The Concise Guide to Writing

by Axelrod, Rise B.; Cooper, Charles Raymond

• ISBN13: 9780312116040
• ISBN10: 0312116047
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-10-01
• Publisher: BEDFORD

Table of Contents

To the Instructor	xiii
1 Introduction	1	(16)
WHY WRITING IS IMPORTANT	1	(2)
Writing Influences the Way People Think
Writing Contributes to the Way We Learn
Writing Promotes Success in College and on the Job
Writing Fosters Personal Development
Writing Connects Us to the World
HOW WRITING IS LEARNED	3	(7)
How Written Texts Work
How the Writing Process Works
How to Think Critically about Your Learning
USING THIS BOOK	10	(7)
Invention and Research
Planning and Drafting
Getting Critical Comments
Revising
Editing
Reflecting on Your Own Writing
PART ONE Writing Assignments	17	(172)
2 Remembering an Event	17	(37)
Writing in Your Other Courses
For Group Inquiry
Readings	19	(16)
THE ELECTION	19	(5)
Audre Lorde
ON BEING A REAL WESTERNER	24	(5)
Tobias Wolff
CALLING HOME	29	(5)
Jean Brandt
PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE	34	(1)
BASIC FEATURES OF ESSAYS ABOUT REMEMBERED EVENTS	34	(1)
A Well-Told Story
A Vivid Presentation of Scenes and People
An Indication of the Significance
Guide to Writing	35	(12)
THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT	35	(1)
INVENTION	35	(5)
Choosing an Event to Write About
Sketching the Story
Describing the Scene
Recalling Key People
Testing Your Choice
For Group Inquiry
Exploring the Significance
PLANNING AND DRAFTING	40	(2)
Seeing What You Have
Setting Goals
Outlining
Drafting
GETTING CRITICAL COMMENTS Reading with a Critical Eye	42	(2)
REVISING AND EDITING	44	(3)
Identifying Problems
Solving the Problems
Editing and Proofreading
A Writer at Work FROM INVENTION TO DRAFT TO REVISION	47	(6)
Invention
The First Draft
Reflecting on Your Writing	53	(1)
3 Explaining a Concept	54	(37)
Writing in Your Other Courses
For Group Inquiry
Readings	56	(20)
IS SEX NECESSARY?	56	(5)
David Quammen
CONTINGENT WORKERS	61	(7)
Janice Castro
SCHIZOPHRENIA: WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, HOW IT FEELS	68	(5)
Veronica Murayama
PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE	73	(1)
BASIC FEATURES OF EXPLANATORY ESSAYS	73	(2)
A Well-Focused Concept
An Appeal to Readers' Interests
A Logical Plan
Clear Definitions
Careful Use of Sources
USING WRITING STRATEGIES	75	(1)
Guide to Writing	76	(10)
THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT	76	(1)
INVENTION AND RESEARCH	76	(4)
Finding a Concept
Researching the Concept
Focusing the Concept
Testing Your Choice
For Group Inquiry
Considering Explanatory Strategies
PLANNING AND DRAFTING	80	(2)
Seeing What You Have
Setting Goals
Outlining
Drafting
GETTING CRITICAL COMMENTS Reading with a Critical Eye	82	(2)
REVISING AND EDITING	84	(2)
Identifying Problems
Solving the Problems
Editing and Proofreading
A Writer at Work USING SOURCES	86	(3)
Finding Sources
Integrating Sources
Reflecting on Your Writing	89	(2)
4 Justifying an Evaluation	91	(29)
Writing in Your Other Courses
For Group Inquiry
Readings	93	(13)
SEARING, NERVY, AND VERY HONEST	93	(3)
David Ansen
THE WRETCHED OF THE HEARTH	96	(4)
Barbara Ehrenreich
AN EVALUATION OF TOBIAS WOLFF'S "ON BEING A REAL WESTERNER"	100	(5)
Kevin Stewart
PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE	105	(1)
BASIC FEATURES OF EVALUATION ESSAYS	105	(1)
A Clearly Defined Subject
A Clear, Balanced Judgment
A Convincing Evaluative Argument
Pointed Comparisons
Guide to Writing	106	(10)
THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT	106	(1)
INVENTION AND RESEARCH	106	(4)
Choosing a Subject
Exploring Your Subject
Analyzing Your Readers
Developing an Argumentative Strategy
Testing Your Choice
For Group Inquiry
PLANNING AND DRAFTING	110	(2)
Seeing What You Have
Setting Goals
Outlining
Drafting
GETTING CRITICAL COMMENTS Reading with a Critical Eye	112	(2)
REVISING AND EDITING	114	(2)
Identifying Problems
Solving the Problems
Editing and Proofreading
A Writer at Work LISTING REASONS AND FINDING EVIDENCE	116	(2)
Reflecting on Your Writing	118	(2)
5 Arguing a Position	120	(33)
Writing in Your Other Courses
For Group Inquiry
Readings	122	(15)
LAST RITES FOR INDIAN DEAD	122	(3)
Suzan Shown Harjo
RUSH AND LARRY, COAST TO COAST: THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY IN ACTION	125	(5)
Donella H. Meadows
CHILDREN NEED TO PLAY, NOT COMPETE	130	(5)
Jessica Statsky
PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE	135	(1)
BASIC FEATURES OF POSITION PAPERS	136	(1)
A Well-Defined Issue
A Clear Position
A Convincing Argument
