This anthology investigates the intersection of critical reading and analytical writing to provide students with a framework for engaging with literary texts. Lynn Klamkin compiles a diverse selection of literature alongside instructional guidance to demonstrate how close reading informs the construction of persuasive academic arguments. The text serves as a pedagogical tool for composition and literature courses, emphasizing the recursive relationship between interpreting a text and drafting a response.

Educators frequently utilize this anthology as a foundational text for introductory literature and composition courses. The consensus among instructors is that the text effectively bridges the gap between reading comprehension and the technical requirements of academic writing.