The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really good. One of my English professors recommended it to our class. She also said that every English major should have a copy of it. I had always used Diana Hacker's book in other classes. After she recommended it, I decided to check it out at the bookstore. After skimming through it, I decided to buy it. It was so much easier to follow than Hacker's book. I will use it in the future. Gibaldi devotes an entire chapter just to plagiarism (and how to avoid it).

Brandon Simpson


Disappointing, 13 Jan 2008
I'm a french student who is writing a research paper in English. This book has helped me getting through some basic problems, such as punctuation, margins, how to avoid plagiarism, how to make a bibliography, cite sources... But the information given about the overall aspect and presentation of a research paper is disappointing. Nothing about the making of a table of contents, or an index, where to put the illustrations. Only three pages cover the issues of typing, paper, margins, spaces, heading and titles and page numbers (including information given for typewriter users... ridiculous). And, on the contrary, it sometimes gives a lot of details when an example would have made the thing clear enough, and gives loads of examples when one sentence to explain would have been sufficient. Morerover, when looking for a precise piece of information, it sometimes proves diffucult to find and ambiguous. So, in fact, I use it but hate it. But there are so many kinds of research works and methods that I might as well be the only person not satisfied with this book.

Highly recommended style of writing research papers, 30 Jul 2007
I have already used MLA when I wrote my research paper to obtain the BA degree two years ago. And now I have just bought it from Amazon because I am interested in obtaining a PhD; and MLA is the best choice I could make to follow in my future dissertation. I really recommmend it for all students who are to present dissertations as it is a universally recognized style, easy to follow & apply.

A great guide to a great style, 06 Jan 2006
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is my preferred style for writing papers - both in terms of citation and in terms of overall format. While I must confess to making small changes (based on my British English background and preference), I still adhere to most of the MLA standards when it comes to putting together research papers.

This is a guide that is useful not only for writing, but also for researching. There is a section that discusses researching both in a library and online. The guide then gives a refresher course in grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph construction, and other elements of style that are useful in the general academic paper.

By far the most useful part of this guide is the section that shows how to reference in footnotes, endnotes, in-line/in-text citations and proper documentation of sources. While there are few elements due to new media (how does one reference a video on MPG format that doesn't actually reside on a website?) that might not be covered, this guide is fairly comprehensive when it comes to in-print, internet, and other media resources.

For undergraduate students, graduate students, academic writers and general writers, the MLA style is easy to follow, fairly intuitive in approach, and comprehensible even by those not training in such styles.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really good. One of my English professors recommended it to our class. She also said that every English major should have a copy of it. I had always used Diana Hacker's book in other classes. After she recommended it, I decided to check it out at the bookstore. After skimming through it, I decided to buy it. It was so much easier to follow than Hacker's book. I will use it in the future. Gibaldi devotes an entire chapter just to plagiarism (and how to avoid it).

Brandon Simpson


Disappointing, 13 Jan 2008
I'm a french student who is writing a research paper in English. This book has helped me getting through some basic problems, such as punctuation, margins, how to avoid plagiarism, how to make a bibliography, cite sources... But the information given about the overall aspect and presentation of a research paper is disappointing. Nothing about the making of a table of contents, or an index, where to put the illustrations. Only three pages cover the issues of typing, paper, margins, spaces, heading and titles and page numbers (including information given for typewriter users... ridiculous). And, on the contrary, it sometimes gives a lot of details when an example would have made the thing clear enough, and gives loads of examples when one sentence to explain would have been sufficient. Morerover, when looking for a precise piece of information, it sometimes proves diffucult to find and ambiguous. So, in fact, I use it but hate it. But there are so many kinds of research works and methods that I might as well be the only person not satisfied with this book.

Highly recommended style of writing research papers, 30 Jul 2007
I have already used MLA when I wrote my research paper to obtain the BA degree two years ago. And now I have just bought it from Amazon because I am interested in obtaining a PhD; and MLA is the best choice I could make to follow in my future dissertation. I really recommmend it for all students who are to present dissertations as it is a universally recognized style, easy to follow & apply.

A great guide to a great style, 06 Jan 2006
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is my preferred style for writing papers - both in terms of citation and in terms of overall format. While I must confess to making small changes (based on my British English background and preference), I still adhere to most of the MLA standards when it comes to putting together research papers.

This is a guide that is useful not only for writing, but also for researching. There is a section that discusses researching both in a library and online. The guide then gives a refresher course in grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph construction, and other elements of style that are useful in the general academic paper.

