Writing Unleashed: Content and Structure - 3.0

Reviewed by Kathleen Trace, Dual Enrollment Professor, Tidewater Community College on 11/29/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This book covers the basics. It is not overly comprehensive and is appropriate for entry level writing students. FAQs at the end of each section are very helpful!

Content Accuracy rating: 5

This book practices what it preaches. It is short, sweet, and to the point. It takes the audience (beginning writers) into consideration and provides lots of simple tips with visuals.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Very little fluff here. Lots to take away and use in classes right away.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is very visual which I find is helpful to students. There are not too many areas with huge chunks of text without graphics or other visuals. It's also written in a conversational tone which my entry level students find easy to read.

Consistency rating: 3

There are a couple of areas that seem unfinished. The text: "(Insert ideas from students or instructor here)" is left like it was forgotten.

Modularity rating: 5

Very modular. This book does not need to be used in its entirety. It could easily be chunked into sections. Professors and pull only what they need. Each section is broken up nicely with headings and visuals.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

This book starts at the beginning with rhetorical situations and works through various scenarios. It is organized in a way that is easy to navigate as a professor or student.

Interface rating: 5

Great appearance. I wish there was color rather than just black and white though.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Excellent grammar, although note it is written in a conversational tone.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Not insensitive in any way. It even comments on ethics and culture in writing.

Comments

I'll admit I did not have high expectations for this text. The reviews already posted were not stellar, but I was pleasantly surprised. As I read, I found myself pulling nuggets of great information to use in my classes. I'm also going to use some of the visuals. My biggest complaint is that I wish it was color and not just black and white. Students react much better to more colorful visuals and it helps differentiate the different parts of a visual, particularly in a graphic organizer.

Reviewed by Mary Gregoire, Adjunct Professor, North Shore Community College on 5/26/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

This book covers a great many forms of writing student face in their lives. These include: Blogs, emails, cover letters, business letters, reviews, the memoir and manifesto, profiles, proposals, commentaries and resumes. In addition, the writing process, how to write a narrative, description, argument, and research paper are highlighted along with how to develop style and voice in writing, common grammatical errors, the need to understand and relate to one's audience, and identifying purpose are addressed. However, because the book covers so much material, there are areas (such as style, the research paper, and the writing process) that lack depth. Further, the book does not cover cause and effect. There are needs to be more examples of particular writing in the book, and some of the examples used are more high school level than college level.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The book is accurate throughout. For a college course, however, more sophisticated material should be used as examples. The examples should mirror the intellectual level of college-level learners.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

The types of writing the book covers is expansive, so it provides units on "how to" write for all occasions. However, many of the units need to be supplemented with other readings or examples for college students and truly critical thinkers. There is only one classic example of writing - Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. More classic pieces need to be provided. Additionally, some of the examples and references are dated and are more high-school related rather than college-related reading.

Clarity rating: 3

The book is clearly laid out and easy to follow. The writers often use an informal, conversational style of writing to appeal to their audience. This makes the book easier to follow and seem more friendly and less intimidating. All lessons follow this pattern consistently through the book. One of the last major sections of the book deals with the writing process. For writers' clarity, this should be at the beginning of the book since all writing follows the process. The types of writing that are highlighted should come after the process of writing. Additionally, although there is a Table of Contents, there is no glossary or index.

Consistency rating: 3

The book's format is consistent throughout. One of the problems with the book, though, is that while some topics are covered in-depth, other very important ones such as the research paper, including the analysis of sources, and development of style is lacking. The writers should have either limited the types of writing they were covering and focused heavily on the main forms of college writing, or added much more in order to be consistent with the level of material covered in each section.

Modularity rating: 4

The text is easily divisible into sections of writing types. Teachers will need to pick and choose the kinds of writing they want to cover in a composition class because there are so many types presented in the book. This book, though, is a great resource for students to have throughout their college and professional careers since it covers so many types of writing and offers clear, helpful instruction on how to write effectively in each mode.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The writing process covers all forms of writing. This was placed at the end of the book and should be at the beginning. The peer review section of the writing process is excellent and greatly enhances the process of teaching writing and editing material correctly. Grammar lessons are integrated throughout the lessons, and this is appealing because it does not overwhelm the learner with grammatical rules. Additionally, the placement of the grammar sections matches the type of writing presented and is therefore, more applicable and easier to learn and understand.

