Writing First with Readings: Practice in Context

LAURIE KIRSZNER and STEPHEN MANDELL have taught college and basic writing for more than 25 years. Their first textbook, Basic College Writing, grew out of their experiences in Temple University's ELECT (English Language Enrichment Center at Temple) program, one of the first basic writing programs in the country. Their many subsequent successful collaborations have included Patterns for College Writing, Ninth Edition (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2004), and Foundations First: Sentences and Paragraphs (Bedford/St. Martin's, 2005). Laurie Kirszner coordinates the writing program at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Stephen Mandell is the founder and former director of Drexel University's basic writing program, where he also teaches composition, literature, and technical and business writing.