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9780312487331

Real Skills with Readings : Sentences and Paragraphs for College, Work, and Everyday Life

by
  • ISBN13:

    9780312487331

  • ISBN10:

    0312487339

  • Edition: 2nd
  • Format: Paperback
  • Copyright: 2010-02-10
  • Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's
  • Purchase Benefits
List Price: $99.40

Summary

Real Skills with Readings offers practical, accessible coverage of basic sentence skills and step-by-step guidance on writing paragraphs. The newest addition to the Anker series, Real Skills continues to motivate students with its message that writing is an essential and achievable skill.

Real Skills provides students clear, concise grammar and writing instruction, special attention to learning styles, and student-to-student advice on succeeding in college. Real-world examples, assignments, and interviews with former students show the relevance of writing to all aspects of students’ lives.

Author Biography

Susan Anker (B.A., M.Ed., 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 18 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 1. Getting Off to a Good Start

1. Staying in College: Advice from Those Who Have Been There
Meet the Students
Meet the Challenges
Identify Problems and Solutions
      Step 1. Identify the Problems
      Step 2. Identify People and Resources That Can Help
      Step 3. List Possible Solutions
      Step 4. Act
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
2. Doing Well in College: Strategies for Success
Get Organized with a Course Notebook
Manage Your Time
      Make a Course Calendar
      Make a General Calendar
      Make the Most of Your Class Time
Improve Your Reading Skills
      Find the Main Point and Support
            Main Point
            Support
      Know How to Read Textbooks
Take Careful Notes in Class
Know How to Take Tests
      Listen to Spoken Directions
      Survey the Whole Test Before Starting
      Read the Written Directions Carefully
Think Critically
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
3. Understanding Your Learning Style: Ways to Use Your Strengths
Find Your Learning Style
Use Your Learning Style in College
      Visual
      Auditory
      Read/Write
      Kinesthetic
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
Part 2. Writing Paragraphs
 
4. Understanding the Basics of Good Writing: How to Write in College and Other Formal Settings
Understand the Basics of Good Writing
      Audience and Purpose: Getting What You Want from Your Words
      Main Point and Support
Understand What a Paragraph Is
Understand the Writing Process
Practice Together
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
5. Narrowing and Exploring Your Topic: How to Decide What to Write About
Narrow Your Topic
Explore Your Topic
      Freewrite
      Brainstorm
      Map or Cluster
      Keep a Journal
      Use the Internet
Practice Together
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
6. Writing Your Paragraph: How to Put Your Ideas Together
Make a Point
Support Your Point
Make a Plan
Write a Draft
Practice Together
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
7. Improving Your Paragraph: How to Make It the Best It Can Be
Understand What Revision Is
Get Feedback
Improve Your Support
Check the Arrangement of Your Ideas
      Time Order
      Space Order
      Order of Importance
Title Your Paragraph
Check for the Four Basics of a Good Paragraph
Edit Your Paragraph
Practice Together
Writing Assignment
Chapter Review
 
8. Developing Your Paragraph: Different Ways to Present Your Ideas
Narration
      Outline a Narration Paragraph
      Write a Narration Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Narration
Illustration
      Outline an Illustration Paragraph
      Write an Illustration Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Illustration
Description
      Outline a Description Paragraph
      Write a Description Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Description
Process Analysis
      Outline a Process Analysis Paragraph
      Write a Process Analysis Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Process Analysis
Classification
      Outline a Classification Paragraph
      Write a Classification Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Classification
Definition
      Outline a Definition Paragraph
      Write a Definition Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Definition
Comparison and Contrast
      Outline a Comparison/Contrast Paragraph
      Write a Comparison/Contrast Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Comparison/Contrast
Cause and Effect
      Outline a Cause/Effect Paragraph
      Write a Cause/Effect Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Cause/Effect
Argument
      Outline an Argument Paragraph
      Write an Argument Paragraph
      Practice the Four Basics of Argument
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
9. Moving from Paragraphs to Essays: How to Write Longer Papers
Understand Essay Structure
Write an Essay
      Narrow Your Topic
      Write a Thesis Statement
      Support Your Thesis Statement and Write Topic Sentences
      Make a Plan
      Write, Revise, and Edit
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
PART 2 TEST
 
