Product Description

For Freshman-level writing courses, such as Freshman Composition, English Composition, First-Year Writing, Expository Writing or any course where students need help with grammar, research and documentation. The easiest handbook to use. Muriel Harris was the director of the Purdue Writing Center where she worked elbow-to-elbow with students and for over twenty-five years. As she worked with students, she realized that they asked the same questions over and over. Based on her experience with thousands of students in the writing center, Muriel Harris authored this spiral-bound, tabbed and brief handbook. Her unique feature, "Compare and Correct," and "Question and Correct," allows students to find what they need to help themselves with their writing, without needing to know the terms of grammar. Muriel Harris' Prentice Hall Reference Guide is the easiest handbook for students and instructors to use.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #253892 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• 640 pages

From the Publisher
This clear, concise, and inexpensive spiralbound handbook is designed for writing students who may not know grammatical terminology. Harris, widely known in the writing community, provides an easy-to-use resource featuring coverage of a wide variety of traditional topics as well as the most current information on writing with computers, conducting online research, and using MLA and APA formats for citations, including electronic sources.

From the Back Cover
For writers who want a clear, concise, user-friendly reference beside them while they write, this handbook has it all. Its easy-to-navigate coverage offers a wide variety of traditional topics and ESL tips as well as the most current information on writing with computers, conducting online research, and using MLA, APA, Chicago Manual, and CBE citation formats. Anyone who spends time writing—whether for professional or personal use—will find valuable assistance with the writing process; argument reading and writing; all major areas of grammar and mechanics; conducting research in libraries and online; using the World Wide Web as a resource; documenting and evaluating both print and electronic sources; document design; and writing resumes and cover letters. For anyone writing either professional or personal documents.

Customer Reviews

Great Reference
An unbelieveable source of reliance great for research and guidelines on assignments. A teacher at home. Easy to understand and the writer is very dedicated to in helping educate. The MLA format is also shown while description of verbs, tenses and subjects are given in chapters of depth. I strongly recommend this book.

Lots of Wasted Space
I bought this book sight unseen as a desk reference and I am sorry that I did. Technically, it is good reference guide - not the best. There are many concepts and terms that are not explained in the body of the text. Rather, as you are reading up on a particular topic,instead of defining the key terms, you are forced to flip through the glossary at the end of the text.

Example, page 100: "Forms of the verb that end in -ing, called gerunds..." Well, he author never mentions the fact that gerunds are used as nouns. This you learn from going to the glossary (P. 555)

This sort of thing happens all the time. Ahhhh!!

My second issue has to do with the excessive number of mind-numbing number of practice exercises. They alone take up 30% to 40% of the text. I think it is a great idea to practice what you are trying to learn but guess what? There is no answer key provided.

Why is it that you can get a solutions manual (at least odd number)to every math text ever produced but every other discipline restricts them to instructors only. It is so, so annoying. If anyone knows how to get resources reserved for instructors, please let me know.

Bottomline, you are not getting your money's worth with this writer's reference guide. Muriel, I expected better from your textbook.

I'm not sure what to make of this book
I didn't particularly like this book. I found it difficult to find something when I needed something specific. It was not easy to follow at the best of times. It's not my favorite.