The Oxford Reader [Paperback]

The Oxford Readeroffers a renewed emphasis on more traditional forms of literacy--sustained reading, writing, and thinking--which comes at a particularly urgent moment. In a world of alternative facts and fake news, the importance of a well and deeply educated citizenry is reinvigorated. Even within the multimodal classroom, many instructors have continued to introduce (or reintroduce) the modes to employ readings that direct students to read carefully, to respond and argue cogently and accountably, and to become nimble and ready writers, no matter what they're writing.The Oxford Readerdistinguishes itself by offering not only an expected mix of classic and contemporary selections, but also a variety of genres to emphasize nonfiction, without excluding some literary works and prominent pieces from blogs and other online sources. This spectrum of voices, genres, and time periods illustrate that what is considered contemporary thinking often has its roots elsewhere.CHRONOLOGICAL CONTENTSPrefaceIntroductionThe Allegory of the CavePlatoFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingA Modest Proposal (1729)Jonathan SwiftFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingThe Cask of Amontillado (1846)Edgar Allan PoeFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingWHAT'S NEW IS OLDWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? (1852)Frederick DouglassFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingAddress to the Legislature of New York (1854)Elizabeth Cady StantonFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingLife Without Principle (1863)Henry David ThoreauFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingAdvice to Youth (1882)Mark TwainFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingThe Necklace (1884)Guy de MaupassantFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingShooting an Elephant (1936)George OrwellFor Informal WritingFor DiscussionFor WritingWHAT'S NEW IS OLDThe Lottery (1948)ShirlsK