Preface for Instructors
Introduction: Why good habits matter
Introduction: Why good habits matter
Part I The Writing Process
Online activities
1 Exploring, planning, and drafting
Becoming a college writer: Choose topics you care about
a Assessing the writing situation
b Exploring your subject
c Drafting and revising a working thesis
How to solve five common problems with thesis statements * NEW
d Drafting a plan
e Drafting an introduction
f Drafting the body
g Drafting a conclusion
h Managing your files
Online activities
1 Exploring, planning, and drafting
Becoming a college writer: Choose topics you care about
a Assessing the writing situation
b Exploring your subject
c Drafting and revising a working thesis
How to solve five common problems with thesis statements * NEW
d Drafting a plan
e Drafting an introduction
f Drafting the body
g Drafting a conclusion
h Managing your files
2 Revising, editing, and reflecting
Becoming a college writer: Form a community of readers around you
a Seeing revision as a social process * NEW
b Using peer review: Revising with comments * NEW
c Using peer review: Giving constructive comments * NEW
How to write helpful peer review comments * NEW
d Highlights of one student’s peer review process * NEW
e Approaching global revision in cycles
f Revising and editing sentences
How to improve your writing with an editing log * NEW
g Proofreading the final draft
h Sample student revision: Literacy narrative
Writing guide: How to write a literacy narrative
i Preparing a portfolio; reflecting on your writing
Writing guide: How to write a reflective letter
3 Building effective paragraphs
a Focusing on a main point
b Developing the main point
c Choosing a suitable pattern of organization
d Making paragraphs coherent
e Adjusting paragraph length
Becoming a college writer: Form a community of readers around you
a Seeing revision as a social process * NEW
b Using peer review: Revising with comments * NEW
c Using peer review: Giving constructive comments * NEW
How to write helpful peer review comments * NEW
d Highlights of one student’s peer review process * NEW
e Approaching global revision in cycles
f Revising and editing sentences
How to improve your writing with an editing log * NEW
g Proofreading the final draft
h Sample student revision: Literacy narrative
Writing guide: How to write a literacy narrative
i Preparing a portfolio; reflecting on your writing
Writing guide: How to write a reflective letter
3 Building effective paragraphs
a Focusing on a main point
b Developing the main point
c Choosing a suitable pattern of organization
d Making paragraphs coherent
e Adjusting paragraph length
Part II Academic Reading and Writing
Online activities
4 Reading and writing critically
Becoming a college writer: Engage with the texts you read
a Reading actively
b Outlining a text to identify main ideas
c Summarizing to deepen your understanding
d Analyzing to demonstrate your critical reading
How to draft an analytical thesis statement * NEW
e Sample student writing: Analysis of an article
Writing guide: How to write an analytical essay
5 Reading and writing about multimodal texts
a Reading actively
b Outlining to identify main ideas
c Summarizing to deepen your understanding
How to write a summary of a multimodal text * NEW
d Analyzing to demonstrate your critical reading
e Sample student writing: Analysis of an advertisement
6 Reading and writing arguments
Becoming a college writer: Consider counterarguments
a Distinguishing between reasonable and fallacious argumentative tactics
b Distinguishing between legitimate and unfair emotional appeals
c Judging how fairly a writer handles opposing views
d Identifying your purpose and context
e Viewing your audience as a panel of jurors
f Establishing credibility and stating your position
How to draft a thesis statement for an argument * NEW
g Backing up your thesis with persuasive lines of argument
h Supporting your claims with specific evidence
i Anticipating objections; countering opposing arguments
j Building common ground
k Sample student writing: Argument
Writing guide: How to write an argument essay
l Remixing a written argument for an oral presentation * NEW
7 Reading and writing about literature
