"In addition to the twenty-six student essays contained in this volume, there are fifteen professional models. We have retained ten models that were used in the second edition and added the following five:
Phil Fontaine, For Canada and First Nations
Brian Maracle, Turtles Are Sceptical
Neil Randall, The Soul of the Internet
Jane Rule, The Harvest, the Kill
Deborah Tannen, Gender Gap in Cyberspace

In keeping with the other ten professional models, these essays were chosen to present a primarily but not exclusively Canadian perspective. They also were chosen to reflect current student concerns. Two are about the Internet (Randall and Tannen), two are about First Nations issues (Fontaine and Maracle), and one is about the ethical dimensions of vegetarianism (Rule).

Above all, this volume is designed to encourage students in the discipline and pleasures of writing, in the process and practice of written communication. As Patricia Schmida observed' "In writing this essay, I learned that to write what interest me is actually the best way to write what interest other people. I learned to trust my own voice." So many of our winners report on the discipline required to produce their essay. Robert Newman observed that he "learned how to have the patience to rewrite draft after draft without giving up." But they also reported on the knowledge gained, on the pleasure the discipline produced. Wayne Atkinson noted, "While writing this essay, I was forced to sort out my feelings toward life and what my priorities in life were. However, I found the writing process to be very therapeutic and have used writing to help sort out other problems and frustrations as well." All of the winners also reported an experience much like Clint Saulteaux's; "My writing developed as I started discovering who I really was. I believe that all individuals on this planet have a gift of individuality, something to offer someone and everyone else." This volume contains many of these gifts." (Preface, p. iv)

CONTENTS

PART 1: The Writing Process

Introduction

Planning

Prewriting
The Internal Search -- The External Search

Finding a Focus
Establishing the Purpose -- Considering Your Audience -- Limiting Your Subject -- Limiting Your Subject -- Writing the Thesis Statement -- Discovering Your Rhetorical Mode

Organizing Your Ideas and Writing a Rough Draft
Drafting an Outline -- Writing the First Draft

Reworking the Essay
Substantive Revision -- Checklist for Substantive Revision -- Editing -- Checklist for Editing -- Proofreading

PART 2: Expressive Writing

Introduction

The Descriptive Essay - Techniques of Description
May Chan, Family Reunion
Nancy Dorey, The Skier
Margaret Laurence, The Shack
Alison Ludditt, In This Holy Place
Robert Newman, The View from the Businessman's Corner Window

The Narrative Essay - What Is a Narrative Essay? - Giving the Narrative Essay Meaning and Focus
Nancy Eng, The Importance of Cooking Dinner
Carol Geddes, Growing Up Native
Therese Y. Siemers, The Train Ride
Dawn Strathy, Incarnacion
Jennifer Yee, Childhood Dreams

PART 3: Expository Writing

Introduction

Example - Personal Experience - The Experience of Others - Quotations Elke Bittmann, Is Happiness Only a State of Mind? Kathleen Darlington, Joyful William Erika Ritter, Bicycles Randal Boyd Smathers, Maskerade

Process Eileen A. Brett, How to Write a Test Donald M. Murray, The Maker's Eye: Revising Your Own Manuscripts Patricia Schmida, Self-Analysis Through Dream Exploration

Definition Neil Bissoondath, "I'm Not Racist But . . ." Ileen Rose Heer, I'm Stringing You Along Patrick Riley, Anyphone

Classification Robertson Davies, A Few Kind Words for Superstition Brian Maracle, Turtles Are Sceptical Laura J. Turner, Truth or Consequences Miki Uniya, The Cellular Phone Virus in Japan

Comparison and Contrast George Duff, Co-operative Games Karen Kowalski, Violence in the Media Anna Quindlen, The Knight and the Jester Deborah Tannen, Gender Gap in Cyberspace

Analogy Annie Dillard, Untying the Knot Clint Saulteaux, Parallel Plains

Cause and Effect Wayne Atkinson, Death: A Warning for the Living Marty J. Chan, Fall from University Grace Michele Landsberg, Ceremonies

Part 4: Persuasive Writing

Introduction

Argument - Example: How Not to Argue -- A More Reasoned Argument -- What Makes an Argument Essay Effective? Ken Dryden, The Game Phil Fontaine, For Canada and First Nations Bruce R. Halladay, Mandatory Drug Testing in Canadian Sport Nancy Marshall, Consequences in Parenting Neil Randall, The Soul of the Internet Jane Rule, The Harvest, the Kill Nikko Snow, Sitting Ducks Dan Zollmann, Illiterate like Me

Credits and Permissions

Glossary