Interface rating: 3

There were no significant interfacing issues in the book. A glossary and index would have been helpful. There were some graphics that did not make sense and seemed to be there just to be there.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

The grammar in the book is excellent. I saw no glaring errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 2

The book needs to be more culturally diverse in its examples of writing. Most of the readings are culturally similar. Further, there is nothing in the book for English Language Learners.

Reviewed by Jane Ono, Adjunct Professor, Community College of Aurora on 8/11/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

Writing Unleashed provides a solid overview of the skills a student would need to be successful in a composition class. It presents information on the writing process, rhetorical patterns, and the genres students may encounter in a first-year composition class. While the writer stress in their introduction that the text is meant to be brief, some of the sections are too brief. They provide a sentence or two which may not be enough for students to fully understand the content presented. The text does not provide an index or glossary, but the table of contents presents links so that navigating to each section of the book is easy and fast. This text would be useful in a first-year composition class as well as a remedial or basic composition class.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

While the theoretical content is accurate, some of the models contain inaccurate formatting. For example, a paper that is supposed to be written using APA format contains errors in the references section. Most examples seem to be geared to the dominant culture, so may appear biased or inaccessible to students of color or who come from other cultures.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

The content that focuses on the writing process, rhetorical patterns, and various genres is up to date and written in a way so that it will not become obsolete. Several examples, however, seem a bit dated. One of the sample essays focuses on “The Simpsons.” While “The Simpsons” is still airing, I feel that it no longer has the popularity that it once did. Today’s college students may prefer a topic that focuses on the current culture, such as social media or YouTube. Another example focused on a child’s cartoon called “Duck Tales.” I feel using a child’s cartoon as a topic for writing would not appeal to most college students. The text is organized by sections and headings. The structure of the text lends it to being revised and edited to include additional information. Some of the sections that contain only a couple of sentences, like the sections on prewriting, could be augmented easily with additional information.

Clarity rating: 4

The text is written in a conversational style that is engaging to college-age readers. The writers address the reader directly as if they are giving advice to the reader rather than lecturing. The writers use concrete examples to make literary terms easy to understand. They use several metaphors that help students visualize the concept. For example, to explain paragraph development, the writers use the metaphor of a hamburger to describe the structure of a paragraph. Teachers could easily connect the concept of a “quote sandwich” to the idea of the hamburger paragraph.

Consistency rating: 3

The text maintains a consistent structure throughout the book. Headings are used to organize the material and help the reader navigate the text. Some sections are developed with more detail than others. Some headings include only a couple of sentences of explanation while others consist of many details. The quality of writing samples vary. Some samples seem to be geared to secondary students while others reflect college-level writing. The topics chosen for some of the writing samples are also not reflective of college-level academic writing.

Modularity rating: 4

The text is presented in a modular format that can be assigned in any order. The text can be used with different teaching approaches. For example, teachers who focus their teaching on genre study can use the sections of the textbook that cover different genres. Teachers who like to focus on patterns of organization can use the sections that address various types of organizational patterns. The book does refer to previous topics, but generally the topic the book refers to is in the same section. Teachers could easily add more information or different examples to modify the text to fit their students’ needs.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The topics in the text are presented in a logical and clear fashion. The text begins with a definition of rhetoric and rhetorical situation and then presents the elements of the writing process. General information on the process of writing is presented first and then specific information on genres and patterns of organization are presented at the end.

Interface rating: 5

The table of contents provides links to the rest of the book. Pictures and graphics are clear and help the reader understand the topic.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

The text is written in an informal prose, but contains few, if any grammatical errors. Stylistic choices are made to make the writing seem more lively.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

While the text is not insensitive or offensive, it seems geared to the dominant culture. Examples from students of color or other cultures are not included in the text. This text may not be accessible to people of color or students from other cultures.

