Based on the highly successful Allyn & Bacon Handbook, 4/e. Decisions is a brief, comb-bound handbook that emphasizes writing as a decision-making process. No other brief handbook matches this text's coverage of critical thinking at the essay, paragraph, and sentence levels.

Parts I, II, & III offer an introduction to effective critical thinking, reading, and writing as well as comprehensive coverage of the writing process and writing from sources. Parts IV through VII cover the decisions involved in basic sentence construction, style, punctuation, mechanics and spelling. In each chapter, “Critical Decisions” boxes guide students through analyses of key issues.

With an emphasis unmatched by competitors, Chapter 8 on “Writing and Arguing in the Disciplines” introduces ways of thinking about the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, and introduces typical writing scenarios. Sample essays and strategies address each discipline area's ways of knowing or arguing. The chapter on “Researching Print and Electronic Sources” provides guidelines for using and citing CD-ROMs, online data bases, and the Internet, including suggestions for evaluating sources. An appendix on using the Internet gives additional tools and resources.

Each chapter also contains boxes highlighting key points, and “Computer Tips” with advice on how to conduct research, compose, revise, and edit using the latest technologies.