Choices A Writing Guide with Readings

by Mangelsdorf, Kate; Posey, Evelyn

• ISBN13: 9781457698170
• ISBN10: 145769817X
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-12-18
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Ease into writing with the accessible and constructive writing instruction in Choices which encourages you to participate in each step of the writing process to create better essays.

Author Biography

Kate Mangelsdorf is professor of English and director of rhetoric and developmental English at the University of Texas at El Paso, where she has also been director of composition and associate dean of University College. She was formerly coordinator of ESL writing at the University of Arizona, and she has also taught at Yavapai Community College. Mangelsdorf has published articles in the Journal of Second Language Writing, English Language Teaching Journal, and Teaching English in the Two Year College.

 

Evelyn Posey is Professor of English and Director of the Technical and
Professional Writing Certificate Program at the University of Texas at El
Paso, where she has served as an associate vice president, associate
dean, chair, director of English education, and director of the West Texas
Writing Project. Posey has published articles in Computers and
Composition, The Journal of Developmental Education, and Teaching English in the Two-Year College.

Table of Contents

PART ONE
Composing Ourselves, Writing for Others 

1 The Writing Process 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
A Writer’s Composing Process 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose  
     Journaling
     Charles’s Audience and Purpose
     Gathering Ideas  
     Charles’s Brainstorming 
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas  
     Charles’s Drafting 
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
     Developing Your Ideas 
     Building Your Essay 
     Charles’s Revising 
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Using Standard Written English 
     Correcting Errors 
     Charles’s Editing 
CHARLES LUJAN, “Thinking about Writing”
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
     Charles’s Sharing
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

2  Reading to Improve Writing
WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Purposes for Reading
Myths about Reading
Active Reading
Keeping a Reading Journal
Writing Summaries
A Student’s Reading and Writing Process
     RONALD E. RIGGIO, “Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep: The Different Types of Attractiveness”
     Ofelia’s Ideas
     Ofelia’s Discovery Draft
     Ofelia’s Revised Draft
     Ofelia’s Edited Draft
     Ofelia’s Sharing
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 3 Crafting Paragraphs 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Topic Sentences 
Unity 
Organization 
General-to-Specific Order 
Topic-Illustration-Explanation Order 
Progressive Order 
Directional Order 
Question-and-Answer Order 
Specific-to-General Order 
Special Kinds of Paragraphs 
Introductions  
Conclusions  
From a Paragraph to an Essay
A Student’s Paragraph 
      Javier’s Choices 
      Javier’s Drafting 
      Javier’s Revising 
      Javier’s Editing 
JAVIER ESPARZA, “Leaving” 
      Javier’s Sharing 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 4 The Patterns of Development 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Description 
Narration  
Examples  
Process Explanation 
Classification 
Definition 
Comparison and Contrast 
Cause and Effect 
Argument 
A Student’s Writing Process 
     Carlos’s Ideas 
     Carlos’s Drafting 
     Carlos’s Revising and Editing 
CARLOS MONTIJO, “Television and Children” 
     Carlos’s Sharing 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 


