A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers: Strategies and Process

by CLOUSE

• ISBN13: 9780072876895
• ISBN10: 0072876891
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-05-27
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages

Summary

A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers: Strategies and Process is a brief rhetoric and reference for academic and business writers that provides over 280 specific writing strategies for solving problems at every stage of the writing process--from idea generation through editing. The book's practical approach not only helps writers with the broad challenges of planning and organization, but also with the specific challenges of style and grammar.

Table of Contents

Myths about writing an introduction	1	(1)
Don't Believe Everything You Hear	2	(1)
How to Become a Better Writer	3	(13)
A Sample Essay: "The Uniform Solution"	16	(5)
PART I A Troubleshooting Guide to Prewriting	21	(24)
CHAPTER ONE "I don't know what to write"	23	(12)
Freewrite	23	(1)
Use Looping	24	(1)
Try Clustering	24	(2)
Write a List	26	(1)
Brainstorm	27	(1)
Examine Your Topic from Different Angles	27	(1)
Use Questionnaires	28	(1)
Write an Exploratory Draft	28	(1)
Relate the Topic to Your Own Experience	28	(1)
Talk into a Tape Recorder	29	(1)
Talk to Other People	29	(1)
Write a Poem	29	(1)
Write about Your Block	29	(1)
Put Your Writing on the Back Burner	29	(1)
Identify Your Purpose and Audience	30	(1)
Keep a Journal	30	(1)
Combine Techniques	31	(1)
Develop Your Own Writing Topic	31	(2)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	33	(2)
CHAPTER TWO "How do I write a thesis?"	35	(3)
Study Your Idea Generation Material	35	(1)
Write a Two-Part Thesis	35	(1)
Note the Main Points That Will Be Made in Your Essay	36	(1)
Limit Your Topic to Something Manageable	36	(1)
Express Your Assertion in Specific Words	36	(1)
Avoid Factual Statements	37	(1)
Avoid Announcing Your Intentions	37	(1)
Consider Your Thesis to Be Tentative	37	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	37	(1)
CHAPTER THREE "How do I get my ideas to Fit together?"	38	(7)
Check Your Thesis	38	(1)
Write a Scratch Outline	39	(1)
Construct an Outline Tree	39	(1)
Complete an Outline Worksheet	40	(1)
Write an Informal Outline	40	(2)
Construct an Outline Map	42	(1)
Write an Abstract	42	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	42	(3)
PART II A Troubleshooting Guide to Drafting	45	(26)
CHAPTER FOUR "I know what I want to say, but I can't say it."	47	(5)
Get Rid of Distractions	47	(1)
Set Intermediate Goals for Yourself	47	(1)
Allow Your Draft to Be Rough	48	(1)
Write in a New Place	48	(1)
Switch Your Writing Tools	48	(1)
Write on a Daily Schedule	48	(1)
Write a Letter to a Friend	48	(1)
Write for Yourself Instead of for a Reader	49	(1)
Use a Natural Style	49	(1)
Speak into a Tape Recorder	49	(1)
Reread Often	49	(1)
Walk Away	49	(1)
Write the Introduction Last	50	(1)
Begin in the Middle	50	(1)
Concentrate on What You Can Do and Skip What You Can't Do	50	(1)
Resist the Temptation to Rewrite as You Draft	50	(1)
Write Fast and Don't Look Back	50	(1)
Write an Outline	51	(1)
Return to Idea Generation	51	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	51	(1)
CHAPTER FIVE "I'm having trouble with my introduction."	52	(4)
Explain Why Your Topic Is Important	52	(1)
Provide Background Information	52	(1)
Tell a Story	53	(1)
Use an Interesting Quotation	53	(1)
Provide Relevant Statistics	54	(1)
Find Some Common Ground with Your Reader	54	(1)
Describe Something	54	(1)
Begin with the Thesis and the Points You Will Discuss	54	(1)
Keep It Short	55	(1)
Write It Last	55	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	55	(1)
CHAPTER SIX "How do I back up what I say?"	56	(7)
Use Your Own Experience	56	(1)
