Perspectives on Contemporary Issues

By Katherine Anne Ackley

Book Overview

Packed with readings on current -- and often controversial -- topics from across the disciplines, PERSPECTIVES ON CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, 8e, equips you to think, read, and write critically. Part I emphasizes writing and research, with separate chapters on reading critically, the writing process, writing a summary, the critique, argumentation, synthesis requiring documentation, and the research paper. The sometimes provocative -- always intriguing -- readings include questions at the end that help you make a personal connection by applying the topic to your life. Unique "Responding to Visuals" sections prompt you to analyze images. In addition, the reader explains the latest MLA guidelines.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1305969375
• ISBN13: 9781305969377
• Release Date: January 2017
• Publisher: Cengage Learning
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Reading Across the Disciplines

I was very pleased. The book was in the condition the seller said it was.

Excellent

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. I brought the book used exspecting normal damage. However; when i recieved the book it was brand new.

awesome

Great condition. Worn corners, but no highlighting. I thought it was too good to be true, but it was the real deal in great condition. It saved me $50 compared to the price of the book store!

Teacher view

Having used this text for 4-5 yrs in my English 101 class, I have had great success with it. The intent of the book is to offer a wide range of perspectives, including some which may seem extreme. This serves to stimulate excellent class discussions and essays on complex issues in a basic college-level writing class with the goal of improving students' abilities to read, think, and write analytically + critically. I appreciate the broad range of topics, multiple articles on each topic, discussion questions, and sample writing topics. In fact, I would like to see a new edition since the main problem with this one is that it's somewhat outdated. The section of the book devoted to writing instruction is rather basic and, I believe, intended to be used in conjunction with another writing handbook (most college writing classes require such a handbook). I do agree that the cost of all college texts is insane; my own daughter's first semester books cost $540; however, her English books were, comparatively, a better deal than texts in other subject areas. One chemistry book was almost $150!

A must for any college English course

Ackley's text is quite simply a work of pedagogical genius. As a college professor, I have used this text with remarkable results. It not only introduces the reader to a broad spectrum of thought provoking issues, but also helps to strengthen his/her thinking skills, unfortunately a forgotten art for many of today's college freshmen. As the title indicates, the book covers a wide range of subject areas from rock and roll to bisexuality. The student is motivated to react, and therefore think about, the various issues raised in the readings. The exhaustive section on the writing of a research paper is a great help for the instructor as it is so thorough that no extra information is required. This book certainly receives an A+ from this professor.