Writing Process, The: A Concise Rhetoric, Reader, and Handbook

by Lannon, John M.

• ISBN13: 9780321133755
• ISBN10: 0321133757
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

This writing guide/reader/handbook demystifies writing by presenting the writing process as a series of critical thinking decisions about audience and purpose. Widely admired for its clear, readable style, "The Writing Process" focuses on writing as decision-making, with a wealth of student samples in various draft stages and a strong collection of professional readings-essays, fiction, poetry, memoirs, and cartoons-to illustrate writing strategies. Helps readers understand the writing process. Writing process, research process. Anyone who wants to learn to write well.

Table of Contents

THEMATIC CONTENTS	XXIII
PREFACE	XXVII
SECTION ONE THE PROCESS-DECISIONS IN PLANNING, DRAFTING, AND REVISING	1	(78)
INTRODUCTION	2	(6)
Writing as Decision Making	2	(1)
How Writing Looks	3	(1)
How Writing Makes a Difference	3	(2)
Decisions in Collaborative Writing	5	(1)
Decisions about Writing with Computers	5	(1)
Applications	6	(2)
CHAPTER 1 DECISIONS IN THE WRITING PROCESS	8	(13)
Decision Making and the Writing Process	9	(5)
Case Study One Writer's Decision-Making Process	10	(12)
"Life in Full Color" Shirley Haley (Student)	12	(2)
The Looping Structure of the Writing Process	14	(5)
"Confessions of a Food Addict" Wendy Gianacoples (Student)	16	(3)
Options for Essay Writing	19
Applications	15	(6)
CHAPTER 2 DECISIONS IN PLANNING	21	(27)
Deciding on a Topic, Purpose, Thesis, and Audience	22	(8)
Decide on Your Topic	22	(1)
Decide on Your Purpose	22	(1)
Decide on Your Thesis	23
Guidelines for Developing a Thesis	21	(8)
Decide on Your Audience	28	(1)
Case Study Analyzing Your Writing Situation	29	(1)
Discovering, Selecting, and Organizing Your Material	30	(6)
Discover Useful Material	31	(1)
Guidelines for Brainstorming	32	(1)
Select Your Best Material	33	(1)
Organize for Readers	33	(1)
Case Study Exploring and Arranging Assets	33	(3)
Finding Your Voice	36	(2)
Find a Voice that Connects with Readers	37	(1)
Avoid an Overly Informal Tone	37	(1)
The Writer's Planning Guide	38	(2)
Planning for Group Work	40	(3)
Guidelines for Writing Collaboratively	40	(3)
Applications	43	(5)
CHAPTER 3 DECISIONS IN DRAFTING	48	(13)
Drafting the Title and Introduction	49	(5)
The Introductory Paragraph	50	(1)
Placing the Thesis	51	(1)
Selecting an Opening Strategy	51	(3)
Drafting the Body Section	54	(1)
Drafting the Conclusion	55	(3)
Selecting a Closing Strategy	55	(1)
Case Study Drafting the Essay	56	(2)
"Cars R Us" Maureen Malloy (Student)	56	(2)
Drafting on the Computer	58	(1)
Guidelines for Drafting on the Computer	58	(1)
Applications	59	(2)
CHAPTER 4 DECISIONS IN REVISING	61	(18)
The Meaning of Revision	62	(1)
Revision Checklist	63	(1)
Using the Checklist	64	(3)
Case Study Revising the Draft	64	(2)
Guidelines for Reviewing and Editing the Writing of Peers	66	(1)
Revising with Peers	67	(9)
Proofreading Your Final Draft	76	(1)
Guidelines for Proofreading	16	(61)
Applications	77	(2)
SECTION TWO SPECIFIC REVISION STRATEGIES	79	(81)
INTRODUCTION	80	(3)
