For courses in Developmental Writing focusing on the paragraph/essay and on writing for the reader. User-friendly yet grounded in theory, this thematic reader gives basic writing students the materials and assignments they need to succeed in college. Its unique approach parallels the “life flow” from childhood to old age, reflecting the way reading and writing are used in college and in life. Short, helpful examples get students thinking about the requirements of college-level work. Maher bridges the gap between the personal and the academic to make a stronger connection between reading and writing, building students' skills in extrapolation, interpretation, and analysis for college success.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1. Writing: Why Do We Write? What Do We Write? For Whom Do We Write? Unafraid of the Dark, Rosemary L. Bray. A Letter, Mark Levensky. Theme for English B (poem), Langston Hughes. Can You Write the Wrongs of the Past?, Guy Nassiff. High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Flight Logs of Uncivil Aviation, Tom Kuntz. 2. Childhood: The Best Time of Our Lives? Victims of the 14th-Floor Window, Thomas Beller. Her First Week (poem), Sharon Olds. Barbie-Q, Sandra Cisneros. Angry Fathers, Mell Lazarus. Pots, Blocks & Socks, Debra Rosenberg and Larry Reibstein. 3. The Art (and Hard Work) of Parenting. Living with `The Look,' Robert Hughes. The Color of Water, James McBride. The Call (poem), Kathy Boudin. The Myth of Quality Time, Laura Shapiro. 4. School: The Best Place to Learn? Bully Basics: What Every Teacher Should Know about Bullies and Trade Secrets: How Do You Handle Bullies?, Gerry Sheanh, edited by Jamie Kyle McGillian. Autobiography of a Face, Lucy Grealy. When Money Is Everything, Except Hers, Dirk Johnson. Intrusion, The Class Clown, and A Poem for Zac (poems), Dan Holt. 5. Adolescence: Leaving Childhood Behind. Teen Angst? Nah!, Ned Vizzini. Not Mitzvah, Celeste Fremon. Hanging Fire, Audre Lorde. Driving Lessons, Neal Bowers. Unafraid of the Dark, Rosemary L. Bray. Reviving Ophelia, Dr. Mary Pipher. 6. Parents and Guardians: What They Mean to Us. After Long Silence, Helen Fremont. Colored People, Henry Louis Gates. The Mother Tongue, Veronica Chambers. Lesson (poem), Forrest Hamer. Underground Dads, Wil Haygood. Words Left Unspoken, Leah Hager Cohen. 7. Class and Race in Our Society: Are We Really Created Equal? Shocking Visits to the Real World, Monique P. Yazigi. Better Behave, Child: Ms. Fenstermaker Is Watching You, Peter Waldman. Slum Lords (poem), John Updike. First They Changed My Name…, Caffilene Allen. When God Blinks, Rick Bragg. Shenandoah's Secret History, Audrey J. Horning. 8. Careers. Next Time, Eat the Pizza After the Interview, Tom Kuntz. How to Avoid Getting Hired, Anne Fisher. A Path of One's Own: Five Who Transformed Their Dreams into Careers, Andy Steiner. Dream Teaching (poem), Edwin Romond. Who Needs a Diploma? Why the High-Tech Industry Wants Dropouts, Mark Wallace. Who Am I Today?, Claudia Shear. Warning: This Is a Rights-Free Workplace, Barbara Ehrenreich. 9. Relationships: The People in Our Lives. Instant Intimacy, Roxana Robinson. Bud, Jennie Phillips. Who Says You Can't Hurry Love?, Monte Williams. To My Dear and Loving Husband (poem), Anne Bradstreet. City Map, Daniel Stolar. 10. Growing Older and Wiser. The Karate Kids and Me, Marlene Demarco. I Am Asking You to Come Back Home (poem), Jo Carson. The Old in One Another's Arms, Davida Rosenblum. A Tattoo in Time, Marian Haglund Juhl. Past Imperfect: A Kansas Woman Pens Her Memoir and Finds, at Last, Redemption, Clare Ansberry.