The Concise Bedford Guide for Writers

by Kennedy, X. J.; Kennedy, Dorothy M.; Muth, Marcia F.

• ISBN13: 9781457648762
• ISBN10: 1457648768
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2014-01-10
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Introduce yourself to the most commonly-assigned writing strategies and situations along with the essentials of college-level research and documentation through the hands-on learning and process-oriented approach found in the Concise Bedford Guide for Writers.

Author Biography

X. J. Kennedy is an acclaimed poet, children’s author, college teacher, and textbook author. He has taught freshman composition at the University of Michigan; the University of North Carolina, Greensboro; and Tufts University. Since 1966, more than 2 million students have treasured his introductory literature texts and The Bedford Reader, coedited with Dorothy M. Kennedy and Jane E. Aaron, now in its ninth edition.

 

Dorothy M. Kennedy is a writer and editor whose articles and reviews have ppeared in both professional and academic journals. She has taught composition at the University of Michigan and Ohio University and, with X. J. Kennedy, is the recipient of the NCTE Teacher's Choice Award for Knock at a Star: A Child's Introduction to Poetry.

Marcia F. Muth teaches, writes, and edits.  She has taught first-year writing at The Ohio State University and other introductory courses at St. Peter's College (Englewood Cliffs).  Her many writing workshops have been sponsored by　Fordham University, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and currently　the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver.  She is the author or coauthor of many composition textbooks and ancillaries, including The Bedford Guide for College Writers, The Concise Bedford Guide for Writers, Writing and Revising: A Portable Guide, Researching and Writing: A Portable Guide, and The St. Martin's Pocket Guide to Research and Documentation (all from Bedford/St. Martin's).  Her projects as a writer and an editor have included Harold D. Lasswell: An Annotated Bibliography as well as many grant proposals, textbooks, ancillaries, reports, and other publications.  She continues to learn how to write clearly and effectively from her students, editors, reviewers, and writing colleagues.

Table of Contents

A Writer’s Guide

PART ONE: A College Writer’s Processes

Introduction: Meeting College Expectations

 

1. Writing Processes

Writing, Reading, and Critical Thinking

A Process of Writing

Getting Started

Generating Ideas

e-Pages Learning by Doing: Analyzing Audience

Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Ideas

Planning, Drafting, and Developing

Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Drafts

Revising and Editing

Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Finishing

Purpose and Audience

Writing for a Reason

Learning by Doing: Considering Purpose

Writing for Your Audience

Learning by Doing: Considering Audience

Targeting a College Audience

Learning by Doing: Considering a College Audience

Additional Writing Activities

 

2. Reading Processes

A Process of Critical Reading

Learning by Doing: Describing Your Reading Strategies

Getting Started

Preparing to Read

Learning by Doing: Preparing to Read

Responding to Reading

Learning by Doing: Annotating a Passage

Learning by Doing: Responding in a Reading Journal

Learning from Another Writer: Reading Summary and Response

• Student Summary and Response: Olof Eriksson, The Problems with Masculinity
  Reading on Literal and Analytical Levels
  Learning by Doing: Reading Analytically
  e-Pages Learning By Doing: Reading Online
  Generating Ideas from Reading
  Learning from Another Writer: Critical Reading and Response

  • Student Critical Reading Response: Alley Julseth, Analyzing "The New Literacy"

    Learning by Doing: Reading Critically

    • Michael Shermer, The Science of Righteousness
      Reading Online and Multimodal Texts
      Learning by Doing: Reading a Web Site
      Additional Writing Activities
       
      3. Critical Thinking Processes
      A Process of Critical Thinking
      Getting Started
      Learning by Doing: Thinking Critically to Solve a Campus Problem
      Learning by Doing: Thinking Critically to Explore an Issue
      Applying Critical Thinking to Academic Problems
      Learning by Doing: Thinking Critically to Respond to an Academic Problem
      Supporting Critical Thinking with Evidence
      Types of Evidence
      Learning by Doing: Looking for Evidence
      Testing Evidence
      Using Evidence to Appeal to Your Audience
      Logical Appeal (Logos)
      Emotional Appeal (Pathos)
      Ethical Appeal (Ethos)
      Learning by Doing: Identifying Types of Appeals
      Learning from Another Writer: Rhetorical Analysis