PART TWO
Writing to Share Ideas 

 5 Remembering: Significant People, Events, and Experiences 
Read to Write: Reading Essays That Remember a Significant Person, Event, or Experience
A Significant Person: An Annotated Reading 
     JOSHUA BELL, “My Maestro”
A Significant Person 
     THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN, “My Favorite Teacher”  
A Memorable Event 
     JAMES DILLARD, “A Doctor’s Dilemma” 
An Important Experience 
     BRENT STAPLES, “Black Men and Public Space” 
Writing Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose 
     Gathering Ideas  
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas 
     A Student’s Discovery Draft  
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
     Developing Your Ideas 
          Description 
          Narration 
     Building Your Essay  
     A Student’s Revised Draft 
     PEER REVIEW for an Essay That Remembers
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Combining Sentences Using Coordinating Conjunctions 
     Correcting Run-on Sentences 
A Student’s Edited Essay 
     MOUSHUMI BISWAS, “The Most Beautiful Gift” 
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 6 Explaining: Cultural Symbols, Traditions, and Heroes
Read to Write: Reading Essays That Explain a Cultural Symbol, Tradition, or Hero 
A Cultural Symbol: An Annotated Reading 
     NORA OKJA KELLER, “My Mother’s Food” 
A Cultural Symbol  
     JHUMPA LAHIRI, “Rice” 
A Cultural Tradition 
     LIZETTE ALVAREZ, “Latinas Make Sweet 16-ish Their Own”
A Cultural Hero 
     JEFFREY ZASLOW, “What We Can Learn from Sully’s Journey” 
Writing Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose 
     Gathering Ideas  
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas 
     A Student’s Discovery Draft 
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
Developing Your Ideas 
          Examples 
          Process Explanation 
     Building Your Essay  
     A Student’s Revised Draft 
     PEER REVIEW for an Essay That Explains
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Combining Sentences Using Conjunctive Adverbs 
     Correcting Sentence Fragments 
     A Student’s Edited Essay 
          AUTUMN HARRISON, “Two Voices, One Idea” 
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 7 Analyzing: Career Paths, Workplace Communication, and Job-Related Problems 
Read to Write: Reading Essays That Analyze a Work Issue 
A Career Path: An Annotated Reading 
     HEATHER ROBINSON, “I Am Not a Babysitter” 
A Career Path
     MIKE ROSE, “Should Everyone Go to College?” 
Workplace Communication 
     PERRI KLASS, “She’s Your Basic L.O.L. in N.A.D.” 
A Job-Related Problem 
     ELLEN GOODMAN, “The Company Man” 
Writing Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose 
     Gathering Ideas  
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas 
     A Student’s Discovery Draft 
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
     Developing Your Ideas 
          Classification 
          Definition 
     Building Your Essay  
     A Student’s Revised Draft 
     PEER REVIEW for an Essay That Analyzes
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Combining Sentences Using Subordinating Conjunctions
     Correcting Pronoun Reference and Agreement  
     A Student’s Edited Essay 
          ANGELICA HOPKINS, “The Translator” 
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 8 Evaluating: Products, Performances, and Places 
Read to Write: Reading Essays That Evaluate a Product, Performance, or Place 
Evaluation of a Product: An Annotated Reading 
     NICHOLAS CARR, “The PC Officially Died Today” 
Evaluation of a Product 
     AARON GULLEY, “Trail Tested: Salsa Bucksaw”
Evaluation of a Performance 
     DIANE HEIMAN AND PHYLLIS BOOKSPAN, “Sesame Street: Brought to You by the Letters M-A-L-E” 
Evaluation of a Place 
     NICHOLAS JENNINGS, “A Palace of Rock” 
Writing Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose 
     Gathering Ideas  
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas 
     A Student’s Discovery Draft  
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
     Developing Your Ideas 
          Comparison and Contrast 
     Building Your Essay 
          Express Your Judgment 
          Give Criteria 
          Provide Evidence 
          Keep a Balanced Perspective 
     A Student’s Revised Draft  
     PEER REVIEW for an Essay That Evaluates
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Combining Sentences Using Relative Clauses 
     Correcting Comma Splices 
     A Student’s Edited Essay 
          PAUL LAPRADE, “The Disappeared” 
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 9 Arguing a Position: Media, Censorship, and Stereotypes
Read to Write: Reading Essays That Argue a Position about Media, Censorship, and Stereotypes 
A Media Issue: An Annotated Reading 
     TARA PARKER-POPE, “An Ugly Toll of Technology: Impatience and Forgetfulness” 
An Media Issue 
     JESSICA WINTER, “Selfie-Loathing” 
A Censorship Issue 
      MCKENZIE MAXSON, “What You Aren’t Seeing on Social Media”
A Stereotyping Issue 
     SAMUEL L. JACKSON, “In Character” 
Writing Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose 
     Gathering Ideas  
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas 
     A Student’s Discovery Draft 
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
     Developing Your Ideas
          Cause-and-Effect Analysis 
     Building Your Essay  
     A Student’s Revised Draft 
     PEER REVIEW for an Essay That Argues a Position
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Combining Sentences Using Introductory Phrases 
     Correcting Subject-Verb Agreement Errors 
     A Student’s Edited Essay 
          SUSANNAH GOYA-PACK, “Girls Just Want to Play Games: Sexism in Video Gaming and How We Can Fix It” 
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 

