Learning Styles - Successful College Writing

This book was text book for my college writing class (composition and rhetoric) and has a lot of sources to help your ideas for your own writing. Especially, chapters that introduce APA and MLA format were really helpful.

This book is informative unfortunately it was not what the professor requested. This book does not have section 7 which is needed. some professors use the workbook section from the complete book. This was the only thing this book does not have.

I was very disappointed to find that the required access code is not included in the purchase of this book when it is new. although it does not explain, the access code is a separate purchase. Buy used if you want to save money - you will have to buy the access code anyway so dont waste your money on the new

While many have found Ms. McWhorter's overall instruction helpful, I find it disturbing that she uses a writing textbook as a place to pass off her biased opinions as facts (as in the homeschooling lesson others have mentioned in their reviews). College is a time for establishing your own opinions and professors shouldn't be telling students what to think but rather how to think. If you must purchase this book for a class, please buy used so you're not supporting the author or the publisher.

After reading and studying this book, you will end up with excessive confusion because this book not only provides unfocused and unclear information, but its overloaded comments and examples make the original explanation seem more difficult to understand.

Sadly, this author has used Disadvantages of Homeschooling (Page 113) to teach the technique of brainstorming. Are there disadvantages for those who homeschool? Of course. As with anything in life, there are pros and cons. But the specific list of examples Ms. McWhorter came up with is uninformed and insulting.
Homeschooling is rich with advantages, many of which are on her list of disadvantages.

1) Libraries not easy accessible.
????????????? This one is the most baffling to me. A child in public school gets to go to the school's library, what, once a week for 20 minutes? Homeschoolers can LIVE at libraries! Many homeschoolers volunteer at their local library. They use library resources more than any other group barring possibly preschoolers. Homeschoolers walk out with their arms full of books on the subjects they are studying, as well as what they are reading for pleasure. Visit a library with a homeschooler, see what happens.

2) Wide range of equipment, resources not available.
I'm not sure what resources are being referred to. Homeschool parents are facilitators of their child’s learning. They find ways to expose their child to anything that is necessary or desired.
Gym equipment? Attend a local homeschooler’s gym class.
Chemistry lab? Sign up for dual enrollment at your local community college.
Textbooks? Not a problem at all, there are millions of options available to homeschoolers and most states allow students to borrow public school textbooks if that is what they choose to use.
Everything homeschoolers need, equipment or resources, is easily found, bought, borrowed, shared.

3) Child may be confused by parent playing the role of teacher.
This is surely a modern day cultural idea. Since the beginning of time, parents have been teachers. Teaching your children is one of the most rewarding parts of parenting. Parents teach from before the child is out of the womb. Learning as a family is rich with possibilities, more possibilities than are available when you are learning inside a brick building with 20 other kids who happened to be born the same year you were.

4) Child does not learn to interact with other children.
I wish I could insert pictures here instead of text. A picture, a thousand words. Homeschool children, interact with people of all ages, including other children. Homeschool children attend classes, field trips, play dates. They make deep connections with others who share their interests. Socialization is one of the best aspects of homeschooling. Think of all the possibilities that are available to someone who isn’t at a desk for 30 hours a week! Find a homeschool group to pal around with for a day, and watch the magic!

5) Child does not learn to compete against others.
For some families, the ability to avoid competition may be a major reason they are homeschooling. They may, indeed, avoid competition. But, if you are looking for opportunities for competition there are easy to find. Sports, writing contests, talent shows, any number of classroom situations that you want to expose your child to.

6) Parents may not enforce standards.
True. Thankfully homeschoolers have the option, to a varying degree depending on the state laws, to throw out the standards of No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top and Common Core. Homeschoolers can find better standards that are appropriate to their children. Homeschoolers are not boxed in by public school standards.

7) Parents may not be objective about child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Parents certainly have a closer perspective about their child than a public or private school teacher would. Parents are able to consider everything about that child, not only what happens inside that brick building 30 hours a week where children respond like trained animals to bells and an artificial schedule. Parents get to witness, and adjust, to the whole child. Love affects their objectivity resulting in a deep understanding of how to spark the love of learning in that child as well as individually tailored curriculum choices, carefully chosen extracurricular activities and a plethora of life experiences at their fingertips to consider. The world is their banquet.

8) Child may only learn parent’s viewpoint – not exposed to a wide range of opinions.
Quite the opposite is true. Spending thirteen years in public school, a child is exposed to x number of teachers who are teaching via a canned curriculum. Every child in that school system is exposed to the same canned curriculum. Now, imagine peeling away the walls of a school building, letting the children out from their chairs, inviting them to go into their town, their neighboring towns. Imagine having them learn pottery from the local potter, and history by visiting museums and historical sites where true experts can share what they are passionate about, and computer skills from a programmer, and gardening by volunteering at their community garden, and, and, and. Now think about how many people those children will be exposed to. Adults as well as children of all ages. Imagine that.

9) Special programs (art, music) may be omitted.
There are too many opportunities to mention. Homeschoolers find ukulele classes and they sketch at the beach. Their lives are rich with possibilities.

10) Services of school nurses, counselors, reading specialists not available.
Homeschooling parent find the services their children need. This is not an issue at all.

Ms. McWhorter, please find some homeschoolers to talk to. Please research your topic before sending out such a negative message to college students. Homeschooling is a rich, full, beautiful way to live.

Whats the point of a kindle book that doesnt work on the kindle.....its bad enough ive already had to buy the book for school...all i want to do is read it on my kindle but a regular kindle is no good....