Focus on Coherence 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
*SCOTT ADAMS, Funny Business 
*PAT MORA, Great Expectations 
ANDREW WARREN III, Throwing Darts at The Simpsons (STUDENT ESSAY)
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

9 CLASSIFICATION: Sorting Friends and Neighbors 
Reading Classification 
Analyzing Classification in Paragraphs 
*DAHLIA LITHWICK, from “A Unified Theory of Muppet Types” 
*LUIS ALBERTO URREA, from “Night Shift” 
Developing an Essay by Classification 
Focus on Paragraph Development 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
BRANDON GRIGGS, The Most Annoying Facebookers 
JONATHAN R. GOULD, JR., The People Next Door (STUDENT ESSAY)  
*DAVID BROOKS, People Like Us 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

10 PROCESS ANALYSIS: Considering the Natural Environment 
Reading Process Analysis 
Analyzing Processes in Paragraphs 
*MIRANDA SMITH, from Complete Home Gardening 
*TED GENOWAYS, from “The High Cost of Oil” 
Developing an Essay by Process Analysis 
Focus on Consistency 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
*BRIAN DOYLE, How to Read a Nature Essay 
*MARINA KEEGAN, Why We Care about Whales (STUDENT ESSAY) 
*RICK BASS, Gardens of Ice and Stone 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

11 COMPARISON AND CONTRAST: Examining Stereotypes 
Reading Comparison and Contrast 
Analyzing Comparison and Contrast in Paragraphs 
*FIROOZEH DUMAS, from Laughing without an Accent 
*SHERMAN ALEXIE, from “Superman and Me” 
Developing an Essay by Comparison and Contrast 
Focus on Parallelism 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
ALAINA WONG, China Doll (STUDENT ESSAY) 
*ANTONIO RUIZ-CAMACHO, Souvenirs 
BARBARA LAZEAR ASCHER, The Box Man 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

12 DEFINITION: Pursuing Happiness 
Reading Definition 
Analyzing Definition in Paragraphs 
*CARLIN FLORA, from “The Pursuit of Happiness” 
*DAGOBERTO GILB, from “Pride” 
Developing an Essay by Definition 
Focus on Unity 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
JUDY BRADY, I Want a Wife 
*AUGUSTEN BURROUGHS, Unhappily Ever After 
*JESSICA SAYURI BOISSY, One Cup at a Time (STUDENT ESSAY) 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

13 CAUSE-AND-EFFECT ANALYSIS: Investigating the Working World
Reading Cause-and-Effect Analysis 
Analyzing Causes and Effects in Paragraphs 
BARBARA EHRENREICH, from Nickel and Dimed 
*MALCOLM GLADWELL, from Outliers 
Developing an Essay by Cause-and-Effect Analysis 
Focus on Conciseness 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
*ELLEN GOODMAN, The Company Man 
STEPHANIE ALAIMO and MARK KOESTER, The Backdraft of Technology (STUDENT ESSAY) 
DANA THOMAS, The Fake Trade 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

14 ARGUMENT AND PERSUASION: Discussing Social Issues 
Reading Argument and Persuasion 
Analyzing Argument and Persuasion in Paragraphs 
JENNY PRICE, from “Gun Violence at UC Irvine” 
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” 
Developing an Argumentative and Persuasive Essay 
Focus on Tone 
A Note on Thematic Connections 
ANNA QUINDLEN, The C Word in the Hallways 
CHARLIE SPENCE, Sixteen (STUDENT ESSAY) 
*SHERRY TURKLE, Privacy Has a Politics 
CASEBOOK: IMMIGRATION 
*GEORGE F. WILL, Subject to Interpretation 
*MARIE MYUNG-OK LEE, I Was an Anchor Baby 
*ROBERTO RODRÍGUEZ, The Border on Our Backs 
Writing with the Method 
Writing about the Theme 

APPENDIX WORKING WITH SOURCES 

Writing about Readings 
Using Research to Support a Thesis 
Synthesizing Source Material 
Avoiding Plagiarism 
Documenting Sources in MLA Style 
Sample Research Paper  
*JARROD BALLO, Women and Children First (STUDENT ESSAY) 

Glossary 
Index of Authors and Titles 

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