Exploring Literature: Writing and Thinking About Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay - Softcover

Madden, Frank

Softcover

ISBN 10: 032101183X ISBN 13: 9780321011831

Publisher: Pearson, 2000

Synopsis

With engaging selections, a strong emphasis on the writing process, and a visually appealing design, this thematically arranged literature anthology is sure to capture students' and instructors' attention. The first five chapters offer comprehensive coverage of reading and writing―including a highly praised Chapter 4: "Interpretation, Evaluation, and Argument"―giving students the detailed guidance and the confidence they need to write strong essays. The anthology section is organized around five themes―Family and Friends, Women and Men, Heritage and Identity, Culture and Class, and Faith and Doubt. Each theme contains a theme-opening photo, "Dialogue across History" which contain compelling quotes from famous and not-so-famous writers, and "Case Studies in Composition" which focus on a different aspect of interpretation in each theme. Most authors are represented by a photo to help students connect to the humanity of the authors.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Exploring Literature: Writing and Arguing About Fiction, Drama, Poetry and the Essay, 5/e

 

Frank Madden

 

With engaging selections, provocative themes, and comprehensive coverage of the writing process, Exploring Literature combines practical writing instruction with a carefully selected anthology of classic and contemporary literature from around the world.  Critical thinking is woven into every facet of its writing apparatus while guiding you through the process of crafting personal responses into persuasive arguments.  Following five opening chapters dedicated to reading, writing, arguing, and researching about literature, theanthology is divided into five thematically-arranged sections that include contextual case studies, writing prompts, and sample student essays to help you approach literature with a critical eye and write thoughtful essays.  Exploring Literature assembles stimulating literature and structured advice to create a valuable guide that will not only help you to write   about literature, but to improve your writing and thinking processes in general.

 

WHAT’S NEW IN THIS EDITION

 

• A new one-page “Primer on Punctuation” with basic rules and examples for the comma, semi-colon, colon, and apostrophe as part of the section on proofreading–adjoining the Basic Rules for a Literary Essay.
• Two new 10-minute dramas: Galsworthy “The Sun” (Faith and Doubt); and Anton Chekhov, “Swan Song.”
• Added four new selections to the thematic section including Marjane Satrapi from “Persepolis”–a work of graphic nonfiction.
• Added a mini-theme to Culture and Identity Tennessee Williams The Glass Menagerie paired with/against a Christopher Durang parody For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls.
• Added two student essays.

 

 

“One of the greatest strengths of this book is the author’s tone and style. He is very down-to-earth and encouraging . . . you can tell that Madden is an experienced teacher because he anticipates common questions and problems . . . he bridges personal response to writing a critical essay quite well.”

Professor Daniel Schierenbeck - University of Central Missouri

 

“The writing coverage is this text’s strongest element. From the process-based writing at the outset to the prompts and questions at the end of each reading, the book gives instructors more than sufficient material to work with and gives students a very healthy, well-rounded set of tools and ideas to create critical essays.  The student essays are very good . .  grounded enough and real enough that students can connect with them and use them as guides.”

Professor Mark Sheffield Brown - Illinois Valley Community College

 

About the Author

Frank Madden is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Chair of the English Department at SUNY Westchester Community College where he also holds the Carol Russett Endowed Chair for English. He has a Ph.D. from NYU, has taught in graduate programs at CCNY, Iona College, and the New School for Social Reserach, and in 1998 was Chair of the NCTE College Section Institute on the Teaching of Literature. He is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship, the Foundation for Westchester Community College Award for Excellence in Scholarship, and the Phi Delta Kappan Educator of the Year Award from Iona College. He was awarded the 2003 Neil Ann Pickett Service Award, granted by the NCTE to an outstanding college teacher whose vision and voice have had a major impact, and who exemplifies such outstanding personal qualities as creativity, sensitivity, and leadership. He has been Chair of the College Section of the NCTE and Chair of TYCA, and served on the Executive Committee of the NCTE, the CCCC, the MLA ad hoc Committee on Teaching, and as NCTE delegate to the American Council of Learned Societies. His articles, chapters, and commentary about the teaching of literature have appeared in a variety of books and journals, including College English, PMLA, College Literature, English Journal, Computers and Composition, Computers and the Humanities, and the ADE Bulletin. 

Edition details

• Publisher: Pearson
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 032101183X
• ISBN 13: 9780321011831
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 1552