a Reading actively
b Forming an interpretation
c Drafting a working thesis
d Using evidence from the text; avoiding plot summary
e Observing the conventions of literature papers
f Integrating quotations from the text
g Documenting secondary sources and avoiding plagiarism
h Sample student writing: Literary analysis
Online activities
4 Reading and writing critically
Becoming a college writer: Engage with the texts you read
a Reading actively
b Outlining a text to identify main ideas
c Summarizing to deepen your understanding
d Analyzing to demonstrate your critical reading
How to draft an analytical thesis statement * NEW
e Sample student writing: Analysis of an article
Writing guide: How to write an analytical essay
5 Reading and writing about multimodal texts
a Reading actively
b Outlining to identify main ideas
c Summarizing to deepen your understanding
How to write a summary of a multimodal text * NEW
d Analyzing to demonstrate your critical reading
e Sample student writing: Analysis of an advertisement
6 Reading and writing arguments
Becoming a college writer: Consider counterarguments
a Distinguishing between reasonable and fallacious argumentative tactics
b Distinguishing between legitimate and unfair emotional appeals
c Judging how fairly a writer handles opposing views
d Identifying your purpose and context
e Viewing your audience as a panel of jurors
f Establishing credibility and stating your position
How to draft a thesis statement for an argument * NEW
g Backing up your thesis with persuasive lines of argument
h Supporting your claims with specific evidence
i Anticipating objections; countering opposing arguments
j Building common ground
k Sample student writing: Argument
Writing guide: How to write an argument essay
l Remixing a written argument for an oral presentation * NEW
7 Reading and writing about literature
a Reading actively
b Forming an interpretation
c Drafting a working thesis
d Using evidence from the text; avoiding plot summary
e Observing the conventions of literature papers
f Integrating quotations from the text
g Documenting secondary sources and avoiding plagiarism
h Sample student writing: Literary analysis
Part III Clear Sentences
Online activities
8 Prefer active verbs.
a Active versus passive verbs
Writer’s Choice: Using the active or the passive voice * NEW
b Active versus be verbs
c Subject that names the actor
9 Balance parallel ideas.
a Parallel ideas in a series
b Parallel ideas presented as pairs
c Repetition of function words
10 Add needed words.
a In compound structures
b that
c In comparisons
d a, an, and the
11 Untangle mixed constructions.
a Mixed grammar
b Illogical connections
c is when, is where, and reason . . . is because
12 Repair misplaced and dangling modifiers.
a Limiting modifiers
b Misplaced phrases and clauses
c Awkwardly placed modifiers
d Split infinitives
e Dangling modifiers
13 Eliminate distracting shifts.
a Point of view (person, number)
Writer’s Choice: Choosing a point of view * NEW
b Verb tense
c Verb mood, voice
d Indirect to direct questions or quotations
14 Emphasize key ideas.
a Coordination and subordination
Writer’s Choice: Positioning major and minor ideas * NEW
b Choppy sentences
c Ineffective or excessive coordination
d Ineffective subordination
e Excessive subordination
f Other techniques
15 Provide some variety.
a Sentence openings
Writer’s Choice: Strengthening with variety * NEW
b Sentence structures
c Inverted order
d An occasional question
Online activities
8 Prefer active verbs.
a Active versus passive verbs
Writer’s Choice: Using the active or the passive voice * NEW
b Active versus be verbs
c Subject that names the actor
9 Balance parallel ideas.
a Parallel ideas in a series
b Parallel ideas presented as pairs
c Repetition of function words
10 Add needed words.
a In compound structures
b that
c In comparisons
d a, an, and the
11 Untangle mixed constructions.
a Mixed grammar
b Illogical connections
c is when, is where, and reason . . . is because
12 Repair misplaced and dangling modifiers.
a Limiting modifiers
b Misplaced phrases and clauses
c Awkwardly placed modifiers
d Split infinitives
e Dangling modifiers
13 Eliminate distracting shifts.
a Point of view (person, number)
