Decker's Patterns of Exposition is a modern classic — an accessible collection of quality essays which aptly illustrate the rhetorical modes and reflect the diversity of our culture, and the changes and challenges of our times. Practical, concise writing apparatus includes chapter openers that introduce each rhetorical mode. An emphasis on critical reading and writing is demonstrated through the "Ways of Writing" section and an all new section, "Becoming a Critical Reader." Within chapters, some essays have been grouped into thematic clusters on provocative topics to show how writers use multiple patterns to address the same theme.

Table of Contents:
1. Ways of Writing. 2. Becoming a Critical Reader. Just Walk on By, Brent Staples. 3. Illustrating Ideas by Use of Example. Sample Paragraph: Lowell Ponte, What's Wrong with our Weather. In and of Ourselves We Trust, Andy Rooney. Why Don't We Complain, William. F. Buckley, Jr. What I've Learned from Men, Barbara Ehrenreich. Issues and Ideas: Discovering and Constructing Identities. Fear of Flying, *Antonya Nelson. Dysfunctional Nation, *Mary Karr. Iron Bonding, Alan Buczynski. 4. Analyzing a Subject by Classification. Sample Paragraph: Talking 'Bout Their Generation. What, Me? Showing Off?, Judith Viorst. Personal Beast, Judith Stone. Issues and Ideas: Images of Ourselves and Others. Lotus Blossoms Don't Bleed: Images of Asian American Women, Renee Tajima. Life Is a Musical, Brenda Peterson. 5. Explaining by means of Comparison and Contrast. Sample Paragraph: Robert Jastrow, The Enchanted Loom. Two Ways of Seeing a River, Mark Twain. Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts, Bruce Catton. A Nonsmoker with a Smoker, Phillip Lopate. Issues and Ideas: Gender and Other Differences. The Men We Carry in Our Minds, *Scott Russell Sanders. On Being White, Female, and Born in Bensonhurst, *Marianna De Marco Torgovnick. Am I Blue?, Alice Walker. 6. Using Analogy as an Expository Device. Sample Paragraph: James Trefil, The Dark Side of the Universe. The Brown Wasps, Loren C. Eiseley. Letting in Light, Patricia Raybon. Issues and Ideas: Discovering Patterns in Behavior and Relationships. O Rotten Gotham Sliding Down into the Behavioral Sink, Tom Wolfe. High Tide in Tucson, Barbara Kingsolver. 7. Explaining through Process Analysis. Sample Paragraph: Ira Flatow,Storm Surge. Give Juggling a Hand!, *Joe Buhler and Ron Graham. Unmasking Your Dream Images, Ann Faraday. Writing Around Rules, *Mike Rose. Issues and Ideas: Advertising and Appearances Shaping Realities. We Build Excitement, *James B. Twitchell. To Dispel Fears of Live Burial, Jessica Mitford. Beauty . . . And the Beast of Advertising, *Jean E. Kilbourne. 8. Analyzing Cause-and-Effect Relationships. Sample Paragraph: Nelson George, The Death of Rhythm and Blues. What's Your Best Time of Day?, Susan Perry and Jim Dawson. A Peaceful Woman Explains Why She Carries a Pistol, Linda Hasselstrom. Hello, Darkness, *Cullen Murphy. Issues and Ideas: Work, Success, and Failure. Kids in the Mall: Growing Up Controlled, William Severini Kowinski. Everest Is Mighty, We are Fragile, *Peter Hillary. What makes Sammy Walk?, *Randall Rothenberg. 9. Using Definition to Help Explain. Sample Paragraph: Linton Robinson, Marathoning with Maps. Gypsies, Roger Welsch. The Hoax, *John Berendt. The Insufficiency of Honesty, *Stephen L. Carter. Issues and Ideas: Redefining Relationships and Identities. Father's Day, *Michael Dorris. Growing Up Asian in America, Kesaya Noda. Mother's Day, *Veronica Chambers. 10. Explaining with the Help of Description. Sample Paragraph: Donald Hall, Seasons at Eagle Pond. Aging in the Land of the Young, Sharon Curtin. The War Room at Bellevue, George Simpson. Issues and Ideas: Place and Person. The Yellow Door House, *Joyce Maynard. The Ice Cream Truck, Luis J. Rodriguez. Once More to the Lake, E. B. White. 11. Using Narration as an Expository Technique. Sample Paragraph: Edwin Mickleburgh, Beyond the Frozen Sea: Visions of Antarctica. 38 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police, Martin Gansberg. Uncle Chul Gets Rich, *Chang-rae Lee. Issues and Ideas: Telling Stories about Ourselves and Our Values. A Hanging, George Orwell. The Quality of Mercy, Rita Williams. Kubota, *Garrett Hongo. 12. Reasoning by Use of Induction and Deduction. Sample Paragraphs: Daniel Cohen, Cooking Off for Fame and Fortune. A Chilling Effect, *Lois G. Forer. Star Dreck, Barbara Ehrenreich. Blowing Up the Tracks, Patricia Kean. Issues and Ideas: Digital Realities. A Virtual Life, *Maia Szalavitz. Place Without Space, *Nicholas Negroponte. 13. Using Patterns for Argument. Sample Paragraph: Grime and Punishment. Issues and Ideas: Current and Classic Controversies. How the Lawyers Stole Winter, *Christopher B. Daly.   Argument Through Comparison and Contrast. Why Johnny Can't Read, but Yoshio Can, Richard Lynn. Argument Through Comparison and Contrast. Don't Blame the Jury, *Alan Hirsch. Argument Through Example. Four-Letter Words Can Hurt You, Barbara Lawrence. Argument Through Definition. Menace to Society, *John Davidson. Argument Through Cause and Effect. Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King, Jr. Complex Argument. Further Readings. Pornography, Margaret Atwood. Late Afternoon, *Bill McKibben. Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit, *Leslie Marmon Silko. A Guide to Terms.