About This Book

Simon and Schuster Short Prose Reader, 6th Edition

The Simon and Schuster Short Prose Reader is a valuable resource for students and educators looking to enhance their writing skills and explore a variety of high-interest readings. This book is designed to provide ideas for writing, suggest ways to approach a topic, and illustrate strategies for organizing and presenting information.

Who Uses It?

Primarily, this book is used by students in introductory writing courses at the high school and college levels. It is also a useful tool for anyone interested in improving their writing skills, including professionals looking to refresh their knowledge or expand their understanding of effective writing techniques.

History and Editions

The 6th edition of the Simon and Schuster Short Prose Reader has been updated to include a process-oriented approach based on interactive pedagogy. This edition combines creative, up-to-date writing instruction with practical exercises designed to help students develop their writing skills. The book has been a go-to resource for many educators and students since its initial publication in 2011.

Author and Other Works

Robert Funk is the author of the Simon and Schuster Short Prose Reader. While specific details about Robert Funk's other works are not readily available, his expertise in crafting engaging and instructive writing materials is evident in this edition of the book.

Key Features

High-Interest Readings: The book includes a collection of short, high-interest readings that provide inspiration and practical examples for writing.
Interactive Pedagogy: The process-oriented approach ensures that students are actively engaged in learning and applying writing techniques.
Writing Instruction: Combines creative writing instruction with practical exercises to help students develop their writing skills.

Detailed Information

ISBNs and Formats

Hardcover: ISBN-13: 9780205825998
eTextbook: ISBN-13: 9780205825998 (Note: This ISBN may also be used for e-book formats)
Softcover: ISBN-10: 0205825990

Publication Details

Publisher: Pearson
Publication Date: 2011
Number of Pages: 126 pages (List price)
Language: English

Other Editions and Formats

10th Edition: Not available (this edition is the 6th)
Related ISBNs:
9780205825998 (Hardcover)
0205825990 (Softcover)
9780205825998 (eTextbook)

Additional Notes

The Simon and Schuster Short Prose Reader is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their writing skills. Its interactive approach and high-interest readings make it an excellent choice for both students and educators.

Thematic Contents

Editing Skills: Contents

Preface

Chapter 1 ACTIVE READING

Learning to Be an Active Reader

Keeping a Journal

Previewing the Reading

Title

Author and Other Publication Facts

Visual Features and Supplements

Responses and Predictions

A First Reading

Staying Aware of Conventions

Subject

Main Idea or Thesis

Supporting Material

Patterns of Organization

Paragraphs

Transitions

A Sample Essay: Bob Greene, “Handled with Care”

Marking the Text

Clarifying Meaning

Using the Dictionary

Reading Aloud

Discussing

Rereading

Making Inferences and Associations

Reading between the Lines

Developing Inference Skills

Responding to Tone

Writing to Understand and Respond

Writing a Summary

Other Ways to Respond in Writing

Chapter 2 THE READING-WRITING CONNECTION

Writing in Response to Reading

Building an Essay

Finding Ideas

Devising a Working Thesis

Making a Plan

Composing a Draft

Improving the Draft

Targeting the Readers

Getting Feedback

Polishing the Final Draft

Sample Student Essay

Tara Coburn, “Someone to Help”

Resources for Writers on the Internet

Responding to a Reading

Russell Baker, “Learning to Write”

Suggestions for Writing

Chapter 3 STRATEGIES FOR CONVEYING IDEAS: NARRATION AND DESCRIPTION

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Narration and Description

Using Narratives

Using Description

The Principles of Narration and Description

Organizing the Events

Including Specific Details

Selecting Descriptive Words

The Pitfalls of Narration and Description

What to Look For in Narration and Description

Evan Thomas, “Rain of Fire”

Writing Step by Step: Describing a Catastrophe

Editing Skills: Sentence Combining

Mike Royko, “Jackie’s Debut: A Unique Day”

Writing Step by Step: An Eye-Opening Childhood Experience

Editing Skills: Punctuating Conversation

Ben McGrath, “Walking Away” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: Quitting a Job

Editing Skills: Quotation Marks inside Quotations

Jack Lewis, “Road Work”

Writing Step by Step: Being Helpful

Editing Skills: Choosing There, Their, or They’re

Kelly Berlin (student), “Domestic Abuse”