Writer’s Choice: Choosing a point of view * NEW
b Verb tense
c Verb mood, voice
d Indirect to direct questions or quotations
14 Emphasize key ideas.
a Coordination and subordination
Writer’s Choice: Positioning major and minor ideas * NEW
b Choppy sentences
c Ineffective or excessive coordination
d Ineffective subordination
e Excessive subordination
f Other techniques
15 Provide some variety.
a Sentence openings
Writer’s Choice: Strengthening with variety * NEW
b Sentence structures
c Inverted order
d An occasional question
Part IV Word Choice
Online activities
16 Tighten wordy sentences.
a Redundancies
b Unnecessary repetition
c Empty or inflated phrases
d Simplifying the structure
e Reducing clauses to phrases, phrases to single words
17 Choose appropriate language.
a Jargon
Writer’s Choice: Using discipline-specific terms * NEW
b Pretentious language, euphemisms, “doublespeak”
c Obsolete and invented words
d Slang, regional expressions, nonstandard English
e Levels of formality
f Sexist language
g Offensive language
18 Find the exact words.
a Connotations
b Specific, concrete nouns
c Misused words
d Standard idioms
e Clichés
f Figures of speech
Online activities
16 Tighten wordy sentences.
a Redundancies
b Unnecessary repetition
c Empty or inflated phrases
d Simplifying the structure
e Reducing clauses to phrases, phrases to single words
17 Choose appropriate language.
a Jargon
Writer’s Choice: Using discipline-specific terms * NEW
b Pretentious language, euphemisms, “doublespeak”
c Obsolete and invented words
d Slang, regional expressions, nonstandard English
e Levels of formality
f Sexist language
g Offensive language
18 Find the exact words.
a Connotations
b Specific, concrete nouns
c Misused words
d Standard idioms
e Clichés
f Figures of speech
Part V Grammatical Sentences
Online activities
Online activities
19 Repair sentence fragments.
a Subordinate clauses
b Phrases
c Other fragmented word groups
d Acceptable fragments
a Subordinate clauses
b Phrases
c Other fragmented word groups
d Acceptable fragments
20 Revise run-on sentences.
a Revision with a coordinating conjunction
Writer’s Choice: Clustering ideas in meaningful ways * NEW
b Revision with a semicolon, colon, or dash
c Revision by separating sentences
d Revision by restructuring
a Revision with a coordinating conjunction
Writer’s Choice: Clustering ideas in meaningful ways * NEW
b Revision with a semicolon, colon, or dash
c Revision by separating sentences
d Revision by restructuring
21 Make subjects and verbs agree.
a Standard subject-verb combinations
b Words between subject and verb
c Subjects joined with and
d Subjects joined with or, nor, either . . . or, or neither . . . nor
e Indefinite pronouns
f Collective nouns
g Subject following verb
h Agreement with subject, not subject complement
i who, which, and that
j Words with plural form, singular meaning
k Titles of works, company names, words mentioned as words, gerund phrases
22 Make pronouns and antecedents agree.
a Singular with singular, plural with plural (indefinite pronouns, generic nouns)
