For courses in first-year composition.

This version of Quick Access: Reference for Writers has been updated to reflect the 8th Edition of the MLA Handbook (April 2016)*




The most balanced coverage of the writing process, grammar, research, and other issues important to today’s students.

Perfect for students seeking support at any stage of the writing process, Quick Access: Reference for Writers, Eighth Edition continues its emphasis on critical thinking and reading as fundamental skills, integral to quality writing and sound research practices. Trusted authors Lynn Troyka and Doug Hesse provide everything in this compact-sized handbook that composition students need – how to write college papers, use and document sources, write online, write with visuals, master grammar, and use correct punctuation. Designed for easy use and speedy entry into all topics, this book welcomes students into a conversation about becoming better writers.




* The 8th Edition introduces sweeping changes to the philosophy and details of MLA works cited entries. Responding to the “increasing mobility of texts,” MLA now encourages writers to focus on the process of crafting the citation, beginning with the same questions for any source. These changes, then, align with current best practices in the teaching of writing which privilege inquiry and critical thinking over rote recall and rule-following.