Writing to the point: six basic steps

By William J. Kerrigan

Book Overview

This is an excellent book and is a must read for new authors. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0155983105
• ISBN13: 9780155983106
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Good buy

I liked what I purchased from this buyer. the book was in good condition and arrived on time..Can't commplain...:-)

Genius--and so Simple!

In 1976, when I was teaching in a Kansas high school, I became acquainted with William J. Kerrigan's writing method. In 2003, I retired from teaching writing to high school students and put my Kerrigan book on the shelf; however, just this fall (2008) I retrieved it in order to introduce it to college freshmen who were enrolled in my section of the dreaded "required Freshman composition" class at our local university in Ohio. Discovering that one of the authors, Allan A. Metcalf, is alive and well, I emailed him to thank him and and the late William J. Kerrigan for being the core of my teaching career for the past thirty years and to tell him that I was taking Writing to the Point with me to college. He was very cordial and seemed delighted that this writing method was still being taught. This writing method is the best writing method I have ever seen. Early in my career, I came to grips with the realization that not everyone wanted to be an English major in college, nor for that matter, even liked to write essays. However, if students simply follow this "formula" that is clear and logically organized, they can be successful writers in spite of their aversion to required composition in high school and college. In a clear and organized manner, this book describes the most clear and organized method that I know of for writing essays that are clear and organzied.

Clear, Straightforward Instruction

I first encountered this text as a college student, and found it extremely helpful in formulating effective essays. Later, I used it in tutoring situations and was able to help students solve their writing problems very quickly. Now, as a high school English teacher, I rely on it to help students at all levels gain confidence that leads to success in writing. Writing to the Point offers an easy to follow formula that gives students structure with flexibility to allow for many genres of writing.

This is simply the best approach to expository writing.

Kerrigan and Metcalf provide a comprehensive and clear method for writing expository papers. Although geared for a college freshman writing class, using this text at the junior high and high school level could preclude its use in college. I have used this text with my gifted intermediate elementary school students with great success. The students love the straight forward approach to writing, and do not feel that their creativity has been hampered in the least. If you are having difficulty teaching written expression, check out this novel approach!