b Collective nouns
c Antecedents joined with and
d Antecedents joined with or, nor, either . . . or, or neither . . . nor
23 Make pronoun references clear.
a Ambiguous or remote reference
b Broad reference of this, that, which, and it
c Implied antecedents
d Indefinite use of they, it, and you
e who for persons, which or that for things
24 Distinguish between pronouns such as I and me.
a Subjective case for subjects and subject complements
b Objective case for objects
c Appositives
d Pronoun following than or as
e we or us before a noun
f Subjects and objects of infinitives
g Pronoun modifying a gerund
25 Distinguish between who and whom.
a In subordinate clauses
b In questions
c As subjects or objects of infinitives
26 Choose adjectives and adverbs with care.
a Adjectives to modify nouns
b Adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs
c good and well, bad and badly
d Comparatives and superlatives
e Double negatives
27 Choose appropriate verb forms, tenses, and moods in Standard English.
a Irregular verbs
b lie and lay
c -s (or -es) endings
d -ed endings
e Omitted verbs
f Verb tense
g Subjunctive mood
Part VI Multilingual Writers and ESL Challenges
Online activities
28 Verbs 361
a Appropriate form and tense
b Passive voice
c Base form after a modal
d Negative verb forms
e Verbs in conditional sentences
f Verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives
29 Articles (a, an, the)
a Articles and other noun markers
b When to use the
c When to use a or an
d When not to use a or an
e No articles with general nouns
f Articles with proper nouns
30 Sentence structure
a Linking verb between a subject and its complement
b A subject in every sentence
c Repeated nouns or pronouns with the same grammatical function
d Repeated subjects, objects, adverbs in adjective clauses
e Mixed constructions with although or because
f Placement of adverbs
g Present participles and past participles
h Order of cumulative adjectives
31 Prepositions and idiomatic expressions
a Prepositions showing time and place
b Nouns (including -ing form) after prepositions
c Common adjective + preposition combinations
d Common verb + preposition combinations
Online activities
28 Verbs 361
a Appropriate form and tense
b Passive voice
c Base form after a modal
d Negative verb forms
e Verbs in conditional sentences
f Verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives
29 Articles (a, an, the)
a Articles and other noun markers
b When to use the
c When to use a or an
d When not to use a or an
e No articles with general nouns
f Articles with proper nouns
30 Sentence structure
a Linking verb between a subject and its complement
b A subject in every sentence
c Repeated nouns or pronouns with the same grammatical function
d Repeated subjects, objects, adverbs in adjective clauses
e Mixed constructions with although or because
f Placement of adverbs
g Present participles and past participles
h Order of cumulative adjectives
31 Prepositions and idiomatic expressions
a Prepositions showing time and place
b Nouns (including -ing form) after prepositions
c Common adjective + preposition combinations
d Common verb + preposition combinations
Part VII Punctuation
Online activities
32 The comma
a Independent clauses joined with and, but, etc.
b Introductory clauses or phrases
c Items in a series
d Coordinate adjectives
e Nonrestrictive elements
f Transitions, parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, contrasts
g Direct address, yes and no, interrogative tags, interjections
h he said etc.
i Dates, addresses, titles, numbers
33 Unnecessary commas
a Between two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses
b Between a verb and its subject or object
c Before the first or after the last item in a series
d Between cumulative adjectives, an adjective and a noun, or an adverb and an adjective
e Before and after restrictive elements
f Before essential concluding adverbial elements
g After a phrase beginning an inverted sentence
h Other misuses
34 The semicolon
a Independent clauses not joined with a coordinating conjunction
b Independent clauses linked with a transitional expression
c Series containing internal punctuation
d Misuses
35 The colon
a Before a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a summary
b Conventional uses
c Misuses
36 The apostrophe
a Possessive nouns
b Possessive indefinite pronouns
c Contractions
d Not for plural numbers, letters, abbreviations, words as words
e Misuses
37 Quotation marks
a Direct quotations
b Quotation within a quotation
c Titles of short works
d Words as words
e With other punctuation marks
f Misuses
38 End punctuation
a The period
b The question mark
c The exclamation point
39 Other punctuation marks
a Dash
b Parentheses
c Brackets
d Ellipsis mark
e Slash
Online activities
32 The comma
a Independent clauses joined with and, but, etc.
b Introductory clauses or phrases
c Items in a series
d Coordinate adjectives
e Nonrestrictive elements
f Transitions, parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, contrasts
g Direct address, yes and no, interrogative tags, interjections
h he said etc.
i Dates, addresses, titles, numbers
33 Unnecessary commas
a Between two words, phrases, or subordinate clauses
b Between a verb and its subject or object
c Before the first or after the last item in a series
d Between cumulative adjectives, an adjective and a noun, or an adverb and an adjective
e Before and after restrictive elements
f Before essential concluding adverbial elements
g After a phrase beginning an inverted sentence
h Other misuses
34 The semicolon
a Independent clauses not joined with a coordinating conjunction
b Independent clauses linked with a transitional expression
c Series containing internal punctuation
d Misuses
35 The colon
a Before a list, an appositive, a quotation, or a summary
b Conventional uses
c Misuses
36 The apostrophe
a Possessive nouns
b Possessive indefinite pronouns
c Contractions
d Not for plural numbers, letters, abbreviations, words as words
e Misuses
37 Quotation marks
a Direct quotations
b Quotation within a quotation
c Titles of short works
d Words as words
e With other punctuation marks
f Misuses
38 End punctuation
a The period
b The question mark
c The exclamation point
39 Other punctuation marks
a Dash
b Parentheses
