"Write to Learn" by: Donald Murray

 Recommended Age: 18+

229 pages

Description: Write to Learn 7/e by Donald Murray is rhetoric written for the beginning composition/writing student. Donald Murray - a pioneer of the process writing approach - takes students step by step through the writing process with the goal of helping them find their own process and style of writing. With his supportive writer to writer voice, Donald Murray creates a unique relationship between author and beginning writer that helps instill confidence in the novice writer as he or she shares struggles and successes. The text includes numerous writing examples from which to model and learn.

  

 My Rating: 3/5

This book was pretty good. I will admit, it is a little outdated. There were some good concepts and tips, but I was not enthralled with the majority of the delivery. (-1 star)

I did, however, enjoy his discussion on "code words" in chapter 3 (page 66) and leads in chapter 4 (pages 91-96). He talks of how our code words have meaning for us, but as a writer, we need to make them have meaning for the reader. I have never read about how to construct leads before so I found his explanation to be very helpful.
 

Notable Quotes:
"A writer's life is at least twice lived, at the time of living and at the time of reliving" (pg. 30).

"The writer is never bored, for where others see dull monotony the writer sees potential subjects" (pg. 58).
 

Things to be aware of in "Write to Learn":

Language:
- 1 "crap"
- 4 "dumb"
- 3 "stupid"
- "Darn and "bugger" are mentioned as bad words
- 1 usage of the Lord's name in vain
- 1 "a**" (in a quote)
 

Romantic Content:
(-1 star) In my opinion, the following were completely unnecessary. 
- Sex is mentioned a handful of times
- A mention of a bikini busting (in a quotation)
 

Additional Notes:
- Booze, alcohol and beer are mentioned
- Cigars are mentioned
- A comment is made about some writers being fat

 

Links to the book: Amazon and Goodreads.

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