Who wants to earn their keep as a reference librarian today?
My sister has asked me if there is any sort of manual or reference book about different TYPES of writing; not a grammar guide, mind you, but a book which might provide an overview of different types of prose writing (persuasive, essays, etc.) and/or one that might even include fiction or storytelling conventions. I told her I'd look around, meaning primarily in my basement (where most of my books are), as I thought at one time I had some sort of wire-bound book with just that sort of information in it.
I can't find anything, though, aside from my beloved copy of Strunk and White's Elements of Style, my outdated AP Style Manual and Libel Guide from my short, in-college-only journalism career, and a few other grammar guides. Anyone out there have any ideas on this one? What's in those MLA and APA style guides? Just rules for citation formats and things like that?
I will continue to look around places that aren't my basement as well, but in the meantime my sis and I thank you for any assistance.
Hi! I went through our catalog and found a few titles, which may (or may not) help....
Words fail me : what everyone who writes should know about writing by Patricia T. O'Connor; How I write :the secret lives of authors - edited by Dan Crowe with Philip Oltermann; Blueprint for writing :a writer's guide to creativity, craft & career by Rachel Friedman Ballon; and this one (which sounded fun): The grouchy grammarian:a how-not-to guide to the 47 most common mistakes by journalists, broadcasters, and others who should know better by Thomas Parrish.
The style manuals tend to just show how to cite things (MLS, APA, Turabian).
Posted by: Jo | 19 January 2011 at 08:41 PM
Thanks Jo!
I too thought we might have to look at some "how to write nonfiction" or other type books to find the info we needed, but I think we have in mind something almost more like a school textbook, something that would outline like how to write a 5-paragraph essay, etc. Does that make any sense? Regardless--we appreciate the suggestions.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 19 January 2011 at 08:54 PM
How about St. Martin's Guide to Writing by Axelrod and Cooper? Or any other college rhetoric textbook, but that's the biggie that I remember from my former life in college textbook publishing.
Posted by: Kathy | 19 January 2011 at 11:56 PM
I would like to add that the book would include various forms of poetry (form).
Thank you.
Posted by: CRS | 20 January 2011 at 06:48 AM
We have several titles that might fit the bill. For example:
The practical guide to writing : with readings and handbook by Sylvan Barnet
I'm finding promising titles under the subject heading, "English language -- Rhetoric -- Handbooks, manuals, etc." So, you might try searching your local library catalog for that subject.
Good luck!
Posted by: Bradley | 20 January 2011 at 12:14 PM
The English faculty at Oberlin College recommended this one when I asked a few years back:
A Handbook to Literature (mine is the 9th edition) by William Harmon and Hugh Holman. Prentice Hall
A few sample entries:
Criticism, types of
Essay: a moderately brief prose discussion of a restricted topic (and then it goes on for Four Pages! where most concepts are granted about 5 lines ...)
Persuasion: That one of the major types of composition whose purpose is to convince others of the wisdomof a certain line of action. Persuasion is calculated to arouse to some action. A common form of persuasion is the ORATION (and then you go back and read the definition of oration)
On a personal note, this is the only place I've found a definition of "trope" that stuck with me ~
Posted by: LynneW | 20 January 2011 at 04:01 PM
Kathy, Bradley, Lynne,
Thank you all so much! I am looking into all these titles.
And yes, Bradley, my sister and I are finding that "rhetoric" is a good subject heading for what we're interested in. Do they still teach rhetoric in any schools, I wonder?
Lynne--I still don't know what a trope is so I'll definitely have to look into the title you suggest.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 20 January 2011 at 05:00 PM
And another one we have here: Dictionary of Literary Terms & Literary Theory, pub. Penguin Reference. By J.A. Cuddon, Rev. C.E. Preston
From the preface to the 3rd edition:
"What I have endeavored to do, then, is to provide a serviceable and fairly comprehensive dictionary of those literary terms which are in regular use in the world today; terms in which intelligent people may be expected to have some interest and about which they may wish to find out something more."
Posted by: Lynne | 20 January 2011 at 06:04 PM
Writers at Work: The Essay. It's geared more towards an EFL/ESL audience, which could be an advantage because it explains things so clearly.
Posted by: bybee | 21 January 2011 at 04:17 AM
Hey CR, I took Rhetoric and Types of Literature 40 years ago in college, and that's what it was all about. I may still have my textbook around somewhere, not sure. But I think a book like this one would have what you need:
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student [Hardcover]
Edward P. J. Corbett (Author), Robert J. Connors (Author)
Posted by: Cindy | 22 January 2011 at 08:16 PM
Thanks to CR and everyone else who posted. We have a number of these texts ordered from our local library and will check them out. It is much appreciated.
Posted by: CRS | 25 January 2011 at 08:47 AM
I second my sister's thanks for these suggestions--it's been a lot of fun looking them up, and I've learned a lot too.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 27 January 2011 at 03:13 PM