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9780131949850

Wordsmith: A Guide to Paragraphs and Short Essays (Book Alone)

by
  • ISBN13:

    9780131949850

  • ISBN10:

    0131949853

  • Edition: 3rd
  • Format: Paperback
  • Copyright: 2007-01-01
  • Publisher: Prentice Hall
  • View Upgraded Edition

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Summary

Encouraging writers to think logically and communicate clearly, this practical and comprehensive book presents writing and grammar in an organized and appealing way, with myriad examples and exercises to support concepts and hone skills. Using a structured yet flexible approach, it systematically covers all the steps of the writing process; explores strategies for creating topic sentences and writing paragraphs (with a sample paragraph shown in its progress from idea to finished essay); and shares nine different methods of development with model paragraphs. It presents a separate "mix and match" grammar section with minimal jargon, maximum clarity, and a wealth of exercises, and a selection of short, entertaining readingscomplete with reading comprehension questions and writing assignmentsthat introduces students to the connection between reading and writing. For individuals who want to improve their written communication skills.

Table of Contents

Preface
Updates to the Third Editionp. xvii
To the Instructorp. xix
To the Studentp. xxvii
Compositionp. 1
The Writing Processp. 3
The Writing Processp. 4
Prewritingp. 4
Planningp. 5
Draftingp. 5
Revisingp. 5
Proofreadingp. 6
An Important Pointp. 6
The Writing Process: Stephanie's Paragraphp. 7
Writing for Right-Brained Writersp. 11
Preparing to Writep. 15
Prewritingp. 16
Prewriting Methodsp. 16
Brainstormingp. 16
Freewritingp. 17
Invisible Writing: A Computer Techniquep. 18
Clusteringp. 19
Narrowing Your Topic: The Topic-Subtopic Methodp. 21
Outliningp. 23
Journal Writingp. 24
Progressive Writing Assignmentp. 25
Writing Paragraphs: Topic Sentencesp. 29
Characteristics of an Effective Paragraphp. 30
Direction: Shaping the Topic Sentence of a Paragraphp. 30
Progressive Writing Assignmentp. 38
Writing Paragraphs: Supportp. 41
Characteristics of an Effective Paragraphp. 42
Support: Using Specific Detailp. 42
Progressive Writing Assignmentp. 57
Writing Paragraphs: Unity and Coherencep. 59
Characteristics of an Effective Paragraphp. 59
Unity: Sticking to the Pointp. 60
Coherence: Holding the Paragraph Togetherp. 65
Progressive Writing Assignmentp. 73
Revising, Proofreading, and Formattingp. 75
Revisingp. 76
Checklist for Revisionp. 77
Proofreadingp. 79
The Top-Down Techniquep. 80
The Bottom-Up Techniquep. 80
The Targeting Techniquep. 80
Proofreading the Word-Processed Paragraphp. 81
Formattingp. 83
Handwritten Documentsp. 83
Word-Processed Documentsp. 84
Progressive Writing Assignmentp. 85
Showing and Telling: Description, Narration, and Examplep. 87
Laying the Groundwork for Descriptive Writingp. 88
Descriptionp. 88
Sense Impressionsp. 89
Spatial Orderp. 91
Establishing a Dominant Impressionp. 93
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Descriptive Paragraphsp. 94
Narrationp. 98
Laying the Groundwork for Narrative Writingp. 98
Steps to Writing a Successful Narrativep. 99
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Narrative Paragraphsp. 101
Examplesp. 104
Laying the Groundwork for Writing Using Examplesp. 104
The Short Examplep. 105
The Sentence-Length Examplep. 106
The Extended Examplep. 108
Wordsmith's Corner: Paragraphs Developed by Examplep. 109
Topics for Combining Methods of Developmentp. 113
Limiting and Ordering: Definition, Classification, and Processp. 117
Definitionp. 118
Laying the Groundwork for Writing a Definitionp. 118
Setting Up Your Definition Paragraphp. 119
