Focus on Writing: Paragraphs and Essays

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

• ISBN13: 9781319035297
• ISBN10: 1319035299
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2016-10-14
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Learn to write through practice. Focus on Writing: Paragraphs and Essays guides you through self-editing all of your writing for unity, support, and coherence to make you a better writer.  

Author Biography

During their long collaboration, Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell have written a number of best-selling college texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Patterns for College Writing, Foundations First, Writing First, Focus on Writing, and, most recently, Practical Argument. Laurie Kirszner is a Professor of English, Emeritus at the University of the Sciences, where she has taught composition, literature, creative writing, and scientific writing, and served as coordinator of the first-year writing program.  Stephen Mandell is a Professor of English at Drexel University, where he founded and directed the basic writing program and has taught composition, literature, speech, and technical and business writing.

Table of Contents

Focus on Writing 4e

 

Contents

 

Preface 

Teaching with LaunchPad Solo for Readers and Writers

A Note to Students 

Thematic Table of Contents 

Introduction: How Writing Can Help You Succeed

BECOMING A CRITICAL READER

 

Unit 1

Unit 1 Becoming a Critical Reader 

1 READING TO WRITE

 

1a Previewing 

 

1b Highlighting 

1c Annotating 

 

1d Outlining 

1e Summarizing 

 

1f Writing a Response  

 

1g Reading in the Classroom, in the Community, and in the Workplace 

 Reading Textbooks  ■ Reading News Articles  ■ Reading on the Job 
 Review Checklist: Reading to Write 

WRITING PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS

 

Unit 2

Unit 2 Focus on Paragraphs 

2 Writing a Paragraph 

2a Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience 

2b Finding Ideas to Write About 

Freewriting  ■ Brainstorming  ■ Clustering  ■ Keeping a Journal 

2c Identifying Your Main Idea and Writing a Topic Sentence 

2d Choosing Supporting Points 

2e Developing Supporting Points 

2f Making an Outline 

2g Drafting Your Paragraph 

2h TESTing Your Paragraph 

2i Revising Your Paragraph

Using Self-Assessment              Using Peer Review

Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Paragraph

2j Editing and Proofreading Your Paragraph 

Self-Assessment Checklist: Editing Your Paragraph 
Review Checklist: Writing a Paragraph

3 TESTing Your Paragraphs 

3a TESTing for a Topic Sentence 

3b TESTing for Evidence 

3c TESTing for a Summary Statement 

3d TESTing for Transitions 

Chapter Review 
Review Checklist: TESTing Your Paragraphs 

 

4 Exemplification Paragraphs 

4a Understanding Exemplification  

4b Case Study: A Student Writes an Exemplification Paragraph           82
TESTing an Exemplification Paragraph               86

5 Narrative Paragraphs 

5a Understanding Narration  

5b Case Study: A Student Writes a Narrative Paragraph
TESTing a Narrative Paragraph 

6 Process Paragraphs

6a Understanding Process

6b Case Study: A Student Writes a Process Paragraph 

TESTing a Process Paragraph 

7 Cause-and-Effect Paragraphs 

7a Understanding Cause and Effect  

7b Case Study: A Student Writes a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph 
TESTing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph 

8 Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraphs 

8a Understanding Comparison and Contrast  

8b Case Study: A Student Writes a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph 

TESTing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph 

9 Descriptive Paragraphs 

9a Understanding Description 

9b Case Study: A Student Writes a Descriptive Paragraph 

TESTing a Descriptive Paragraph 

 

10 Classification Paragraphs 

10a Understanding Classification  

10b Case Study: A Student Writes a Classification Paragraph 

TESTing a Classification Paragraph 

11 Definition Paragraphs 

11a Understanding Definition  

11b Case Study: A Student Writes a Definition Paragraph 

TESTing a Definition Paragraph 

12 Argument Paragraphs 

12a Understanding Argument  

12b Case Study: A Student Writes an Argument Paragraph 

TESTing an Argument Paragraph 

 

Unit 3

Unit 3 Focus on Essays

13 Writing an Essay 

13a Understanding Essay Structure 

13b Moving from Assignment to Topic 

13c Finding Ideas to Write About 

Freewriting  ■ Brainstorming  ■ Keeping a Journal 

13d Stating Your Thesis 

13e Choosing Supporting Points 

13f Making an Outline 

13g Drafting Your Essay 

13h TESTing Your Essay 

13i Revising Your Essay 

Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Essay 

13j Editing  and Proofreading Your Essay 

Self-Assessment Checklist: Editing and Proofreading Your Essay 

13k Checking Your Essay’s Format

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Writing an Essay 

14 Introductions and Conclusions 

14a 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 

14b Conclusions 

Concluding with a Narrative  ■ Concluding with a Recommendation ■ Concluding with a Quotation■ Concluding with a Prediction 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Introductions and Conclusions 