c Brackets
d Ellipsis mark
e Slash
Part VIII Mechanics
Online activities
40 Abbreviations
a Titles with proper names
b Familiar abbreviations
c Conventional abbreviations
d Units of measurement
e Latin abbreviations
f Plural of abbreviations
g Misuses
41 Numbers
a Spelling out
b Using numerals
42 Italics
a Titles of works
b Names of ships, spacecraft, and aircraft
c Foreign words
d Words as words, letters as letters, and numbers as numbers
43 Spelling
a Spelling rules
b The dictionary
c Words that sound alike
d Commonly misspelled words
44 The hyphen
a Compound words
b Hyphenated words used as adjectives
c Fractions and compound numbers
d With certain prefixes and suffixes
e To avoid ambiguity or to separate awkward double or triple letters
f Word division
Online activities
40 Abbreviations
a Titles with proper names
b Familiar abbreviations
c Conventional abbreviations
d Units of measurement
e Latin abbreviations
f Plural of abbreviations
g Misuses
41 Numbers
a Spelling out
b Using numerals
42 Italics
a Titles of works
b Names of ships, spacecraft, and aircraft
c Foreign words
d Words as words, letters as letters, and numbers as numbers
43 Spelling
a Spelling rules
b The dictionary
c Words that sound alike
d Commonly misspelled words
44 The hyphen
a Compound words
b Hyphenated words used as adjectives
c Fractions and compound numbers
d With certain prefixes and suffixes
e To avoid ambiguity or to separate awkward double or triple letters
f Word division
45 Capitalization
a Proper versus common nouns
b Titles with proper names
c Titles and subtitles of works
d First word of a sentence
e First word of a quoted sentence
f First word after a colon
a Proper versus common nouns
b Titles with proper names
c Titles and subtitles of works
d First word of a sentence
e First word of a quoted sentence
f First word after a colon
Part IX Grammar Basics
Online activities
46 Parts of speech
a Nouns
b Pronouns
c Verbs
d Adjectives
e Adverbs 494
f Prepositions
g Conjunctions
h Interjections
Online activities
46 Parts of speech
a Nouns
b Pronouns
c Verbs
d Adjectives
e Adverbs 494
f Prepositions
g Conjunctions
h Interjections
47 Sentence patterns
a Subjects
b Verbs, objects, and complements
c Pattern variations
48 Subordinate word groups
a Prepositional phrases
b Verbal phrases
c Appositive phrases
Writer’s Choice: Building credibility with appositives * NEW
d Absolute phrases
e Subordinate clauses
49 Sentence types
a Sentence structures
b Sentence purposes
a Subjects
b Verbs, objects, and complements
c Pattern variations
48 Subordinate word groups
a Prepositional phrases
b Verbal phrases
c Appositive phrases
Writer’s Choice: Building credibility with appositives * NEW
d Absolute phrases
e Subordinate clauses
49 Sentence types
a Sentence structures
b Sentence purposes
Part X Researched Writing
Online activities
50 Thinking like a researcher; gathering sources
Becoming a college writer: Join a research conversation
a Managing the project
b Posing questions worth exploring
How to enter a research conversation * NEW
c Mapping out a search strategy
d Searching efficiently; mastering a few shortcuts
How to go beyond a Google search * NEW
e Conducting field research, if appropriate
f Writing a research proposal * NEW
51 Managing information; taking notes responsibly
a Maintaining a working bibliography
b Keeping track of source materials
c Avoiding unintentional plagiarism
How to avoid plagiarizing from the Web * NEW
52 Evaluating sources
a Thinking about how sources might contribute to your writing
b Selecting sources worth your time and attention
c Selecting appropriate versions of online sources
d Reading with an open mind and a critical eye
e Assessing Web sources with care
f Constructing an annotated bibliography
Writing guide: How to write an annotated bibliography
Online activities
50 Thinking like a researcher; gathering sources
Becoming a college writer: Join a research conversation
a Managing the project
b Posing questions worth exploring
How to enter a research conversation * NEW
c Mapping out a search strategy
d Searching efficiently; mastering a few shortcuts
How to go beyond a Google search * NEW
e Conducting field research, if appropriate
f Writing a research proposal * NEW
51 Managing information; taking notes responsibly
a Maintaining a working bibliography
b Keeping track of source materials
c Avoiding unintentional plagiarism
How to avoid plagiarizing from the Web * NEW
52 Evaluating sources
a Thinking about how sources might contribute to your writing
b Selecting sources worth your time and attention
c Selecting appropriate versions of online sources
d Reading with an open mind and a critical eye
e Assessing Web sources with care
f Constructing an annotated bibliography
Writing guide: How to write an annotated bibliography
Writing MLA papers
53 Supporting a thesis
a Forming a working thesis
b Organizing ideas with a rough outline
c Using sources to inform and support your argument
d Drafting an introduction for your thesis
e Drafting the paper in an appropriate voice
54 Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism
a Understanding how the MLA system works
b Avoiding plagiarism when quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing sources
How to be a responsible research writer
55 Integrating sources
Becoming a college writer: Provide context for sources
a Summarizing and paraphrasing effectively * NEW
b Using quotations effectively
c Using signal phrases to integrate sources
d Synthesizing sources
53 Supporting a thesis
a Forming a working thesis
b Organizing ideas with a rough outline
c Using sources to inform and support your argument
d Drafting an introduction for your thesis
e Drafting the paper in an appropriate voice
54 Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism
a Understanding how the MLA system works
b Avoiding plagiarism when quoting, summarizing, and paraphrasing sources
How to be a responsible research writer
55 Integrating sources
Becoming a college writer: Provide context for sources
a Summarizing and paraphrasing effectively * NEW
b Using quotations effectively
c Using signal phrases to integrate sources
d Synthesizing sources
56 Documenting sources
a MLA in-text citations
b MLA list of works cited
How to answer the basic question “Who is the author?”