 10 Proposing a Solution: Health, Education, and Environment 
Read to Write: Reading Essays That Propose a Solution to a Problem 
A Health Problem: An Annotated Reading 
     LOUISE ARONSON, “The Future of Robot Caregivers” 
A Health Problem
     SALLY SATEL, “How E-Cigarettes Could Save Lives”
An Education Problem 
     MARY SHERRY, “In Praise of the F Word” 
An Environmental Problem 
     TARA HAELLE, “Childhood Obesity Is a Product of Environment” 
Writing Your Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT 
Step 1. Explore Your Choices 
     Analyzing Your Audience and Purpose 
     Gathering Ideas  
Step 2. Write Your Discovery Draft 
     Choosing a Topic 
     Sharing Your Ideas 
     A Student’s Discovery Draft 
Step 3. Revise Your Draft 
     Developing Your Ideas with Argumentative Techniques 
          State the Problem 
          Provide Evidence 
          Propose a Solution 
     Building Your Essay  
     A Student’s Revised Draft 
     PEER REVIEW for an Essay That Proposes a Solution
Step 4. Edit Your Sentences 
     Combining Sentences Using Appositives 
     Correcting Shifts in Person 
     A Student’s Edited Essay 
          ANDREA BENITEZ, “Why Go Vegan?” 
Step 5. Share Your Essay 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 


PART THREE
Writing for Different Situations 

 11 Conducting Research 
WRITING ASSIGNMENT: PART ONE 
Preparing to Conduct Research 
     Narrow Your Topic 
     Write Research Questions 
Primary Research 
     Making Observations 
     Surveying Others 
     Conducting Interviews 
Secondary Research 
Locating Sources of Information 
     Use a Search Engine 
     Visit Your Campus Library 
     Consult a Reference Librarian 
     Consult Your Library’s Online Catalog
     Consult an Encyclopedia 
     Find a Print Source 
     Find an Electronic Source 
     Use Other Sources of Information 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR RESEARCH

12 Evaluating and Using Sources
WRITING ASSIGNMENT: PART TWO
Evaluating Sources of Information 
Avoiding Plagiarism 
Taking Notes 
     MIMI KO CRUZ, “Desperate Measures” 
Quoting Information 
Paraphrasing Information 
Summarizing Information 
Documenting Sources 
     In-Text Documentation 
     Works Cited Page 
Sample Researched Essay 
     AILEEN LY, “An Illness of the Mind” 
CHAPTER CHECKLIST 
REFLECTING ON YOUR WRITING 


PART FOUR
Handbook with Exercises 

13 Writing Sentences 
A. Subjects 
     Compound Subjects 
     Subject Pretenders  
B. Verbs 
     Action and Linking Verbs 
     Verb Pretenders  
     Verb Tense  
C. Subject-Verb Agreement 
     Singular and Plural Forms 
     Indefinite Pronouns 
 
14 Expanding Sentences 
A. Phrases 
B. Clauses 
     Independent or Main Clauses 
     Dependent or Subordinate Clauses 
     Relative Clauses 
C. Pronouns 
     Pronoun Reference 
     Pronoun Agreement 
D. Adjectives 
E. Adverbs 

15 Combining Sentences 
A. Coordination 
     Coordinating Conjunctions and Commas 
     Conjunctive Adverbs and Semicolons 
B. Subordination 
     Subordinating Conjunctions 
     Relative Pronouns 
C. Sentence-Combining Exercises 
     Specific Methods of Combining Sentences 
     Various Methods of Combining Sentences

16 Improving Sentences 
A. Sentence Fragments 
B. Run-on Sentences 
C. Comma Splices 
D. Misplaced Modifiers 
E. Dangling Modifiers 
F. Active and Passive Voice 
G. Parallelism 

17 Improving Vocabulary and Word Choice 
A. Vocabulary 
     Find Meaning from Context 
     Learn Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes 
B. Unnecessary Repetition 
C. Wordiness 

18 Improving Spelling 
A. Spelling Rules 
B. Commonly Misspelled Words 
C. Commonly Confused Words 

19 Improving Punctuation 
A. Commas 
B. Semicolons 
C. Colons 
D. End Punctuation 
E. Apostrophes 
F. Quotation Marks 

20 Improving Mechanics 
A. Capital Letters 
B. Italics 
C. Abbreviations 
D. Numbers 

21 Guide for Multilingual Writers 
A. Omitted or Repeated Subjects 
     Omitted Subjects 
     Repeated Subjects 
B. Word Order 
     Adjective Placement 
     Adverb Placement 
C. Verbs 
     Verb Tense  
     Helping Verbs  
     Verbs Followed by Gerunds or Infinitives 
     Two-Part Verbs 
     Participles Used as Adjectives 
D. Active and Passive Voice 
E. Articles 
F. Count and Noncount Nouns 
G. Prepositions