Chapter 4 STRATEGIES FOR MAKING A POINT: EXAMPLE AND ILLUSTRATION

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Example and Illustration

Using Examples to Explain and Clarify

Using Examples and Illustrations to Convince

The Principles of Example and Illustration

Select Appropriate Examples

Give Plenty of Examples

Include Specific Information

The Pitfalls of Example and Illustration

What to Look For in Example and Illustration

Elizabeth Berg, “My Heroes”

Writing Step by Step: Everyday Heroes

Editing Skills: Semicolons between Sentences

Brent Staples, “‘Just Walk On By’: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space”

Writing Step by Step: Mistaken Stereotypes

Editing Skills: Commas around Interrupters

Daniel R. Meier, “One Man’s Kids”

Writing Step by Step: Qualities for Success

Editing Skills: Using Subordination

Tim Jones, “The Working Poor” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: Financial Troubles

Editing Skills: Using Commas in Series

Nick Boyer (student), “ Look Around First”

Chapter 5 STRATEGIES FOR CLARIFYING MEANING: DEFINITION AND EXPLANATION

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Definition and Explanation

The Principles of Definition and Explanation

Descriptive Details

Examples

Narration

Comparison

Contrast

The Pitfalls of Definition and Explanation

Missing Your Audience

Going in Circles

Abstraction

Leaving Information Out

What to Look For in Definitions and Explanations

Gloria Naylor, “‘Mommy, What Does “Nigger” Mean?’”

Writing Step by Step: Multiple Meanings

Editing Skills: Hyphens

Isaac Asimov, “What Is Intelligence, Anyway?” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: Defining an Abstraction

Editing Skills: Using the Right Tense

Dennis Baron, “The Noun Game: A Simple Grammar Lesson Leads to a Clash of Civilizations”

Writing Step by Step: Explaining a Cultural Practice

Editing Skills: Using Noun Clauses

Lilly Gonzalez, “Viva Spanglish!”

Writing Step by Step: Subgroup Identity

Editing Skills: Using Coordination

Kerri Mauger (student), “Nothing to Be Scared Of ”

Chapter 6 STRATEGIES FOR SORTING IDEAS: CLASSIFICATION AND DIVISION

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Classification and Division

The Principles of Classification and Division

Give a Purpose to Your Classification

Establish a Clear Basis for Your Classification

Make Your Groups Parallel and Equal

The Pitfalls of Classification and Division

What to Look For in a Classification

Judith Viorst, “Friends, Good Friends–and Such Good Friends” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: Romantic Relationships

Editing Skills: Using Pronouns Consistently

Franklin Zimring, “Confessions of an Ex-Smoker”

Writing Step by Step: More Than One Way to Solve a Problem

Editing Skills: Avoiding Sexist Language

David Elkind, “Types of Stress for Young People”

Writing Step by Step: Types of Social Pressure

Editing Skills: Transitions

Juleyka Lantigua, “The Latino Show”

Writing Step by Step: TV Portrayals

Editing Skills: Using Apostrophes

Ben Hardy (student), “Three Ways to Use a Recipe”

Chapter 7 STRATEGIES FOR EXAMINING TWO SUBJECTS: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Comparison and Contrast

Using Comparisons to Explain

Using Comparisons to Persuade

Using Contrast to Decide

The Principles of Comparison and Contrast

Using the Block-by-Block Plan

Similarities and Differences

Using the Point-by-Point Plan

The Pitfalls of Comparison and Contrast

Avoid Using Too Many Transitional Words

Avoid Repetition in Concluding

What to Look For in Comparison and Contrast

Nancy Masterson Sakamoto, “Conversational Ballgames”

Writing Step by Step: Extended Comparisons

Editing Skills: Commas after Dependent Elements

Suzanne Britt, “Neat People vs. Sloppy People” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: Contrasting Types of People

Editing Skills: Using Apostrophes

Brendan O’Shaughnessy, “A Whole New Ballgame”

Writing Step by Step: Then and Now

Editing Skills: Choosing Its or It’s

Kathy Seal, “The Trouble with Talent: Are We Born Smart or Do We Get Smart?”