      • Student Rhetorical Analysis: Richard Anson, Young Americans and Media News
        Presenting Your Critical Thinking
        Learning by Doing: Testing Logical Patterns
        e-Pages Learning by Doing: Analyzing Logic
        Avoiding Faulty Thinking
        Learning by Doing: Analyzing Reasoning

        • David Rothkopf, A Proposal to Draft America's Elderly
          Additional Writing Activities
          　
          PART TWO: A Writer’s Situations
          Introduction: Writing in College
          4. Recalling an Experience
          Learning from Other Writers

        • Russell Baker, The Art of Eating Spaghetti
        • Student Essay: Robert G. Schreiner, What Is a Hunter?

        • e-Pages Howie Chackowicz, The Game Ain't Over 'til The Fatso Man Sings [Radio Story]
          Learning by Writing
          The Assignment: Recalling a Personal Experience
          e-Pages Learning by Doing: Recalling from Photographs
          Generating Ideas
          Learning by Doing: Creating Your Writing Space
          Planning, Drafting, and Developing
          Learning by Doing: Selecting and Arranging Events
          Revising and Editing
          Learning by Doing: Appealing to the Senses
          Additional Writing Assignments
           
          5. Observing a Scene
          Learning from Other Writers

        • Eric Liu, The Chinatown Idea
        • Student Essay: Alea Eyre, Stockholm

        • e-Pages Multiple Photographers, Observing the Titanic: Past and Present [Visual Essay]
          Learning by Writing
          The Assignment: Observing a Scene
          e-Pages Learning by Doing: Scenes from the News
          Generating Ideas
          Learning by Doing: Enriching Sensory Detail
          Planning, Drafting, and Developing
          Learning by Doing: Experimenting with Organization
          Revising and Editing
          Learning by Doing: Strengthening Your Main Impression
          Additional Writing Assignments
           
          6. Comparing and Contrasting
          Learning from Other Writers

        • David Brooks, The Opportunity Gap
        • Student Essay: Jacob Griffin, Karate Kid vs. Kung Fu Panda: A Race to the Olympics

        • e-Pages National Geographic Editors, Hurricane Katrina Pictures: Then & Now, Ruin and Rebirth [Visual Essay]
          Learning by Writing
          The Assignment: Comparing and Contrasting
          e-Pages Learning by Doing: Comparing and Contrasting Experience of a Major Event
          Generating Ideas
          Learning by Doing: Making a Comparison-and-Contrast Table
          Planning, Drafting, and Developing
          Learning by Doing: Pinpointing Your Purpose
          Learning by Doing: Building Cohesion with Transitions
          Revising and Editing
          Additional Writing Assignments
           
          7. Taking a Stand
          Learning from Other Writers
          • Suzan Shown Harjo, Last Rites for Indian Dead
          • Student Essay: Marjorie Lee Garretson, More Pros Than Cons in a Meat-Free Life
          • e-Pages UNICEF Editors, Dirty Water Campaign [Video]
            Learning by Writing
            The Assignment: Taking a Stand
            e-Pages Learning by Doing: Writing Your Representative
            Generating Ideas
            Learning by Doing: Asking Your Question
            Learning by Doing: Supporting a Claim
            Planning, Drafting, and Developing
            Learning by Doing: Refining Your Plans
            Learning by Doing: Making Columns of Appeals
            Revising and Editing
            Take Action Strengthening Support for a Stand
            Recognizing Logical Fallacies
            Additional Writing Assignments
             
            8. Evaluating and Reviewing
            Learning from Other Writers

          • Scott Tobias, The Hunger Games
          • Student Essay: Elizabeth Erion, Internship Program Falls Short

          • e-Pages Consumer Reports Editors, Best Buttermilk Pancakes [Video]
            Learning by Writing
            The Assignment: Writing an Evaluation
            e-Pages Learning by Doing: Evaluating Film
            Generating Ideas
            Learning by Doing: Developing Criteria
            Planning, Drafting, and Developing
            Learning by Doing: Stating Your Overall Judgment
            Learning by Doing: Supporting Your Judgments
            Revising and Editing
            Additional Writing Assignments
             