An Appropriate Tone
Guide to Writing	137	(12)
THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT	137	(1)
INVENTION AND RESEARCH	137	(5)
Choosing an Issue
Exploring the Issue
Considering Your Purpose and Audience
Stating Your Thesis
Testing Your Choice
Developing Your Reasoning
For Group Inquiry
Anticipating Readers' Concerns
Restating Your Thesis
PLANNING AND DRAFTING	142	(2)
Seeing What You Have
Setting Goals
Outlining
Drafting
GETTING CRITICAL COMMENTS Reading with a Critical Eye	144	(2)
REVISING AND EDITING	146	(3)
Identifying Problems
Solving the Problems
Editing and Proofreading
A Writer at Work ANTICIPATING READERS' CONCERNS	149	(2)
Listing Opposing Arguments
Accommodating Readers' Concerns
Refuting Readers' Objections
Reflecting on Your Writing	151	(2)
6 Proposing a Solution	153	(36)
Writing in Your Other Courses
For Group Inquiry
Readings	154	(18)
CHEATING: INSTITUTIONS NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR PROMOTING ACADEMIC INTEGRITY	154	(6)
William L. Kibler
BIRTH CONTROL IN THE SCHOOLS	160	(5)
Adam Paul Weisman
MORE TESTING, MORE LEARNING	165	(5)
Patrick O'Malley
PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE	170	(1)
BASIC FEATURES OF PROPOSAL PAPERS	171	(1)
A Well-Defined Problem
A Proposed Solution
A Convincing Argument
A Reasonable Tone
Guide to Writing	172	(13)
THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT	172	(1)
INVENTION AND RESEARCH	172	(6)
Choosing a Problem
Analyzing and Defining the Problem
Identifying Your Readers
Finding a Tentative Solution
Defending Your Solution
Testing Your Choice
For Group Inquiry
Offering Reasons for Your Proposal
Considering Alternative Solutions
Doing Research
PLANNING AND DRAFTING	178	(3)
Seeing What You Have
Setting Goals
Outlining
Drafting
GETTING CRITICAL COMMENTS Reading with a Critical Eye	181	(2)
REVISING AND EDITING	183	(2)
Identifying Problems
Solving the Problems
Editing and Proofreading
A Writer at Work STRENGTHENING THE ARGUMENT	185	(2)
Reflecting on Your Writing	187	(2)
PART TWO Strategies for Writing and Research	189	(86)
7 Strategies for Cueing Readers	189	(16)
ORIENTING STATEMENTS	189	(2)
Thesis Statements
Forecasting Statements
PARAGRAPHING	191	(8)
Paragraph Cues
Paragraph Conventions
Topic-Sentence Strategies
COHESIVE DEVICES	199	(3)
Pronoun Reference
Word Repetition
Synonyms
Sentence-Structure Repetition
Collocation
TRANSITIONS	202	(3)
Logical Relationships
Temporal Relationships
Spatial Relationships
8 Strategies for All-Purpose Invention	205	(8)
CLUSTERING	205	(1)
LISTING	205	(2)
CUBING	207	(1)
DIALOGUING	208	(1)
DRAMATIZING	208	(2)
LOOPING	210	(1)
QUESTIONING	210	(3)
9 Strategies for Reading Critically	213	(15)
ANNOTATING	213	(6)
CONTEXTUALIZING	219	(1)
REFLECTING ON CHALLENGES TO YOUR BELIEFS AND VALUES	219	(1)
OUTLINING AND SUMMARIZING	220	(2)
EVALUATING THE LOGIC OF AN ARGUMENT	222	(3)
Testing for Appropriateness
Testing for Believability
Testing for Consistency
RECOGNIZING EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION	225	(1)
JUDGING THE WRITER'S CREDIBILITY	226	(2)
Testing for Knowledge
Testing for Common Ground
Testing for Fairness
10 Strategies for Doing Research in the Library and on the Internet	228	(27)
ORIENTING YOURSELF TO THE LIBRARY	228	(2)
Taking a Tour
Consulting a Librarian
Knowing Your Research Task
A RECOMMENDED SEARCH STRATEGY	230	(1)
KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR RESEARCH	230	(1)
Keeping a Working Bibliography
Taking Notes
GETTING STARTED	231	(4)
Consulting Encyclopedias
Consulting Disciplinary Guides
Checking Subject Headings
Consulting Bibliographies
Determining the Most Promising Sources
LOCATING SOURCES	235	(8)
Finding Books
Finding Periodical Articles
Finding Newspaper Articles
Finding Government and Statistical Information
Finding Other Sources
USING THE INTERNET FOR RESEARCH	243	(9)
Searching the World Wide Web
Using Other Tools to Access the Internet
Using Special Interest Groups on the Internet
Establishing E-Mail Contact with Experts
READING SOURCES WITH A CRITICAL EYE	252	(3)
Selecting Relevant Sources
Identifying Bias
11 Strategies for Using and Acknowledging Sources	255	(20)
USING SOURCES	255	(8)
Deciding Whether to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize
Quoting
Integrating Quotations
Punctuating Introductory Statements
Punctuating within Quotations
Avoiding Grammatical Tangles
Paraphrasing and Summarizing
Introducing Cited Material
Avoiding Plagiarism
ACKNOWLEDGING SOURCES: MLA AND APA DOCUMENTATION STYLES	263	(12)
Parenthetical Citation in Text
List of Works Cited or References
Index	275