Use What You Observe	56	(1)
Tell a Story	57	(1)
Describe People and Places	57	(1)
Give Examples	58	(1)
Give Reasons	58	(1)
Show Similarities or Differences	59	(1)
Explain Causes or Effects	60	(1)
Explain How Something Is Made or Done	60	(1)
Explain What Would Happen if Your View Were Not Adopted	61	(1)
Consider Opposing Views	61	(1)
Use Material from Outside Sources	62	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	62	(1)
CHAPTER SEVEN "I don't know how to end."	63	(4)
Explain the Significance of Your Main Point	63	(1)
Provide a Helpful Summary	64	(1)
Explain the Consequences of Ignoring Your Thesis	64	(1)
Conclude with a Point You Want to Emphasize	64	(1)
Restate Your Thesis for Emphasis	64	(1)
Suggest a Course of Action	65	(1)
Ask a Question	65	(1)
Look to the Future	65	(1)
Combine Approaches	66	(1)
Keep It Short	66	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	66	(1)
CHAPTER EIGHT "I cant Think of the right word."	67	(4)
Write in a Natural Style	67	(1)
Use ITTS	68	(1)
Substitute a Phrase or a Sentence for a Troublesome Word	68	(1)
Ask Around	68	(1)
Freewrite for Three Minutes	68	(1)
Skip the Problem and Return to It Later	68	(1)
Use Simple, Specific Words	69	(1)
Use the Thesaurus and Dictionary Wisely	69	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	69	(2)
PART III A Troubleshooting Guide to Revising	71	(42)
CHAPTER NINE "I thought my draft was better Than This."	74	(4)
Be Realistic	74	(1)
Walk Away	74	(1)
Share Your Draft	74	(1)
Listen to Your Draft	75	(1)
Identify Two Changes That Will Improve Your Draft	75	(1)
Write a Second Draft without Looking at the First	75	(1)
Do Not Despair if You Must Start Over	75	(1)
Try to Salvage Something	75	(1)
Do the Best You Can with What You Have	76	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	76	(1)
Examining a Draft	77	(1)
CHAPTER TEN "I don't know what to change."	78	(7)
Walk Away	78	(1)
Construct a Reader Profile	78	(1)
Think Like Your Reader	79	(1)
Describe Your Draft Paragraph by Paragraph	79	(1)
Type Your Draft	80	(1)
Listen to Your Draft	80	(1)
Underline Main Points	80	(1)
Outline Your Draft after Writing It	80	(1)
Revise in Stages	80	(1)
Share Your Introduction and Conclusion	81	(1)
Share Your Draft	81	(1)
Pretend to Be Someone Else	82	(1)
Use a Revising Checklist	82	(1)
Trust Your Instincts	83	(1)
Do Not Edit Prematurely	83	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	83	(1)
Examining a Draft	84	(1)
CHAPTER ELEVEN "Is It cheating if someone helps me?"	85	(4)
Choose Your Readers Carefully	85	(1)
Give Your Readers a Legible Draft	85	(1)
Give Your Readers Guidance	85	(2)
Get More Than One Opinion	87	(1)
Ask for Specific Revision Strategies	87	(1)
Ask Readers to Point Out Strengths as Well as Weaknesses	87	(1)
Evaluate Responses Carefully	87	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	87	(1)
Examining a Draft	88	(1)
CHAPTER TWELVE "My ideas seem all mixed up."	89	(4)
Use Topic Sentences	89	(1)
Write a Postdraft Outline	89	(1)
Use Transitions	90	(1)
Repeat Key Words	90	(1)
Use Synonyms	90	(1)
Use Outline Cards	91	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	91	(1)
Examining a Draft	92	(1)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN "My draft is too short."	93	(5)
Underline Major Points	93	(1)
Show after You Tell	94	(1)
Add Description	94	(1)
Add Examples	94	(1)
Add Dialogue	94	(1)
Evaluate the Significance of an Idea	95	(1)
Share Your Draft with a Reliable Reader	95	(1)
Return to Idea Generation	95	(1)
Check Your Thesis	96	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	96	(1)
Examining a Draft	97	(1)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN "My draft is too long."	98	(4)
Check Your Thesis	98	(1)
Eliminate Unnecessary Points	98	(1)
Outline Your Draft	99	(1)
Eliminate Wordiness	99	(1)
