Essentials of the Essay Writing, Reading, and Grammar

by Dean, Kitty Chen

• ISBN13: 9780205286911
• ISBN10: 0205286917
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-07-24
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Solid writing and expressive skills are essential to success in every facet of life; whether it's a college admissions essay, a business proposal, or a personal letter, a well-written piece of writing makes a strong statement about an individual. Moreover, good writing is a basic skill that all individuals must learn to master if they are to communicate and interact in their world. Yet, it is considered a task, a chore, and very often, a major stumbling block on the path toward success for many people. This book is committed to transforming this struggle into success by teaching the writing of short essays through analytical reading, controlled writing, and model essays. This book integrates reading, writing, and grammar skills throughout, reinforcing the fact that essay writing requires competence in all three areas.Each chapter features short essays by professional writers, instructional essays by the author, and paragraphs and essays of various levels of writing -- all of which serve as model essays for readers. Short essays by professional writers deal with thought-provoking topics that serve as an impetus to writing. By the end of the book, readers will have interacted with over 100 essays from a variety of sources and styles.Writing instructors, writing students, and people of all ages and abilities who want to improve their writing.

Table of Contents

Denotes selections new to this edition

All chapters include Writing and Reading and Grammar

Preface to the Instructor

Preface to the Student

Acknowledgments

Warming Up

Before Reading Saved

Saved, Malcolm X

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Before Starting to Write

Getting Started

Organizing an Essay

Learning about Words Often Confused

The Body of the Essay

Before Reading Personalize Your Personal Ad

Personalize Your Personal Ad, Advice Column

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Topic Sentences

Writing Body Paragraphs

Nouns

Pronouns

The Beginning and the Ending

Before Reading The Coast with the Most

The Coast with the Most

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Writing Introductions

Writing Conclusions

Verb Tenses I. Verb Tenses II

Describing

Before Reading The Story of an Hour

The Story of an Hour

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Writing Descriptions

Using Transitional Phrases

Adjectives and Adverbs

Conjunctions and Prepositions

Voice and Point of View

Before Reading Steinbeck, a Shunned Word, and a Scarlet Letter

Steinbeck, a Shunned Word, and a Scarlet Letter

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Using a Consistent Voice

Having a Point of View

Sentences (Clauses)

Types of Sentences

Variety

Before Reading Jill Freedman, Photographer

Jill Freedman, Photographer, Studs Terkel

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Sentence Variety I: Altering Subject-Verb-Object

Sentence Variety II: Length, Type, It Is/There Is

Fragments

Run-Together Sentences

Parallelism

Getting Down to Details

Before Reading The Mixed Metamessages of Help

The Mixed Metamessages of Help, Deborah Tannen

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Using Specific Words

Writing Specific Paragraphs

Sentence Problems I: Subject-Verb Agreement

Sentence Problems II: Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Sentence Problems III: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Sentence Problems IV: Is When, Is Where, Is Because

Teaching and Explaining

Before Reading Improving Reading Efficiency

Improving Reading Efficiency, Helen Heightsman Gordon

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Writing to Teach Clearly

Giving Logical Explanations

Using Commas I: Independent and Dependent Clauses

Using Commas II: Phrases and Words

Using Commas III: Series, Titles, Addresses, Dates, Misunderstandings

Argumentation

Before Reading The Case against Bilingualism

The Case against Bilingualism

Suggestions for Essay Topics

Using Argumentation

Avoiding False Arguments

Using Apostrophes

Using Semicolons and Colons

Using Hyphens

Writing to Entertain

Before Reading Untied Shoelaces

Untied Shoelaces

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