A Manual for Writers (by Kate L. Turabian)

A Manual for Writers by Kate L. Turabian

            A Manual for Writers is an essential guide for anyone who is putting together a paper in the Chicago format. Written by the creator of the Chicago style, Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers was first published in 1937 and is now in its eighth edition. With over nine million copies sold since its first publication, the manual has become an important part of high school and college classrooms (Turabian). Within this source, a student can find information on how compose research papers, theses, and dissertations in Chicago style.

In the 1930s Kate Turabian became the dissertation secretary for the University of Chicago. While working as the secretary, she began to write a pamphlet on how students could correctly write their dissertations (Kate). This is the origins of A Manual for Writers. Since the manual was created on the grounds of the University of Chicago, the school has always been involved with the book by way of publishing the eight editions and having the book revised by the editorial staff of the university.  The original editors for a large majority of the editions were Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams. Booth and Williams were both professors at the University of Chicago while Colomb taught at the University of Virginia. All of the three were published writers along with being editors for the manual. With the last of the three original editors to have died in 2011, the editorial staff of the University of Chicago has taken the place of editing the book (Kate). The University of Chicago Press has published numerous scholarly works that are respected among college classrooms. This gives A Manual for Writers an upper hand when a student or professors are looking into guides for the Chicago style.

The contents within the manual are laid out in a way that makes consulting the book an easy task. Over the years the book has retained its three part structure as to how the contents are arranged within the books. This first part of the book contains information on the steps in the research and writing process. The second half of the book discusses how to cite the wide variety of sources that a writer might come across in research. The third section contains a comprehensive guidance on all components of the editorial aspect of research (Kate). The manual also offers a bibliography and an index in all editions.

The editors have managed well when making sure that every new edition is up to date concerning new technologies that have allowed for new sources and citations. From the first publication in 1937, there have been many changes in technology that have had an effect on the manual. The largest of these changes came with the creation of computers which allowed for new sources to be made for the research process. These new electronically published sources included journals, magazines, newspapers, and books.

Overall, Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers has become the number one guideline for the Chicago style of citations. It contains a vast amount of citation guidelines concerning different types of sources. After have being created at and being published by the Chicago University Press, the manual has acclaimed academic acknowledgement throughout the world. This acknowledgement allows purchasers of this guideline to feel confident in their decision to consult the manual for any citation questions that may arise during research.

Works Cited

“KATE L. TURABIAN.” Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers, Eighth Edition. The University of Chicago Press, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.

“Turabian Style.” Turabian Style. The University of Chicago Press, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2013.

Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language

            With the well-known name of Cambridge, The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language is one of the most dependable sources when it comes to the understanding of the English language. The encyclopedia includes six sections that deliver different topics concerning the English language. These sections discuss topics of the history of the English language, the English vocabulary, English grammar, spoken and written English, using English, and learning about English. The book is composed of twenty-five chapters and also contains a preface, appendices, and indexes. The twenty five chapters are organized in a way that readers will be able to easily find the information that they are seeking, while also being able to consult the index for guidance. The encyclopedia is also packed with colored images, maps, and tables that will better help a reader in his or hers search for information on the English language. The encyclopedia, now in its second edition, contains an extended section on world and internet English (Cambridge).

David Crystal is the author of the two editions of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. The first edition was published by Cambridge University Press in 1995 and continues to be published by the university today. It is said that David Crystal is the foremost authority of the English language (Cambridge). Having since had published the first edition of the encyclopedia, Crystal has also published sources on the English language, most being published by Cambridge University Press. Some readers might find the age of this encyclopedia to be of a concern since, compared to other encyclopedias, this source is only eighteen years old. This should not be a concern, however, due to the fact that David Crystal has been recognized for his services towards the English language in 1995 by receiving an Order of the British Empire. This acknowledgement allows for scholars to be assured when consulting Crystal’s encyclopedia for information concerning the English language (Cambridge).

Overall, The Cambridge Encyclopedia for the English Language is a credible source when seeking information about the English language. With a well arranged table of contents containing twenty-five chapters, David Crystal has provided a well-rounded encyclopedia that has been created for a general audience. Maps, tables, and charts allow readers to better understand the information within each chapter and to obtain facts and figures dealing with the English language.

Works Cited

“Cambridge Encyclopedia English Language 2nd Edition :: English Language and Linguistics: General Interest :: Cambridge University Press.” Cambridge Encyclopedia English Language 2nd Edition :: English Language and Linguistics: General Interest ::            Cambridge University Press. Cambridge University Press, n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.

