Features

-- Contains both classic and contemporary works of fiction, poetry, and drama -- all class-tested by the authors with their students.

-- Chapter 2 provides an in-depth discussion on how to write about literature.

-- Eight model papers, five of which are source based, include multiple drafts along with annotations and commentary.

-- Three casebooks in each of the genres present resources that students can use to supplement their reading or use as source material for a research project.

-- Checklists in each chapter are designed to help students generate, explore, focus, and organize ideas about writing about literature.

-- Reading and Reacting questions ask students to interpret and evaluate what they have read.

-- Critical Perspective questions promote critical thinking by asking students to respond to analytical, interpretative, or evaluative comments critics have made about the work.

-- An appendix explains and illustrates the most up-to-date information on MLA documentation style.