Arranged rhetorically, this anthology of short essays and paragraphs suits both essay-level developmental writing and freshman composition courses. Each chapter focuses on a different rhetorical mode, from narration and description to process writing. Three features make Patterns Plus a perennial best-seller: an engaging mix of nonfiction, fiction, and student essays with a careful consideration of multicultural issues; a strong pedagogical apparatus that helps develop comprehension, analytical, and writing skills; and clear presentation of the writing process and paragraph/essay structure. The Ninth Edition includes new student readings, as well as works by well-known writers such as Thomas Friedman, Walter Kirn, and Anna Quindlen. Updated pedagogical tools offer developmental students exactly what they need to master the content, including pre-reading, vocabulary, and post-reading questions that test comprehension and encourage critical analysis of each selection.