Reviewed by Andrea Hills, Adjunct Professor, Composition and Literature, Portland Community College on 6/30/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

Writing Unleashed is an apt name for this textbook as the scope is quite broad. The text covers everything from rhetorical modes of writing to specific genres like memoirs and profiles to research and even aspects of technical writing. However, the broad scope is somewhat overwhelming as the authors seem to rush through ideas that are often textbooks in and of themselves (creative non-fiction or argument essays for example). Many types of writing techniques and writing modes/genres are touched on, but most sections skim the surface and often reference ideas and strategies that a first-year student may not be familiar with. There is not an index or glossary, and there are few links to additional resources for any reader that may need supplementary information.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

Many parts of the textbook are clearly described and accurate, such as the Strategies sub-sections covering Narration and Description, and the Genres sub-sections covering Memoirs and Profiles. The Research chapter is a weak spot as there are some inaccuracies in MLA and APA style discussions and examples as well as how search engines are defined and described. Instructors teaching research and specific formatting guidelines would need to heavily supplement or replace these sections.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 2

Content is current, and there are no glaring examples or ideas that will become obsolete quickly. Depending on the textbook audience demographics, some of the examples and student model papers may come across as somewhat juvenile and better suited to an 8-12 audience vs. a college audience. For instance, the examples in the Editing chapter that focus on “Scrooge McDuck” and “Me at 15” feel too young and superficial for a college audience. These kinds of examples can be found throughout the textbook, and college-level students may feel patronized. Examples with more depth and complexity are needed.

Clarity rating: 4

The prose is clear and easy to understand. One goal stated by the authors is to provide a text “jam-packed with teachers’ voices, students’ voices, and engineered for fun.” As promised, there is a strong voice and a light approach, but it may not resonate with all readers and instructors as the tone is fairly casual and the “fun” sometimes feels a bit forced and cliché.

Consistency rating: 2

The text lists its audience as first year composition students, but some of the approach seems geared towards preparatory composition classes, while other parts of the text seem geared toward composition students with more experience. This unevenness extends to the student examples used as some are quite basic such as the numbered list about “How to be Geeky” that stands in as a sample writing for Process Analysis. Later in the same Strategies section, the student sample paper for Division and Classification is a developed academic research paper about child development theories with a Reference page. There is also inconsistency in style and formatting with the sample student papers, so any instructor asking a class to follow a specific layout format for papers, such as MLA, will have to address and navigate the student sample work that comes in a wide range of styles and formats. Some parts of textbook layout also struggle with consistency. Again, in the Strategies section, most strategies are introduced and followed by an image, follow-up explanation, and then examples and models. However, some parts of this section, such as Cause and Effect, are missing some of these elements and other parts, such as Narration, have extensive examples so the overall effect feels unbalanced.

Modularity rating: 4

Sections of the textbook would be fairly easy to rearrange, and sub-sections are arranged in smaller chunks of text that move along quickly. The authors note that some sections, such as the Nerd section about grammar, are easily left in or out, depending on the instructor’s preference. As noted below, having a more refined and thoughtful Table of Contents would give instructors a better sense of the overall layout and connection between larger topics and sub-section topics.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 2

The overall conception, while broad, is logical as the textbook moves from general ideas like pre-writing to strategies (modes) to genres and then into research and finally into issues of grammar and style. Some sections such as Peer Review are especially clean and well-organized. However, in general, there are organizational struggles throughout the text. The Table of Contents is one long linear list, and it would make more sense to arrange it in a format that highlights the relationship of various ideas by using sections and then listing subsections underneath so readers could get a sense of the order and relationship of ideas. For example, Genres seems to be a major section that contains the subsections of Memoirs, Profiles, Essays, etc. and listing these subsections under Genres vs. in the same linear list would establish a clearer relationship of ideas and sections for the reader. Also, the Annotated Bibliography seems like it would work more logically placed with Research vs. the Genres section, and the Argument section seems like it should be its own chapter, apart from Genres.

In the text itself, organization is an issue in a variety of areas as ideas are sometimes introduced in a seemingly random fashion. In the Brainstorming and Pre-Writing chapter, brainstorming is discussed separately and then also discussed again as part of pre-writing. The Thesis section ends with a list of somewhat random tips that range from following instructor directions to transitions to how to structure a paragraph. Concepts like audience and essay structure pop in and out of various parts of the text, but there is no one specific section where these concepts are introduced and fully explained.