15 Patterns of Essay Development: EXEMPLIFICATION, NARRATION, PROCESS, CAUSE AND EFFECT, COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

15a Exemplification Essays 

TESTing an Exemplification Essay 

EXEMPLIFICATION IN ACTION: FARHAD MANJOO, “NO I DO NOT WANT TO PET YOUR DOG”

15b Narrative Essays 

TESTing a Narrative Essay 

NARRATION IN ACTION: LYNDA BARRY, “THE SANCTUARY OF SCHOOL”

15c Process Essays 

TESTing a Process Essay 

 PROCESS IN ACTION: RUSSELL BAKER, “SLICE OF LIFE”

15d Cause-and-Effect Essays 

TESTing a Cause-and-Effect Essay 

CAUSE AND EFFECT IN ACTION: KATHLEEN E. BACHYNSKI AND DANIEL S. GOLDBERG, “FACING THE CONCUSSION RISKS OF YOUTH FOOTBALL”

15e Comparison-and-Contrast Essays 

TESTing a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay 

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST IN ACTION: MICHAEL MARTINEZ, “MIGRANT VS. REFUGEE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?”

CHAPTER 16      PATTERNS OF ESSAY DEVELOPMENT: DESCRIPTION, CLASSIFICATION, DEFINITION, ARGUMENT

 

16a Descriptive Essays 

TESTing a Descriptive Essay 

DESCRIPTION IN ACTION: ROBERT RAMIREZ, “THE BARRIO”

16b Classification Essays 

TESTing a Classification Essay 

CLASSIFICATION IN ACTION: AMY TAN, “MOTHER TONGUE”

16c Definition Essays 

TESTing a Definition Essay 

DEFINITION IN ACTION: JUDY BRADY, “I WANT A WIFE”

16d Argument Essays 

TESTing an Argument Essay 

ARGUMENT IN ACTION: BEN CARSON, “VACCINATIONS ARE FOR THE GOOD OF THE NATION”

Review Checklist: Patterns of Essay Development 

REVISING AND EDITING YOUR WRITING

Unit 4

 

Unit 4 Writing Effective Sentences 

 

17 Writing Simple Sentences 

17a Identifying Subjects 

17b  Identifying  Prepositional Phrases

17c Identifying Verbs

Action Verbs  ■ Linking Verbs 364 ■ Helping Verbs 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Writing Simple Sentences 

18 Writing Compound Sentences 

18a Using Coordinating Conjunctions

18b Using Semicolons 

18c Using Transitional Words and Phrases 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Writing Compound Sentences 

19 Writing Complex Sentences 

19a Identifying Complex Sentences 

19b Using Subordinating Conjunctions

19c Using Relative Pronouns

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Writing Complex Sentences 

20 Writing Varied Sentences 

20a Varying Sentence Types 

20b Varying Sentence Openings 

Beginning with Adverbs  ■ Beginning with Prepositional Phrases 

20c Combining Sentences 

Using -ing Modifiers  ■ Using -ed Modifiers  ■ Using a Series of Words  ■ Using Appositives 

20d Mixing Long and Short Sentences 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Writing Varied Sentences 

21 Using Parallelism

21a Recognizing Parallel Structure 

21b Using Parallel Structure 

Paired Items  ■ Items in a Series  ■ Items in a List or in an Outline 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Using Parallelism 

22 Using Words Effectively

22a Using Specific Words 

22b Using Concise Language 

22c Avoiding Slang 

22d Avoiding Clichés 

22e Using Similes and Metaphors 

22f Avoiding Sexist Language 

22g Commonly Confused Words 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Using Words Effectively 

Unit Review 

Unit 5 Solving Common Sentence Problems 

23 Run-Ons

23a Recognizing Run-Ons 

23b Correcting Run-Ons 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Run-Ons 

24 Fragments

24a Recognizing Fragments 

24b Missing-Subject Fragments 

24c Phrase Fragments 

Appositive Fragments  ■ Prepositional Phrase Fragments■ Infinitive Fragments 

24d -ing Fragments 
24e Dependent-Clause Fragments 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Fragments 

25 Subject-Verb Agreement

25a Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement 

26b Compound Subjects 

25c Be, Have, and Do 

25d Words between Subject and Verb 

25e Collective Noun Subjects 

25f Indefinite Pronoun Subjects

 

25g Verbs before Subjects 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Subject-Verb Agreement 

26 Illogical Shifts 

26a Shifts in Tense

26b Shifts in Person

26c Shifts in Voice

Chapter Review

Review Checklist: Illogical Shifts 

27 Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 

27a Correcting Misplaced Modifiers 

27b Correcting Dangling Modifiers 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 