Do Not Overwrite Your Introduction or Conclusion	100	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	100	(1)
Examining a Draft	101	(1)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN "My writing seems boring"	102	(5)
Replace General Words with Specific Ones	102	(1)
Use Active Voice	103	(1)
Substitute Action Verbs for Forms of To Be	103	(1)
Rewrite Cliches	103	(1)
Eliminate Obvious Statements	103	(1)
Include Dialogue	104	(1)
Add Description	104	(1)
Add Examples	104	(1)
Tell a Story	104	(1)
Check Your Thesis	105	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	105	(1)
Examining a Draft	106	(1)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN "My writing sounds choppy"	107	(6)
Use Different Sentence Openers	107	(1)
Vary the Placement of Transitions	108	(1)
Combine Short Sentences	108	(1)
Follow Long Sentences with Short Ones and Short Sentences with Long Ones	109	(1)
Use Parallel Constructions	109	(1)
Use Your Ear	109	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	110	(1)
Examining a Draft	110	(3)
PART IV A Troubleshooting Guide to Editing	113	(52)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN "I don't Find my mistakes."	116	(5)
Edit Last	116	(1)
Leave Your Work for a While	116	(1)
Point to Each Word and Punctuation Mark	116	(1)
Use a Ruler	117	(1)
Prepare a Fresh, Word-Processed Copy	117	(1)
Listen to Your Draft	117	(1)
Learn Your Pattern of Error	117	(1)
Use an Editing Checklist	118	(1)
Trust Your Instincts	118	(1)
Edit More than Once	118	(1)
When in Doubt, Check It Out	118	(1)
Learn the Rules	119	(1)
Get Help	119	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	119	(2)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN "I used a period and a capital letter, so why isn't this a sentence?"	121	(5)
Understand What a Sentence Fragment Is	121	(1)
Isolate Everything You Are Calling a Sentence	122	(1)
Read Your Draft Backward	122	(1)
Check -ing and -ed Verb Forms	122	(1)
Check for Fragment Warning Words	123	(1)
Watch Out for Who, Whom, Whose, Which, and Where	123	(1)
Eliminate the Fragments	124	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	125	(1)
CHAPTER NINETEEN "How can this be a run-on or a comma splice? It's Not even long."	126	(3)
Understand What Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices Are	126	(1)
Understand How to Seperate Independent Clauses	127	(1)
Study Sentences Individually	127	(1)
Underline Warning Words	127	(1)
Forget about Long and Short	127	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	128	(1)
CHAPTER TWENTY "It is I; it is me-what's the difference"	129	(6)
Cross Out Everything in the Phrase but the Pronoun	129	(1)
Cross Out Words That Rename	130	(1)
Add the Missing Words in Comparisons	130	(1)
Use They, Their, and Them with Plural Nouns	131	(1)
Remember That the -Body, -One, and -Thing Words Are Singular	131	(1)
Circle Who and Whom and Underline the Rest of the Clause	132	(1)
Determine Who You Refers To	132	(1)
Check It and They	132	(1)
Avoid Unclear Reference	133	(1)
Be Careful of This and Which	133	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	133	(2)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE "How do I know which verb Form to use?"	135	(5)
Cross Out Phrases before the Verb	135	(1)
Rewrite Questions	136	(1)
Rewrite Sentences Beginning with Here and There	136	(1)
Watch Out for Subjects Joined by Or and Either/Or	136	(1)
Watch Out for Indefinite Pronouns	137	(1)
Understand Verb Tenses	137	(1)
Listen to Your Verb Tenses	138	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	139	(1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO "I'm unsure about modifiers."	140	(4)
Know When to Use an Adjective and When to Use an Adverb	140	(1)
Remember that Good Is an Adjective and Well Is an Adverb-with One Caution and One Exception	141	(1)
