Motives for writing / Robert Keith Miller.

Includes index.

Chapter1. Writing to understand experience -- Chapter2. Writing to report information -- Chapter3. Writing to interpret information -- Chapter4. Writing to evaluate something -- Chapter5. Writing to analyze image -- Chapter6. Writing to move others -- Chapter7. Writing to persuade others -- Chapter8. Writing to amuse others -- Chapter9. Writing to experiment with form -- Chapter10. Writing to understand reading .

This collection of primarily contemporary readings is organized around the varied purposes that motivate writers and includes a detailed guide to writing for each motive.-Back cover. [This book] emphasizes the importance of the writer's purpose - the reason for composing and the ends the writer seeks to achieve.-Pref. Contents: Introduction, writing for your life -- Writing to understand experience: Levi's / M. Schiel; Earth's eye / E. Hoagland -- Writing to report information: New gold rush / R. Solnit; Tough break / T. Rogers -- Writing to interpret information: What does the Bible say about women? / P.J. Gomes; What happened to the Anasazi? / C. Dold -- Writing to evaluate something: Sad comedy of really bad food / D. Moskowitz; My diagnosis / S. Kaysen -- Writing to analyze images: Images of women in European art / J. Berger; Conveying atrocity in image / B. Zelizer -- Writing to move others: You are me / L. Carlat; Am I blue? / A. Walker -- Writing to persuade others: Clean up or pay up / L. Barbash; Letter from Birmingam jail / M.L. King, Jr. -- Writing to amuse others: Technology makes me mad / P. Volk; Young man and the sea / H. Alford -- Writing to experiment with form: Deer at Providencia / A. Dillard; I was born / L. Sante -- Writing to understand reading: Daystar / R. Dove; Sherbet / C. Eady -- Glossary.