The Curious Writer

The Curious Writer reads not like a textbook nor a set of guidelines for composing essays. Instead, it encourages you to suspend judgment, ask questions and seek answers, much like academics do. The title covers genres beyond the academic essay -- narrative, profile, review, ethnography, and argument -- with a ＂personality＂ lacking in similar resources. By acting on your own curiosities, you’ll develop the habits of mind necessary to become a critical thinker, reader and writer. Featuring two new co-authors, the 6th edition brings genre and reflection to center stage and adds a series of new readings on climate change demonstrating writing approaches by genre.

Bruce Ballenger is an emeritus professor of English at Boise State University, where he taught courses in composition, composition theory, the essay tradition, and creative nonfiction. He’s the author of seven books, including the three texts in the Curious series: The Curious Researcher, The Curious Reader, and The Curious Writer, all from Pearson Education. His text Crafting Truth: Short Studies in Creative Nonfiction is from the same publisher. He is thrilled to be joined by his colleagues, Drs. Kelly Myers and Michelle Payne, in writing the 6th edition of this book.

Kelly Myers, associate professor of English at Boise State University, teaches argument and rhetoric courses, nonfiction workshops, and capstone courses. She writes about revision strategies, opportunity, and regret. She also works with undergraduate students to design and implement student success initiatives across the university. The Curious Writer was the textbook she used in her first semester of teaching, twenty years ago, and she feels honored to contribute to a book she loves.

Michelle Payne is a professor of English at Boise State University and assistant provost for Academic Leadership and Faculty Affairs. She teaches courses in nonfiction writing, argument, and composition theory. She is the author of Bodily Discourses: When Students Write about Abuse and Eating Disorders and co-author of The Curious Reader with Bruce Ballenger. She has also written the instructor manual for each edition of The Curious Writer and has enjoyed being a thinking partner with Bruce on the textbook over the years.