            9. Supporting a Position with Sources
            Learning from Other Writers
            • Jake Halpern, The Popular Crowd
            • Abigail Marchand: Student Essay, The Family Dynamic
            • e-Pages Research Cluster: Celebrity Culture [Text, Audio, and Video]
              • Cary Tennis, Why am I Obsessed with Celebrity Gossip? [Advice Column]
              • Karen Sternheimer, Celebrity Relationships: Why Do We Care? [Video]
              • Tom Ashbrook and Ty Burr, The Strange Power of Celebrity [Audio Interview]
              • Timothy J. Bertoni and Patrick D. Nolan, Dead Men Do Tell Tales [Academic Paper]
              Learning by Writing
              The Assignment: Supporting a Position with Sources
              e-Pages Learning by Doing: Finding Credible Sources
              Generating Ideas
              Learning by Doing: Selecting Reliable Sources
              Planning, Drafting, and Developing
              Learning by Doing: Connecting Evidence and Thesis
              The Academic Exchange
              Revising and Editing
              Learning by Doing: Launching Your Sources
              Learning by Doing: Checking Your Presentation of Sources
              Take Action Integrating Source Information Effectively
              Additional Writing Assignments
               
              10. Responding to Visual Representations
              Using Strategies for Visual Analysis
              e-Pages Learning by Doing: Analyzing the Web Site for Your College Campus
              Level One: Seeing the Big Picture
              Source, Purpose, and Audience
              Prominent Element
              Focal Point
              Learning by Doing: Seeing the Big Picture
              Level Two: Observing the Characteristics of an Image
              Cast of Characters
              Story of the Image
              Design and Arrangement
              Artistic Choices
              Learning by Doing: Observing Characteristics
              Level Three: Interpreting the Meaning of an Image
              General Feeling or Mood
              Sociological, Political, Economic, or Cultural Attitudes
              Language
              Signs and Symbols
              Themes
              Learning by Doing: Interpreting Meaning
              Learning from Another Writer: Visual Analysis

              • Student Analysis of an Advertisement: Rachel Steinhaus, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit"
                Learning by Writing
                The Assignment: Analyzing a Visual Representation
                Generating Ideas
                Planning, Drafting, and Developing
                Revising and Editing
                Learning from Another Writer: Visual Essay

                • e-Pages Student Visual Essay: Shannon Kintner, Charlie Living with Autism
                  Additional Writing Assignments
                   
                  11. Writing Online
                  Getting Started
                  Learning by Doing: Identifying Online Writing Expectations
                  e-Pages Learning by Doing: Tracking Your Time Online
                  Class Courtesy
                  Online Ethics
                  Learning by Doing: Making Personal Rules
                  Common Online Writing Situations
                  Messages to Your Instructor
                  Learning by Doing: Finding a College Voice
                  Learning from Other Writers: Messages to Your Instructor

                  • e-Pages Portland State University Writing Center, Sample E-mail to an Instructor [Video Tutorial]

                    Learning by Doing: Contacting Your Instructor

                    Online Profile

                    Learning by Doing: Posting a Personal Profile

                    Learning by Doing: Introducing a Classmate

                    Online Threaded Discussions or Responses

                    Learning from Other Writers: Threaded Discussion

                    • Student Online Threaded Discussion: Instructor Kathleen Beauchene and Students Cristina Berrios, Joshua Tefft, Leah Threats, Arthur Wasilewski, and Joel Torres, Discussion of Writing Processes

                      Learning by Doing: Joining a Threaded Discussion

                      File Management
                      Learning by Doing: Preparing a Template

                      Learning by Doing: Organizing Your Files

                      Additional Writing Assignments
                      　
                      PART THREE: A Writer’s Strategies
                      Introduction: Expanding Your Resources
                      12. Strategies for Generating Ideas
                      Finding Ideas

                      Building from Your Assignment

                      Learning by Doing: Building from Your Assignment

                      Brainstorming

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Brainstorming from a Video

                      Learning by Doing: Brainstorming
                      Freewriting
                      Learning by Doing: Freewriting
                      Doodling or Sketching
                      Learning by Doing: Doodling or Sketching
                      Mapping
                      Learning by Doing: Mapping
                      Imagining
                      Learning by Doing: Imagining

