Preface

When I was approached to do the Canadian edition of 75 Readings Plus, I plunged into the project in a rather headstrong manner, with very certain ideas of which Canadian writers should be added to this anthology. That attitude has changed, as has my own respect for the many Canadians who have penned essays through the years, not all of whom could be represented here. This introduction is something of an explanation for what is included in, and excluded from, the volume. The exclusion of such fine writers as Paul Wilson, Louis Dudek, and Joseph Škvorecký is painful and a genuine loss for readers; however, there were other concerns influencing these selections.
      What criteria was used in choosing Canadian items for this anthology? First, I tried to capture the tradition of the essay in Canada. Canada has a long and powerful tradition of essayists, and I feel that these many eloquent writers deserve to be celebrated and recognized.
      One major problem that I encountered when exploring the tradition of the essay in Canada was that the list of writers created a false impression of the development of the country: the writers were usually of European extract, white, and male. The other significant contributors to our society—women, immigrants, and the Native population—have often been overlooked or obscured. In this regard, I feel that 75 Readings Plus breaks new ground. In the anthology, you will find essays which present viewpoints that are definitely outside of the mainstream. Alongside more standard selections are essays which present an outlook on life which is quite distinct. Some of these essays have the potential to strike a powerful chord with students as they come to terms with their own identities.
      As an anthologist, I expect honesty and clarity from writers. Clarity does not mean that the essays are all simple to read. Some of the writings are not easy to wade through and will even, as I tell my students, "make your brain hurt." For some selections, you will even need a good dictionary. No, clarity does not mean simple. By clarity, I mean a certain transparency of structure and directness of approach. I don't appreciate writers who avoid the point.
      This collection is not meant to be a collection of easily digestible tidbits. Will students like all of the Canadian essays? I hope not. These essays should stump, provoke, stimulate, and, maybe, excite. I hope students will find voices in the text that resonate with their own experience. I also hope that their ability to interpret their experience will be broadened by this collection.
      The task of putting together an anthology is broadening in and of itself. Not only do I have a greater sense of the breadth and depth of the Canadian essay, my life has been enriched by encountering the many Canadian writers I have had the privilege to read. Lee Maracle and Alexander Wolfe, for example, allowed me to realize in a personal way the profundity of the storytelling tradition in Native culture. I appreciate the way these writers bring forth the idea of presence and intimacy. My own sense of identity has been challenged and expanded, and my hope is that each reader will be touched and broadened by the selections in this reader.

Robert Wiznura

Canadian Edition
This anthology has benefited from the thoughtful and insightful comments of instructors from across Canada who suggested changes to the US edition of 75 Readings Plus, and who reviewed the selections of Canadian essays included in this edition. These instructors include:

John Achorn, University of Toronto

Marian Allen, Grant MacEwan Community College

Ruth Allison, University of Victoria

Lesley Checkland, John Abbott College

Mary Gerritsma, Seneca College

Mary Gossage, Dawson College

Jon Paul Henry, Douglas College

Stefanie Ketley, Fanshawe College

Moira Langley, Kwantlen University College

Claire McKenzie, University of Victoria

Mike Matthews, Malaspina University College

Wendy Robbins, University of New Brunswick

Mark Simpson, University of Alberta

Wendy Strachan, Simon Fraser University

John Webb, Langara College

U.S. Edition
Special thanks are due to the following colleagues who made suggestions for the fifth U.S. edition of 75 Readings Plus:

Tammy DiBenedetto, Riverside Community College

Terry Telfer, Monroe Country Community College

Nancy Schneider, University of Maine at Augusta

Joe Safdie, Lake Washington Technical College

Fred Misurella, East Stroudsberg University

Sonja Lynch, Southside Virginia Community College

We are grateful for the comments and suggestions of all of our colleagues who have used 75 Readings and 75 Readings Plus over the last 10 years. We welcome their ongoing contributions as we continue to improve these texts and make them even more responsive to the needs of our students. We would also like to thank our friends at McGraw-Hill who encouraged us and helped us continue these projects.

Santi Buscemi, Charlotte Smith

The Canadian edition of 75 Readings Plus is based on 75 Readings, the popular collection of essays for composition first published in 1987 and now in its eighth edition.
      75 Readings Plus incorporates instructional materials into the text. Accompanying each selection are an author biography, a set of discussion questions on content and strategy, and at least two suggestions for sustained writing. In addition, to help instructors exploit the connection between reading, writing, and critical thinking, 75 Readings Plus offers a set of prompts for short writing inspired by each essay election. These prompts can also be used as journal assignments or as warmp-up exercises for projects such as those described in Suggestions for Sustained Writing. In some cases, they can even be expanded into assignments for complete essays.

Instructor's Manual
Containing further questions and writing assignments specific to each essay in 75 Readings Plus, the Instructor's Manual is available both as a printed supplement, and downloadable electronically from the text website.

Text Website
For further information about selected authors and essays in 75 Readings Plus, visit the text website at http://www.mcgrawhill.ca/college/buscemi/.