Interface rating: 3

The text is fairly easy to navigate, and provided links work. There seems to be a color-coding schema to represent how various ideas are classified; for example, large green headings seem to indicate new sections of material are starting, while smaller red headings denote subsections to be covered. However, some of the color coding gets a bit overwhelming with random ideas showing up in small blue text, and orange and green text is used to denote parts of the red subsections. This could potentially be an issue with accessibility.

Images that are used are crisp and clear. Some images, especially early in the text, appear suddenly in the text, and while there is some connection to the information provided, the images themselves lack context and explanation. For example, there are engaging diagrams on pages 11 and 14, but they are without context, so it is not quite clear what their purpose is. Additionally, the Venn diagram on page 11 is about strategies and modes, but that section of the text does not start until page 32, so there is some disconnect with images and their purpose and connection to the text.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

A few small editing issues popped up, but the overall writing is clear and correct. One example of an editing issue is the repetition of the same paragraph that begins, “Returning to the same scenario,” on both pages 12 and 13. On a style note, there may be concerns for some instructors: there is extensive use of all-caps, exclamation marks and dashes, which creates a casual tone that seems to undermine the purpose of teaching skills of academic writing. The language is overall quite informal, and, for some reason, the word “goofy” is relied on heavily. There seems to be an attempt to connect with younger readers with an informal, casual approach, but this feels a bit forced and may fall flat with readers and instructors alike, as well as providing potentially weak examples of academic writing.

Cultural Relevance rating: 2

While there is nothing overtly offensive or insensitive in the textbook, there is also a dearth of inclusivity of race, ethnicity and diverse backgrounds. Out of seven photographic images, the three with people in them feature all Caucasian subjects. Additionally, references throughout the text, as well as sample student and author essays, focus to a large extent on experiences connected to North Dakota and the North Dakota State College of Science, so there is somewhat of a provincial feel to the text. Other examples mostly fall into experiences of traditional college students coming from a middle/upper class background. For instance, there is an extended example in the “Rhetorical Situation” chapter based around a student asking parents for more money; while not a terrible example, it does go on for a page or two, and it is a bit cliché and perhaps not representative of the situation or background of many students. There are some suggestions throughout the text for non-native English speakers, but they show up somewhat randomly and without consistency.

Comments

Some sections of Writing Unleashed are on point and offer helpful explanations and examples, but the overall text has the feel of various wiki documents linked together without a strong editor. Additionally, the voice, approach, and somewhat juvenile examples will limit the audience this text appeals to.

Reviewed by Sylvia Winston, Adjunct Associate Professor, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College on 1/1/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less

As a writing textbook, many preparatory skills as well as support reading skills are not a part of this textbook. To select this textbook for a developmental writing and reading class, the instructor would be compelled to choose other resources to supplement instruction. Many fundamental writing skills have been omitted from this text and are assumed that students possess this knowledge. Since the areas of reading and writing are closely intertwined, impact comprehension and effective writing, both areas should be included in a textbook designed for these areas. This textbook haphazardly addressed writing, omitted reading related strategies and did not include material that support critical thinking in any way. All are equally important constructs for the level indicated by this textbook which is a level that precedes a regular English course.
The textbook concluded with the topic "Style." This abrupt termination of presenting skills causes the reader to expect more topics will follow. Based on material presented in this textbook, a unit or section addressing text structure, a developmental skill, that provides support to students who would use this text, needs to be included. Further, an index did not bring closure to this textbook because an index was omitted. Additionally, a glossary is not included in this textbook. With the omission of an index as well as a glossary, the textbook appears incomplete. Students cannot easily avail themselves of these needed resources and would have to seek a different avenue to obtain needed information. This lack of information would be inconvenient in a multitude of ways for students who may not have other resources to access additional information and who rely heavily on the textbook.
Therefore, this text does not cover all areas and ideas pertaining to writing and its closely nit companions of reading or critical thinking. Specifically, information that speak directly to goals of pre-reading, reading, and post-reading and their connections to writing should be a part of this text. Vocabulary strategies could expand to include the different uses of context, affixes, and words with multiple meanings. In reference to paragraph writing, the nuances of identifying and applying a stated or implied main idea with supporting details would assist students in constructing well-developed sentences and paragraphs. The incorporation of major as well as minor details moves students' learning to the next layer of writing understandable essays. However, this textbook provides students with an overall exercise in critical thinking -- the ability to discern and distinguish between a text that is worthy of use in a course as the course staple or one to use as a minor reference for a few points. Too many important skills are neglected, omitted, or assumed that students know.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased.
On page 8, the statement reads, "Even published writers put commas in weird spots." This statement is contradictory and debatable to standard concepts taught about the varied uses of a comma. Page 9 inaccurately shares information that the use of slang and text messaging equates to an inarticulate speaker and an unprolific writer. Many individuals engage in codeswitching whereby less formal structures may be spoken in informal settings while all traditions of standard English are executed in written discourse. Here, the authors appear particularly opinionated and inclined to portray that individuals who use slang and text messaging engage in substandard forms of communication therefore their speech and writing must be substandard as well which indicates bias. Yet, this textbook was found to be free of errors.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