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Definition Paragraphsp. 120
Classificationp. 124
Laying the Groundwork for Classificationp. 124
Establishing a Basis for Classificationp. 125
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Classification Paragraphsp. 128
Processp. 131
Laying the Groundwork for Process Writingp. 132
Organizing the Process Paperp. 133
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Process Paragraphsp. 133
Topics for Combining Methods of Developmentp. 137
Examining Logical Connections: Comparison-Contrast, Cause-Effect, and Argumentp. 141
Comparison-Contrastp. 142
Laying the Groundwork for Comparison and Contrastp. 142
Setting up a Comparison-Contrast Paragraphp. 143
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Comparison-Contrast Paragraphsp. 147
Cause and Effectp. 150
Laying the Groundwork for Cause-Effect Writingp. 150
Identifying Causes and Effectsp. 151
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Cause-Effect Paragraphsp. 152
Argumentp. 155
Laying the Groundwork for Writing an Argumentp. 156
Taking Sidesp. 156
Will You Change Anyone's Mind?p. 158
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Argument Paragraphsp. 158
Topics for Combining Methods of Developmentp. 161
Writing an Essayp. 165
Parts of an Essayp. 166
Essay Diagramp. 166
Sample Essayp. 167
Meeting the Challenge of Essay Writingp. 168
Characteristics of an Effective Essayp. 169
Writing the Essayp. 169
Providing Direction: Writing the Thesis Statementp. 169
Getting Started: Introducing the Essayp. 172
The Body Paragraphs: Unityp. 174
The Body Paragraphs: Supportp. 175
The Body Paragraphs: Coherencep. 177
A Graceful Exit: The Conclusionp. 179
Wordsmith's Corner: Sample Essaysp. 180
Checklist for Revisionp. 185
Writing Summary Reportsp. 187
Writing a Summary Reportp. 187
Five Steps in Writing an Article Summaryp. 188
Choose a Topic and Find Sources of Informationp. 188
Evaluate Sources of Informationp. 190
Read Your Article Thoroughlyp. 190
Draft Your Paperp. 191
Format, Proofread, and Cite Your Sourcep. 192
Paraphrasing: An Essential Skillp. 192
Brief Guide to MLA (Modern Language Association) Stylep. 197
Formatting Your Paperp. 197
Referencing Sources Within Your Paperp. 198
The Works Cited Listp. 198
A Model Summary Reportp. 199
Grammarp. 207
Verbs and Subjectsp. 209
Action and Linking Verbsp. 210
Action Verbsp. 210
Linking Verbsp. 210
Recognizing Verbs and Subjectsp. 212
Finding the Verbp. 212
Finding the Subjectp. 214
Recognizing Prepositional Phrasesp. 215
Regular and Irregular Verbsp. 218
Puzzling Pairsp. 221
Review Exercisesp. 224
Subject-Verb Agreementp. 227
The Basic Patternp. 228
Problems in Subject-Verb Agreementp. 231
Prepositional Phrase between Subject and Verbp. 231
Indefinite Pronouns as Subjectsp. 232
Subject Following the Verbp. 233
Compound Subjectsp. 234
Review Exercisesp. 237
Verb Shiftsp. 241
Shifts in Tensep. 242
Avoiding Unnecessary Tense Shiftsp. 243
Active and Passive Voicep. 244
Uses of Active and Passive Voicep. 246
Writing Sentences in Active and Passive Voicep. 247
Correcting Shifts in Voicep. 249
Review Exercisesp. 251
Sentence Varietyp. 257
Power Tools for Writing Sentencesp. 257
Be Concisep. 258
Vary Sentence Openingsp. 259
Connect Ideas through Coordinationp. 263
Connect Ideas through Subordinationp. 266
Review Exercisesp. 271
Run-on Sentencesp. 275
What Is a Run-on Sentence?p. 275
Correcting Run-onsp. 277
Period and Capital Letterp. 277
Comma and FANBOYS Conjunctionp. 278
Semicolonp. 279
Semicolon and Joining Wordp. 280
Dependent Wordp. 281
Review Exercisesp. 284
Sentence Fragmentsp. 289
What Is a Sentence Fragment?p. 289
Dependent Clause Fragmentsp. 290
Verbal Phrase Fragments (to, -ing, and -ed)p. 291
Missing-Subject Fragmentsp. 294
