In 1998 Susan Anker set out to write a book that would help developmental students to see writing as vitally relevant to their lives beyond required English courses. The phenomenal success of Real Writing and testimonials from many adopters confirm this core belief. Students are motivated to learn and improve when they connect the ability to write well with their larger goals — with what they want to do in life and who they want to become. A range of features in the book shows writing to be an essential and achievable skill. In Profiles of Success, former students, now employed in a variety of professions, describe the academic, financial, and personal challenges they have overcome and the importance of good writing skills to their work. Presenting instruction in manageable increments, Real Writing features the "Four Basics" of each type of writing and begins its full grammar coverage with the "Four Most Serious Errors." With abundant and lively practices, assignments, and activities, Real Writing successfully motivates students to improve their writing as no other text does. In this edition Susan Anker continues to find new ways to help students, encouraging them to connect with their college communities and, as always, to connect their writing with their larger goals.