In Context is a new thematically-organized reader, with readings that emphasize compelling, distinctive cultural issues and topics. In Context has four broad thematic units: Searching for Authenticity, Establishing a Sense of Place, Participating in Civic Conversations, and Adapting to the Changing Economy. Each theme concludes with a case study that asks students to examine a single controversial event by evaluating surrounding documents (newspaper reports, legal briefs, as well as essays). Students then respond with their own synthesis and perspective. What sets In Context apart from other readers is (1) its emphasis on rhetorical issues—students are introduced to four rhetorical concepts: context, genre, language, and consequences, and (2) the fact that it goes beyond critiquing culture, to focus on how societies and individuals use writing and reading to do work, to achieve results. Assignments in the book encourage students to explore different genres — reports, letters to the editor, proposals, as well as essays.

Table of Contents:
I. CONTEXTS FOR CONVERSATIONS. Contexts for Conversations. Phat X. Chiem, “Taggers Spray over Vandal Image.” Writing in Context: Reading in Context: Tools for Writing and Reading in Context. A Guide to Writing in Context. A Guide to Reading in Context. Genre Glossary. II. SEARCHING FOR AUTHENTICITY. Keeping it Real. Jon Spayde. “A Way out of Wonderland: Is Real Life Possible Anymore?” Bell Hooks. “Art on my Mind.” Todd Boyd. “Representing the Real.” Jane Tompkins. “Me and My Shadow.” Charles Taylor. “Inescapable Horizons.” Nell Bernstein. “Goin' Gangsta, Choosin' Cholita.” David Klinghoffer. “The Heart of the Matter.” Is Authenticity for Sale? Gloria Anzaldua. “Chicana Artists: Exploring Nepantla, el Lugar de la Frontera.” Thomas Frank. “A Cultural Perpetual Motion Machine.” Marc Spiegler. “Marketing Street Culture: Bringing Hip-Hop Style to the Mainstream.” James Ledbetter. “Imitation of Life.” Gerald Marzorati. “Tropicália, Agora!”. CASE STUDY: CONTESTING THE OWNERSHIP OF MUSIC. [Lyrics]. U2. “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.” [Newspaper article]. Richard Harrington. “On the Beat: U2's Double Trouble.” [Court Document ]. Island Records/Warner-Chappell Music. Excerpts from the Island/Warner-Chappell Lawsuit. [Press Release]. Negativland. “U2 Negativland: The Case From Our Side.” [Legislation]. Excerpts from Chapter 1 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act. [Opinion Pieces]. Negativland. “In Fair Use Debate, Art Must Come First.” Adrian Adams and Paul McKibben, “Sampling Without Permission is Theft.” [Software Review]. Tom Samiljan. “Build a Desktop Studio.” [Press Release]. RTMARK. “RTMARK Finds Bucks for Beck Rip-off.” III. ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF PLACE. On the Road. Andrea Barrett, “Why We Go.” Yi-Fu Tuan, “Nature and Culture.” Esmeralda Santiago, “Skin.” Clifton L. Taulbert, “Bright Boy from the Delta.” Vikram Seth, “Journey to Lhasa.” Barry Lopez, “Arctic Dreams: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape.” Making a Home. Walter Rybczynski, “Comfort and Well-being.” Sharon Haar and Christopher Reed. “Coming Home.” Michael Pollan, “The Triumph of Burbopolis: There's Nothing 'Sub' about the Suburbs Anymore.” Margaret Crawford, “Mi Casa es su Casa: Adobe LA.” Richard Rodriquez. “Late Victorians.” CASE STUDY: ON PAINTING A HOUSE PURPLE. [Brochure]. City of San Antonio, “Historic Districts of San Antonio: Neighbors in History.” [Newsbrief, Opinion Columns]. “King William Color Flap.” Susan Yerkes, “King William Seeing Red Over Purple.” Susan Yerkes, “Now We Know Why It's Called Purple Passion.” [News Stories]. Mike Greenberg, “Purple Debate Reaches