The college version of The Best American Essays, Fourth Edition, is a collection of essays for first-year composition courses, loosely arranged by broad aims of discourse, including narrative, informative, and argumentative essays. In addition to its rhetorical organization, the reader also offers flexibility for instructors who prefer a thematic or alphabetical organization. The editor introduces students to various types of essays, followed by commentary from well-known writers on such subjects as "Essayists Must Tell the Truth" and "Essays Are Not Scientific Documents."The "Essayists on the Essay" section features well-known writers sharing their perspectives on writing and reading essays. The section contains a collection of commentaries from the guest-editors of the trade series, including Annie Dillard, Joseph Epstein, Elizabeth Hardwick, and Justin Kaplan.Each selection is preceded by a biographical headnote and followed by a brief set of questions for class discussion or writing. Read Less