                      Asking a Reporter’s Questions

                      Learning by Doing: Asking a Reporter’s Questions

                      Seeking Motives

                      Learning by Doing: Seeking Motives

                      Keeping a Journal

                      Learning by Doing: Keeping a Journal

                      Getting Ready

                      Setting Up Circumstances

                      Preparing Your Mind

                      Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Generating Ideas

                      　
                      13. Strategies for Stating a Thesis and Planning
                      Shaping Your Topic for Your Purpose and Your Audience

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Analyzing a Thesis

                      Learning by Doing: Considering Purpose and Audience

                      Stating and Using a Thesis

                      Learning by Doing: Identifying Theses

                      How to Discover a Working Thesis

                      Learning by Doing: Discovering a Thesis

                      How to State a Thesis

                      Learning by Doing: Examining Thesis Statements

                      How to Improve a Thesis

                      Take Action Building a Stronger Thesis

                      How to Use a Thesis to Organize

                      Learning by Doing: Using a Thesis to Preview

                      Organizing Your Ideas

                      Grouping Your Ideas

                      Learning by Doing: Clustering

                      Outlining

                      Learning by Doing: Moving from Outline to Thesis

                      Learning by Doing: Responding to an Outline

                      Learning by Doing: Outlining

                      Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Planning

                       
                      14. Strategies for Drafting
                      Making a Start Enjoyable
                      Restarting
                      Paragraphing

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Identifying Topic Sentences

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Identifying Transitions

                      Using Topic Sentences

                      Learning by Doing: Shaping Topic Sentences

                      Writing an Opening
                      Writing a Conclusion

                      Learning by Doing: Opening and Concluding

                      Adding Cues and Connections

                      Learning by Doing: Identifying Transitions

                      Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Drafting

                       
                      15. Strategies for Revising and Editing
                      Re-viewing and Revising

                      Revising for Purpose and Thesis

                      Revising for Audience

                      Revising for Structure and Support

                      Learning by Doing: Tackling Macro Revision

                      Working with a Peer Editor

                      Meeting with Your Instructor

                      Decoding Your Instructor’s Comments

                      Revising for Emphasis, Conciseness, and Clarity

                      Stressing What Counts

                      Cutting and Whittling

                      Keeping It Clear

                      Learning by Doing: Tackling Micro Revision

                      Editing and Proofreading

                      Editing

                      Proofreading

                      Learning by Doing: Editing and Proofreading

                      Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Revising and Editing

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Editing Sentences

                      　
                      PART FOUR: A Writer's Research Manual
                      Introduction: Investigating Questions
                       
                      16. Planning Your Research Project
                      Beginning Your Inquiry

                      The Assignment: Writing from Sources

                      Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Research

                      Asking a Research Question

                      Exploring Your Territory

                      Turning a Topic into a Question

                      Learning by Doing: Polling Your Peers

                      Surveying Your Resources

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Narrowing Online Research

                      Using Keywords and Links

                      Learning by Doing: Proposing Your Project

                      Managing Your Project

                      Recording Information

                      Starting a Research Archive

                      Learning by Doing: Interviewing a Researcher

                       
                      17. Working with Sources
                      Drawing the Details from Your Sources
                      Starting a Working Bibliography
                      Learning by Doing: Teaming Up for Source "Warm-Ups"
                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Practicing with Online Sources
                      Capturing Information in Your Notes

                      Source Navigator: Article in a Print Magazine

                      Source Navigator: Article in a Scholarly Journal from a Database

                      Source Navigator: Book

                      Source Navigator: Page from a Web Site

                      Quoting

                      Sample Quotations, Paraphrase, and Summary (MLA Style)

                      Paraphrasing

                      Summarizing

                      Mixing Methods

                      Learning by Doing: Capturing Information from Sources

                      Developing an Annotated Bibliography

                      Learning by Doing: Writing an Annotation

                       
                      18. Finding Sources
                      Searching the Internet

                      Finding Recommended Internet Resources

                      Selecting Search Engines

                      Learning by Doing: Comparing Web Searches

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Comparing Google and Database Searches

                      Conducting Advanced Electronic Searches

                      Finding Specialized Online Materials

                      Searching the Library

                      Learning by Doing: Reflecting on Your Library Orientation Session

                      Learning by Doing: Brainstorming for Search Terms

                      Searching Library Databases

                      Learning by Doing: Comparing Databases

                      Learning by Doing: Comparing Google and Database Searches

                      Using Specialized Library Resources
                       
                      19. Evaluating Sources
                      Evaluating Library and Internet Sources

                      Learning by Doing: Evaluating Your Sources

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Evaluating Online Sources

                      Who Is the Author?

