5 stars (Thorough and engaging) - This book is used as a course text in many design classes across the country. I can see why. Not so much a history as it is a survey of the current state of graphic design, it's quite possibly the best treatment I've ever read on the subject in a single volume. The 3rd edition is significantly expanded in content and reformatted versus the 2nd, and the illustrative examples are abundant and well-chosen. Many of the examples are accompanied by remarks from the designers themselves, which helps shed light on the concepts and thought processes behind the work. The text strikes a good balance between commentary and pedagogy, and as a result the book works for both instructional reference and casual reading. The end of each chapter contains related exercises designed to prod your right brain into action. This book will help you discover -- or rediscover -- what's fun and exciting about graphic design. 3 stars (Good compilation but too many typographical errors) - This book would be wonderful if the editor had done a great job of fixing all the typographical errors. I lost concentration and kept correcting typing mistakes ...very unprofessional...makes you wonder who is teaching me...otherwise a good help 5 stars (Great resource for begining Designer) - I am a design student, and this was our textbook for one of my design foundation classes. The projects that we did in class (and are now in my portfolio) were modified versions of some of the exercises in this book. This book starts with the basics of 2D design and then builds on what you have learned. It is a great overview of other areas of design as well. This is a hands on book that allows you to learn by doing. If you are interested in graphic design go get this book! ... Thomson Delmar Learning :: Business & Economics & Careers :: Publishing :: Language Arts & Disciplines :: Language :: Graphic arts :: Graphic Arts - General :: Commercial art :: Careers - Gen :: Graphic Design Solutions
5 stars (Owner's review) - This book is in awesome shape, I used it for an online course, so i have never carried in a book bag. No markings, and very very minimal corners bent. 5 stars (Interesting and real world scenarios) - I teach technical writing at a community college and frequently switched textbooks until I discovered Mike Markel's. It is well organized, gives 8 measures of excellence in technical writing that students quickly grasp, has very up-to-date scenarios that prompt critical reading and writing and the online quizzes and resources are the frosting on the cake. This book is a great tool for educators, students and absolutely anyone who wishes to write in a professional manner. 3 stars (Well written, over priced common sense.) - The information in the book as well as the scenarios presented are well put. The writing is adequate for the subject. Overall, though, I feel the cost of the book exceeded the value. Much of the information in the book is common sense. ... Bedford-St Martin-s :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Telecommunications :: Technology :: Technical Writing :: Science&Mathematics :: Language Arts & :: Technical Communication
5 stars (The Power of the Essay) - The Bedford Reader provides the teacher of writing with a powerful tool. Provocative, interesting, varied essays are presented within a coherent framework of rhetorical strategies. I have used it with 9th and 10th graders, but will use it with older students as well. If your concern is with rhetoric, if you want to teach your students to think and write effectively, this is a great resource. 5 stars (The Best I've Ever Seen) - I was required to get this book for an Intermediate Composition course in college and it has to be the best college textbook I have ever had. First there is a wide variety of stories to choose from and at least one will appeal to everyone. Even though it is a educational textbook I still read it in my leisure time, as well. 4 stars (Each work demands the reader's attention in its own way.) - My high school English class analyzes two essays from the book every grading period. I have seldom had an assignment that I enjoy so much; after analyzing the first essay assigned (Homeless), I sat back to think about what the writer had expressed. The essays are thought provoking and demand attention. The Bedford Reader is a book that I would recommend for the sheer enjoyment of exploring one's own mind and escaping to the world of another's. ... Bedford-St Martin-s :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language Arts & Disciplines :: Language :: Compositi :: The Bedford Reader
5 stars (Shirley Brice Heath Has a "Way With Words") - Language is power. Heath, a reflective practitioner of both human nature and schooling, provides an in-depth view of communities which epitomize the struggle for such power. In her ethnographic study of Trackton and Roadville, Heath lays bare the socializing process of children through words. The discontinuity between home and school is disturbing; a realization that students who do not fit the traditional way of schooling are left behind. Clearly illustrated is the need for teachers and students to bridge the gap which exists in relation to both language and culture, for without this effort some students will never acquire the power needed to take control of their education or pursue opportunities from which they have previously been excluded. This is must reading for student ethnographers, doctoral students, and those dedicated to school reform, particularly those in the areas of diversity in public schools, and language. This extraordinary book compares favorably to "Growing Up Literate: Learning From Inner-City Families" by Denny Taylor & Catherine Dorsey-Gaines. 