The Norton Field Guide to Writing--3rd Response

 by Richard Bullock

I am in love with this book.  As a tutor, I sometimes find it difficult to explain certain concepts to the students that seek my help.  This book is a great guide for me, sharing advice on how to help my students.  Many students come to me not fully understanding the purpose of a thesis statement and not knowing how one is formulated.  I have depended on Bullock to help me help them.  I understand why this is a book for first time teachers. 

This is a book that students in basic writing classes can use under the help and guidance of their instructors.  The language is easy to understand and the concepts are well developed.  There are many examples of student writing and much advice on how to improve overall writing.  However, this is not a book that basic writing students can use on their own.  The information will overwhelm them.  Instructors must go beyond assigning passages for their students to read.  They must help their students make sense of the information in the book.

This book has also helped me with my own writing by explaining different situations and how to adhere to them.  Also, as one who is new to the study of writing, the explanations of different concepts have been very helpful.