Portland State University Library is pleased to announce the publication of EmpoWord: A Student-Centered Anthology & Handbook for College Writers by Shane Abrams, Adjunct Faculty, Portland State University and Portland Community College.
EmpoWord is a reader and rhetoric that champions the possibilities of student writing. The textbook uses actual student writing to exemplify effective writing strategies, celebrating dedicated college writing students to encourage and instruct their successors: the students in your class.
Through both creative and traditional activities, readers are encouraged to explore a variety of rhetorical situations to become more critical agents of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in all facets of their lives. Straightforward and readable instruction sections introduce key vocabulary, concepts, and strategies. Three culminating assignments (Descriptive Personal Narrative; Text-Wrestling Analysis; Persuasive Research Essay) give students a chance to show their learning while also practicing rhetorical awareness techniques for future writing situations.
This textbook is designed for students of first- and second-year college composition courses (in Oregon, WR-115, 121, 122, and 222), but it is also a great tool for college prep students, more advanced writers, or independent learners. Early teachers are encouraged to use the textbook to support them in curriculum design, and experienced teachers can use it to supplement their tried-and-true methods.
The book is licensed with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Empoword is the newest of 20 open textbooks authored by faculty at Portland State University and published by Portland State University Library. PSU Library funds faculty authorship of open textbooks with the help of generous donor support, as part of our goal to reduce the cost of higher education for Portland State students.
Portland State University open textbooks have been downloaded more than 78,000 times all over the world.
Browse the complete collection of open textbooks at Portland State University Library
It’s that time of year!
Robert Schroeder joined the PSU Library faculty in 2004. Professor Schroeder has served most recently as Education Librarian. As his colleagues noted, Professor Schroeder is a tireless advocate who learns from students, and views his reference and instruction work as a transformative dialogue between student and librarian. Rosalyn Taylor, Coordinator of Instruction/Adviser for the TRiO program, explains that Professor Schroeder excels in “…creating a welcoming atmosphere and sense of belonging to new students. He demystifies the library for students, encouraging them to inhabit it in the may ways they are while reminding them of his role in their experience at PSU.”
Learn to draw manga faces with manga artist 
Citation management software allows you to download citations and articles from various websites and databases, electronically store and organize the citations, annotate and highlight articles, and format the citations for your paper and bibliography. This workshop covers the advantages and disadvantages of Zotero and Mendeley, helping you decide which one is right for you.
This open access textbook will guide students through their English language to academic degree studies. The textbook is used for three seminars in the Portland State University Undergraduate Pathways Program for English language learners.
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