The third Canadian edition of this anthology has been substantially revised and updated for a contemporary audience; a selection of classic essays from earlier eras has been retained, but the emphasis is very much on twenty-first-century expository writing. There is also a focus on issues of great importance in twenty-first-century Canada, such as climate change, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Jian Ghomeshi trial, Facebook, police discrimination, trans rights, and postsecondary education in the humanities. Works of different lengths and levels of difficulty are represented, as are narrative, descriptive and persuasive essays—and, new to this edition, lyric essays.

For the new edition there are also considerably more short pieces than ever before; a number of op-ed pieces are included, as are pieces from blogs and from online news sources. The representation of academic writing from several disciplines has been increased—and in some cases the anthology also includes news reports presenting the results of academic research to a general audience. Also new to this edition are essays from a wide range of the most celebrated prose writers of the modern era—from Susan Sontag, Eula Biss, and Michel Foucault to Anne Carson and Ta-Nehisi Coates. The anthology also offers increased diversity of representation—including, for example, a larger proportion of First Nations writers and women writers than previous Canadian editions.

Unobtrusive explanatory notes appear at the bottom of the page, and each selection is preceded by a headnote that provides students with information regarding the context in which the piece was written. Each reading is also followed by questions for discussion. A unique feature is the inclusion of a set of additional notes on the anthology’s companion website—notes designed to be of particular help to EAL students and/or students who have little familiarity with Canadian culture.

The anthology is accompanied by two companion websites. The student website features additional readings and interactive writing exercises (as well as the additional notes). The instructor website provides additional discussion questions and, for a number of the anthology selections, background information that may be of interest.

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Don LePan, founder and CEO of academic publishing house Broadview Press, is the author of several non-fiction books and of two other works of fiction; his novel Animals (2010) has been described by Nobel Prize winner J.M. Coetzee as “a powerful piece of writing and a disturbing call to conscience.”

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“The third edition of The Broadview Anthology of Expository Prose is even more relevant than ever. This wide-ranging compilation of articles can help students navigate the troubled waters of politics, race, and gender issues. Of particular note is the thematic Aboriginal North Americans section, which includes a piece on Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This anthology will challenge students to make connections among the diverse selections, opening new channels of classroom debate and written response.” —Laurie Cooper, Université de Moncton

“This new edition of an already excellent teaching text has doubled in size and expanded its website offerings, making it doubly indispensable. First- and second-year university students will continue to benefit from encountering classics old and new, but coverage has expanded to include not only more texts fundamental to the Canadian story, but also a global array of voices addressing timely issues, from mental health, gender identity, human-animal relations, and climate change to reconciliation, racialized inequality, the effects of social media, and political systems under stress. The Broadview Anthology of Expository Prose presents the essay as language at its most engaging, provocative, and inspiring.” —Betty A. Schellenberg, Simon Fraser University

“An impressive collection. The Broadview Anthology of Expository Prose is sure to spark stimulating class discussions on a wide range of contemporary issues and help students improve their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills.” —Farah Moosa, Vancouver Island University

Comments on Previous Edition

“What a wonderful and insightful collection of essays. My writing courses improved by leaps and bounds when I adopted the first edition.”—Beth Staley, West Virginia University

“Broadview has surpassed itself. This eclectic anthology represents the essay as a supple form of expression, and its subject as all that pertains to the human condition. Invaluable for the classroom, this collection will also challenge, amuse, provoke, and console the general reader.”—Susanna Egan, University of British Columbia

“My students’ responses to the readings have sparked meaningful and productive conversations about culture, education, and our ways of viewing the world. To my delight, at the end of a typical meeting we are left with even more questions than when we began. This text fosters students’ growth as inquisitive, critical readers and opens the doorway to future academic work.”—Alixandra V. Krzemien, Canisius College

“Articles such as Binyavanga Wainaina’s ‘How to Write about Africa’ and Malcolm Gladwell’s ‘None of the Above: What I.Q. Doesn’t Tell You About Race’ provide material that is both current and controversial, making it perfect for class discussions focused on the critical expression of relevant issues. The [editors offer] insightful questions at the end of each article and have chosen readings carefully—[this is an anthology] … that can be used beneficially in class discussion and as the basis for written assignments.”—Louise Nichols, Université de Moncton

“The Broadview Anthology of Expository Prose is one of the best essay anthologies I have seen. The remarkable diversity of the essays covers an impressive range of authors, styles, topics, and viewpoints.”—Paul D. Farkas, Metropolitan State College