Writing in college can be tricky. It can be difficult to know what qualities matter most, what ideas to develop or even how to deliver work that meets instructors' expectations. Mauk/Metz's THE COMPOSITION OF EVERYDAY LIFE, 7th EDITION, was designed to help students like you with the most evasive but crucial aspects of college writing -- inventing fresh ideas and delivering them in compelling ways. Academic writing, after all, is not about getting it right but about making an intellectual impact -- changing minds, challenging ideas and exploring possibilities. Whatever topics you choose, whatever issues most define your life, this book will help you go beyond expectations, maximize intellectual possibilities and make real discoveries about the world around you. The sample essays throughout, written by both professional and student writers, were carefully selected to demonstrate the most impactful strategies writers can apply in academic settings.