This book investigates the fundamental challenge of establishing significance in academic and professional writing. Authors Kurt Schick and Laura Schubert provide a pedagogical framework designed to help writers move beyond mere summary or description to articulate the 'so what'—the underlying importance or implications of their arguments. By focusing on the rhetorical strategies of synthesis and analysis, the text offers a structured approach to elevating the intellectual weight of any written work.

Educators and writing center professionals frequently cite this text as a practical resource for students struggling to move past surface-level analysis. It is widely regarded as a clear, accessible guide for improving the depth and impact of academic prose.