A joint effort by Best American Essays series editor Robert Atwan and veteran writing teacher and former 4Cs chair Donald McQuade, the new edition of The Writer’s Presence collects teachable readings by great writers, showcasing distinctive voices and clear points of view on a broad range of engaging topics.

With selections that span communities, time periods, levels of difficulty, and fields of study, The Writer’s Presence shines a spotlight foremost on writers who establish a strong presence. The result is a blend of classic pieces by figures such as James Baldwin, Annie Dillard, and Amy Tan and fresh pieces by rising stars such as Silas Hansen, Ariel Levy, and Brian Doyle, with many essays accompanied by writers’ commentaries on their work. A flexible arrangement and minimal apparatus fits nearly any approach to teaching writing. Now with six annotated student essays and introductions to strategies for critical reading and writing in different essay genres, The Writer’s Presence gives students more support than ever to think critically and develop their own voices.

And now with the new edition, you can meet students where they are: online. Our newest set of online materials, LaunchPad Solo, provides all the key tools and course-specific content that you need to teach your class. Get all our great course-specific materials in one fully customizable space online; then assign and mix our resources with yours. To package LaunchPad Solo free with The Writer’s Presence, use ISBN 978-1-319-01382-0.