Focus on Writing : Paragraphs and Essays

by Kirszner, Laurie G.; Mandell, Stephen R.

• ISBN13: 9780312603410
• ISBN10: 031260341X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-09-15
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Focus on Writing: Paragraphs and Essaysis a clear, inviting text that engages students visually, demonstrates concepts with color and highlighting, and offers students the support and coverage they need to write well in college.Focus on Writingoffers the unique self-assessment tool T.E.S.T. (Topic sentence,Evidence,Summary statement, andTransitions), which works clearly and simply to motivate students and empowers them to become capable writers and self-editors. In this revision, best-selling authors Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell provide more support for moving from paragraph to essay, more step-by-step coverage of the writing process, and more diverse examples, exercises, and models, making the text both student-friendly and thorough.

Author Biography

During their more than 25-year collaboration, LAURIE KIRSZNER and STEPHEN MANDELL have produced a number of best-selling college texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Foundations First: Sentences and Paragraphs (2008), Writing First: Practice in Context (2009), Patterns for College Writing (2010), and Practical Argument (2011). Laurie Kirszner teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Stephen Mandell is the founder and former director of the basic writing program at Drexel University, where he teaches composition, literature, and technical and business writing.

 

Table of Contents

UNIT ONE: WRITING PARAGRAPHS 
 
Chapter 1 Understanding the Writing Process 
STEP 1: Planning 
     A. Understanding Paragraph Structure 
     B. Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience 
     C. Finding Ideas 
          Freewriting 
          Brainstorming 
          Clustering 
          Journal Writing 
     D. Identifying Your Main Idea and Writing a Topic Sentence  

STEP 2: Organizing 
     E. Choosing Supporting Points 
     F. Arranging Supporting Points 
STEP 3: Drafting 
     G. Drafting Your Paragraph 
     H. TESTing Your Paragraph 
STEP 4: Revising and Editing 
     I. Revising Your Paragraph 
     J. Editing Your Paragraph  

Chapter 2 TESTing Your Paragraphs
     A. Using a Topic Sentence to Unify Your Paragraph
     B. Using Evidence to Support Your Paragraph's Main Idea
     C. Using a Summary Statement to Reinforce Your Paragraph's Unity
     D. Using Transitions to Add Coherence to Your Paragraph

 

UNIT TWO: PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT 

 

Chapter 3 Using Exemplification 

     A. What Is Exemplification?
     B. Writing an Exemplification Paragraph 

Chapter 4 Using Narration
     A. What Is Narration?
     B. Writing a Narrative Paragraph

Chapter 5 Using Description
     A. What Is Description?
     B. Writing a Descriptive Paragraph

Chapter 6 Using Process
     A. What Is Process?
          Process Explanations
          Instructions
     B. Writing a Process Paragraph

Chapter 7 Using Cause and Effect
     A. What Is Cause and Effect?
          Causes
          Effects
     B. Writing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph

Chapter 8 Using Comparison and Contrast
     A. What Is Comparison and Contrast?
          Subject-by-Subject Comparisons
          Point-by-Point Comparisons
     B. Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph

 

Chapter 9 Classification  
     A. What Is Classification? 
     B. Writing a Classification Paragraph 

Chapter 10 Definition 
     A. What Is Definition? 
     B. Writing a Definition Paragraph 

Chapter 11 Using Argument 
     A. What Is Argument? 

     B. Writing an Argument Paragraph 

 

UNIT THREE: WRITING ESSAYS
 
Chapter 12 Writing an Essay  
STEP 1: Planning 
     A. Understanding Essay Structure 
     B. Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience 
     C. Finding Ideas 
          Freewriting 
          Brainstorming 
     D. Identifying Your Main Idea and State Your Thesis 
STEP 2: Organizing 
     E. Choosing Supporting Points 
     F. Arranging Your Supporting Points 
STEP 3: Drafting 
     G. Drafting Your Essay  
     H. TESTing Your Essay 
STEP 4: Revising and Editing 
     I. Revising Your Essay 
     J. Editing Your Essay 
     K. Checking Your Essay's Format 

Chapter 13 Writing Introductions and Conclusions
     A. Introductions
          Beginning with a Narrative
          Beginning with a Question (or a Series of Questions)
          Beginning with a Definition
          Beginning with a Quotation
          Beginning with a Surprising Statement
     B. Conclusions
          Concluding with a Narrative
          Concluding with a Prediction
          Concluding with a Recommendation
          Concluding with a Quotation