Early American Literature

Early American Literature

Early American Literature is a scholarly journal that is published three times per year. Created in 1965, the journal focuses on different types of literature that was published during the colonial years of America up to 1830. Such different types of literature provided within the journal are: writings in English from British America and the U.S., Native American traditional expressions, colonial Ibero-American literature from North America, colonial American Francophone writings, Dutch colonial writings, and German American colonial literature (Early American Literature). From volume four in 1974 to the current issues in 2013’s volume forty-eight, all journals contain between ten and twenty articles with a varying length of four to fifty pages per article.  All journals have been and continue to be published in New York.

The editor and editorial board has changed over time, not only in gender but in number. With the volume four issue of 1974, the editor and editorial board only consisted of males. By 1991, the issues included a unisex editorial board; however, the editor remained male. Also, it is worthy to note that all editors have been over the age of 40, therefore giving them opportunities to have become published and gain knowledge in many areas of early American literature. In the volume number four issue of 1974, there were only five members on the editorial board. This continued to be the trend up to 1991. In the 2013 issues there were an increase in the editorial members with a total number of fifteen people. Also, the genders of the editorial board in the first issues were all male, but this has changed in the more recent issues. When it comes to the education of the editors and the editorial board members all have received degrees from four year universities, with the most common being the University of California. None have received education from community colleges.

For a better factual understanding of the Early American Literature journal some miscellaneous facts should be noted. In the beginning issues of the journal there was no advisory editor, but instead a business manager. By 1991 up to current issues, however, there are advisory editors. Though the Early American Literature journal is not an expensive one to subscribe too, its monetary value has increased. A subscription for a year of its first issue was $3.50.  Now in 2013 a year subscription is $65.00, which is a large increase compared to the 1991 price of $16.00.

As for the contents within the journal, they vary between multiple topics of early American literature. Such variations can be seen in the volume twenty-six issue of 1991. Some chapter titles of this issue are: “Phillis Wheatley and the New England Clergy”, “The Sentimental Novel and Its Feminist Critique”, and “Dress and Undress in Brackenridge’s Modern Chivalry”. These chapter titles show that not only are certain genders being studied, but African-American studies are addressed as well as examinations of specific works. All issues contain and begin with essays on different subjects, and end with four to five reviews of various books. Certain subjects that the book reviews of the 2013 issue cover are: common law in early America, letter writing and communications in early America, feminism in the age of revolutions. The subjects of the book reviews show that each issue of the journal has a varying degree of topics that are covered.

Overall, the Early American Literature journal provides researchers, students, and teachers with information on varying subjects and literature of the early years in America. With a low yearly subscription, this scholarly journal is easily available to individuals and institutions. Some readers though, might find that the journal is limited in the amount of information that is given on literature during the early 1600s. While the journal as a whole does provide generous amounts of discussion on literature from 1776 and after, it lacks the early American literature that can be hard to find among other sources. This limitation, however, does not affect the overall usefulness of the journal as an early American literature source. With a mature and well educated editorial board, subscribers will feel confident when consulting the journal for information concerning a certain subject

Literature in Colonial America: A Selective Annotated Bibliography

Literature in Colonial America: A Selective Annotated Bibliography

Stepping off of the old weather beaten vessel, an explorer looks upon the foreign land of North America. He sees a dense undergrowth of plants underneath a canopy of trees unknown to the European scientists back home. Beyond the rocky shore of the coastline, a head with dark skin and long black hair peeks from behind a tree trunk. The explorer doesn’t know what is ahead, but there are certain hopes he holds in his heart for this new world that has never been experienced before.

There were many reasons for explorers to make the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Some were in search of wealth while others only had hopes to worship as they please. No matter the reason for their exploration, these explorers left behind accounts of their discoveries and experiences by way of literature. This genre of literature, whether in the form of journals, poetry, novels, or diaries, is important because it provides readers with a look into the American past. Not only does colonial and early literature provide primary accounts of the first years in America, but it continues to provide history on important events of American history such as the American Revolution, the writing of the Constitution, and even racial attitudes surrounding slavery.

The following selective annotated bibliography includes an extensive variety of primary and secondary sources concerning the colonial period of America to the 1800s. Sources within this bibliography include topics over slave narratives, literature written by women, a history of the original colonies, journals of the first explorers and settlers of America, accounts from colonial governors, history and literature from Puritan societies, early literature concerning the American landscape, journals of captain John Smith, important documents of early America, and the place of women and African Americans in early years. This annotated bibliography includes varying types of literature, focusing on primary sources of the colonial years, which revolves around the topic of the discovery and development in America.

