Real Essays Interactive

by Anker, Susan

• ISBN13: 9781457654091
• ISBN10: 1457654091
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-08-30
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Real Essays Interactive　offers practical coverage of essay writing skills in a brief, interactive, and affordable format. The print component offers the essentials of Anker’s accessible writing instruction along with select exercises; additional exercises are available online in LearningCurve, adaptive, game-like quizzing that helps students focus on the material they most need help with. As with all books in the Anker series, Real Essays Interactive motivates students with its message that writing is an essential and achievable skill and encourages students to connect what they learn with their own goals and with the needs and expectations of the larger world.

Author Biography

Susan Anker (BA, MEd, Boston University) brings a unique perspective to the teaching of the developmental writing course. She taught English and developmental writing before entering college publishing, where she worked for eighteen years: as a sales representative and English/ESL editor at Macmillan Publishing Company; as developmental English/ESL editor, executive editor, and editor in chief at St. Martin’s Press; and as vice president and editor in chief for humanities at Houghton Mifflin Company. In each of these positions, she worked with developmental writing instructors and students, maintaining her early interest in the field.  Since the publication of the first edition of Real Writing in 1998, Anker has traveled extensively to campuses across the country, continuing her conversations with instructors and students and giving workshops and presentations. She believes that the writing course is, for many students, their first, best opportunity to learn the skills they will need to succeed in college and achieve their goals.

Table of Contents

Part One: College Thinking, Reading, and Writing

1. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: Making Connections
Critical Thinking
Critical Reading
     Preview the Reading
     Read the Piece: Find the Main Point and the Support
          MAIN POINT AND PURPOSE
          SUPPORT
     Pause to Think
          READING ACTIVELY
          WATCHING FOR LOGICAL FALLACIES
     Review and Respond
     A Critical Reader at Work
Writing Critically about Readings
     Summary
     Analysis
     Synthesis
     Evaluation

2. Getting Ready to Write: Form, Process, and Purpose  
     Note: Avoiding Plagiarism
Paragraph and Essay Forms
     Paragraph Structure
     Essay Structure
The Writing Process
Audience and Purpose
     Finding, Narrowing, and Exploring Your Topic
     Narrowing a Topic
          ASK YOURSELF QUESTIONS
          MAP YOUR IDEAS
          LIST NARROWER TOPICS
     Exploring Your Topic
          FREEWRITE
          LIST AND BRAINSTORM
          ASK A REPORTER'S QUESTIONS
          DISCUSS
          CLUSTER AND MAP
          USE THE INTERNET
          KEEP A JOURNAL

3. Organizing Your Main Point and Support: Arranging Your Ideas
Thesis Statements
     Focusing on a Single Main Point
     Fitting the Size of the Assignment
     Being Specific
     Writing a Thesis That You Can Show, Explain, or Prove
     Being Forceful and Confident
Supporting for Your Thesis
     Key Features of Good Support
     Generating Support
          PREWRITE TO FIND SUPPORT
          DROP UNRELATED IDEAS
          SELECT THE BEST SUPPORT POINTS
     Add Supporting Details
     Review Support
     Write Topic Sentences for Your Support Points
Arrange Your Ideas
     Chronological Order
     Spatial Order
     Order of Importance
Make a Plan

4. Drafting and Revising: Putting Your Ideas Together
Writing a Draft
     Draft the Body of the Essay
     Write an Introduction
          START WITH A SURPRISING FACT OR IDEA
          OPEN WITH A QUOTATION
          GIVE AN EXAMPLE OR TELL A STORY
          OFFER A STRONG OPINION
          ASK A QUESTION
     Write a Conclusion
     Title Your Essay
     Sample Student Essay: Draft
Revising Your Draft
     Revise for Unity
     Revise for Support and Detail
     Revise for Coherence
     Sample Student Essay: Revised
     Peer Reviewing

Part Two: Writing Different Kinds of Essays

5. Narration: Writing That Tells Stories
Understand What Narration Is
     Main Point in Narration
     Support in Narration
     Organization in Narration
Read and Analyze Narration
     Narration in College
     Narration at Work
     Narration in Everyday Life
Write a Narration Essay
     Writing Guide: Narration

6. Illustration: Writing That Shows Examples
Understand What Illustration Is
     Main Point in Illustration
     Support in Illustration
     Organization in Illustration
Read and Analyze Illustration
     Illustration in College
     Illustration at Work
     Illustration in Everyday Life
Write an Illustration Essay
     Writing Guide: Illustration