 

Chapter 14 Patterns of Essay Development
     A. Exemplification
          Model Exemplification Essay
     B. Narration
          Model Narrative Essay
     C. Description
          Model Descriptive Essay
     D. Process
          Model Process Essay
     E. Cause and Effect
          Model-and-Effect Essay
     F. Comparison and Contrast
          Model Comparison-and Contrast Essay
     G. Classification
          Model Classification Essay
     H. Definition
          Model Definition Essay
     I. Argument
          Model Argument Essay

 

UNIT FOUR: WRITING SENTENCES

 

Chapter 15 Writing Simple Sentences
     A. Subjects
     B. Prepositional Phrases
     C. Verbs
          Action Verbs
          Linking Verbs
          Helping Verbs

Chapter 16 Writing Compound Sentences
     A. Using Coordinating Conjunctions
     B. Using Semicolons
     C. Using Transitional Words and Phrases

Chapter 17 Writing Complex Sentences
     A. Identifying Complex Sentences
     B. Using Subordinating Conjunctions
     C. Using Relative Pronouns

Chapter 18 Writing Varied Sentences
     A. Varying Sentence Types
     B. Varying Sentence Openings
          Beginning with Adverbs
          Beginning with Prepositional Phrases
     C. Combining Sentences
          Using Present Participles
          Using Past Participles
          Using a Series of Words
          Using Appositives
     D. Varying Sentence Length

 

Chapter 19 Using Parallelism
     A. Recognizing Parallel Structure
     B. Using Parallel Structure
          Paired Items
          Items in a Series
          Items in a List or in an Outline   

Chapter 20 Using Words Effectively
     A. Using Specific Words
     B. Using Concise Language
     C. Avoiding Slang
     D. Avoiding Clichés
     E. Using Similes and Metaphors
     F. Avoiding Sexist Language
    
UNIT FIVE: SOLVING COMMON SENTENCE PROBLEMS

 

Chapter 21 Run-Ons
     A. Recognizing Run-Ons
     B. Correcting Run-Ons

Chapter 22 Sentence Fragments
     A. Recognizing Fragments
     B. Missing-Subject Fragments
     C. Phrase Fragments

          Appositive Fragments
          Prepositional Phrase Fragments
     D. Incomplete-Verb Fragments
          - ing Fragments
          Infinitive Fragments
     E. Dependent Clause Fragments  

 

Chapter 23 Subject-Verb Agreement
     A. Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
     B. Compound Subjects
     C. Be, Have, and Do
     D. Words between Subject and Verb
     E. Collective Noun Subjects
     F. Indefinite Pronoun Subjects
     G. Verbs before Subjects

Chapter 24 Illogical Shifts
     A. Shifts in Tense
     B. Shifts in Person
     C. Shifts in Voice
  
Chapter 25 Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
     A. Correcting Dangling Modifiers
     B. Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
  
UNIT SIX: UNDERSTANDING BASIC GRAMMAR

 

Chapter 26 Verbs: Past Tense
     A. Regular Verbs
     B. Irregular Verbs
     C. Problem Verbs: Be
     D. Problem Verbs: Can/Could and Will/Would
          Can/Could
          Will/Would

Chapter 27 Verbs: Past Participles
     A. Regular Past Participles
     B. Irregular Past Participles
     C. The Present Perfect Tense
     D. The Past Perfect Tense
     E. Past Participles as Adjectives

Chapter 28 Nouns and Pronouns
     A. Identifying Nouns
     B. Forming Plural Nouns
     C. Identifying Pronouns
     D. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
     E. Special Problems with Agreement
          Compound Antecedents
          Indefinite Pronoun Antecedents
          Collective Noun Antecedents
     F. Pronoun Case
          Subjective Case
          Objective Case
          Possessive Case
     G. Special Problems with Case
          Pronouns in Compounds
          Pronouns in Comparisons
          Who and Whom
     H. Reflexive Pronouns

Chapter 29 Adjectives and Adverbs
     A. Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs
     B. Comparatives and Superlatives
          Forming Comparatives and Superlatives
          Solving Special Problems with Comparatives and Superlatives

 

