Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

"Inspired to Write is a readings-based writing-skills book. It is ideal for young adults and high school students who are in a multicultural learning environment and who need to develop their writing skills. The readings are from a wide variety of genres - academic discourse, fiction, newspaper and magazine articles, poetry, personal essays - and are written by authors from a broad spectrum of cultural backgrounds. Writing instruction helps students produce both personal and academic essays.

Features: 45 thought-provoking readings that will inspire students to on a variety of high-interest topics
"Writers' Toolboxes" dispersed throughout the text that encapsulate what writing students need to know to write both personal and academic essays Revision sections in which students develop selected pieces of their writing and take them through a multi-draft writing process
A collaborative approach to writing instruction that encourages students to share and discuss their writing" (Book Covers)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

To the Instructor

To the Student

Authors' Acknowledgements

Map of the World

UNIT 1: Becoming

FAMILY ORIGINS Brothers /
Bret Lott
The Brown Hen /
Esmerelda Santiago
Memory: My Mother /
Amy Tan
There Was Rice at Every Meal /
Eric Koji Stowe

Revision

BETWEEN TWO CULTURES
Safe /
Cherylene Lee
I Answer to "Elaine" /
M. Elaine Mar
Translating Means Growing Up Fast
/ Misha Kratochvil
No Comprendo
/ Barbara Mujica

Revision

HEROES
Five New Words at a Time /
Yu-Lan (Mary) Ying
My Family Hero /
Katarzyna McCarthy
An Act of Courage /
Ian Frazier

Revision

IDENTITY
Believing in the True Self /
Gloria Steinem
Becoming a Writer /
Russell Baker
homage to my hips / Lucille Clifton
The Search for Identity /
Laurence Steinberg & Ann Levine
Smoking /
Judith Rich Harris

Revision

UNIT 2: New Vistas and Ventures

OPENING NEW DOORS
The First Day /
Edward P. Jones
A Walk to the Jetty /
Jamaica Kincaid
On Turning Fifty /
Judy Scales-Trent
The Transitions of Life / Carole Wade & Carol Tavris

Revision

DATING AND MARRIAGE
Pebbles /
Iê thi diem thùy
Kids Talk about Dating across Cultural Lines /
Weddings /
Fauziya Kissindja & Layli Miller Bashir

Revision

WORK
The First Job /
Sandra Cisneros
Behind the Counter /
Eric Schlosser
To be of use /
Marge Piercy
The Model Medic / Sarah Freeman

Revision

EXPLORING EMOTIONS
Hope Emerges As Key to Success in Life /
Daniel Goleman
It's O.K. to Cry: Tears Are Not Just a Bid for Attention /
Jane Brody
Going Through the House /
Claire Braz-Valentine
Black Steer Canyon /
Terry Tempest Williams

Revision

UNIT 3: A Changing World

HEALTH
Kids and Chemicals /
Elizabeth Guillette
War on Disease /
Rick Weiss
No Laughing Matter /
Sophie Petit-Zerman

Revision

ENVIRONMENT
The Mercury's Rising /
Sharon Begley
Warming Seas Prompt Tuvalu Evacuation /
Buzzard /
Bailey White
The Brave Little Parrot /
Rafe Martin

Revision

GENDER ROLES
Taming Macho Ways /
Elvia Alvarado
Women and Work: Around the World, Women Earn Less /
Battling Chauvinism to Do a Man's Job /
First Lullabye /
Patricia Kirkpatrick

Revision

INTO THE FUTURE
Kill Your Television /
Bill Duesing
Lectures vs. Laptops /
Ian Ayres
Letters
The 20th Century: What's Worth Saving? /
Jay Walljasper & Jon Spayde
Entering the Twenty-First Century /
Thich Nhat Hanh

Revision

Peer Feedback Form

Index of Toolboxes

Index of Readings

Index of Authors

Acknowledgments

Art Credits