By far the most useful part of this guide is the section that shows how to reference in footnotes, endnotes, in-line/in-text citations and proper documentation of sources. While there are few elements due to new media (how does one reference a video on MPG format that doesn't actually reside on a website?) that might not be covered, this guide is fairly comprehensive when it comes to in-print, internet, and other media resources.

For undergraduate students, graduate students, academic writers and general writers, the MLA style is easy to follow, fairly intuitive in approach, and comprehensible even by those not training in such styles.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really good. One of my English professors recommended it to our class. She also said that every English major should have a copy of it. I had always used Diana Hacker's book in other classes. After she recommended it, I decided to check it out at the bookstore. After skimming through it, I decided to buy it. It was so much easier to follow than Hacker's book. I will use it in the future. Gibaldi devotes an entire chapter just to plagiarism (and how to avoid it).

Brandon Simpson


Disappointing, 13 Jan 2008
I'm a french student who is writing a research paper in English. This book has helped me getting through some basic problems, such as punctuation, margins, how to avoid plagiarism, how to make a bibliography, cite sources... But the information given about the overall aspect and presentation of a research paper is disappointing. Nothing about the making of a table of contents, or an index, where to put the illustrations. Only three pages cover the issues of typing, paper, margins, spaces, heading and titles and page numbers (including information given for typewriter users... ridiculous). And, on the contrary, it sometimes gives a lot of details when an example would have made the thing clear enough, and gives loads of examples when one sentence to explain would have been sufficient. Morerover, when looking for a precise piece of information, it sometimes proves diffucult to find and ambiguous. So, in fact, I use it but hate it. But there are so many kinds of research works and methods that I might as well be the only person not satisfied with this book.

Highly recommended style of writing research papers, 30 Jul 2007
I have already used MLA when I wrote my research paper to obtain the BA degree two years ago. And now I have just bought it from Amazon because I am interested in obtaining a PhD; and MLA is the best choice I could make to follow in my future dissertation. I really recommmend it for all students who are to present dissertations as it is a universally recognized style, easy to follow & apply.

A great guide to a great style, 06 Jan 2006
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is my preferred style for writing papers - both in terms of citation and in terms of overall format. While I must confess to making small changes (based on my British English background and preference), I still adhere to most of the MLA standards when it comes to putting together research papers.

This is a guide that is useful not only for writing, but also for researching. There is a section that discusses researching both in a library and online. The guide then gives a refresher course in grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph construction, and other elements of style that are useful in the general academic paper.

By far the most useful part of this guide is the section that shows how to reference in footnotes, endnotes, in-line/in-text citations and proper documentation of sources. While there are few elements due to new media (how does one reference a video on MPG format that doesn't actually reside on a website?) that might not be covered, this guide is fairly comprehensive when it comes to in-print, internet, and other media resources.

For undergraduate students, graduate students, academic writers and general writers, the MLA style is easy to follow, fairly intuitive in approach, and comprehensible even by those not training in such styles.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

The Premier Reference Book for Practising Officers, 02 Sep 2003
This book as absolutely A1.

For those who are serious about police work this is the premier reference book. All the information you need and small enough to fit in your jacket/notebook pouch/body armour.

Having spoken to regular officers this seems to be the stanadard reference work for both training and operations.

Buy the Traffic Officers Companion to complete the set.

I would particluarly recommend it for Special Constables (like myself) because it complements and backs up your ongoing training exceptionally well!

And if you're not in the police then it gives you a good starting point for knowing where to avoid going wrong!

An excellent book for Scottish Police Officers., 11 May 2001
This book is an excellent quick reference guide for Scottish Police Officers. The book is laid out well and and makes good use of graphics and diagrams to make the legislation easy to read and undestand. This book is a must for Scottish officers.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really good. One of my English professors recommended it to our class. She also said that every English major should have a copy of it. I had always used Diana Hacker's book in other classes. After she recommended it, I decided to check it out at the bookstore. After skimming through it, I decided to buy it. It was so much easier to follow than Hacker's book. I will use it in the future. Gibaldi devotes an entire chapter just to plagiarism (and how to avoid it).

