Reviews (14)

Valuable Vocabulary Strategies
Bringing Words to Life is an essential book for any classroom.It offers valuable insights and strategies for teaching vocabulary in all classrooms, elementary through high school.It's written so that it's easy to understand and each chapter ends with activities for the reader to better understand the content of the chapter. There is also an easy reference appendix for books to use with vocabulary instruction.If you're looking to enhance the vocabulary of your students, this book has everything you need!

easy read with quick interventions for vocabulary instruction
I read this for a graduate class and found it to be a quick, easy read. The authors give you simple ways to enhance your vocabulary instruction. I would recommend this book to teachers at all levels but especially those working 3rd grade and above.

Fabulous, Fantastic, Superb...should I say more?
A great easy to ready and easier to use tool to enhance everyday classroom teaching to support vocabulary in students! A must for all teachers! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education / Teaching    2. Language    3. Language Arts & Disciplines    4. Linguistics    5. Literacy    6. Study and teaching    7. Teaching Methods & Materials - Language Arts    8. Vocabulary    9. English    10. English grammar    11. Grammar & vocabulary    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Literacy    13. Teaching of a specific subject    14. LAN010000   

Reviews (33)

Fantastic!Useful for looking up words, but also assists in language learning
This is by far the best Arabic-English Dictionary out there.It is based on Arabic's triletter root system, and not based on alphabetic order.
Major strengths of the book
If you have the money and want to buy an Arabic-English dictionary, this one is the best there is.
poor quality of print
The book is very small, which should have been an indication.Printed in India, most of the pages are blurred or faint printing.Not readable.A huge price for something unusable. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arabic    2. Arabic language    3. Dictionaries    4. English    5. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    6. Multi-Language Dictionaries    7. Reference    8. Bilingual dictionaries   

Reviews (9)

Very useful
I needed to order this book for a class. It is well written and easy to read. As a reading teacher I can say that I will keep this book as a reference long after the class has ended. This edition comes with a CD (or DVD) which I have not previewed yet, but the instructor of my class raves about it.

The best reading methods textbook I've found
I teach a course in elementary reading methods for undergraduate education students.This is the third textbook I've tried, and it is excellent! It has what students need to know about the theory and practice of teaching reading, written in a very readable, non-overwhelming way.Plus it has lots of practical teaching ideas.Our lab school saw it and ordered several copies for its teachers also.I highly recommend it.

A must have!!
I was first introduced to this book in one of my graduate literacy courses and I have been hooked every since.The teachers at my school pass it around constantly looking for ideas. My favorite aspect of this book is the fact that there are real teachers giving real examples of what works in their classrooms.There are no strategies that seem too hard implement in your classroom, because the layout is right there!!You know it can be done and it words because the examples in the book are proof!You don't feel like you are reading about some ideal or Utopia of a classroom. You are reading about REAL classrooms. I absolutely love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Education / Teaching    2. Elementary    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Language arts (Elementary)    6. Literacy    7. Literature    8. Reading (Elementary)    9. Study and teaching (Elementary    10. Study and teaching (Elementary)    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    12. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Reading    13. English    14. English (ie as school subject)    15. Teaching of a specific subject   

Editorial Review

You'll find everything you forgot from school--as well asplenty you never even learned--in this all-purpose reference book, aninstant classic when it first appeared in 1987. The updated versiontakes a whirlwind tour through 12 different disciplines, from Americanstudies to philosophy to world history. Along the way, Judy Jones andWilliam Wilson provide a plethora of useful information, from the plotof Read more

Reviews (59)

More Here Than You Can Ever Know
No, you probably didn't learn all of these 3,684 tidbits. If you had you would have been an excellent player of 'Trivial Persuit' but your brain would probably have been fried.
Study this curricum and have fun doing so!
I just finished the taped version of AN INCOMPLETE EDUATION
A Great Book
This book can be viewed as either a repository of interesting knowledge or as a way to one up people in conversation at cocktail parties.There are chapters to correspond with the major departments in a liberal arts college (art, literature, economics, etc.)This is a guide to everything that you learned in college and forgot (or everything you should have learned but skipped out on).If you are still in high school, read this book--you will be able to easily impress your teachers with college-level knowledge.I cannot wait for the new edition to be released! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Encyclopedias    3. Encyclopedias (Multi-Subject)    4. Handbooks, vade-mecums, etc    5. Reference    6. Research    7. Trivia    8. Reference / Encyclopedias   