How Good Is "Good Enough"?	80	(1)
Revising from the Top Down	80	(1)
Beefing Up the Content	81	(1)
Harnessing Paragraph Power	81	(1)
Honing the Sentences	81	(1)
Finding the Perfect Wording	82	(1)
CHAPTER 5 REVISING THE CONTENT: WRITING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE	83	(13)
Make It Credible	84	(2)
Make It Informative	86	(3)
"Walk But Don't Run" Jeff Leonard (Student)	87	(2)
Make It Complete	89	(1)
Credit Your Information Sources	90	(1)
Applications	91	(5)
CHAPTER 6 REVISING THE PARAGRAPHS: SHAPING FOR READERS' ACCESS	96	(21)
Support Paragraphs as Mini-Essays	97	(1)
Paragraph Function	98	(1)
Paragraph Length	98	(1)
The Topic Statement	99	(2)
The Topic Statement as Readers' Framework	99	(1)
The Topic Statement as Writers' Framework	99	(1)
How Audience and Purpose Determine a Topic Statement's Focus	100	(1)
Structural Variations in Support Paragraphs	101	(1)
Paragraph Unity	102	(1)
Paragraph Coherence	103	(9)
Ordering Ideas for Coherence	104	(4)
Parallelism	108	(1)
Repetition, Restatement, and Variation	109	(1)
Pronouns for Coherence	110	(1)
Consistency for Coherence	110	(1)
Transitions	110	(2)
Applications	112	(5)
CHAPTER 7 REVISING THE SENTENCES: WRITING WITH STYLE	117	(20)
Aim for Clarity	118	(6)
Keep Your Pronoun References Clear	118	(1)
Avoid Ambiguous Modifiers	118	(1)
Avoid Cramming	119	(1)
Keep Equal Items Parallel	120	(1)
Arrange Word Order for Coherence and Emphasis	120	(1)
Use Active Voice Often	121	(1)
Use Passive Voice Selectively	122	(2)
Trim the Fat	124	(7)
Avoid Wordy Phrases	124	(1)
Eliminate Redundancy	124	(1)
Avoid Needless Repetition	125	(1)
Avoid There and It Sentence Openers	125	(1)
Avoid Needless Phrases	125	(1)
Avoid Weak Verbs	126	(1)
Avoid Excessive Prepositions	126	(1)
Avoid Nominalizations	126	(1)
Make Negatives Positive	127	(1)
Clear Out Clutter Words	128	(1)
Delete Needless Prefaces	128	(1)
Delete Needless Qualifiers	129	(2)
Help Sentences Flow	131
Combine Related Ideas	131	(1)
Vary Sentence Construction and Length	132	(1)
Use Short Sentences for Special Emphasis	133
Applications	123	(14)
CHAPTER 8 REVISING THE WORDS AND PHRASES: FINE-TUNING	137	(23)
Say Something Genuine	138	(1)
Avoid Triteness	138	(1)
Avoid Overstatement	138	(1)
Avoid Misleading Euphemisms	138	(1)
Aim for Precision	139	(4)
Sharpen the Visual Details	143	(2)
Add Some Personality	145	(6)
Establish an Appropriate Distance	146	(1)
Guidelines for Deciding about Tone	147	(1)
Guidelines for Achieving a Conversational Tone	147	(4)
Express a Clear and Appropriate Attitude	150	(1)
Avoid Personal Bias	150	(1)
Invite Everyone In	151	(5)
Avoid Sexist Language	151	(1)
Guidelines for Nonsexist Usage	152	(2)
Avoid Offensive Usage of All Types	152	(1)
Consider the Cultural Context	153	(1)
Guidelines for Inoffensive Usage	154	(2)
Legal and Ethical Implications of Word Choice	156	(1)
Using Automated Tools Effectively	157
Applications	139	(21)
SECTION THREE ESSAYS FOR VARIOUS GOALS	160	(171)
INTRODUCTION	160	(4)
Three Major Goals of Writing	160	(2)
Major Development Strategies	162	(1)
Using This Section	162	(1)
A Word about Structural Variations	162	(2)
CHAPTER 9 DECISIONS ABOUT READING FOR WRITING	164	(14)