Brandon Simpson


Disappointing, 13 Jan 2008
I'm a french student who is writing a research paper in English. This book has helped me getting through some basic problems, such as punctuation, margins, how to avoid plagiarism, how to make a bibliography, cite sources... But the information given about the overall aspect and presentation of a research paper is disappointing. Nothing about the making of a table of contents, or an index, where to put the illustrations. Only three pages cover the issues of typing, paper, margins, spaces, heading and titles and page numbers (including information given for typewriter users... ridiculous). And, on the contrary, it sometimes gives a lot of details when an example would have made the thing clear enough, and gives loads of examples when one sentence to explain would have been sufficient. Morerover, when looking for a precise piece of information, it sometimes proves diffucult to find and ambiguous. So, in fact, I use it but hate it. But there are so many kinds of research works and methods that I might as well be the only person not satisfied with this book.

Highly recommended style of writing research papers, 30 Jul 2007
I have already used MLA when I wrote my research paper to obtain the BA degree two years ago. And now I have just bought it from Amazon because I am interested in obtaining a PhD; and MLA is the best choice I could make to follow in my future dissertation. I really recommmend it for all students who are to present dissertations as it is a universally recognized style, easy to follow & apply.

A great guide to a great style, 06 Jan 2006
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is my preferred style for writing papers - both in terms of citation and in terms of overall format. While I must confess to making small changes (based on my British English background and preference), I still adhere to most of the MLA standards when it comes to putting together research papers.

This is a guide that is useful not only for writing, but also for researching. There is a section that discusses researching both in a library and online. The guide then gives a refresher course in grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph construction, and other elements of style that are useful in the general academic paper.

By far the most useful part of this guide is the section that shows how to reference in footnotes, endnotes, in-line/in-text citations and proper documentation of sources. While there are few elements due to new media (how does one reference a video on MPG format that doesn't actually reside on a website?) that might not be covered, this guide is fairly comprehensive when it comes to in-print, internet, and other media resources.

For undergraduate students, graduate students, academic writers and general writers, the MLA style is easy to follow, fairly intuitive in approach, and comprehensible even by those not training in such styles.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

The Premier Reference Book for Practising Officers, 02 Sep 2003
This book as absolutely A1.

For those who are serious about police work this is the premier reference book. All the information you need and small enough to fit in your jacket/notebook pouch/body armour.

Having spoken to regular officers this seems to be the stanadard reference work for both training and operations.

Buy the Traffic Officers Companion to complete the set.

I would particluarly recommend it for Special Constables (like myself) because it complements and backs up your ongoing training exceptionally well!

And if you're not in the police then it gives you a good starting point for knowing where to avoid going wrong!

An excellent book for Scottish Police Officers., 11 May 2001
This book is an excellent quick reference guide for Scottish Police Officers. The book is laid out well and and makes good use of graphics and diagrams to make the legislation easy to read and undestand. This book is a must for Scottish officers.

Clear introductory account to a difficult subject, 05 Feb 1999
In a field which has been deluged for years by analyses that are weighed down with jargon and abtruse theorising (and therefore only of interest to other academics), Dr. Bignell's book offers a clear introduction to the ideas of media semiotics. It is intended for use by 1st year university students, but could equally well be used as a general introduction at 6th form, or for the lay reader. It is written in a clear, precise style, and though it covers all the major theories to have emerged in the last decades concerning the analysis of the media (linguistic philosophy, marxism, structuralism, feminism, deconstruction), Bignell's use of everyday examples drawn from popular drama and advertising illuminates even the most difficult point.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really good. One of my English professors recommended it to our class. She also said that every English major should have a copy of it. I had always used Diana Hacker's book in other classes. After she recommended it, I decided to check it out at the bookstore. After skimming through it, I decided to buy it. It was so much easier to follow than Hacker's book. I will use it in the future. Gibaldi devotes an entire chapter just to plagiarism (and how to avoid it).

Brandon Simpson


Disappointing, 13 Jan 2008
I'm a french student who is writing a research paper in English. This book has helped me getting through some basic problems, such as punctuation, margins, how to avoid plagiarism, how to make a bibliography, cite sources... But the information given about the overall aspect and presentation of a research paper is disappointing. Nothing about the making of a table of contents, or an index, where to put the illustrations. Only three pages cover the issues of typing, paper, margins, spaces, heading and titles and page numbers (including information given for typewriter users... ridiculous). And, on the contrary, it sometimes gives a lot of details when an example would have made the thing clear enough, and gives loads of examples when one sentence to explain would have been sufficient. Morerover, when looking for a precise piece of information, it sometimes proves diffucult to find and ambiguous. So, in fact, I use it but hate it. But there are so many kinds of research works and methods that I might as well be the only person not satisfied with this book.