Reviews (1)

GREAT EXPERIENCE....BROUGHT BACK THE FAITH IN GOOD
THIS BOOK WAS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION.EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTH, THE ORDER, THE DELIVERY AND THE BOOK.THANK YOU. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Communication    2. Interpersonal Relations    3. Interpersonal communication    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    7. Telecommunications    8. Communication Studies    9. Language Arts & Disciplines / Communication    10. Language teaching & learning material & coursework   

Reviews (19)

The American Accent Guide, 2nd ed.
As a non-native English speaker, I found that the AAG, 2nd edition is a great tool in learning pronunciation and intonation. I try to study and practice one cd a day. Although there are 8 cd's, I wish that the exercises in the grey pages were sounded out.

Was not so good as it appears...
This is a good book, but considering its price, I wouldn't buy it again.

Good but requires effort
My writing and vocabulary skills are quite developed, however, native speakers can sense the trace of an accent when I speak.
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Subjects:  1. English as a Second Language    2. Foreign Language Study    3. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language    4. Language    5. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    6. Language Experience Approach    7. Phonetics & Phonics    8. Speech    9. Accent reduction    10. American English    11. Dialects    12. English language    13. Pronunciation    14. Spoken English    15. United States   

Reviews (7)

This is a supplement, not a primary resource
Hopefully this statement will help those of you who are trying to decide what to buy: If you do not own a full copy of the APA Publication Manual, then do not buy this book. This book is meant to be a pocket-sized reference guide that you can carry with you. It is meant as a supplement, but it is not the primary resource -- the APA Publication Manual is the primary resource.
Incomplete
There's no rules for title pages, no examples of manuscript pages, no rules for pagination. It doesn't even tell you if the reference list belongs on a separate page or what its heading looks like. I consider these glaring omissions, particularly if you are expected to use pure APA and have no departmental style guide (like me). This book is basically a glorified guide to citation and syntactic rules. Avoid it and pay the extra five bucks for the complete book. Getting the cheap book as some kind of protest won't signficantly hurt the APA and it will just make things harder for you.

Good book, lacking in visual references
While this is a great condensation of the main rules needed to write in APA style, this book lacks one major thing -- the practical examples of how to apply APA style in a document or manuscript.
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Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Composition & Creative Writing - Academic    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Professional - General    5. Psychology    6. Publishing    7. Reference    8. Social sciences    9. Writing Skills    10. American English    11. Usage guides    12. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (3)

The IBC more than just another building code
The IBC is the long-time-coming consolidation of the three major building codes in the US and there is nothing "international" about it.Back in the 70's the 3 code organizations formed BOCA and put out a 1 & 2 family dwelling code. The 3 members them gradually made changes to the individual building codes that brought them into similar formats, then they combined them into one code in 2000, the IBC, and modified the dwelling code to be the IRC (Int. Residential Code)and changed the organization's name to the ICC, the Int. Code Council. There little to review about the content since it is either the law in your area or it is not.For comparisons to previous codes and other information try the ICC's website http://www.iccsafe.org/

A Strucural Engineer's Necessity
It is pretty difficult to review a specification that you must have.

49 states are now adopting this Code
Better learn this code.Local codes are being swept away by one standard.Here is Colorado each town had its own test, amendments and licensing system.California is the only state, having revamped its code 2 years ago, to keep its system.Read more

Subjects:  1. Building laws    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. General    4. International    5. Reference    6. Yearbooks & Annuals    7. Technology / Technical & Manufacturing Industries & Trades   

Reviews (1)

Very handy and well-designed
This is a useful phrasebook for the novice heading to Iraq for the first time. No Arabic script; a shame, but that seems to be the case with almost all such handbooks tailored to one dialect of Arabic. The almost pocket-sized booklet starts off with a description of the phonetic system and moves quickly to a few very basic elements of grammar, basic words, numbers, telling time, and common situations from greetings to arrival at the airport, checking in at a hotel, getting around town, food and drink, personal care, sight-seeing, visiting mosques, medical care, security situation, and timely police station and checkpoint dialogue. Nothing special in terms of military lingo, but handy sections on "searching a house" and handling "demonstrations". Prepared in 2004, but not with the occupation and post-occupation too much in mind, no mention of roadside bombs or beheadings, prisoners, or prisoner handling; almost as if Iraq were a normal country. Ends with a 1,000 word basic dictionary. At this price you can't go wrong by keeping a copy handy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arabic    2. Arabic Language    3. Conversation and phrase books    4. Dialects    5. English    6. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    7. Foreign Language Study    8. Grammar    9. Iraq    10. Language    11. Foreign Language Study / Arabic    12. Language self-study & phrasebooks    13. Reference   