                      Who Else Is Involved?

                      What Is the Purpose?

                      When Was the Source Published?

                      Where Did You Find the Source?

                      Why Would You Use This Source?

                      How Would This Source Contribute to Your Paper?

                      Learning by Doing: Adding Useful Sources

                      Reconsidering Purpose and Thesis
                       
                      20: Integrating Sources
                      Using Sources Ethically
                      Capturing, Launching, and Citing Evidence

                      Quoting and Paraphrasing Accurately

                      e-Pages Learning by Doing: Quoting and Paraphrasing Accurately

                      Summarizing Concisely

                      Avoiding Plagiarism

                      Launching Source Material

                      Take Action Integrating and Synthesizing Sources

                      Learning by Doing: Connecting Your Sources

                      Citing Each Source Clearly

                      Synthesizing Ideas and Sources

                      Learning by Doing: Launching and Citing Your Sources

                      Learning by Doing: Synthesizing Your Sources

                      　
                      Appendices
                      　
                      Quick Format Guide
                      A. Following the Format for an Academic Paper
                      B. Integrating and Crediting Visuals
                      C. Preparing a Document Template
                      D. Solving Common Format Problems
                      E. Designing Other Documents for Your Audience Discovery Checklist
                      F. Organizing a Résumé and an Application Letter
                      　
                      Quick Research Guide
                      A. Defining Your Quest
                      B. Searching for Recommended Sources
                      C. Evaluating Possible Sources
                      D. Capturing, Launching, and Citing Evidence Added from Sources
                      E. Citing and Listing Sources in MLA or APA Style
                      　
                      Quick Editing Guide
                      A. Editing for Common Grammar Problems
                      B. Editing to Ensure Effective Sentences

                      Take Action Improving Sentence Style

                      Take Action Improving Sentence Clarity
                      C. Editing for Common Punctuation Problems
                      D. Editing for Common Mechanics Problems
                      Sample MLA Research Paper

                      Candace Rardon, Meet Me in the Middle: The Student, the State, and the School

                      Sample APA Research Paper
                      Jenny Lidington, Sex Offender Lists: A Never Ending Punishment
                       
                      A Writer’s E-Pages Reader
                      Introduction: Reading to Write
                      Families
                      Amy Tan, Mother Tongue [Text]
                      Richard Rodriguez, Public and Private Language [Text]
                      StrategyOne Editors, Once a Mother, Always a Mother [Infographic]
                      GOOD/Column Five Editors, Paternity Leave Around the World [Infographic]
                      Men and Women
                      Robert Jensen, The High Cost of Manliness [Text]
                      Julie Zeilinger, Guys Suffer from Gender Roles Too [Text]
                      Deborah Tannen, Who Does the Talking Here? [Text]
                      Jed Conklin, Boxing Beauties [Visual Essay]
                      Popular Culture
                      Stephen King, Why We Crave Horror Movies [Text]
                      Gerard Jones, Violent Media Is Good For Kids [Text]
                      Chuck Klosterman, My Zombie, Myself [Text]
                      Brad Shoup, ‘Harlem Shake’ vs. History: Is the YouTube Novelty Hits Era That Novel? [Multimodal Essay]
                      Digital Living
                      Elizabeth Stone, Grief in the Age of Facebook [Text]
                      Libby Copeland, Is Facebook Making Us Sad? [Text]
                      Sherry Turkle, How Computers Change the Way We Think [Text]
                      Off Book Editors, Generative Art: Computers, Data, and Humanity [Video]
                      Explorations on Living Well
                      Juliet Schor, The Creation of Discontent [Text]
                      Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr., In Defense of Consumerism [Text]
                      Sarah Adams, Be Cool to the Pizza Dude [Audio and Text]
                      Brent Foster, Highway Angel [Video]