Highly recommended style of writing research papers, 30 Jul 2007
I have already used MLA when I wrote my research paper to obtain the BA degree two years ago. And now I have just bought it from Amazon because I am interested in obtaining a PhD; and MLA is the best choice I could make to follow in my future dissertation. I really recommmend it for all students who are to present dissertations as it is a universally recognized style, easy to follow & apply.

A great guide to a great style, 06 Jan 2006
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is my preferred style for writing papers - both in terms of citation and in terms of overall format. While I must confess to making small changes (based on my British English background and preference), I still adhere to most of the MLA standards when it comes to putting together research papers.

This is a guide that is useful not only for writing, but also for researching. There is a section that discusses researching both in a library and online. The guide then gives a refresher course in grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph construction, and other elements of style that are useful in the general academic paper.

By far the most useful part of this guide is the section that shows how to reference in footnotes, endnotes, in-line/in-text citations and proper documentation of sources. While there are few elements due to new media (how does one reference a video on MPG format that doesn't actually reside on a website?) that might not be covered, this guide is fairly comprehensive when it comes to in-print, internet, and other media resources.

For undergraduate students, graduate students, academic writers and general writers, the MLA style is easy to follow, fairly intuitive in approach, and comprehensible even by those not training in such styles.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

The Premier Reference Book for Practising Officers, 02 Sep 2003
This book as absolutely A1.

For those who are serious about police work this is the premier reference book. All the information you need and small enough to fit in your jacket/notebook pouch/body armour.

Having spoken to regular officers this seems to be the stanadard reference work for both training and operations.

Buy the Traffic Officers Companion to complete the set.

I would particluarly recommend it for Special Constables (like myself) because it complements and backs up your ongoing training exceptionally well!

And if you're not in the police then it gives you a good starting point for knowing where to avoid going wrong!

An excellent book for Scottish Police Officers., 11 May 2001
This book is an excellent quick reference guide for Scottish Police Officers. The book is laid out well and and makes good use of graphics and diagrams to make the legislation easy to read and undestand. This book is a must for Scottish officers.

Clear introductory account to a difficult subject, 05 Feb 1999
In a field which has been deluged for years by analyses that are weighed down with jargon and abtruse theorising (and therefore only of interest to other academics), Dr. Bignell's book offers a clear introduction to the ideas of media semiotics. It is intended for use by 1st year university students, but could equally well be used as a general introduction at 6th form, or for the lay reader. It is written in a clear, precise style, and though it covers all the major theories to have emerged in the last decades concerning the analysis of the media (linguistic philosophy, marxism, structuralism, feminism, deconstruction), Bignell's use of everyday examples drawn from popular drama and advertising illuminates even the most difficult point.

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really good. One of my English professors recommended it to our class. She also said that every English major should have a copy of it. I had always used Diana Hacker's book in other classes. After she recommended it, I decided to check it out at the bookstore. After skimming through it, I decided to buy it. It was so much easier to follow than Hacker's book. I will use it in the future. Gibaldi devotes an entire chapter just to plagiarism (and how to avoid it).

Brandon Simpson


Disappointing, 13 Jan 2008
I'm a french student who is writing a research paper in English. This book has helped me getting through some basic problems, such as punctuation, margins, how to avoid plagiarism, how to make a bibliography, cite sources... But the information given about the overall aspect and presentation of a research paper is disappointing. Nothing about the making of a table of contents, or an index, where to put the illustrations. Only three pages cover the issues of typing, paper, margins, spaces, heading and titles and page numbers (including information given for typewriter users... ridiculous). And, on the contrary, it sometimes gives a lot of details when an example would have made the thing clear enough, and gives loads of examples when one sentence to explain would have been sufficient. Morerover, when looking for a precise piece of information, it sometimes proves diffucult to find and ambiguous. So, in fact, I use it but hate it. But there are so many kinds of research works and methods that I might as well be the only person not satisfied with this book.

Highly recommended style of writing research papers, 30 Jul 2007
I have already used MLA when I wrote my research paper to obtain the BA degree two years ago. And now I have just bought it from Amazon because I am interested in obtaining a PhD; and MLA is the best choice I could make to follow in my future dissertation. I really recommmend it for all students who are to present dissertations as it is a universally recognized style, easy to follow & apply.

A great guide to a great style, 06 Jan 2006
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is my preferred style for writing papers - both in terms of citation and in terms of overall format. While I must confess to making small changes (based on my British English background and preference), I still adhere to most of the MLA standards when it comes to putting together research papers.