Reviews (6)

Guiness World Records - 2007
Overall, this work is perfect for the student in your house. It has a
Fun Reading
I'm giving this book four out of five stars because the vast majority of the material is interesting, not the least offensive, and gets kids to read.The one picture of Janet and Justin shows less skin than many pictures of the athletes.Yes, it was a poor choice in topic by Guinness and they need to be made aware they are pandering to the lowest common denominator there (and we don't appreciate it), BUT overall, the book simply acknowledges the huge variety of life to be found on this planet.I do agree a better title would be something like Guinness Guide to the Weird and Extreme.
Decided not to buy
I almost bought this book for my children (ages 1-11) through our school's Scholastic book program but decided to wait and review it here first. I'm glad I did.
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Subjects:  1. Curiosities & Wonders    2. Curiosities and wonders    3. General    4. Reference    5. Trivia    6. Wonders And Curiosities    7. Reference / General   

Reviews (47)

the premier style guide for published American English
It is perhaps time to worry if you feel particulary warm and affectionate towards a book like THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE.
Call Me Old Fashioned, but I LOVE This Book
If you work in the literary world, it drives you nuts on a daily basis to see how few writers bother to check for accuracy when it comes to using quotes, italics, or underlining in their manuscripts; how few know when to use single quotes or double quotes--don't get me started. Suffice it to say, this is the book to consult. Though there are a half dozen style books, you can't go wrong using Chicago!

Important but confusing
This book is necessary for understanding how to cite works using Chicago style, but it can be confusing and unclear.However it has many example sections which I found useful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. General    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    6. Printing    7. Reference    8. Style manuals    9. Writing Skills    10. English    11. Publishing industry    12. Reference / Writing Skills   

Reviews (18)

REALLY Lame
It is not worth the paper it is printed on... even at the Amazon price.
Read this if you write!
For anyone who writes in a business environment-which is probably most people reading this-The Business Style Handbook is an extremely useful reference. I especially appreciated the introductory material, which provides the basis for great marketing copy for those of us who write and edit for a living. And it's a great relief to have a handy reference for handling all those marketing-speak and tech-speak neologisms and inconsistencies.
How the Business Style Handbook Helped Me
I'm glad I had a copy of The Business Style Handbook when a big argument erupted in my department. One group said you have to write "an NYSE stock" while another said you have to write "a NSYE stock." I took out a copy of The Business Style Handbook (which my wife gave me for Christmas to help me improve my e-mail) to settle the dispute. By the way, it should be written "an NYSE stock."It's one of the first times I've been on the right side of a grammar argument. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - General    4. Business English    5. Business Writing    6. Business communication    7. Business/Economics    8. English language    9. General    10. Written Communication In Business    11. Business & Economics / Business Communication    12. Business & Management    13. Reference works    14. Writing skills   

Reviews (3)

Great research tool, questionable organization
This is an absolutely invaluable resource for dating old photos. Don't expect much gearhead content- this is strictly a spotters guide, mostly compiled from sales art.
The BEST Automobile Reference
Excellent reference guide to automobiles.Uses actual ads to present the cars.Also includes sticker prices.This is a great book! American Car Bible
The best quick reference guide for all makes and models of American automobiles I have ever seen.Gives key changes to look for to identify specific model years. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Automobiles    2. Identification    3. Pictorial works    4. Reference    5. United States   

Reviews (5)

