Fowler, H.R. & Aaron, J.E. (2004). The little, brown handbook. (9th ed.). New York: Longman.

Authority

H. Ramsey Fowler is an Associate Professor of English at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. He has a background in English education and holds a Ph.D. in English. Jane E. Aaron has served as editor for several composition handbooks and readers, including past editions of The Little, Brown Handbook and The Bedford Reader. The Pearson division of Longman Publishing is one of the leading higher education publishing brands.

Scope

The Little, Brown Handbook touts itself as "a basic resource that will answer almost any question you have about writing" (p. iii). More than a simple grammar guide, The Little, Brown Handbook addresses critical thinking, writing mechanics, “big picture” writing structure, and a variety of citation formats.

Relation to similar works

Today, The Little, Brown Handbook is considered one of the leading grammar and composition handbooks. While similar in content to other writing handbooks such as The Longman Writer, The Little, Brown Handbook distinguishes itself with its emphasis on hyperlinks and interactive exercises.

Format

The Little, Brown Handbook is a single-volume 833-page hardbound text.

Treatment

Because The Handbook’s audience is first year undergraduate students, it possesses an instructional tone. Because these students will move into a variety of disciplines, The Handbook includes a chapter about writing across the disciplines and includes information about a variety of styles.  

Arrangement

The Little, Brown Handbook contains sections about the following topics: writing process, critical thinking, using computers critically, grammatical sentences, clear sentences, effective sentences, punctuation, mechanics, effective words, research writing, writing in the disciplines, and special writing situations. Each chapter has relevant web links and examples disbursed throughout it, and each chapter ends with writing and exercises. The Handbook also includes a glossary and an index.

Special Features

The "Plan of the Book" is outlined on the front inside cover of the handbook. The "Plan" serves to outline the sections of the book in detail, making the contents of the book faster and easier to access than a table of contents or index would. In addition to standard page numbers, the book contains internal tabs that correspond to the outline of the plan.

The Handbook also includes examples of sample student papers, over 1,000 interactive writing exercises, and “hundreds of carefully selective weblinks that provide additional useful information on all topics”

Cost

New copies of The Little, Brown Handbook sell for $59.74 on Amazon.com.

Potential Use and Overall Evaluation

The Little, Brown Handbook is a valuable resource for composition students and instructors alike. It is especially useful for undergraduate students because it includes a number of student examples and weblinks to online resources.