A Writer's Reference

Rating:
Summary: A Must Have for Any Serious Writer
Review: A Writer's Reference is a must have for any serious writer. As a full time university student majoring in Writing and minoring in English this book is my life. It was a required text for my very first class at the college level, and the professor told us that if we could keep only one book in our college careers this would be the one to keep. Thank God I listened. I couldn't live or write well without it.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent writing support...
Review: All students at Manchester College, IN, (where I teach) are expected to own and use a copy of this extremely helpful, user friendly reference guide to writing. The spiral bound format of the book is outstanding, since someone can have it open as they type, or jot down notes, or thoughts.

The book is organized into three major sections: 1) Composition/Style, 2) Correctness, and 3) Format/Basic grammar. Each of those major sections are subdivided into four supporting subsections as follows:

Composition/Style -- 1) Composing and revising, 2) Research writing, 3) Effective sentences, and 4) Word Choice.

Correctness -- 1) Grammatical sentences, 2) ESL Trouble spots, 3) Punctuation, and 4) Spelling and mechanics.

Format/Basic Grammar -- 1) Document design, 2) MLA documentation, 3) Alternative styles of documentation, and 4) Basic grammar.

In addition to those sections, there are tutorials at the front of the book that helps the user get the best benefit from support available in the book. There are also ESL hints throughout the text, not just in the section dedicated to ESL challenges. The index is helpful, there are several URLs at the back of the book where a writer can go for more help, and there is even a page that shows revision symbols.

There are ample examples throughout, and anyone who conscientiously applies the lessons in this book will become a better writer.

This is a top-flight book with great things to offer everyone -- from struggling first-year college students taking their first composition class to the polished professional writer.

The strengths of this text made this book the top choice to support our writing across the curriculum program at Manchester College. Many other colleges and universities also use this great book.

5 stars for utility and support.

Alan Holyoak, Dept of Biology, Manchester College, IN

Rating:
Summary: This is a "must have" writer or editor's tool.
Review: Describing the contents of one of the most beneficial grammar books I study is difficult, though it is easy to read, research, check, verify, and use. Diana Hacker has written many books to help people understand and use the English language in the correct way. This is a heritage that also protects the language for future generations, just as dictionaries do.

The Main Menu is divided into topics and the sections that relate to it. Within each of these is a category breakdown, as follows:

Composition/Style:
(C) Composing and revising, (D) Document Design, (E) Effective sentences, and (W) Word Choices.
Correctness:
(G) Grammatical sentences, (T) ESL Trouble spots, (P) Punctuation, and (S) Spelling and mechanics.
Research/ Basic Grammar:
(R) Research Writing, (M) MLA documentation, (A) Alternative styles of documentation, and (B) Basic grammar.

The index is also helpful. I selected a topic at random--adjective phrases: (1) Infinite, 350, (2) participle, 349, (3) prepositional, 348-349, (4) punctuation of, 198, 205.

The format displays what type of information is on that page. (1) Page 350 is B for basic grammar information, as are 348 and 349. Pages 98 and 205 are P or punctuation.

This book is on my desk, and is one of the most useful tools I own. I cannot recommend it enough. Any serious writer, editor, or student needs it. 5 stars.

Victoria Tarrani

Rating:
Summary: The BIBLE for every English major in college!
Review: Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference is THE book for information on grammar, punctuation, mechanics, etc. All the information you need is there in one easy-to-use book. Even experienced writers will find it useful.

Rating:
Summary: An APA or Mla must have!
Review: Don't listen to anything else you've heard; this is THE must-have guide for any undergrad or grad student who is tasked with writing any kind of research or term paper. The author provides easily understandable examples and explanations of APA and Mla formats with helpful grammar tips. This guide is a must have for any serious student or writer. Kudos to Ms. Hacker!

Rating:
Summary: Good handbook, except when it comes to revision
Review: Hacker's text is exceptionally easy to use, but this edition (like past editions) fails to focus on techniques writers can employ for revising papers--one of the more difficult and mysterious stages of the writing process. Instead, Hacker briefly discusses ways to revise sentences and paragraphs without focusing on approaches to the global revision of ideas, thesis statements, and the overall direction of an essay. I have used Hacker's handbook in the college classes I teach for years, but I am always forced to supplement it extensively with resources for practicing revision. At a time when composition studies and composition specialists are focused on process-oriented and technology-driven writing instruction, this is a handbook that omits a crucial component of most composition instruction.

Rating:
Summary: Great reference
Review: I purchased this book as a requirement for a college course -- and this is the only college "textbook" I haven't disposed of in some way. Its labeled tabs make it easy to access information with the flick of a finger, and the front and back menus make it somewhat easy to find the information you're looking for. My only complaint about this book is the lack of a comprehensive index. For instance, if I wanted to find information about comma usage, I cannot simply look up "comma". I must utilize the menu and think in a heirarchal way -- Punctiation --> The comma. There have also been times I was unable to find information because I was unable to categorize what I was looking for.

Another aspect of this book is the online help. The book provides a URL where you can find supplemental information about the book and take interactive quizzes to test your grammar knowledge.

Despite some of its quirks, I would highly recommend this book as a good reference.

Rating:
Summary: Great reference
Review: I purchased this book as a requirement for a college course -- and this is the only college "textbook" I haven't disposed of in some way. Its labeled tabs make it easy to access information with the flick of a finger, and the front and back menus make it somewhat easy to find the information you're looking for. My only complaint about this book is the lack of a comprehensive index. For instance, if I wanted to find information about comma usage, I cannot simply look up "comma". I must utilize the menu and think in a heirarchal way -- Punctiation --> The comma. There have also been times I was unable to find information because I was unable to categorize what I was looking for.

Another aspect of this book is the online help. The book provides a URL where you can find supplemental information about the book and take interactive quizzes to test your grammar knowledge.

Despite some of its quirks, I would highly recommend this book as a good reference.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste money on ANY OTHER REF BOOK!
Review: Spend your hard-earned dollars on this ref guide by D. Hacker -- you won't regret it! She is thorough, understandable and this should be standarad issue for every college student (and a LOT of post-grad students who haven't quite figured all these citation formats out yet!) HACKER DOES IT BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE!

Rating:
Summary: Thanks, wrong book
Review: Too bad that a site I clicked on that put me here said it was the third edition of A Writer's Referenece, the fourth edition won't do me much good, and now I have too of them. So, it wasn't so great.