This is a guide that is useful not only for writing, but also for researching. There is a section that discusses researching both in a library and online. The guide then gives a refresher course in grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph construction, and other elements of style that are useful in the general academic paper.

By far the most useful part of this guide is the section that shows how to reference in footnotes, endnotes, in-line/in-text citations and proper documentation of sources. While there are few elements due to new media (how does one reference a video on MPG format that doesn't actually reside on a website?) that might not be covered, this guide is fairly comprehensive when it comes to in-print, internet, and other media resources.

For undergraduate students, graduate students, academic writers and general writers, the MLA style is easy to follow, fairly intuitive in approach, and comprehensible even by those not training in such styles.

Prententious and impractical, 11 Aug 2008
As a professional copywriter and senior lecturer in advertising, I cannot believe that this turgid treatise is still being touted as some seminal work that offers insights into how professional advertising works. Pseudo-academic, pretentiously obscure (perhaps to obscure its confused thinking?), and terribly dated (written by a young Marxist back in 1978 as her university dissertation and never revised since). Do yourself a favour and read something more relevant and entertaining, unless you want to become another dull Media Theory lecturer rambling on about Structuralism and Semiotics and in thrall to French linguistic philosophers whose clouded vision presumably resulted from smoking all those Gauloises.

A must for anyone studying the media or photography, 23 Oct 1999
Decoding Advertisements must be a the top of your reading list if you are studying either the media or photography from A level to Degree. A thought provoking book which will make you question how we are manipulated by the media and the advertising industry - you will never view a photograph in the same way again.

Decoding Advertisements is a first-rate book!, 04 Aug 1997
Decoding Advertisements is a witty, clever, and accessible introduction to the pernicious world of advertising. Judith Williamson writes for a general audience, and has loads of interesting insights to offer into the ways in which advertisements shape our thinking and personalities. This book is a must for anyone who has ever wondered what advertisements are _really_ selling. Kent Worcester

The Premier Reference Book for Practising Officers, 02 Sep 2003
This book as absolutely A1.

For those who are serious about police work this is the premier reference book. All the information you need and small enough to fit in your jacket/notebook pouch/body armour.

Having spoken to regular officers this seems to be the stanadard reference work for both training and operations.

Buy the Traffic Officers Companion to complete the set.

I would particluarly recommend it for Special Constables (like myself) because it complements and backs up your ongoing training exceptionally well!

And if you're not in the police then it gives you a good starting point for knowing where to avoid going wrong!

An excellent book for Scottish Police Officers., 11 May 2001
This book is an excellent quick reference guide for Scottish Police Officers. The book is laid out well and and makes good use of graphics and diagrams to make the legislation easy to read and undestand. This book is a must for Scottish officers.

Clear introductory account to a difficult subject, 05 Feb 1999
In a field which has been deluged for years by analyses that are weighed down with jargon and abtruse theorising (and therefore only of interest to other academics), Dr. Bignell's book offers a clear introduction to the ideas of media semiotics. It is intended for use by 1st year university students, but could equally well be used as a general introduction at 6th form, or for the lay reader. It is written in a clear, precise style, and though it covers all the major theories to have emerged in the last decades concerning the analysis of the media (linguistic philosophy, marxism, structuralism, feminism, deconstruction), Bignell's use of everyday examples drawn from popular drama and advertising illuminates even the most difficult point.

Read this book, and save yourself years of finding out the hard way!, 19 Jul 2008
Having been a member and moderator at Photoshopforums.com (one of Patrick's many communities) for almost a year now, and had firsthand experience with managing a content-based website of my own, I decided to read "Managing Online Forums" to gain an insight into how online communities are managed - and I wasn't disappointed!

The book really does contain a wealth of information that ranges right from the preparation work you need to do before even thinking about launching an online community, to how you can maintain and advertise the finished product. Through the way, Patrick writes about his experiences and gives a clear indication of not just how he works, but why, which for me is an extremely important factor. His honest reasons and accounts are what turn this good book into a great one!

One of my favourite parts of this book, and one that I find quite astonishing, is the publication of Patrick's hand-crafted User Guidelines that can be used free on your own forums. He also includes all the contact templates that can be used when members break the guidelines. The fact that they are free to use elsewhere is a testament to how useful this book is to anyone working with online communities. I'm sure that everyone from beginner (which is where I fall) to advanced will appreciate the detailed and accurate information that's contained inside.