7. Description: Writing That Creates Pictures with Words
Understand What Description Is
     Main Point in Description
     Support in Description
     Organization in Description
Read and Analyze Description
     Description in College
     Description at Work
     Description in Everyday Life
Write a Description Essay
     Writing Guide: Description

8. Process Analysis: Writing That Explains How Things Happen
Understand What Process Analysis Is
     Main Point in Process Analysis
     Support in Process Analysis
     Organization in Process Analysis
Read and Analyze Process Analysis
     Process Analysis in College
     Process Analysis at Work
     Process Analysis in Everyday Life
Write a Process Analysis Essay
     Writing Guide: Process Analysis

9. Classification: Writing That Puts Things into Groups
Understand What Classification Is
     Main Point in Classification
     Support in Classification
     Organization in Classification
Read and Analyze Classification
     Classification in College
     Classification at Work
     Classification in Everyday Life
Write a Classification Essay
     Writing Guide: Classification

10. Definition: Writing That Tells What Something Means
Understand What Definition Is
     Main Point in Definition
     Support in Definition
     Organization in Definition
Read and Analyze Definition
     Definition in College
     Definition at Work
     Definition in Everyday Life
Write a Definition Essay
     Writing Guide: Definition

11. Comparison and Contrast: Writing That Shows Similarities and Differences
Understand What Comparison and Contrast Is
     Main Point in Comparison and Contrast
     Support in Comparison and Contrast
     Organization in Comparison and Contrast
Read and Analyze Comparison and Contrast
     Comparison and Contrast in College
     Comparison and Contrast at Work
     Comparison and Contrast in Everyday Life
Write Your Own Comparison and Contrast
     Writing Guide: Comparison and Contrast

12. Cause and Effect: Writing That Explains Reasons or Results
Understand What Cause and Effect Is
     Main Point in Cause and Effect
     Support in Cause and Effect
     Organization in Cause and Effect
Read and Analyze Cause and Effect
     Cause and Effect in College
     Cause and Effect at Work
     Cause and Effect in Everyday Life
Write a Cause and Effect Essay
     Writing Guide: Cause and Effect

13. Argument: Writing That Persuades
Understand What Argument Is
     Main Point in Argument
     Support in Argument
          REASONS AND EVIDENCE
          OPPOSING POSITIONS
          FAULTY REASONING
     Organization in Argument
Read and Analyze Argument
     Argument in College
     Argument at Work
     Argument in Everyday Life
Write an Argument Essay
     Writing Guide: Argument

Part Three: Doing Research

14. Research Essays: Using Outside Sources
Make a Schedule
Choose a Topic
Find Sources
     Library Sources
          LIBRARIANS
          BOOKS
          ONLINE DATABASES/PERIODICAL INDEXES
          ENCYCLOPEDIAS
     Other Resources
          OPEN DATABASES
          SEARCH ENGINES
          STATISTICAL SOURCES
          ONLINE RESEARCH SITES
          INTERVIEWS
Evaluate Sources
     Questions for Evaluating All Sources
          WHO IS THE AUTHOR?
          IS THE SOURCE WELL-KNOWN AND RESPECTED?
          IS THE SOURCE UP-TO-DATE?
          IS THE SOURCE UNBIASED?
Questions for Evaluating Web Sites
     Take Careful Notes to Avoid Plagiarism
     Keep a Running Bibliography
     Create Clear, Complete Records of Source Information
     Indirect Quotation: Summary
     Indirect Quotation: Paraphrase
     Direct Quotation
Write a Thesis Statement
Make an Outline
Write Your Essay
Cite and Document Your Sources
     Use In-Text Citations within Your Essay
     Use a Works Cited List at the End of Your Essay
     DIRECTORY OF MLA WORKS CITED
Revise and Edit Your Essay
Sample Student Research Essay
     Writing Guide: Research Essay

Part Four: Grammar, Punctuation, and Mechanics

15. Basic Grammar
The Parts of Speech
The Basic Sentence
     Subjects
     Verbs
          ACTION VERBS
          LINKING VERBS
          HELPING VERBS
     Complete Thoughts
Six Basic English Sentence Patterns
     SUBJECT-VERB
     SUBJECT-LINKING VERB-NOUN
     SUBJECT-LINKING VERB-ADJECTIVE
     SUBJECT-VERB-ADVERB
     SUBJECT-VERB-DIRECT OBJECT
     SUBJECT-VERB-INDIRECT OBJECT-DIRECT OBJECT

