A practical collection of model prose for mastering the five forms of discourse.
This volume offers ready-made examples that illuminate how good writing works in real life.
The book gathers sixty passages from forty authors to illustrate description, narration, exposition, argumentation, and criticism. It helps students see how writers build scenes, tell events, explain ideas, argue a point, and offer evaluation. The Preface explains the aims: to teach underlying principles, demonstrate how to infer rules from models, and encourage self-testing through comparing writing with these specimens. A thoughtful companion for instructors and learners alike, it also provides structured exercises to practice each form.
What you’ll experience
- Clear models of five discourse types: description, narration, exposition, argumentation, and criticism
- A diverse set of excerpts showing technique in action
- Guidance on using models to learn principles and improve your own writing
- Suggested exercises designed to develop observation, comparison, and critical thinking
Ideal for readers who want a practical, example-driven approach to rhetoric and composition, whether for study or self-improvement.