Example and Exception Fragmentsp. 296
Prepositional Phrase Fragmentsp. 297
Review Exercisesp. 298
Pronoun Casep. 305
Subject and Object Pronounsp. 305
Subject Pronounsp. 306
Object Pronounsp. 308
Intensive and Reflexive Pronounsp. 309
Intensive Pronounsp. 309
Reflexive Pronounsp. 310
Problems with Intensive and Reflexive Pronounsp. 310
Using Who and Whomp. 312
The Substitution Method for Who and Whomp. 312
Who and Whom in Questionsp. 313
Who and Whom after Prepositionsp. 314
Review Exercisesp. 316
Pronoun Agreement, Reference, and Point of Viewp. 319
Pronoun Agreementp. 320
Problems in Pronoun Agreementp. 321
Pronouns and Gender Fairnessp. 323
Pronoun Referencep. 325
Pronoun Reference Problem: No Antecedentp. 325
Pronoun Reference Problems with Thisp. 326
Pronoun Point of Viewp. 328
Review Exercisesp. 329
Adjectives Adverbs, and Articlesp. 335
Adjectivesp. 336
Adjective Forms: Positive, Comparative, and Superlativep. 336
Adverbsp. 339
Puzzling Pairsp. 342
Articlesp. 344
Using a and anp. 344
Review Exercisesp. 346
Capital Lettersp. 349
Capital Letters to Begin Sentencesp. 349
Capitalization of Words Referring to Individualsp. 350
Names and the Pronoun Ip. 350
Family Relationshipsp. 350
Professional Titlesp. 351
Capitalization of Words Referring to Groupsp. 352
Religions, Geographic Locations, Races, and Nationalitiesp. 352
Organizations, Businesses, and Agenciesp. 352
Capitalization of Words Referring to Time and Placep. 353
Dates, Days, Holidays, and Seasonsp. 353
Place Namesp. 354
Capitalization of Words Referring to Things and Activitiesp. 355
School Subjectsp. 355
Titlesp. 355
Consumer Productsp. 356
Abbreviationsp. 356
Review Exercisesp. 357
Words Commonly Confusedp. 361
Words Commonly Confusedp. 362
Review Exercisesp. 366
Word Choicep. 371
Slangp. 372
Clichesp. 373
Wordinessp. 374
Review Exercisesp. 377
Commasp. 383
Commas to Set off Introductory Words, Phrases, and Clausesp. 384
Commas to Join Items in a Seriesp. 384
Commas to Join Independent Clausesp. 386
Commas around Interruptersp. 387
Commas with Direct Quotationsp. 388
Commas in Names and Datesp. 389
Review Exercisesp. 390
Other Punctuationp. 395
End Punctuation: Period, Question Mark, and Exclamation Pointp. 396
The Periodp. 396
The Question Markp. 396
The Exclamation Pointp. 397
The Semicolonp. 398
Semicolon to Join Independent Clausesp. 398
Semicolon to Join Items in a Listp. 398
Colons and Dashes: Formal and Informal Punctuationp. 399
The Colonp. 399
The Dashp. 400
Parentheses: Tools of Understatementp. 401
Review Exercisesp. 402
Apostrophesp. 407
Apostrophes in Contractionsp. 407
Apostrophes to Show Possessionp. 409
Making Nouns Possessivep. 409
Distinguishing Possessives from Simple Pluralsp. 411
Possessive Forms of Pronounsp. 412
Proofreading for Apostrophe Errorsp. 413
Review Exercisesp. 415
Quotation Marksp. 419
Quotation Marks to Signal Quotationsp. 420
Direct Quotationsp. 420
Indirect Quotationsp. 422
Quotations Marks, Underlining, and Italics to Set off Titlesp. 424
Review Exercisesp. 427
Eight Editing Exercisesp. 432
Readingsp. 441
Action Herop. 443
Setting Boundariesp. 448
Against the Wallp. 453
Older and Wiser-or Just Older?p. 459
Barbie Madnessp. 464
Living at Warp Speedp. 469
Spanglish Spoken Herep. 473
Recipe for a Sick Societyp. 479
Don't Blame Me! The New "Culture of Victimization"p. 484
How 'bout Us?p. 490
Mixed Blessingsp. 495
One for the Booksp. 501
American Space, Chinese Placep. 505
Disorders R Usp. 510
Civil Ritesp. 515
All the Ragep. 520
Conversational Ballgamesp. 525
I Wonder: Was It Me or Was It My Sari?p. 531
Music: A Universal Languagep. 536
What If My Friends Hadn't Run?p. 542
Creditsp. 547
Indexp. 551
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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