THE ESSAY CONNECTION is a provocative, timely collection of rhetorically arranged essays by professional and student writers. It stimulates critical thinking on ethical, social, and political issues, enabling users to make connections and write with an informed viewpoint. Essays range from the personal to the scientific and cover a variety of modes--narration, process analysis, comparison and contrast, and persuasion--to prompt users' interest in different disciplines and genres. Professionally written essays (by scientists, economists, and journalists, among others), as well as, user essays inspire and motivate readers. Unlike excerpts found in other readers, most essays are printed in their entirety, thus serving as better models for user writing. Throughout the text, Bloom offers practical, clear advice on writing that complements the essays. Rich visuals, fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction provide a full set of models to bolster critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. The ninth edition offers more than 30 new essays to stimulate the readers' interest. An expanded argument casebook, as well as, new visuals, poems, and works of creative nonfiction and fiction build on the strengths of previous editions. New material on the Book Companion Website strengthens the readers' writing and reading comprehension skills.