Adventures in Writing An Introduction to the Writing Process With Readings

Several years ago, a few instructors and I were frustrated at not being able to find a satisfactory text for an introductory writing class. We would select one text and try it for a semester or two, but then set it aside for one reason or another: too difficult to understand, too grammar oriented, too few practices, etc. We would select and try another text for a little while, but experience the same results. I realized that a better text must exist, so I began to search for it. I mailed a letter to the English Department Chairs at all community colleges in California (107 at the time) requesting textbook recommendations. Many chairs responded, and my list of recommended texts grew. Then, I requested desk copies of these texts from publishers and evaluated 46 books, creating a table that compared their strengths and weaknesses. Upon completion of this research, I realized that-although several good books existed-the book that we sought had not yet been written. We needed a book that introduced students to the process of writing, a book that was organized according to that process, a book that explained how to incorporate technology into the writing process, and a book that was sensitive to our diverse student population by addressing ESL trouble spots. This text, the culmination of five years of research and writing, fills that need. First, it introduces students to the complex process of writing through a simple organization: prewriting, writing, and rewriting. While doing so, it builds sentence skills, teaches grammar, and provides practice in sentence combining. This approach benefits students because they need to understand the big picture--the process of writing--early in their writing education. Second, this text offers an entire chapter on computers, computer tips throughout the text, and Internet-based writing assignments in every chapter, making this text ideal for classes with computer components, classes taught in computer labs, web-supported classes, self-paced classes, online classes, etc. Third, this text serves our diverse student population by addressing the writing concerns of students who are learning English as a second language; these concerns are addressed both in a separate chapter and in the form of tips throughout the text. Finally, I would like to thank the following reviewers: Jessica Carroll, Miami-Dade Community College; Patrick Haas, Glendale Community College; Sarah Kirk, University of Alaska-Anchorage; Richard W. Rawnsley, College of the Desert; Mark Branson, Davidson County Community College; Janet Cutshall, Sussex County Community College; Andrew B. Preslar, Lamar State College-Orange. Adam U. KemplerKempler, Adam U. is the author of 'Adventures in Writing An Introduction to the Writing Process With Readings' with ISBN 9780130943729 and ISBN 013094372X.