The Longman Pocket Writer's Companion

by Anson, Chris M.; Schwegler, Robert A.; Muth, Marcia F.

• ISBN13: 9780205591428
• ISBN10: 0205591426
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

This inexpensive, pocket-sized reference offers easy-to-understand answers to common questions about grammar, writing and researching. With specific advice for writing in the workplace, for the public, and in the classroom, this handy guide will help you write correctly and more effectively.

Table of Contents

Handbook Menu Guide for Using This Handbook

Writing and Reading

Writing and Reading in Communities

Understanding your writing situation

Moving from reading to writing

Paying attention to the writing process

Developing a Thesis

Creating a thesis statement

Designing an appropriate thesis

Providing Support and Reasoning Clearly

Reasoning critically

Providing support

Evaluating support

Paragraphing for Readers

Focusing paragraphs

Making paragraphs coherent

Developing paragraphs

Matching Style and Strategy to a Community of Readers

Recognizing a communitys style

Adjusting to a communitys style

Recognizing a communitys expectations

Designing Documents for Readers

Planning your document

Laying out your document

Using type features

Using visuals

Sample documents

Constructing an Argument

Identifying an issue

Developing an argumentative thesis

Developing reasons and supporting evidence

Presenting counterarguments

Reasoning logically

Writing for General Education Courses

General academic writing assignments

Writing goals and plans

Common types of general academic writing

Writing in the Disciplines

Writing in the arts and humanities

Common types of writing in the arts and humanities

Writing in the natural and social sciences

Common types of writing in the natural and social sciences

Assessing Writing

Assessing your own writing

Assessing someone elses writing

Understanding how others assess your writing

Assessing your portfolio

Conducting Research

Planning and Conducting Research

Recognizing research topics

Identifying keywords

Developing research questions

Developing critical search strategies

Maintaining a working bibliography

Keeping track of sources and notes

Assembling your research materials

Finding Library and Database Resources

Finding library resources

Locating books and documents

Locating periodicals and other documents

Finding research databases

Locating databases for articles and documents

Finding Web Resources

Finding Web and Internet resources

Searching efficiently

Locating appropriate Web resources

Reading and Synthesizing Sources

Summarizing

Paraphrasing

Synthesizing

Questioning

Evaluating Sources Critically

Evaluating appropriateness

Evaluating accuracy and reliability

Evaluating search engine results.

Evaluating point of view or bias

Evaluating Web sources critically

Turning inquiry into writing

Avoiding Plagiarism and Integrating Sources

Avoiding plagiarism

Deciding what to document

Documenting sources for different audiences

Integrating quotations

Integrating sources into your text

Integrating visual and webbed sources

Documenting Sources

MLA Style Guide to MLA Formats

MLA in-text (parenthetical) citations

MLA list of works cited

MLA sample pages

APA Style Guide to APA Formats

APA in-text (parenthetical) cit

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