Different Levels of Reading	165	(1)
Different Readers, Different Meanings	166	(1)
Reading Strategies for Writers	166	(9)
Case Study One Writer's Response to Reading	167	(5)
"Why I Want a Wife" Judy Brady	167	(4)
"A Long Way to Go" Jacqueline LeBlanc (Student)	171	(1)
Case Study A Second Writer's Response to Reading	172	(3)
"Seeing" Annie Dillard	172	(2)
"Sailboats" Shirley Haley (Student)	174	(1)
Suggestions for Reading and Writing	175	(1)
Guidelines for Reading to Respond	115	(61)
Applications	176	(2)
CHAPTER 10 HELPING OTHERS SEE AND SHARE AN EXPERIENCE: DESCRIPTION AND NARRATION	178	(19)
Using Objective Description to Inform	179	(1)
Using Subjective Description to Make a Point	180	(2)
"Off Season" Pam Herbert (Student)	180	(2)
Using Objective Narration to Explain	182	(2)
Guidelines for Description	183	(1)
Using Subjective Narration to Make a Point	184	(12)
Guidelines for Narration	184	(9)
"Black Men and Public Space" Brent Staples	186	(4)
"Back at the Ranch" Jay Allison	190	(3)
Case Study Responding to Reading	193	(6)
"The Old Guy" Al Andrade (Student)	193	(3)
Options For Essay Writing	196
Applications	189	(8)
CHAPTER 11 PROVIDING EXAMPLES: ILLUSTRATION	197	(11)
Using Examples to Explain	198	(1)
Using Examples to Make a Point	199	(7)
Guidelines for Illustrating with Examples	201	(3)
"A Case of 'Severe Bias"' Patricia Raybon	202	(2)
Case Study Responding to Reading	204	(7)
"My Time Capsule" Gina Ciolfi (Student)	204	(2)
Options For Essay Writing	206
Applications	200	(8)
CHAPTER 12 EXPLAINING PARTS AND CATEGORIES: DIVISION AND CLASSIFICATION	208	(12)
Using Division to Explain	210	(1)
Using Division to Make a Point	210	(1)
Using Classification to Explain	211	(1)
Guidelines for Division	212	(1)
Using Classification to Make a Point	212	(7)
Guidelines for Classification	213	(4)
"Doubts about Doublespeak" William Lutz	215	(2)
Case Study Responding to Reading	217	(4)
"We Like It Here" Patrick LaChane (Student)	218	(1)
Options For Essay Writing	219
Applications	213	(7)
CHAPTER 13 EXPLAINING STEPS AND STAGES: PROCESS ANALYSIS	220	(14)
Using Process Analysis to Explain	221	(2)
Explaining How to Do Something	221	(1)
Guidelines for Giving Instructions	222	(1)
Explaining How Something Happens	223	(1)
Using Process Analysis to Make a Point	223	(1)
"How to Deal with Snakebites" Frank White	224	(3)
Case Study Responding to Reading	227	(12)
"A First-Week Survival Guide for Commuters" Catherine Nichols (Student)	227	(2)
"How Acid Rain Develops, Spreads, and Destroys" Bill Kelly (Student)	229	(2)
"Dumpster Diving" Lars Eighner	231
Applications	223	(11)
CHAPTER 14 EXPLAINING WHY IT HAPPENED OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN: CAUSE-AND-EFFECT ANALYSIS	234	(17)
Using Causal Analysis to Explain: Definite Causes	236	(1)
Using Causal Analysis to Make a Point: Possible or Probable Causes	237	(1)
Reasoning from Effect to Cause	238	(1)
Guidelines for Effect-to-Cause Analysis	238	(1)
Reasoning from Cause to Effect	239	(11)
Guidelines for Cause-to-Effect Analysis	239	(8)
"I Don't Like What You're Wearing" David Updike	241	(3)
"Should Schools Try to Boost Self-Esteem?-Beware the Dark Side" Roy F. Baumeister	244	(3)