Multi Media Public Speaking Training
'Audience Centered' seems to be an obvious off-shoot of the teaching styles, that have become hyper-popular over the last decade or two, that claim to be 'Student Centered'. Is it just a buzz word, or is there something in it? As another reviewer points out, Audience Centered public speaking dates back at least as far back as Aristotle.
The Sixth and Ever Better Edition
You can't say that the audience-centered concept used in this book was pioneered by them. After all, in the first paragraph the authors give credit to Aristotle for defining the elements of speechmaking as 'of speaker, subject and person addresed - it is the last one, the herer, that determines the speaker's end and object.'
Good copy
I know that this is a teacher's edition but I presumed that because it was, it would have come with the DVD which is included in the student's addition. Other wise the book is exactly the same as the student's edition and was sealed as stated. Overall, I am pleased with the transaction. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Language    2. Language Arts & Disciplines    3. Oral communication    4. Performing Arts    5. Public Speaking    6. Theater - General    7. English    8. Performing Arts / Theater / General    9. Public speaking / elocution   

Editorial Review

When National Geographic published its first Read more

Reviews (24)

Atlas of the World by National Geographic
This is a wonderful full-color book on the geography of the world.
National Geographic has made changes
In December 2004, National Geographic (NG) updated the Persian Gulf plate (Plate 75) to accomodate the controversies surrounding the place-names used in the 8th edition. Incredible Family Resource
I've had the new atlas for 60 days and find myself looking something up every 2-3 days. It's really been fun looking up remote places like Palmyra Atoll, Kerguelen Island, the Fly River and other obscure places I read about.
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Subjects:  1. Atlases    2. Atlases - General    3. Atlases - World    4. Maps    5. Reference    6. Maps, charts & atlases    7. Reference / Atlases   

Reviews (4)

Very Pleased
Having just enjoyed listening to Mr. Fry read his novel "The Hippopotamus" on my long commutes, I was immediately attracted when I heard of "The Ode Less Traveled."I have often wondered why I don't understand many poems, (and not just modern ones), and can't tell good from bad.I have tried a number of other books on poetry with no success.Beginning "The Ode..." however, I immediately recognized Mr. Fry's cadence of speech and humour and the first twenty pages have been very easy to follow.Now I am doing his suggested exercises with iambic pentameter, and I am looking forward to the rest and finally knowing something about poetry. In my opinion, Stephen Fry is one of a kind, and what fun it would have been if he had been my high school English teacher!

Standard Stuff
An earnest enough effort but terribly dull. Fry wishes us to revisit schooldays and jot our way through Chaucer, Milton, Shakespeare, i.e. learn the basics, pay our dues. And while it may be true that much poetry, eg Bukowski, is mere chopped-up prose, notes and shopping lists, Fry is unwilling or unable to grapple with grandmaster Pound. There should be more on modernist poetry: TSE and Pound. The Waste Land receives scant coverage. Fry is a fuddy-duddy, amusing from a distance and a bore at close quarters. I wish he would let his hair down and give us some edge and spike.

A volume wise and wry, from Mr. Stephen Fry.
One of my favorite quotes about poetry is from Dame Edith Sitwell. "Poetry is like horticulture," she said. "Each poem should be allowed to grow according to its natural form." In his new book, "The Ode Less Travelled: Unlocking the Poet Within," Stephen Fry creates a veritable topiary garden of poetry, providing not only an encyclopedic overview of poetic meters and forms in English but a cogent, bracing and witty demonstration of their value. As its subtitle suggests, "The Ode Less Travelled" is written as a primer to both beginning and experienced poets who need, shall we say, a jump start to their creativity. Each chapter offers a discussion, with examples, of a particular meter, rhyme scheme or form, and suggests exercises at the end for readers to create their own examples. Fry quotes English poets from William Shakespeare to William McGonagall to illustrate his points, as well as a gratifyingly large array of American poets. Sometimes, when an example from the canon is not readily available, Fry will write his own, such as when he illustrates a dactyl (one stressed syllable, two non-stressed) followed by a molossus (three sharply stressed syllables in a row) in an imagined argument between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader:
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Subjects:  1. Anthologies (multiple authors)    2. Authorship    3. Language    4. Language Arts & Disciplines    5. Poetry    6. Writing Skills    7. Poetry / Anthologies (multiple authors)   

Reviews (11)

Worst installation process
I have never had a problem installing a program on my Dell Inspiron 9300. That is until I put this program in the drive. Though this laptop far exceeds all requirements and having followed the installation process exactly the program will not open once fully installed and restarted. I have installed and uninstalled it several times. I have closed out of any running programs, turned off virus protection, said several prayers in seven different religions--to no avail. I'm attempting to get a refund from Amazon over this. What a waste of time.

