Fields of Reading: Motives for Writing

Because composition students will major in a wide variety of disciplines, Fields of Reading draws on the major divisions of the curriculum -- arts and humanities, social sciences and public affairs, and sciences and technologies -- to present well-crafted and high-quality writing from these fields. Chosen by five editors who are all distinguished teachers and writers, the selections are organized in each division by writing purpose (reflecting, reporting, explaining, and arguing) in order to show how writing must be suited to a particular situation in order to be effective. Students are thus exposed to important readings by key voices in contemporary intellectual life -- the kind of thought-provoking pieces one expects to encounter in college. The unique dual organization by academic discipline and rhetorical purpose helps students to understand how subject, intent, and audience influence the form and style of their own writing.