Like a physical workout, Stretch limbers up the writing joints. Its seven chapters each focus on one assignment: The Informal Essay, the Meditation, the Story, Technical Instructions, Other Exposition, Direct Persuasion, and Indirect Persuasion. This stimulating variety helps the student expand his or her range of motion as a writer.

Each chapter provides a motivating introduction, a warm-up, a professional model of writing, two student models, practical instruction, abundant topic possibilities, hints for revision, a set of optional writing challenges, and a poem (or song lyrics) illustrating a major idea of the chapter in a striking way.