Students and researchers will find this detailed bibliography beneficial for numerous reasons. The wide variety of different sources will provide scholars with many leads concerning the history of America. Not only are male authors looked at, but women and African American sources are also covered. This allows for anyone who should use this bibliography to have leads on different genres of colonial and American literature.

Berkin, Carol. “The Easy Task of Obeying.” Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence. New York: Random House, 2005. 3-12. Print.

Berkin discusses within this chapter the tasks and stereotypes in society that were placed upon women during the events of the American Revolution. The chapter begins with an account of John Winthrop who said his wife had appeared to have gone mad. Later Winthrop realizes that it was due to her reading books. Knopf then discusses the education of men and women in colonial America. The remaining portion of the chapter goes into the details of weddings during colonial years and what women were expected to bring into the marriage. The author comes to the conclusion that women in colonial society were expected to bring certain skills to a marriage and uphold the household by doing chores and taking care of the children.

“The Colonial Period 1607-1765.” Initial Studies in American Letters by Henry Augustin Beers. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

            Within this online article, the writer argues the idea that colonial literature is more important as a history source than as a source of literature. He supports his arguments by providing accounts of settlers of the original thirteen colonies and how these accounts provide more information on the history of early American than the history of colonial literature. He then supports his statement by discussing, in the remaining portion of the article, how there was a lack of literary growth in the early years of the colonies.

Conron, John. “Eighteenth-Century Perspectives: Natural History and the Sublime.” The American Landscape; a Critical Anthology of Prose and Poetry. New York: Oxford UP, 1973. 141-61. Print.

            In this selected chapter, the author discusses the changing perspective of landscape in the eighteenth century by providing selections of early America literature from men such as William Bartram and Thomas Jefferson. Conron provides in this chapter primary selections from both Bartram and Jefferson who are discussing how the changings of ideas towards landscapes are affecting America. The author concludes the chapter by discussing the three new concepts concerning landscape to come out of the 1800s: landscape as natural history, landscape as sublime scenery, and landscape as scripture.

Elliott, Emory. “Benjamin Franklin.” American Colonial Writers. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1984. 125-48. Print.

            This selected section of Emory’s book contains information on the founding father and author Benjamin Franklin. Along with information on his birth, death, marriage, Emory provides a list of Franklin’s literary works and the dates they were published. The early life of Franklin, his first publications such as the Dogood papers, his different employments, the effect that the Poor Richards Almanac had on the culture of America, and the satires that he published are discussed. Emory concludes by discussing how Franklin’s autobiography is his best-known work.

Brown, Kathleen M. “Settlement of Red, White, and Black: Gender and Race in Colonial Virginia.” Major Problems in the History of the American South. Documents and Essays. Ed. Escott, Paul D. Boston U.a.: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. 45-56. Print.

            In an essay written by Kathleen Brown, the author debates the different views of gender and race of the 1700s in Virginia. She begins by discussing the interactions and feelings that colonial settlers had towards Indians. The focus then switches to the development and acceptance of slavery in colonial America and what the attitudes towards slavery were. She finishes the chapter by comparing white and African women as laborers and the situations dealing with illegitimate children in the colonies.

 

Zamora, Margarita. “Christopher Columbus’s “Letter to the Sovereigns”: Announcing the Discovery.” New World Encounters. Greenbalt, Stephen Berkeley: University of California, 1993. 1-12. Print.

            This selected section of Greenblatt’s book is written by Margarita Zamora and provides a primary source written by Columbus in 1492 concerning his announcement of the discovery of America. Before the primary source is provided though, the author discusses the history of the document and how, unlike recently, it was thought that only one of the four versions of the document had survived. In 1989 thought, a translated English version comes into public light, making this recently discovered document the newest Columbian source since the 1800s. The selection concludes by providing the text of the primary document.

“Harvest of Freedom 1764-1788.” Introduction. Chronicle of America. Ed. Clifton Daniel. Liberty, MO: JL International, 1989. N. pg. Print.

            In this introduction to a chapter that contains artistic renderings and newspaper articles from the revolutionary period of America, the editor provides a summary of the events that surrounded America’s fight for independence. Such events included are the Seven Years War, Stamp Act, Tea Act, Quartering Act, and the Boston Massacre. The editor then provides summaries on the documents during this time that influenced the American Revolution such as Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence.

Pastor, Bodmer Beatriz. “Christopher Columbus and the Definition of America as Booty: Images of an Unknown World.” The Armature of Conquest: Spanish Accounts of the Discovery of America, 1492-1589. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1992. 1-20. Print.

