Combining the broadest diversity of literature, with the most celebrated writing instruction of any book of its type, LITERATURE: READING, REACTING, WRITING, Fifth Edition, provides all the material that Advanced Placement students need for success. From the contemporary to the canonical, the serious to the humorous, and the poignant to the whimsical, every story, poem, and play in this edition has been carefully chosen for its appeal to a range of teachers and students. Over half of the selections include critical and cultural background material that will help students understand the world from which they came. LITERATURE, COMPACT EDITION and LITERATURE, PORTABLE EDITION provide two briefer paperback alternatives to the longer text.