Commission/Cisneros Agrees to Work with City Staff on Mutually Acceptable Color Scheme.” Thaddeus Herrick, “Author to Repaint Purple House a 'Tejano' Color.” [Letters to the Editor. Opinion Pieces]. Sandra Cisneros. “My Purple House.” Milton Babbitt. “Purple Politics.” [T.V. News Story]. Michele Norris, “The Purple House.” [Opinion Column]. Mike Greenberg, “Cisneros Case Sheds Light on Monicagate.” IV. PARTICIPATING IN CIVIC CONVERSATIONS. What Makes Democracy Work? Jean Bethke Elshtain. “Civil Society.” Robert Putnam. “Toward an Agenda for Social Capitalists.” Patricia J. Williams. “Hate Radio.” Barbara Carlson. “Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner.” Lani Guinier. “Democracy's Conversation.” Ray Suarez, Ellis Cose, Joie Chen, George de Lama, Mark Trahant. “Symposium on Minority Journalists and the Media.” John Perry Barlow. “Is There a There in Cyberspace?” Deliberating about Disability. Paul K. Longmore. “The Second Phase: From Disability Rights to Disability Culture.” Simi Linton. “Negotiating Disability.” Michael Berube. “Life As We Know It.” James S. Brady. “Save Money: Help the Disabled.” Editors of the New York Times. “Blank Check for the Disabled. Americans with Disabilities Act. United States Senate. “Debate on Americans with Disabilities Act.” CASE STUDY: NEGOTIATING ART FOR PUBLIC SPACES. [Press Release]. Robert Doubek. “Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Statement of Purpose.” [Proposal]. Maya Ying Lin. “Design Competition: Winning Designer's Statement.” [Historical Narrative]. Jan C. Scruggs and Joel Swerdlow. To Heal a Nation: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial. [Opinion Piece]. “Black Gash of Shame.” Editorial from New York Times, April 14, 1985. [Journal Article]. Elizabeth Hess. “A Tale of Two Memorials.” [Letters to the Editor]. Frederick Hart, Andrew Hamilton, Marc Leepson, and Elizabeth Hess. “More on the Vietnam Memorial Controversy.” [Journal Article]. Rosemarie Garland-Thomson. “The FDR Memorial: Who Speaks From the Wheelchair?” V. ADAPTING TO THE CHANGING ECONOMY. Living in the Global Economy. Thomas Friedman, “The Lexus and the Olive Tree.” William Wolman and Anne Colamosca, “A Passage to India: The Case of Bangalore.” Robert B. Reich, “Becoming a Knowledge Worker.” Joel Spring, “Education and the Global Economy.” Chan Lean Heng, “Women on the Global Assembly Line.” Marta Calas and Linda Smircich. “Dangerous Liaisons: The Feminine in Management Meets ”Globalization"'. Adapting to the Changing Workplace. Robyn Meredith, “For This We Sent You to College?” Esther Dyson. “Looking for Work on the Net?” Jennifer Stone Gonzalez, “ Succeeding Outside the Ivory Tower.” Daniel Goleman, “What Makes a Leader?” Barbara Ehrenreich, “Nickel-and-Dimed: On (not) getting by in America.” Victoria De Grazia; Claudia Goldin, Jacqueline Jones, Juliet B. Schor, Marta Tienda, William Julius Wilson, and moderator, Michael Weinstein. “A Man's Place”. CASE STUDY: ADVOCATING FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS. [Newpaper Article]. Merrill Goozner, “Longtime Temps want Some Perks.” [Magazine Article]. Aaron Bernstein, “ A Leg Up for the Lowly Temp: Advocates are Lobbying for Better Benefits and an Employers' Code of Conduct.” [Consumer Guide]. Barrie Peterson, “The Temp Workers Alliance's Consumer Guide to 'Best Practices' Temp Agencies.” [Self Help Guide]. Hassett, Brian. “The Temp Survival Guide: How to Prosper as an Economic Nomad of the Nineties.” [Electronic 'Zine]. Jeff Kelly. Editor of “Best of Temp Slave!”. APPENDIX: STRATEGIES FOR WRITING AND READING IN CONTEXT. Journal Writing. Observing your World. Library and Online Research. Small Group Activities. Writing in Teams. Writing Processes.