One day, I'm sure I'll tinker with the idea of creating a forum to run alongside my site, a place where people can come, talk, listen and enjoy, and when that time comes, I know I'll feel much more capable knowing Patrick's book is part of my collection.

Fenwick: Civil Liberties and Human Rights, 28 Jan 2005
This book was by far the best book I bought for my Human Rights Law module, with significant factual depth whilst still remaining understandable and coherent throughout. This text is extremely authoritative and comprehensive and I would recommend it without hesitation to anyone on a Human Rights course, or who is interested in Human Rights and Civil Liberties.

The stepping stone of media, 24 Mar 2006
I found Branston and Stafford's Media and Students Book, extremely helpful to me in my first year of studying media studies.
Quoting several different scholars and theorists, to back up some well thought out and well explained ideas behind media.
It was an excellent stepping stone for me and a platform to read more advanced media books, as this one was the foundation or the ground floor of media books, it covers the basics of media.
Overall a good read and highly reccommended.

More emphasis on convoluted langauge than realy teaching you, 14 Oct 2005
Having achieved an A* in English Language at GCSE level, i would say that my reading skill was better than average however i have extreme difficulty trying to understand this book. It appears to me that the writers have attempted to impress everyone with their clearly anqituated grasp of the english language instead of simply laying out the information in an easily accesible manner. In order to revise from this book i have to first translate it which is of absolutely no use to me. So if your looking for a decent media studies book i suggest another option as i am clearly unimpressed with this book.

Beginners, 01 Jun 2005
i found this text book extrememly usefull as my stepping stone into the media world. i was advised to purchase this book when i started college and found it extremely usefull. The explanations are clear and interesting.. this book is all inspiring.

Worth it, but..., 27 Feb 2004
I got this for my AVCE Media class, and I basically haven't used it much. Very worth it for extra reading, or going over stuff, but hasn't covered much past what the tutor has given me. This is probably because you are given what you need in class, in class. Still worth a buy to revise from at home

An excellent introduction to complex media studies concepts, 27 Sep 2000
This is a textbook that goes further than any similar volume has ever done. It introduces many complicated and often confusing topics in straightforward terms, which are demonstrated using comprehensive case studies. It also covers a broad range of media-related issues widely studied at degree level, and is structured into well ordered, intuitive chapters. The new chapters in the second edition, particularly that in regard to the internet, are of an excellent standard.

Not exactly reality, 27 Aug 2008
I suppose this is a good read for those who want a textbook version of reality, but this book aint reality. Im going through a messy divorce as I type and what the book doesnt tell you is how bl**dy slow the whole process is, and the fact that legal aid solicitors take their time and barely do anything for you (forget trying to get any court order or speedy reply or appointment, this is the NHS of law), and how the system screws women who leave abusive men from just about every angle.

I have been to citizens advice bureau, who wasted my time, twice (and it took ages to get through), I have been through 3 solicitors because the first two gave me reckless advice more concerned with costs than helping me with my case, our first mediator was biased in favour of my ex and she mispresented a session to my solicitor deliberately, the list goes on.

Point being, yeah, its a guide, like a guide to childbirth. but the true horror and the knowledge of what divorce with a bitter ex is really like can only be known by going through it.

Domestic abuse? even the police turned on me when I asked them for help.

CSA? they work as slowly as solicitors.

On benefit? Expect to be grilled every turn and its a full time job just keeping your benefit coming in.

Expect to get an injunction if youre on legal aid? not a chance.

oh and the final screw to you - as long as you have an 'interest' in the marital home, you dont qualify for council housing or home share schemes, and selling the marital home can take years so I hope you're happy paying rent.

if you havent left your partner yet, think about it very carefully. my case i am glad i left, but be ready for the s**t to hit the fan and feel totally and utterly without support or rights because that is what the book dont tell u but it is what i am telling you and it is reality.

bw

Useful, 05 Sep 2007
A very clear and simple path through some of the legal stuff in divorce. I read this together with FAMILY COURT HELL by Mark Harris. FAMILY COURT HELL is a story of Britain's Worst Access Case ever, which explicitly details how bad child access cases can become if mother does not want to co operate. By reading both, a [slightly!] clearer picture emerges as to what not to do! Buy both if you can.

Ignore the one-star reviews, 17 Jan 2008
First of all, you should ignore all the one-star reviews of this book. Those reviews criticize the MLA, not the book. The book itself is really go