Case Study Responding to Reading	247	(8)
"School Uniforms: A Recipe for School Reform" John Saurette (Student)	248	(2)
Options for Essay Writing	250
Applications	240	(11)
CHAPTER 15 EXPLAINING SIMILARITIES OR DIFFERENCES: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST	251	(14)
Developing a Comparison	252	(1)
Developing a Contrast	252	(1)
Developing a Combined Comparison and Contrast	253	(1)
Using Comparison and Contrast to Explain	254	(1)
Using Comparison and Contrast to Make a Point	254	(1)
A Special Kind of Comparison: Analogy	255	(9)
Guidelines for Comparison and Contrast	257	(5)
"Abortion Is Too Complex to Feel All One Way About" Anna Quindlen	259	(3)
Case Study Responding to Reading	262	(6)
"Is Online Education Taking Us Anywhere?" John Manning (Student)	262	(2)
Options for Essay Writing	264
Applications	255	(10)
CHAPTER 16 EXPLAINING THE EXACT MEANING: DEFINITION	265	(16)
Using Denotative Definitions to Explain	266	(1)
Using Connotative Definitions to Make a Point	267	(1)
Choosing the Level of Detail in a Definition	268	(11)
Guidelines for Definition	270	(7)
"Gossip" Francine Prose	275	(2)
Case Study Responding to Reading	277	(11)
"Community Service Serves Everyone" Kerry Donahue (Student)	278	(1)
Options for Essay Writing	279
Applications	272	(9)
CHAPTER 17 USING MULTIPLE STRATEGIES IN A PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT	281	(29)
Anticipating Audience Resistance	282	(1)
Having a Debatable Point	283	(1)
Supporting Your Claim	284	(3)
Offer Convincing Reasons	284	(1)
Provide Objective Evidence	285	(1)
Appeal to Shared Goals and Values	286	(1)
Shaping a Clear Line of Thought	287	(1)
Connecting with Your Audience	288	(1)
Guidelines for Persuasion	288	(1)
Considering the Ethical Dimension	289	(1)
Various Arguments For Various Goals	290	(6)
Arguing to Influence Readers' Opinions	291	(1)
Arguing to Enlist Readers' Support	291	(1)
Making a Proposal	291	(1)
Arguing to Change Readers' Behavior	291	(1)
"On Reading Trash" Bob Swift	292	(2)
Case Studies Responding to Reading	294	(27)
"Credit Cards: Leave Home Without Them" Julia Schoonover (Student)	294	(3)
"Standards You Meet and Don't Duck" William Raspberry	297	(2)
"Save Liberal Arts" Suzanne Gilbertson (Student)	299	(3)
"A Proposal for Better Use of the Television Set in the Campus Center" Patricia Haith (Student)	302	(2)
"Letter to the Boss" Marcia White (Student)	304
Options for Essay Writing	296
Applications	292	(18)
CHAPTER 18 SPECIAL ISSUES IN PERSUASION	310	(21)
Appealing to Reason	310	(7)
Using Induction	312	(2)
Using Deduction	314	(3)
Recognizing Invalid or Deceptive Reasoning	317	(4)
Fallacies That Break the Chain of Logic	317	(3)
Fallacies That Evade the Issue	320	(1)
Appealing to Emotion	321	(5)
Guidelines for Making Emotional Appeals	322	(15)
Showing Empathy	322	(1)
Acknowledging Opposing Views	323	(1)
Maintaining a Moderate Tone	323	(2)
Using Satire in Appropriate Circumstances	325	(1)
"Bonfire" Adam Symkowicz (Student)	325	(1)
Adding Humor Where Appropriate	326	(1)
Applications	326	(5)
SECTION FOUR THE RESEARCH PROCESS	331	(140)
INTRODUCTION-THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROCESS	332	(10)