Unit Review 

Unit 6 Understanding Basic Grammar 

28 Verbs: Past Tense

28a Regular Verbs 

28b Irregular Verbs 

28c Problem Verbs: Be 

28d Problem Verbs: Can/Could and Will/Would 

Can/Could  ■ Will/Would 

Chapter Review

Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Tense 

29 Verbs: Past Participles

29a Regular Past Participles 

29b Irregular Past Participles 

29c The Present Perfect Tense 

29d The Past Perfect Tense 

29e Past Participles as Adjectives 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Participles 

30 Nouns and Pronouns

30a Identifying Nouns 

30b Forming Plural Nouns 

30c Identifying Pronouns 

30d Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement 

30e Special Problems with Agreement 

Compound Antecedents  ■ Indefinite Pronoun Antecedents  ■ Collective Noun Antecedents 

30f Vague and Unnecessary Pronouns 

Vague Pronouns  ■ Unnecessary Pronouns 

30g Pronoun Case 

Subjective Case ■ Objective Case ■ Possessive Case 

30h Special Problems with Pronoun Case 

Pronouns in Compounds  ■ Pronouns in Comparisons  ■ Who and Whom, Whoever and Whomever 

30i Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns 

Reflexive Pronouns  ■ Intensive Pronouns 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Nouns and Pronouns 

31 Adjectives and Adverbs

31a Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs 

31b Comparatives and Superlatives 

Forming Comparatives and Superlatives  ■ Solving Special Problems with Comparatives and Superlatives 

Chapter Review

Review Checklist: Adjectives and Adverbs 

32 Grammar and Usage for ESL Writers 

32a Subjects in Sentences

32b Plural Nouns

32c Count and Noncount Nouns

32d Determiners with Count and Noncount Nouns

32e Articles

The Definite Article  ■ Indefinite Articles  ■ No Article  ■ Articles with Proper Nouns

32f Negative Statements and Questions

Negative Statements  ■ Questions 

32g Verb Tense 

32h Stative Verbs

32i Modal Auxiliaries

32j Gerunds

32k Placing Modifiers in Order

Required Order ■ Preferred Order 

32l Choosing Prepositions 

32m Prepositions in Familiar Expressions 

32n Prepositions in Phrasal Verbs

Separable Phrasal Verbs  ■ Inseparable Phrasal Verbs 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Grammar and Usage for ESL Writers 

Unit Review 

Unit 7 Understanding Punctuation and Mechanics 

33 Using Commas

33a Commas in a Series 

33b Commas with Introductory Phrases and Transitional Words and Phrases 

Introductory Phrases  ■ Transitional Words and Phrases 

33c Commas with Appositives 

33d Commas with Nonrestrictive Clauses 

33e Commas in Dates and Addresses 

Dates ■ Addresses 

33f Unnecessary Commas 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Using Commas 

34 Using Apostrophes

34a Apostrophes in Contractions 

34b Apostrophes in Possessives 

Singular Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns  ■ Plural Nouns 

34c Incorrect Use of Apostrophes 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Using Apostrophes 

35 Understanding Mechanics 

35a Capitalizing Proper Nouns

35b Punctuating Direct Quotations 

Identifying Tag at the Beginning ■ Identifying Tag at the End  ■ Identifying Tag in the Middle ■ Identifying Tag between Two Sentences 

35c Setting Off Titles 

35d Hyphens 

35e Abbreviations 

35f Numbers 

35g Using Minor Punctuation Marks 

The Semicolon  ■ The Colon  ■ The Dash  ■ Parentheses 

Chapter Review 

Review Checklist: Understanding Mechanics 

Unit Review 

 

Unit 8

 

Unit 8 Reading Essays 

36 Readings for Writers 

Naomi S. Baron, “The Case Against E-Readers: Why Reading Paper Books Is Better For Your Mind”

Jennine Capó Crucet, “Taking My Parents to College”

John Gray, “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus”

Tom Hanks, “I Owe It All to Community College”

LeBron James, “I’m Coming Home”

Marina Keegan, “Stability in Motion”

Caroline Knapp, “How to Have a Dog’s Life”

Nicholas Kristof, “Our Blind Spot about Guns”

Ben Mattlin, “An Act That Enabled Acceptance”

Christopher Monks, “Group Mobilization as a Desperate Cry for Help”

Eileen Pollack, “What’s Really Keeping Women Out of Tech”

Estelle Tang, “An Open Letter to All My Male Friends”

APPENDIX A: STRATEGIES FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS

A1 MANGING YOUR TIME

A2 TAKING NOTES IN CLASS

A3 DOING HOMEWORK

A4 TAKING EXAMS

APPENDIX B: STRATEGIES FOR DOING RESEARCH
B1 FINDING AND EVALUATING INFORMATION

 

B2 USING SUMMARY, PARAPHRASE, AND QUOTATION

B3 USING SOURCES RESPONSIBLY

B4 DOCUMENTING YOUR SOURCES

B5 MODEL MLA-STYLE  ESSAY

 

Acknowledgments 

Index 

Parts of Speech