3 stars (A Teacher's View) - Teaching in a high school with a large number of minority children can be challenging. After reading this book, recommended by the debate teacher, I feel that I am better prepared. This book is an excellent resource for those wanting to understand the student from a background different form their own. If you plan to work in public school, this book is a must-read. I borrowed a friend's book, and then decided I had to have a copy of my own. ... Cambridge University Press :: Sociolinguistics :: Language Arts & Disciplines & General :: English :: Linguistics :: Language arts :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language :: Intera :: Ways with Words - Language- Life and Work in Communities and Classrooms (Cambridge Paperback Library
3 stars (Lit teacher) - The book does provide a diverse range of genre. It works well as a literature textbook. However, the quality of the book binding is poor. Students purchase this $50+ textbook only to have chunks of it fall out before the end of the semester. I suppose the publisher sells more textbooks that way, since few books are resold as used books, but I can't recommend it for just that reason. 5 stars (College English Class) - Great Book....even though the CRAZY PROFESSOR I HAD USED 15 of the essays and some poems. THE ESSAYS WERE INTERESTING AND FUN. 5 stars (An excellent textbook for first-year college students.) - This book provides a good range of diverse materials for a teacher in a first year English course. There are multiple genres and themes, a section of famous paintings for discussions (useful for discussions on literature and art), among other helpful features. The Conscious Reader is an antidote to readers which have the same standard writing for student use. ... Longman :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Rhetoric :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language Arts & Disciplines :: Language :: :: The Conscious Reader- Ninth Edition
5 stars (Well worth buying and reading) - This book is aimed at explaining proficiency oriented language teaching, and has very valuable material on proficiency and its importance. This is something many teachers seem to overlook as too obvious to be of concern, but Hadley shows it to be a central issue in teaching. The criticism made by one reviewer that it's tilted too much toward communicative teaching is mistaken. There's a difference between communicative teaching and proficiency oriented teaching, although they are obviously related. This book, like any other, is not sufficient by itself, but needs to be read an compared to others in order to get a range of viewpoints. It is not of instantaneous practical use to classroom teachers, but rather deals with the ideas behind teaching methods. It is a very valuable addition to a teacher's bookshelf and I have no regrets about buying it. 5 stars (Why did I buy this book?) - I remember using it in a course I took a few years ago, and I was thrilled to find so many different aspects of language teaching covered in one volume. When I was thinking of buying the present edition, I asked a friend, someone with a Master's degree in TESL/TEFL, her recommendation, and she said: "Well, Doug Brown recommended it to me." So I bought Teaching Language in Context, and am very glad I did. 5 stars (If I were to choose one book) - No book can cover every aspect of language instruction, but by all means Hadley's work would be right up there with Ellis, Richards and Rodgers among others. This is a solid book, jam packed with historical facts and insights, and I feel has caught the full heart of the profession representing the current state of the profession. I could not disagree with the first reviewer more. I am reading this book through and I love this book. This is not a technique-y book at all but a serious treatise and contribution to educators who want to have a broader scope on theory and instruction. In my mind, the author... Heinle :: Foreign Language Study & General :: Study and teaching :: Study & Teaching :: Professional Development :: Linguistics :: Languages :: Modern :: Language Arts & Ling :: Teaching Language In Context
4 stars (From a Teacher) - I have used this book to teach a freshman writing and reading course at a liberal arts school. Because of the difficulty of many of the texts, it was met by my students with little fanfare. While a few of the pieces are clearly too much for the average freshman (Foucault comes first to mind), most can be used effectively to get them to discuss issues. I have found that the students would rather talk in generals and universals than with the intricate arguments that some of the writers brilliantly present. This is one of the those books that if you decide to use it in a class, then you better be prepared to not only sink with the ship but also be able to provide an inspiring tour of the ruins. 