Techniques in Teaching Writing by A. Raimes

Review by Kim Engbers - PC 11

This book is good for teaching ESL writing. The first chapter is a good review on how to teach ESL students to write in English. I found it useful because I have never taught writing before, much less ESL writing, and it was good to look back at this chapter mid-semester also.

The book is older but still very useful. It is a short read and a goof refresher for any teacher. The final chapter is how to edit student’s writing. I also found this useful because I found myself either wanting to totally re-write a student’s paper and therefore take away the student’s own creativity or just circle whole paragraphs and write “change this”. Either way I was not helping the student. The last chapter helped me find a structured way to respond to the students writing and give useful feedback.

The Lively Art of Writing by Lucille Vaughn Payne

The Lively Art of Writing by Lucille Vaughn Payne

Review by Derek Kolb - PC11

If there were one book that every writing teacher (and student) should read, it is The Lively Art of Writing. At less than 200 pages, nothing is wasted, and it's easily manageable for quick reading before a semester and even by some higher level students as a textbook. Vaughn Payne walks readers through the basic steps of rhetoric, from forming an opinion to putting the finishing touches on transition sentences, all the while using a very dry-wit, matter of fact tone that makes its more enjoyable than mosttextbooks.

You can use the book a semester or year long course plan by having your students write papers, or use only parts of it for specific lessons. Vaughn Payne is particularly good and explaining those things that make English writing just "sound right" that many native speakers might not be able to pinpoint.

This book is much more affordable, accessible, and practical than any other I have come across.