Since writers need to understand basic approaches to reading and writing, Chapters 1 and 2 introduce students to critical reading and textual annotation and to the various purposes and processes for writing. Essays in these chapters by professional and student writers illustrate active, constructive approaches to reading and writing. Purposes for Writing. Purpose and Process follows a logical sequence of purposes. Processes for Writing.
Writing processes vary from one writer to the next and from one situation to the next.
Essays by Donald M. Murray, Mike Rose, and Julia Alvarez illustrate that writing processes are dependent upon the writer's culture and experience, the purpose, the audience, and the writing situation. Critical Reading and Text Annotation. The first reading selection in Chapters 3-9 contains examples of responses to a Prereading Journal Entry as well as a collaboratively annotated professional essay. Both the sample prereading responses and the annotations are written by actual student writers. Thematic Clusters of Essays.