5 stars (Challenging, yet rewarding read) - I had to read this book for my upper division journalism class this fall and found it to be one of the best books that we used in the course. The editors have tried to collect well-written, intelligent documentaries that challenge traditional connections between words and photographs. Included are Edward Said's inspiring piece about the Palestinian holocaust and exile, a piece by Roland Barthes about the meaning of photograph, "Let Us Speak Now of Famous Men," and many others. Although some pieces are better than others, Barthes' piece is more exciting and informative than Marianne Hirsch's writing on the way that children are used in photography. Over all, the collection is a rewarding and challenge book that could be used for any upper division class. (Maybe the reason that previous reviewers did not like the book is that it was not intended for first year college composition classes.) 1 stars (Blah, Blah, Blah) - I had to read this book for my Freshman lit/comp class and it is by far the most pathetic collection of essays every gathered. It is almost unreadable, pretentious, and laughable. It is a collection of essays by writers who think considerably more of themselves then they are due. Subseque... Bedford-St Martin-s :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Rhetoric :: Report writing :: Problems :: exercises :: etc :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Litera :: Ways of Reading - An Anthology for Writers
5 stars (Clear and easily understandable) - The geniuses that controlled my education decided that I should skip fourth grade reading because they caught me reading Mark Twain in third grade. I can't imagine what in the WORLD they were thinking, as I came to learn years later that in fourth grade reading they taught - you guessed it - grammar! And boy, did I suffer. My written grammar was absolutely horrendous for years, and even though I continued to be placed in advanced or honors English classes throughout high school, whenever my papers were returned to me the "concept" side came back with an A, and the "grammar" side came back with a D or an F. There's no substitute for learning young, but this is the closest thing to it. I've never seen a grammar book that's easier to understand than this one. Forget the Idiot's Guides or Dummies books, and invest a little more in this one and the accompanying workbooks. If you're really interested in boning up on your grammar skills, this will be of tremendous assistance. Also, if you're looking to buy the workbooks, remember that this is the THIRD edition, that it is in blue, and so you should conduct your search for the accompanying workbooks by first identifying those that are blue, and make sure that they're for the third edition. There are several editions available here on Amazon, so buy wisely. 4 stars (For those who crave grammar) - This book is a comprehensive reference grammar/workbook for non-native speakers of English. If you are trying to choose between Azar's grammar books, the "Blue" book is intended for intermediate to advanced students, while the "Black" book is for beginning to intermediate and the "Red" for raw beginners. A grammar outline from the "Blue" book is also available without exercises. The book is divided into chapters covering notorious grammar points, including: verb tenses, modals, passive voice, gerunds and infinitives, singular and plural, adjective clauses, noun clauses, connecting expre... Pearson ESL :: Foreign Language Study & English as a Second Language :: Textbooks for foreign speakers :: Problems :: exercises :: etc :: Linguistics :: Language Arts & Linguist :: Understanding and Using English Grammar (Third Edition) (Full Student Edition without Answer Key)
4 stars (A Good Freshman Composition Reader) - While I am just starting to use this edition (6th) of the text, I have been happy with The Macmillan Reader since I began using the 5th edition in 1999. The chapters on academic reading and the writing process are thorough (but a bit dry), and the portions of the text that deal with each method of development are well-developed and thought out so as to help students get the best idea of what a "good" essay of each variety should and shouldn't include. The essays that are included are a wonderful assortment of old, tried-and-true and newer pieces from authors of varying backgrounds, ethnicities, and creeds. Students usually enjoy the readings I give them (I'd say 80% approval per piece), and with the average length being 5 pages, reading an essay for class and completing a journal entry is not too heavy of a burden any night of the week. The readings vary from "perfect" examples of what the text describes to even a few "what not to do when you write your own" essays that my students never fail to identify as such. I feel that this is, by far, the best reader I have used while teaching Freshman English (this is my fourth text), and I plan on sticking with it for years to come. The price is moderate, the readings enjoyable, and the "educational" chapters stated in a way that both the slowest and most advanced student in the class can come to the same understanding of what "good writing" is. 4 stars (Worth It!) - This may be a textbook, but it is definately worth buying. The instructions on writing were clear and helpful, and the essays were wonderful. I can honestly say that I liked almost every essay in the book! ... Longman :: Rhetoric :: Report writing :: Readers :: Problems :: exercises :: etc :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language Arts & Disciplines :: Language :: English la :: The Longman Reader (6th Edition)
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