Writing from A to Z

Rating:
Summary: Semi-Useless
Review: This book is required by my English Composition class. It has served no purpose other than the emptying of my wallet for one of the most useless textbooks I've been required to buy.

Our class is currently using this "reference book" for our MLA format research papers. One part of our grade will consist of correct citations. We were to use this handbook to guide us in this process. However, on pg. 94 there is an error in proper citing which caused great confusion for my fellow students and I.

Along with these small but frequent mistakes is the fact that the entire book is lacking underlines! Most people realize that books should be underlined, but during citing, with pressure and time limits on our backs, little reminders and hints toward what you should underline and corrections over what you should not, are always helpful.

This book is causing more confusion than is needed by any college student. Simple things like this should be corrected before a book is published, assuming that those who wrote and edited the handbook even realize these problems exist.

Do not buy this book. Instead, purchase a previous version. Those, at least, make sense.

Rating:
Summary: Leading Writers in the Wrong Direction
Review: This book simply leads writers in the wrong direction. The MLA in it is either outdated or just simply incorrect. Many of the instructions involved in its essay construction are those that any reputable student would run from.

Inshort, if your grade is counting on it....go somewhere else. Try Diana Hacker "A Writer's Reference." It makes more sense and is more accurate with a 2004 MLA update.