Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Reasonable idea, poor execution May 28, 2008
I am a Junior high school student in the International Baccalaureate Program and i must say, i have been praised by many teachers for my writing abilities. Yet, this book, assigned in our Rhetoric class, is a juvenile attempt to teach the art of writing. The LAW merely teaches subjects that are, to many, common sense, such as the avoidance of passive voice, but any valid points made by the book are nearly invisible in the horrible examples, such as drag racing or teen-agers. (yes that's how old the book is. It was written when "teenager" was not its own word.) Ultimately, the book teaches a style of writing that does not nurture the natural abilities of a writer, but dumbs them down. If i were to write a paper based on Mrs. Paine's guidelines in a college course, my professor would certainly look at me, as if i were a child, and ask if i wanted a lollipop, for it would definitely match the maturity of Mrs. Paine's writing rubric.
 This is not entertainment October 18, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The LAW was something I used 30 years ago as a high school student; now I recommend it to my university students who need help writing. While the examples are a bit dated, the lessons are still apropos. Those reviewers who found it boring and tedious are showing their immaturity. This is NOT a novel, it is not entertainment, it is a how to book on how to WRITE an essay. Lucile Vaughan Payne wrote a fabulous little book 42 years ago and it is still useful today. If you cannot get past the lack of entertainment value then you will not be able to learn the lessons anyway. If you want to learn to write, get this book!
 Pound for pound, price for price, this books is the Champ! August 26, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
-Have many copies on my shelf; usually give them away to friends in writing need and it doesn't take long for me to get a big "Thank you" from them.
-I thumb through this book before every article I write.
-A classic
The Writing Bible June 16, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I am a college student, I attend Michigan State University and I was required to buy this book my last year in high school. Now our teacher DID NOT require us to read this book, but she made us all buy it... This was the best $6.00 I ever spent. This teaches you the rights and wrongs, and the ins and outs of Wrighting! I took a big step into going to a University right out of highschool - Writing being a weak point of mine, this book put me up to speed in 2 weeks. If you apply what you learn and write alot while reading this, you will see your self impove!! Best book to buy for someone in highschool, or first year in college. Or maybe if you going back to college. It's my bible, I look to it everytime I wright!
 Pointless Book Lulls Students to Sleep! April 1, 2006
2 out of 28 found this review helpful
Unfortunatly I was required to read this atrocious book for school. I am a very forgiving student when it come to books that are dull, but this one drove me past my limit. The examples are outdated and pointless. There are too many references to dreag racing and silverware.
Granted she might have some good points but you can't see them because they are buried so deeply in her ramblings. It was THE MOST BORING BOOK I have ever read!! It was difficult staying awake.
This torture may have been worthwhile if there was something to be learned. Unfortunately there is nothing to be learned!!!
You could condense the book down to ONE sentence- Writing is important, like drag racing, and never say the word there. Okay thats the book.I just saved you 7 bucks and the pain of deciphering the boring words in MICROSCOPIC PRINT. Ilearned as much froim her book as I do from SWEDISH PROPAGANDA that i do not understand.
Only Swedish propaganda wasd more interseting!!
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