Chapter 30 Grammar and Usage for ESL Writers
     A. Subjects in Sentences
     B. Plural Nouns
     C. Count and Noncount Nouns
     D. Determiners with Count and Noncount Nouns
     E. Articles
          The Definite Article
          Indefinite Articles
          No Article
          Articles with Proper Nouns
     F. Negative Statements and Questions
          Negative Statements
          Questions
     G. Verb Tense
     H. Stative Verbs
     I. Modal Auxiliaries
     J. Gerunds
     K. Placing Modifiers in Order
          Required Order
          Preferred Order
     L. Choosing Prepositions
     M. Prepositions in Familiar Expressions
     N. Prepositions in Phrasal Verbs
          Separable Phrasal Verbs
          Inseparable Phrasal Verbs
   
UNIT SEVEN: UNDERSTANDING PUNCTUATION, MECHANICS, AND SPELLING

 

Chapter 31 Using Commas
     A. Commas in a Series
     B. Commas with Introductory Phrases and Transitional Words and Phrases
         Introductory Phrases
         Transitional Words and Phrases
     C. Commas with Appositives
     D. Commas with Nonrestrictive Clauses
     E. Commas in Dates and Addresses
          Dates
          Addresses
     F. Unnecessary Commas

 

Chapter 32 Using Apostrophes
     A. Apostrophes in Contractions
     B. Apostrophes in Possessives
          Singular Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns
          Plural Nouns
     C. Incorrect Use of Apostrophes

 

Chapter 33 Using Other Punctuation Marks
     A. Semicolons
     B. Colons
     C. Dashes and Parentheses
 
Chapter 34 Understanding Mechanics
     A. Capitalizing Proper Nouns
     B. Punctuating Quotations
     C. Setting Off Titles
     D. Hyphens
     E. Abbreviations
     F. Numbers

 

Chapter 35 Understanding Spelling
     A. Becoming a Better Speller
     B. ie and ei
     C. Prefixes
     D. Suffixes
          Words Ending in Silent e
          Words Ending in -y
          Doubling the Final Consonant
     E. Commonly Confused Words
  
UNIT EIGHT: READING ESSAYS
 
Chapter 36 Reading Critically
     A. Previewing
     B. Highlighting
     C. Annotating
     D. Outlining
     E. Summarizing
     F. Writing a Response Paragraph

Chapter 37: Readings for Writers
Exemplification
      *“Don't Call Me a Hot Tamale, Judith Ortiz Cofer
      *“Volunteer Workers of the World, Unite,” Nicols Fox
Narration
      “Orange Crush,” Liyun Li
      *“Pick One,” David Matthews
Description
      *“An American in Mexico,” Alex Espinoza
      *“A Fable for Tomorrow, “ Rachel Carson
Process
      *“Mummy Arts,” Adam Goodheart
      *“My Grandmother's Dumpling,” Amy Ma
Cause and Effect
      *“The Poncho Bearer,” John Schwartz
      *“Connected, Yes, But Hermetically Sealed,” Ben Stein
Comparison and Contrast
      *“My Two Lives,” Jhumpa Lahiri 
      “The Transaction,” William Zinsser
Classification
      *“'But What Do You Mean?'” Deborah Tannen
      “The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe,” Carolyn Foster Segal
Definition

     *“The Wife Beater,” Gayle Rosenwald Smith

     *“Triskaidekaphobia,” Paul Hoffman
Argument
     “Don't Hang Up, That's My Mom Calling,” Bobbi Buchanan
     *“For Most People, College Is a Waste of Time,” Charles Murray
     *“Impounded Fathers,” Edwidge Danticat

 

APPENDIX A. STRATEGIES FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS
     1. Orientation Strategies
     2. First-Week Strategies
     3. Day-to-Day Strategies
     4. Time-Management Strategies
     5. Note-Taking Strategies
          During Class
          After Class
          Before the Next Class
     6. Homework Strategies
     7. Exam-Taking Strategies
          Before the Exam
          During the Exam
 
APPENDIX B. USING RESEARCH IN YOUR WRITING
     1. Choosing a Topic
     2. Doing Research
          Finding Information in the Library
          Finding Information on the Internet
     3. Taking Notes
          Paraphrasing
          Summarizing
          Quoting
     4. Watching Out for Plagiarism
     5. Drafting Your Thesis
     6. Making an Outline
     7. Writing Your Paper
     8. Documenting Your Sources
          Parenthetical References in the Text

          The Works-Cited List

          Sample Essay using MLA Style
  
Answers to Odd-Numbered Exercise Items
Index
Index of Rhetorical Patterns
Correction Symbols