Much of the content found in this text is incomplete. Some examples of incompleteness include the presentation of the rhetorical situation on page 12. The brevity of information in this section would result in time spent in research by instructors and students in search for needed explanations for the sketches of information given. How language functions is alluded to but not enough concrete information is provided for students to understand the concept. However, with additional research completed by the writers of this text, these necessary explanations can easily be inserted. Similarly, page 15 mentions "thesis-driven writing" followed by how a student's paper should resemble "a crystal stream instead of a muddy ocean." Students who would most likely use this textbook would not understand these two assuming comments. They do not take into consideration that many students do not possess prior knowledge related to these skills. Finally, the Table of Contents organizes topics well overall. New information can be easily added for later up-dates.

Clarity rating: 1

In addition to text that is written assumingly, the text is written flippantly, offensively, and includes bias. The exclamatory sentence, "Holy crud, Batman!" on page 129 can be construed offensively by some religious cultures because of it oxymoronic nature. In contrast, the statement, "if you start by searching on good old regular Google, seeking out some popular sources, ..." on page 112 flippantly goes against research techniques for identifying, evaluating, integrating and documenting sources properly. Bias was expressed in this text by alluding only to Caucasian individuals in regards to memoir writing where there are so many individuals of other races who are suitable candidates to include as memoirists.

Consistency rating: 2

Much of the terminology used in this text assumes the reader has prior knowledge about the topic being addressed. The framework of the text omits too many support structures that students assigned to a course using this text would need. On a basic level, it lacks a preface, glossary, index, and credits given to the expert contributors to the textbook. No sufficient closure of skills were presented.

Modularity rating: 2

Large blocks of text without headings were avoided thus allowing learners to easily read smaller sections of text. However, the text omitted too many directives, explanations, examples or practice activities that support learning were not presented. Learners would be compelled to search out other sources to supplement their reading which would be a distraction, time consuming and inconvenient.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

The topics in this textbook are presented in a logical fashion, yet too many underlying skills are omitted.

Interface rating: 2

The textbook does not include the material that is typically covered in a college-level course for learners assigned to or testing into a course that would use this type of textbook. For example, college readiness skills should be a part of this text and its relationship to writing. Additionally, the map on page 18 is unclear and too small. This graphic should be identified as a tool for writing and needs to be set up as several maps to include subtopics about the topics listed within the map.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were found in the text. This is an excellent feature about this text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 1

Page 108 uses the phrasing, "... a teacher is going to throw a research project in your face." A potential English as a Second Language student, representative of a number of cultures, would have difficulty understanding the two-part nuances of this phrase. The word choice and style of expression is rude and derogatory. For non-native speakers of English, this dual use of an idiomatic expression would be extremely confusing. Great definitions and explanations are given of the term "memoir" on page 81. However, examples of memorable memoirists are limited to Caucasian males and females which is a skewed perspective being presented to students of many races, ethnicities and backgrounds. Varied examples, to name a few, could include former presidents Nelson Mandela, Barak Obama or his wife, Michelle or Freida Kahlo. These individuals represent other races and allows readers of this text to see themselves in their textbook. It further demonstrates an awareness of other cultures and the importance of inclusion of other cultures throughout the bulk of the text and not just limit writing and reading exposure to Caucasians.

Comments

This textbook appeared to have been a rush job and not well thought out. I would not use it nor recommend it for use by other community college instructors.