How to cite a source reposted from another source
How to cite course materials
c MLA information notes (optional)
57 Manuscript format; sample research paper
a MLA manuscript format
b Sample MLA research paper * NEW
a MLA in-text citations
b MLA list of works cited
How to answer the basic question “Who is the author?”
How to cite a source reposted from another source
How to cite course materials
c MLA information notes (optional)
57 Manuscript format; sample research paper
a MLA manuscript format
b Sample MLA research paper * NEW
Writing APA papers
58 Supporting a thesis
a Forming a working thesis
b Organizing your ideas
c Using sources to inform and support your argument
59 Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism
a Understanding how the APA system works
b Understanding what plagiarism is
c Using quotation marks around borrowed language
d Putting summaries and paraphrases in your own words
60 Integrating sources
a Summarizing and paraphrasing effectively * NEW
b Using quotations appropriately
c Using signal phrases to integrate sources
d Synthesizing sources
61 Documenting sources
a APA in-text citations
b APA list of references
62 Manuscript format; sample research paper
a APA manuscript format
b Sample APA research paper * NEW
58 Supporting a thesis
a Forming a working thesis
b Organizing your ideas
c Using sources to inform and support your argument
59 Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism
a Understanding how the APA system works
b Understanding what plagiarism is
c Using quotation marks around borrowed language
d Putting summaries and paraphrases in your own words
60 Integrating sources
a Summarizing and paraphrasing effectively * NEW
b Using quotations appropriately
c Using signal phrases to integrate sources
d Synthesizing sources
61 Documenting sources
a APA in-text citations
b APA list of references
62 Manuscript format; sample research paper
a APA manuscript format
b Sample APA research paper * NEW
Writing Chicago papers
63 Chicago papers
a Supporting a thesis
b Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism
c Integrating sources
d Chicago documentation style
e Chicago manuscript format
f Sample Chicago-style research paper (excerpt)
63 Chicago papers
a Supporting a thesis
b Citing sources; avoiding plagiarism
c Integrating sources
d Chicago documentation style
e Chicago manuscript format
f Sample Chicago-style research paper (excerpt)
Part XI Writing in the Disciplines
Online activities
64 Learning to write in a discipline
a Finding commonalities across disciplines
b Recognizing the questions that writers in a discipline ask
c Understanding the kinds of evidence that writers in a discipline use
d Becoming familiar with a discipline’s language conventions
e Using a discipline’s preferred citation style
65 Approaching writing assignments in the disciplines
a Writing in psychology
b Writing in business
c Writing in biology
d Writing in nursing
Online activities
64 Learning to write in a discipline
a Finding commonalities across disciplines
b Recognizing the questions that writers in a discipline ask
c Understanding the kinds of evidence that writers in a discipline use
d Becoming familiar with a discipline’s language conventions
e Using a discipline’s preferred citation style
65 Approaching writing assignments in the disciplines
a Writing in psychology
b Writing in business
c Writing in biology
d Writing in nursing
APPENDIX: A Document Design Gallery