Part 3. Editing for the Four Most Serious Errors
 
10. The Complete Sentence: Key Parts to Know
The Four Most Serious Errors
Understand What a Sentence Is
Find Subjects
      Subject Nouns
      Subject Pronouns
      Singular and Plural Subjects
      Prepositional Phrases
Find Verbs
      Action Verbs
      Linking Verbs
      Helping Verbs
Decide If There Is a Complete Thought
Six Basic English Sentence Patterns
Edit for Sentence Elements in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
11. Fragments: Sentences That Are Missing a Key Part
Understand What Fragments Are
      In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Fragments?
Find and Correct Fragments
      Trouble Spot 1: Fragments That Start with a Prepositional Phrase
      Trouble Spot 2: Fragments That Start with a Dependent Word
      Trouble Spot 3: Fragments That Start with an –ing Verb
      Trouble Spot 4: Fragments That Start with to and a Verb
      Trouble Spot 5: Fragments That Start with an Example or Explanation
Edit Fragments in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
12. Run-Ons and Comma Splices: Two Sentences Joined Incorrectly
Understand What Run-Ons and Comma Splices Are
      In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Run-Ons and Comma Splices?
Find and Correct Run-Ons and Comma Splices
      Add a Period oR a Semicolon
      Add a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction
      Add a Subordinating Conjunction (Dependent Word)
Edit Run-Ons and Comma Splices in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
13. Subject-Verb Agreement Problems: Subjects and Verbs That Do Not Match
Understand What Subject-Verb Agreement Is
      In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Subject-Verb Agreement Errors?
Find and Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
      The Verb Is a Form of Be, Have, or Do
Words Come between the Subject and the Verb
      The Sentence Has a Compound Subject
      The Subject Is an Indefinite Pronoun
      The Verb Comes before the Subject
Edit Subject-Verb Agreement Problems in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
14. Verbs: The Past Tense
Understand Regular Verbs in the Past Tense
      In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Use the Correct Tense?
Understand Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense
Understand Four Very Irregular Verbs
      The Verb Be
      The Verb Have
      Can/Could and Will/Would
Edit Past-Tense Errors in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
15. Verbs: The Past Participle
Understand the Past Participle
Use the Past Participle Correctly
      Past Participles of Regular Verbs
      Past Participles of Irregular Verbs
      Present Perfect Tense
      Past Perfect Tense
      Passive versus Active Voice
Edit Past-Participle Errors in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
PART 3 TEST
 
Part 4. Editing for Other Sentence Grammar
 
16. Nouns: Using Plural Forms
Understand What Nouns Are
Form Plural Nouns Correctly
      Regular Plural Nouns
      Irregular Plural Nouns
Edit Nouns in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
17. Pronouns: Using Substitutes for Nouns
Understand What Pronouns Are
Find and Correct Pronoun Problems
      Make Pronouns Agree
            Indefinite Pronouns
            Collective Nouns
      Check Pronoun Reference
      Use the Right Type of Pronoun
            Pronouns Used with Compound Subjects and Objects
            Pronouns Used in Comparisons
            Who versus Whom
Edit Pronouns in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
18. Adjectives and Adverbs: Describing Which One? or How?
Understand What Adjectives and Adverbs Are
Use Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly
      Choosing between Adjectives and Adverbs
      Using Adjectives and Adverbs in Comparisons
      Understanding Good, Well, Bad, and Badly
Edit Adjective and Adverbs in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
19. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Confusing Descriptions
Understand What Misplaced Modifiers Are
Find and Correct Misplaced Modifiers
Understand What Dangling Modifiers Are
Find and Correct Dangling Modifiers
Edit Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
20. Illogical Shifts: Avoiding Inconsistencies
Understand Consistent Tense
Find and Correct Inconsistent Tenses
Understand Consistent Person
Find and Correct Inconsistent Person
Edit Shifts in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
21. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students
Subjects
Pronouns
Verbs
      Negatives
      Questions
      The Simple Tenses
            Simple Present
            Simple Past
            Simple Future
      The Perfect Tenses
            Present Perfect
            Past Perfect
            Future Perfect
      The Progressive Tenses
      Modal Auxiliaries/Helping Verbs
      Gerunds and Infinitives
Articles
Prepositions
      Prepositions after Adjectives
      Prepositions after Verbs
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
PART 4 TEST 
 
Part 5. Editing to Combine and Improve Sentences
 
22. Coordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas
Understand What Coordination Is
Use Coordination to Join Sentences
      Using Coordinating Conjunctions
      Using Semicolons
Edit for Coordination in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
23. Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas
Understand What Subordination Is
Use Subordination to Combine Sentences
Edit for Subordination in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
24. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas
Understand What Parallelism Is
Use Parallel Structure
      Parallelism in Pairs and Lists
      Parallelism in Comparisons
      Parallelism with Certain Paired Words
Edit for Parallelism in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
PART 5 TEST
 
Part 6. Editing Words in Sentences
 
25. Word Choice: Using the Right Words
Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully
      Dictionary
      Thesaurus
Avoid Four Common Word-Choice Problems
      Vague Words
      Slang
      Wordy Language
      Clichés
Edit for Word Choice in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
26. Commonly Confused Words: Avoiding Mistakes with Sound-Alikes
Understand Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused
Use Commonly Confused Words Correctly
Edit Commonly Confused Words in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
27. Spelling: Using the Right Letters
Understand the Importance of Spelling Correctly
Practice Spelling Correctly
      Five Steps to Better Spelling
            Step 1. Remember Ten Troublemakers
            Step 2. Defeat Your Personal Spelling Demons
            Step 3. Learn about Commonly Confused Words
            Step 4. Learn Six Spelling Rules
            Step 5. Check a Spelling List
Edit Spelling Errors in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
PART 6 TEST
 