Asking the Right Questions	334	(1)
Exploring a Balance of Views	334	(2)
Achieving Adequate Depth in Your Search	336	(1)
Evaluating Your Findings	337	(1)
Guidelines for Evaluating Expert Information	338	(1)
Interpreting Your Findings	338	(4)
CHAPTER 19 ASKING QUESTIONS AND FINDING ANSWERS	342	(26)
Deciding on a Research Topic	343	(1)
Guidelines for Choosing a Research Topic	343	(1)
Primary versus Secondary Sources	344	(1)
Hard Copy versus Electronic Sources	344	(1)
Exploring Internet Sources	345	(5)
Usenet	345	(1)
Listservs	346	(1)
Library Chatrooms	347	(1)
Electronic Magazines (Zines)	347	(1)
Email Inquiries	347	(1)
World Wide Web	347	(1)
Guidelines for Researching on the Internet	348	(2)
Exploring Other Electronic Sources	350	(1)
Compact Disks	350	(1)
Online Retrieval Services	350	(1)
Electronic Reference Books, Indexes, and Journals	351	(1)
Key Word Searches Using Boolean Operators	351	(1)
Using Electronic Mail	352	(2)
Guidelines for Using Email	353	(1)
Exploring Hard Copy Sources	354	(5)
Reference Works	354	(1)
Card Catalog	355	(1)
Guides to Literature	356	(1)
Indexes	356	(1)
Abstracts	357	(1)
Access Tools for U.S. Government Publications	357	(1)
Microforms	358	(1)
Informative Interviews	359	(1)
Surveys and Questionnaires	359	(1)
Inquiry Letters, Phone Calls, and Email Inquiries	359	(1)
Public Records and Organizational Publications	359	(3)
Guidelines for Informative Interviews	360	(2)
Personal observation	362	(1)
Guidelines for Developing a Questionnaire	364
Applications	362	(6)
CHAPTER 20 RECORDING, EVALUATING, AND INTERPRETING YOUR FINDINGS	368	(24)
Taking Notes	369	(1)
Guidelines for Recording Research findings	369	(1)
Quoting the Work of Others	370	(2)
Paraphrasing the Work of Others	372	(1)
Guidelines for Quoting the Work of Others	313	(60)
Preparing Summaries and Abstracts	373	(3)
Guidelines for Paraphrasing the Work of Others	313	(1)
What Readers Expect from a Summary or Abstract	374
Guidelines for Summarizing Information and Preparing an Abstract	314	(62)
Ethical Considerations in Summarizing Information	375	(1)
Evaluating the Sources	376	(3)
Guidelines for Evaluating Sources on the Web	318	(61)
Evaluating the Evidence	379	(1)
Interpreting Your Findings	380	(2)
Identify Your Level of Certainty	380	(1)
Be Alert for Personal Bias	381	(1)
Examine the Underlying Assumptions	382	(1)
Avoiding Statistical Fallacies	382	(5)
Common Statistical Fallacies	383	(3)
Guidelines for Critically Analyzing Information	386	(1)
Assessing Your Inquiry	387	(1)
Applications	388	(4)
CHAPTER 21 DOCUMENTING YOUR SOURCES	392	(25)
Why You Should Document	392	(1)
What You Should Document	393	(1)
How You Should Document	393	(1)
MLA Documentation Style	394	(12)
MLA Parenthetical References	394	(1)
MLA Works-Cited Entries	395	(11)
MLA Sample List of Works Cited	406	(1)
APA Documentation Style	406	(10)
APA Parenthetical References	406	(1)
APA Reference-List Entries	407	(9)
APA Sample List of References	416	(1)
Application	416	(1)
CHAPTER 22 COMPOSING THE RESEARCH REPORT	417	(21)
Developing a Working Thesis and Outline	417	(1)
Drafting Your Report	418	(1)
Revising Your Report	419	(1)