Writing Step by Step: Two Points of View

Editing Skills: Using Dashes

Lynn Cooper (student), “Watching from All Sides”

Alternate Arrangement

Chapter 8 STRATEGIES FOR EXPLAINING HOW THINGS WORK: PROCESS AND DIRECTIONS

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Writing about Process and Directions

The Principles of Process and Directions

The Pitfalls of Process and Directions

Reviewing Your Process

Addressing Your Audience

What to Look For in Process and Directions

Carol Fleischman, “Shopping Can Be a Challenge” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: A Personal Approach to Shopping

Editing Skills: Using Parentheses

Michael Leddy, “How To E-mail a Professor”

Writing Step by Step: Message Mistakes

Editing Skills: Using Colons before Lists

Emily Nelson, “Making Fake Flakes”

Writing Step by Step: Behind the Scenes of a Process

Editing Skills: Punctuating Quotations

Steve Daly, “Change Agent: How Baker Pulled Off the ‘Werewolf’ Metamorphosis”

For Discussion and Writing

Ann Moroney (student), “A Graceful Stride”

Chapter 9 STRATEGIES FOR ANALYZING WHY THINGS HAPPEN: CAUSE AND EFFECT

Ideas and Images

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Cause-and-Effect Writing

The Principles of Cause-and-Effect Writing

Types of Cause and Effects

Patterns of Cause and Effect

The Pitfalls of Cause-and-Effect Writing

What to Look For in Cause-and-Effect Writing

Stephen King, “Why We Crave Horror Movies” (Combining Strategies)

Writing Step by Step: Entertainment Cravings

Editing Skills: Checking Pronoun Reference

Jade Snow Wong, “Fifth Chinese Daughter”

Writing Step by Step: Becoming Our Parents

Editing Skills: Using Parallel Structure

Greg Critser, “Supersize Me”

Writing Step by Step: Getting to the Root Causes

Editing Skills: Eliminating Wordiness

Sue Shellenbarger, “Young Workers With Dyslexia, ADD Find Office Less Accommodating Than School”

Writing Step by Step: The Person-Job Fit

Editing Skills: Using Commas after Introductory Clauses and Phrases

Brian L. Carter (student), “Almost a Winner”

Chapter 10 STRATEGIES FOR INFLUENCING OTHERS: ARGUMENT AND PERSUASION

Images and Ideas

For Discussion and Writing

The Point of Argument and Persuasion

The Principles of Argument and Persuasion

The Elements of Good Argument

Claims

Evidence

Refutation

A Sample Annotated Argument: Stephanie Pescitelli (student), “Misunderstood Medicine”

The Pitfalls of Argument and Persuasion

Taking on Too Much

Mistaking the Audience

Logical Fallacies

What to Look For in Argument and Persuasion

Debate: Do Same-Sex Couples Make Good Parents?

James C. Dobson, “Two Mommies Is One Too Many”

Jeff Pearlman, “Mom’s the Word”

Writing Step by Step: Taking Sides on Same-Sex Parenting

Editing Skills: Subject-Verb Agreement

Debate: How Real Is Reality TV?

Facts on File, “Reality Television: Issues and Controversies”

Michael Hirschorn, “The Case for Reality TV: What the Snobs Don’t Understand”

Oliver James, “Danger: Reality TV Can Rot Your Brain”

Anne Becker, “Hot or Not: Reality TV Can Be Harmful to Women”

Rita Dove, “Loose Ends”

Writing Step by Step: Pros and Cons of a Reality TV Show

Editing Skills: Using Questions

Debate: Can Money Buy Happiness?

Cynthia Crossen, “Whether People Define Themselves as Happy Depends on the Era”

Ed Diener, “Income and Happiness”

Pam Lambert and Alex Treniowski, “The High Cost of Winning”

Writing Step by Step: Engineering One’s Own Happiness

Editing Skills: Using Colons

Appendix: WRITING WITH SOURCES

Using Sources in Your Writing

Locating Sources

Using the Online Catalog

Using Indexes and Databases

Using the Internet

Evaluating Sources

Recognizing Bias

Judging Online Sources

Working with Sources

Taking Notes

Using a Research Notebook

Using the Printout/Photocopy Option

Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting

Devising a Working Outline

Writing a First Draft

Organizing Your Notes

Using Quotations and Paraphrases

Integrating Sources

Using Attributions and Lead-ins

Avoiding Plagiarism

Crediting Your Sources

Citing Sources Informally

Formatting Your Paper

Documenting Your Sources: MLA Style

In-Text Citations

Preparing the List of Works Cited

Works Cited List: Sample Entries

Books

Journals, Magazines, and Newspeprs

Online Publications

Sample student essay with sources: Brian L. Carter, “People, Pigeons, and Payoffs”

Credits

Index

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.