16. The Four Most Serious Errors
Fragments
     Fragments That Start with Prepositions
     Fragments That Start with Dependent Words
     Fragments That Start with –ing Verb Forms
     Fragments That Start with to and a Verb
     Fragments That Are Examples or Explanations
Run-Ons
     Correct Run-on by Adding a Period or a Semicolon
     Correct Run-on by Adding a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction
     Correct Run-on by Adding a Dependent Word
Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement
     The Verb Is a Form of Be, Have, or Do
     Words Come between the Subject and the Verb
          PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE BETWEEN THE SUBJECT AND THE VERB
          DEPENDENT CLAUSE BETWEEN THE SUBJECT AND THE VERB
     The Sentence Has a Compound Subject
     The Subject Is an Indefinite Pronoun
     The Verb Comes before the Subject
Problems with Verb Tense
     Regular Verbs
          PRESENT TENSE ENDINGS
          PAST TENSE ENDING
     Irregular Verbs
     Past Participles
     Passive Voice

17. Other Grammar and Style Concerns
Pronouns
     Check for Pronoun Agreement
          INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
          COLLECTIVE NOUNS
     Make Pronoun References Clear
          AMBIGUOUS OR VAGUE PRONOUN REFERENCE
          REPETITIOUS PRONOUN REFERENCE
     Using the Right Type of Pronoun
               SUBJECT PRONOUNS
               OBJECT PRONOUNS
               POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS
          PRONOUNS USED WITH COMPOUND SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS
          PRONOUNS USED IN COMPARISONS
          CHOOSING BETWEEN WHO AND WHOM
     Make Pronouns Consistent
Adjectives and Adverbs
     Choosing between Adjective and Adverb Forms
     Adjectives and Adverbs in Comparisons
     Good, Well, Bad, and Badly
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
     Misplaced Modifiers
     Dangling Modifiers
Coordination and Subordination
     Coordination
     Subordination
Parallelism 
Sentence Variety
     Start Some Sentences with Adverbs
     Join Ideas Using an –ing Verb Form
     Join Ideas Using an –ed Verb Form
     Join Ideas Using an Appositive
     Join Ideas Using an Adjective Clause
Word Choice
     Vague and Abstract Words
     Slang
     Wordy Language
     Clichés

18. Punctuation and Capitalization
Commas
          COMMAS BETWEEN ITEMS IN A SERIES
          COMMAS BETWEEN COORDINATE ADJECTIVES
          COMMAS IN COMPOUND SENTENCES
          COMMAS AFTER INTRODUCTORY WORD GROUPS
          COMMAS AROUND APPOSITIVES AND INTERRUPTERS
          COMMAS AROUND ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
          COMMAS WITH QUOTATION MARKS
          COMMAS IN ADDRESSES
          COMMAS IN DATES
          COMMAS WITH NAMES
          COMMAS WITH YES OR NO
Apostrophes
          APOSTROPHES TO SHOW OWNERSHIP
          APOSTROPHES IN CONTRACTIONS
          APOSTROPHES WITH LETTERS, NUMBERS, AND TIME
Quotation Marks
          QUOTATION MARKS FOR DIRECT QUOTATIONS
          SETTING OFF A QUOTATION WITHIN ANOTHER QUOTATION
           NO QUOTATION MARKS FOR INDIRECT QUOTATIONS
          QUOTATION MARKS FOR CERTAIN TITLES
Semicolon
         SEMICOLONS TO JOIN INDEPENDENT CLAUSES (SENTENCES)
          SEMICOLONS WHEN ITEMS IN A SERIES CONTAIN COMMAS
Colon
          COLON BEFORE LISTS
          COLONS BEFORE EXPLANATIONS OR EXAMPLES
          COLONS IN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENCE
Parentheses
Dash
Hyphen
          HYPHENS TO JOIN WORDS THAT FORM A SINGLE DESCRIPTION
          HYPHENS TO DIVIDE A WORD AT THE END OF A LINE
Capitalization
          CAPITALIZATION OF SENTENCES
          CAPITALIZATION OF NAMES OF SPECIFIC PEOPLE, PLACES, DATES, AND THINGS
          CAPITALIZATION OF TITLES