Say what, governor
This is the ultimate referance on the English Language and while the cd versions is not perfect, the core is true.
every reader should own - once the software is redone
I have wanted to own a copy of the OED ever since High School. I finally bought the CD version and wish I had bought it years ago. This is an essential resource for any serious reader.
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Subjects:  1. Dictionaries - General    2. Reference    3. Software - Reference - CDROM / PC    4. Reference / Dictionaries    5. Reference | English Dictionaries   

Editorial Review

Composition teachers throughout the English-speaking world have been pushing this book on their students since it was first published in 1957.Co-author White later revised it, and it remains the most compact and lucid handbook we have for matters of basic principles of composition, grammar, word usage and misusage, and writing style. ... Read more

Reviews (286)

Do You Dread Looking Things Up?
The Elements of Style makes grammatical research so easy, you'll want to look up things you'd always wondered about but thought would take too much time. Recently someone asked me about the use of the serial comma, and, as it was about text we were going to put on the dust jacket of a book, it was sufficiently important to look up. It turned out to be the second item in the Table of Contents. First you get the general rule, in this case "In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last." The example given is "gold, silver, or copper." The sole exception is a series of names in a business: "Brown, Shipley and Co." There! With thirty seconds effort, the issue was adjudicated. I can't recommend it highly enough. Thank God for the Fourth Edition. My Third Edition is dog-eared with use.

Important Reading
This little book is important reading for any one who has or is desiring to write. One of the best things that I could say about the book is that it is full of examples that are juxtaposed. Every element is clearly defined in such a way that any one can easily see the difference between the examples given. This book is a "how to" book for proper use of english in written form. It seemingly covers everything you could imagine from the use of commas and omiting needless words to expressing yourself clearly and not overwriting. The five chapters are: 1. Elementary Rules of Usage 2. Elementary Principles of Composition 3. A Few Matters of Form 4. Words and Expressions Commonly Misused 5. An Approach to Style.
Absolutely Indispensable!
Anyone doing any writing, regardless of the purpose, must have a copy of this handy little reference book right next to their dictionary and thesaurus. "Elements of Style" is an indispensable little guide full of superb tips for the correct use of the English language. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. English Composition    3. English language    4. Grammar    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Literary style    8. Reference    9. Report writing    10. Rhetoric    11. Style    12. Technical Writing    13. Writing Skills    14. English    15. Technology / Technical Writing    16. Writing & editing guides   

Reviews (13)

Fun to read, useful information, and makes a great gift
This book hits a sweet spot for me.Paul Brians uses a common sense approach in discussing how we use and misuse our language.His approach is not fussy or full of rules.Instead, he uses humor and a light touch to help the reader develop a sense for what is proper and logical.He also helps us learn where we commonly fall into traps by mishearing and misusing words through regionalisms or simply similar sounding words.
It is really useful andentertaining.I love it!
I usually don't review any of my purchases. But, this book is so captivating that I had to review it!
Too Basic
The content is so elementary that this book cannot be considered a serious reference work for writers. Many of the "Common Errors" seem to have been made up in order to complete a targeted page count. If you already know the difference between "chunk" and "chuck," and know when to use "next door" instead of "next store" to convey your intended meaning, you can pass on this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Composition & Creative Writing - General    2. Dictionaries    3. English as a Second Language    4. English language    5. Errors of usage    6. Foreign Language Study    7. Grammar    8. Idioms    9. Language    10. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    11. Phonetics & Phonics    12. United States    13. Usage    14. English    15. Usage guides   

Reviews (2)

YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED
Back in 1991, I was studying creative writing under a published author. The one thing we learned was to expect an average 70 rejections no matter if were beginners or seasoned pros. So if you write something, and you send it to be published, and it is rejected...DON'T GIVE UP!!!
More Than A Reference - It Inspires
You are a writer, and that's why you are reading this review. The same old question, "Can I justify purchasing this book?" I just received the deluxe version of this book, which is the regular book with a year of online access.
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Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Canada    3. Directories    4. Handbooks, manuals, etc    5. Language    6. Language Arts & Disciplines    7. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    8. Publishers and publishing    9. Publishing    10. Publishing (General)    11. United States    12. English    13. Literary & Linguistic Reference Works    14. Publishing industry    15. Reference works