Jean Withrow

Inspired to Write uses powerful and provocative readings to inspire students to write personal and academic essays. The introduction to the Teacher's Manual contains an extensive explanation and description of each type of activity that occurs throughout the Student's Book. In the body of the manual, there are notes on every activity, giving step-by-step instructions and advice. Although answers to many of the exercises will usually vary, in each case the authors have provided typical possible answers.

The third edition of Changes replaces over 50 percent of the readings with yet more compelling pieces of writing that students and teachers are sure to find interesting. The 45 unadapted readings provide student writers at the advanced level with a variety of genres of writing, models of good writing, stimuli for discussion and inspiration to write their own texts. The authors have improved on the successful 2nd edition by weaving into each unit “toolboxes” that teach essential reading and writing strategies. The authors have also provided more examples of “academic discourse” and have increased the emphasis on citing sources, a key skill for college writers. The book still has three thematic units. However, the readings are now grouped into thematic subsections. Each reading is accompanied by a full set of pre-and post-reading and pre- and post-writing activities, all of which encourage student collaboration.

Changes is an interactive, integrated skills text that will help students develop their writing skills by having them respond to thought-provoking texts on a wide variety of subjects. The Second Edition of this popular book offers a choice of sixty readings with an increased number of expository selections to help students develop academic English. The texts presented offer a variety of genres, voices, and moods and include both professional and student-written readings by writers of many different nationalities. Collaborative pair, group, and whole-class activities encourage students to interact with the text and their peers. In this way, students come to develop an understanding of how meanings change and develop as the text is approached from different points of view. Grounded in an understanding of the writing process and its development in ESL writers, Changes guides students through all of the stages of this process within an interactive, student-centered framework.

Effective Writing is a practice book designed to help intermediate and high-intermediate students of American English develop their writing skills through problem-solving activities. The approach is learning by doing. By completing certain tasks, such as organizing ideas, selecting and ordering information, using reporting words, using attitude words, using linking words and phrases, writing beginning and ending paragraphs and punctuating sentences, students become aware of what a well-written text is. Students also practice writing complete, cohesive texts in such exercises as writing a report based on a conversation and writing an article based on visual information. Each unit focuses on a different type of writing: letters, stories, reports, articles, business letters and memos, and opinion essays. Effective Writing gives students valuable preparation for the Test of Written English and other standard writing examinations. It includes several of the essay types used in the Test of Written English, such as writing an essay based on a visual, comparing and contrasting, and stating an opinion.

A practice book for achieving writing skills in American English in such areas as letters, stories, reports, articles, instructions, business letters, memos, and opinion essays.