A Sample Report in APA Style	420	(18)
"Campus Crime: A Hidden Issue" Julia Schoonover (Student)	421	(17)
CHAPTER 23 CASE STUDY: A SAMPLE RESEARCH PROJECT	438	(33)
Discovering a Worthwhile Topic	438	(1)
Focusing the Inquiry	439	(1)
Searching the Literature	440	(1)
Recording and Reviewing Findings	440	(1)
Settling on a Thesis	441	(1)
Writing and Documenting the Report in MLA Style	442	(30)
"Students Under Stress: College Can Make You Sick" Shirley Haley (Student)	443	(28)
SECTION FIVE ADDITIONAL READINGS AND MODELS FOR WRITING	471	(34)
Description and Narration	472	(3)
"On the Ball" Roger Angell	472	(1)
"Grandmother's Sunday Dinner" Patricia Hampl	473	(2)
Illustration	475	(3)
"No Zeal for New Zealand" Jaclyn Thomas	475	(2)
"All You Can Eat" Michelle Stacey	477	(1)
Division and Classification	478	(4)
"All Junk, All the Time" Richard Brookhiser	478	(2)
"The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe" Carolyn Foster Segal	480	(2)
Process Analysis	482	(4)
"How to Write a Personal Letter" Garrison Keillor	482	(2)
"How Boys Become Men" Jon Katz	484	(2)
Cause-and-Effect Analysis	486	(4)
"Why We Crave Horror Movies" Stephen King	486	(2)
"I Just Wanna Be Average" Mike Rose	488	(2)
Comparison and Contrast	490	(5)
"Parallel Worlds: The Surprising Similarities (and Differences) of Country-and-Western and Rap" Denise Noe	490	(3)
"Neat People vs. Sloppy People" Suzanne Britt	493	(2)
Definition	495	(3)
"The Company Man" Ellen Goodman	495	(1)
"What's a Hillbilly?" Rebecca Thomas Kirkendall	496	(2)
Argument	498	(7)
"Let Teenagers Try Adulthood" Leon Botstein	498	(2)
"In Defense of Elitism" William A. Henry III	500	(5)
APPENDIX A EDITING FOR GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, AND MECHANICS	505	(31)
Common Sentence Errors	505	(14)
Sentence Fragment	505	(2)
Acceptable Fragment	507	(1)
Faulty Coordination	508	(1)
Faulty Subordination	509	(1)
Comma Splice	510	(2)
Run-On Sentence	512	(1)
Faulty Agreement-Subject and Verb	513	(1)
Faulty Agreement-Pronoun and Referent	514	(1)
Faulty Modification	514	(2)
Faulty Pronoun Case	516	(2)
Sentence Shifts	518	(1)
Effective Punctuation	519	(13)
End Punctuation	520	(1)
Semicolon	521	(1)
Colon	522	(1)
Comma	523	(4)
Apostrophe	527	(2)
Quotation Marks	529	(1)
Ellipses	530	(1)
Italics	530	(1)
Parentheses	531	(1)
Brackets	531	(1)
Dashes	532	(1)
Effective Mechanics	532
Abbreviations	532	(1)
Hyphen	533	(1)
Capitalization	534	(1)
Use of Numbers	534	(1)
Spelling	535
Applications	508	(28)
APPENDIX B FORMAT GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT	536	(3)
Format Guidelines for Submitting Your Manuscript	537	(1)
Format Checklist	538	(1)
APPENDIX C USEFUL WEB SITES AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY RESOURCES	539	(4)
Useful Web Sites	539	(3)
Search Engines	539	(1)
Subject Directories (or Catalogs)	540	(1)
Almanacs	540	(1)
Associations and Organizations	540	(1)
Business Directories	541	(1)
Dictionaries	541	(1)
Encyclopedias	541	(1)
Journal Articles	541	(1)
News Organizations	541	(1)
U.S. Government Information	542	(1)
Writing and Research Guides	542	(1)
Electronic Library Resources	542	(1)
CREDITS	543	(4)
INDEX	547