Do Not Use More or Most with an -er or -est Form	142	(1)
Check Sentences That Open with -ing or -ed Verb Forms	142	(1)
Move Modifiers near the Words They Describe	143	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	143	(1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE "Can't I Just place a comma wherever I pause?"	144	(4)
Find the Subject and Look in Front of It	144	(1)
Find the Coordinating Conjunction, and Then Look Left and Right	145	(1)
Look for Series	145	(1)
Identify Nonessential Elements	146	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	146	(2)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR "What IF I want to quote somebody?"	148	(3)
Consider Where in the Sentence the Quotation Occurs	148	(1)
Determine Whether the Quotation or the Entire Sentence Asks a Question	149	(1)
Reproduce a Person's Thoughts as a Quotation	149	(1)
Be Sure You Really Have Exact Words	149	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	149	(2)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE "I have 'trouble with apostrophes."	151	(3)
Identify the Missing Letter(s) in a Contraction	151	(1)
Use It's Only When You Can Substitute It is or It Has	151	(1)
Avoid Contractions	151	(1)
Use the "Of" Test	152	(1)
For Possessive Forms, Ask Two Questions	152	(1)
Watch Out for Possessive Pronouns	153	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	153	(1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX "I never know what to capitalize."	154	(3)
Capitalize the Names of Animals, People, and the Titles before People's Names	154	(1)
Capitalize Titles of Relatives Substituted for Names	154	(1)
Capitalize Specific Geographic Locations, Names of Nationalities, and Adjectives Delivered from Them	154	(1)
Capitalize Religions, Sacred Books, and Words and Pronouns that Refer to God	155	(1)
Capitalize Specific Days, Months, and Holidays	155	(1)
Capitalize Specific Brand Names	155	(1)
Capitalize Specific Organizations, Companies, and Buildings	155	(1)
Capitalize Specific Historic Events, Documents, and Periods	155	(1)
Capitalize Titles Correctly	156	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	156	(1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN "I can't spell."	157	(8)
When in Doubt, Check It Out	157	(1)
Buy Two Dictionaries	157	(1)
Use a Pronunciation Dictionary	157	(1)
Use a Spelling Dictionary	158	(1)
Use a Pocket Spell Checker	158	(1)
Learn Correct Pronunciations	158	(1)
Break a Word into Parts	158	(1)
Break a Word into Syllables	158	(1)
Look for Prefixes	158	(1)
Use Memory Tricks	159	(1)
Learn the Homophones	160	(2)
Underline Words to Check Later	162	(1)
Deep a Spelling List	162	(1)
Troubleshooting with a Computer	162	(3)
PART V A Troubleshooting Guide to Research	165	(18)
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT "How do I Find good sources-and why do I need them?"	161	(10)
Get to Know Your Campus Library	167	(1)
Consider Your Needs	168	(1)
Use Reference Works	168	(1)
Use the Computerized Catalog to Locate Books	168	(1)
Use Indexes to Locate Magazine, Journal, and Newspaper Articles	169	(1)
Search the Internet	169	(1)
Use High-Quality Sources	170	(1)
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE "What do I do with the sources I Find?"	171	(8)
Skim Your Sources to Determine Their Usefulness	171	(1)
Paraphrase Important Ideas	171	(1)
Use Summary when Appropriate	172	(1)
Use Quotations Appropriately	173	(1)
Combine Sources with Each Other and Your Ideas	174	(1)
Document Source Material Appropriately	174	(4)
Avoid Plagiarism	178	(1)
CHAPTER THIRTY "What does an essay with sources look like?"	179	(4)
Student Essay: "The Benefits of School Consolidation"	180	(3)
PART VI Appendixes	183
Appendix A Ideas For Writing	184	(3)
Appendix B Taking Essay Examinations	187