            Within this chapter of Pastor’s book, the author argues that the discovery of the North American mainland by Columbus was the beginning process of the destruction of American reality, meaning that his discovery caused much devastation on the indigenous populations of America. The author begins his argument by providing accounts of pervious explorers who had written about the idea of a New World, such as Las Casas and Marco Polo. He then concludes by discussing how the devastation of the Indian’s population occurred. Throughout the chapter, the author’s tone indicates his lack of approval regarding Columbus and his actions.

Pearce, Roy Harvey. “The Pilgrim.” Colonial American Writing. New York: Rinehart, 1950. 25-49. Print.

            Contained in this chapter written by Pearce are the accounts of the colonial governor of the Plymouth Colony William Bradford. The author provides a bibliographical note on the primary source that is provided. This source is The History of Plymouth Plantation, written between 1620 and 1651. Within this document Bradford provides the history of why he and his followers established the Plymouth colony, the voyage they experienced coming to America, the Mayflower Compact that Bradford signed, the social and economic problems for the colony in 1623, and as Bradford puts it, “the weakening of the pilgrim way”.

           

Perkins, George, and Barbara Perkins, eds. “Thomas Paine.” The American Tradition in Literature. 12th ed. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. 333-57. Print.

            Within this section of this book that contains early American literature, the editors provide and brief background on Thomas Paine. They discuss his early life and early career positions that he held. Also discussed are his early publications, which lead to the primary documents, written by Thomas Paine, included within this section. Within one document, entitled Common Sense, Paine discusses his views on the current American state and how America needs to fight for their independence. The section also provides The American Crisis, which also discusses the events at hand before the Revolutionary war. The final document called The Age of Reason provides examples of Paine’s views of theology.

Scheick, William J. Authority and Female Authorship in Colonial America. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 1998. Print.

            This book contains information on women authors of colonial America. It does not discriminate, however, since it also provides information on African American writer Phillis Wheatley.  Numerous primary sources are referenced such as Cotton Mather’s Manual for Women, a captivity narrative by Elizabeth Hanson, Anne Bradstreet’s letter to her husband. The author’s argument in book is that during the colonial period, female authorship did not have the ability to reach into the realm of literature produced by men.

           

Shockley, Ann Allen. “Phillis Wheatley.” Afro-American Women Writers: 1746-1933: An Anthology and Critical Guide. Boston, MA: Hall, 1988. 17-25. Print.

            Within this selected chapter, Shockley provides a brief history on the author Phillis Wheatley who lived from 1753 to 1784. The author describes how Wheatley was the second woman, after Anne Bradstreet, and first African American woman to publish a volume of poetry in the U.S. The author then provides a list of works and their dates that were published by Wheatley and how these works affected literary circles in the North. This chapter also discusses how although Wheatley was welcomed into many white homes and seen as intelligent among her white counterparts, she did not take a stand in her poetry on the issue of slavery.

Smith, John, and James Horn. “Writings by Captain John Smith: A Desciption of New England.” Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America. New York, NY: Library of America, 2007. 119-75. Print.

            This selected chapter provides some of the different primary documents that Captain John Smith wrote concerning the very early years of the colonies in America. Multiple letters between the king in England and Smith are provided. Letters between John Smith and acquaintances back home can also be seen in this chapter. These letters discuss topics such as descriptions of the New World, with a focus on the New England colonies. The remaining majority of the chapter provides what is known as The First Booke, which was written by John Smith and includes the history of the first discoveries of North America.

 

Stedman, Edmund C. “How the English Settled in Maryland.” A Library of American Literature. 1888. 44-50. Print.

            This selected section of Edmund’s book is written by an anonymous author. The subject of the primary document provided concerns the settlement of the Maryland colony. The document begins by discussing the voyage to the New World. Accounts dealing with Indian contact are also discussed. The document continues by going into great detail on how the Indians were dressed, how many wives they had, and what type of armies they had. The conclusion of the chapter comes as the anonymous author discusses the Indian’s lack of Christian beliefs and the establishment of the Maryland colony.

 

Taylor, Alan. “Middle Colonies 1600-1700.” American Colonies. New York: Viking, 2001. 245-75. Print.

            Within this chapter, the author discusses the history and development of the middle colonies of colonial America. Taylor begins by discussing how the middle colonies were more fertile and healthier than those of the New England and Chesapeake regions. Maps are provided throughout the chapter as the author begins to discuss the various Indian groups within the area. The developments of the settlements of the middle colonies are then discussed. The author goes into details about the colonies of New Netherland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The chapter is concluded by providing details on the diversity within these specific colonies.