Book

A Canadian Writer's Reference

📖 Overview

A Canadian Writer's Reference serves as a comprehensive handbook for writers, covering composition, grammar, research, and documentation standards specific to Canadian English. The text addresses academic writing needs across disciplines while maintaining alignment with Canadian spelling and style conventions. The reference guide is organized into tabbed sections for quick access to topics like sentence structure, punctuation, ESL guidance, and research writing protocols. Its spiral-bound format and clear indexing system allow users to locate needed information efficiently. This foundational writing resource integrates both MLA and APA citation formats with Canadian examples and contexts. By examining writing through a distinctly Canadian lens, the text presents a practical framework for students and professionals working within Canadian academic and professional environments.

👀 Reviews

Readers find this reference guide clear, well-organized, and useful for both students and professional writers in Canada. Students note the spiral binding makes it easy to keep open while writing. Likes: - Clear explanations of grammar rules - Organized tabs for quick lookups - Canadian spelling and style conventions - Practical examples of proper citation formats - Includes exercises for practice Dislikes: - High price point ($89-120 new) - Too bulky to carry around - Some sections lack depth - Online access code expires after 4 years - Paper quality could be better One reviewer on Amazon stated "It has everything you need for academic writing but costs too much for a reference book." Several Goodreads users mentioned the Canadian-specific content helped with style decisions. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (182 ratings) Amazon.ca: 4.4/5 (89 ratings) Chapters/Indigo: 4.3/5 (64 ratings)

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🤔 Interesting facts

📚 Diana Hacker wrote the first edition of A Canadian Writer's Reference by hand on index cards while battling cancer ✍️ The book pioneered the "quick access" tabbed format that many writing handbooks now use 🎓 Originally released in 1989, it was one of the first writing guides specifically adapted for Canadian students, incorporating Canadian spelling and style conventions 📖 The handbook was developed based on extensive research into how students actually use writing references - tracking their most common questions and lookup patterns 🌟 Diana Hacker taught English composition for over 35 years at Prince George's Community College in Maryland, where she developed many of the practical teaching methods that would later appear in her reference books