Part 7. Editing for Punctuation and Mechanics
 
28. Commas ,
Understand What Commas Do
Use Commas Correctly
      Commas between Items in a Series
      Commas in Compound Sentences
      Commas after Introductory Words
      Commas around Appositives and Interrupters
      Commas around Adjective Clauses
      Other Uses for Commas
            Commas with Quotation Marks
            Commas in Addresses
            Commas in Dates
            Commas with Names
            Commas with Yes or No
Edit Commas in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
29. Apostrophes ‘
Understand What Apostrophes Do
Use Apostrophes Correctly
      Apostrophes to Show Ownership
            Its or It’s
      Apostrophes in Contractions
      Apostrophes with Letters, Numbers, and Time
Edit Apostrophes in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
30. Quotation Marks " "
Understand What Quotation Marks Do
Use Quotation Marks Correctly
      Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations
            Setting off a Quotation within Another Quotation
      No Quotation Marks for Indirect Quotations
      Quotation Marks for Certain Titles
Edit Quotation Marks in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
31. Other Punctuation ; : ( ) -- -
Understand What Punctuation Does
Use Punctuation Correctly
      Semicolon ;
            Semicolons to Join Two Closely Related Sentences
            Semicolons When Items in a List Contain Commas
      Colon :
            Colons before Lists
            Colons before Explanations or Examples
            Colons in Business Correspondence and before Subtitles
      Parentheses ( )
      Dash —
      Hyphen -
            Hyphens to Join Words That Form a Single Description
            Hyphens to Divide a Word at the End of a Line
Edit Other Punctuation in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
32. Capitalization: Using Capital Letters
Understand Capitalization
Use Capitalization Correctly
      Capitalization of Sentences
      Capitalization of Names of Specific People, Places, Dates, and Things
            People
            Places
            Dates
            Organizations, Companies, and Groups
            Languages, Nationalities, and Religions
            Courses
            Commercial Products
      Capitalization of Titles
Edit for Capitalization in College, Work, and Everyday Life
Write and Edit Your Own Work
Practice Together
Chapter Review
 
PART 7 TEST
 
EDITING REVIEW TEST 1: Part 3
EDITING REVIEW TEST 2: Part 3
EDITING REVIEW TEST 3: Parts 3-4
EDITING REVIEW TEST 4: Parts 3-4
EDITING REVIEW TEST 5: Parts 3-5
EDITING REVIEW TEST 6: Parts 3-5
EDITING REVIEW TEST 7: Parts 3-6
EDITING REVIEW TEST 8: Parts 3-6
EDITING REVIEW TEST 9: Parts 3-7
EDITING REVIEW TEST 10: Parts 3-7
 
Part 8. Readings for Writers
 
33. Introduction to the Readings
 
34. Narration
*June Costantino, "Reaching My Goal"
Elizabeth Imtairah, "From the Welfare Rolls, a Mother’s View"
Brent Staples, "A Brother’s Murder"
 
35. Illustration
*Sabina Pajazetovic, "My Mother, My Hero"
*Jon Katz, "How Boys Become Men"
*Anna Quindlen, "Homeless"
 
36. Description
*Andrew Dillon Bustin, "Airports Are For Watching People"
Gary Soto, "The Jacket"
*Cathy Davidson, "Laughing in English"
 
37. Process Analysis
*Kimmy Sparkman, "Hand-Washing Techniques"
*Elizabeth Imtairah, "How to Live After Loss"
*Samantha Levine-Finley, "Isn’t It Time You Hit the Books?"
 
38. Classification
*Dwain Barker, "Different Kinds of Athletic Shoes"
*Stephanie Dray, "The Five Kinds of Friends Everyone Should Have"
*Sharon Begley, "The Geography of Personality"
 
39. Definition
*Alison McGuinn, "Cheerleading Is Definitely A Sport"
Mitch Albom, "What’s Patriotic?"
*Debbie Hall, "The Power of Presence"
 
40. Comparison and Contrast
*Shakira Smiler, "A Trifling Media"
Joseph Sobran, "Patriotism or Nationalism?"
*Dave Barry, "We’ve Got the Dirt on Guy Brains"
 
41. Cause and Effect
*Rob Bermingham, "Illusion of Privacy"
Steve Vaught, "Walking for My Life"
*Delia Cleveland, "Champagne Taste, Beer Budget"
 
42. Argument
*Sheena Ivey, "English as an Official Language: One Language for One Nation"
*Tony Felts, "English as an Official Language: The Injustice of One Language"
 
Appendices
A. Succeeding on Tests
 
Answers to Odd-Numbered Grammar Exercises

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