Language Power Tutorials for Writers

by Ferris, Dana

• ISBN13: 9780312577803
• ISBN10: 031257780X
• Format: Spiral Bound
• Copyright: 2014-02-07
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

Pinpoint both your strengths and areas for improvement as Language Power helps you take control of your own writing by providing the tools for understanding and improving your vocabulary usage, grammar, and style.

Author Biography

Dana Ferris is Professor and Associate Director for Lower-Division Writing in the University Writing Program at the University of California, Davis. An applied linguist by training (Ph.D., University of Southern California), she has many years of experience teaching in ESL/multilingual writing programs and in mainstream composition programs. She also has spent over 20 years as a teacher educator, working with future K-12 teachers, with M.A. students in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Composition, and Reading, and with Ph.D. students in Linguistics, Education, and English.

Her research has focused extensively on response to student writing and on written corrective feedback in second language writing. Her work has been published in a range of journals including TESOL Quarterly, Research in the Teaching of English, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Journal of Second Language Writing, Across the Disciplines, Writing and Pedagogy, TESOL Journal, and CATESOL Journal. 

She has previously published seven books. These teacher preparation and reference books have focused on the needs of multilingual/second language writers and readers and on responding to student writing. Titles include Teaching L2 Composition: Purpose, Process, and Practice (3rd Ed. 2013, with John Hedgcock, Routledge), Treatment of Error in Second Language Student Writing (2nd Ed. 2011, Michigan), and Teaching Readers of English (2009, with John Hedgcock, Routledge).

Table of Contents

Introductions (How to use this book and overview of concepts)

• Preface for teachers: Provide suggestions for integrating the material into a course syllabus and providing effective feedback. Discussion of research informing the content and structure of the lessons and other materials in the book. References to support materials online.
• Introduction for students: Provide context for all material in the book. Discuss why errors matter (real-world audiences, clarity & effectiveness of communication for readers). Define and discuss global and local revision.

Finding out what you already know (Diagnostic)

• Grammar knowledge questionnaire for students
• Diagnostic writing/error analysis activity for students/teacher to identify initial trouble spots for individuals and the whole class
• Charts for students to track their progress—also available online?

Mastering the basics (Foundation)

1. Parts of Speech Review
2. Understanding Subjects & Verbs
3. Clause Types & Sentence Patterns

Developing Academic Language & Style (Application)

4. Analyzing Vocabulary in Assigned Readings
5. Cohesion & Coherence Between & Within Paragraphs
6. Lexical Variety in Writing
7. Grammar Power
8. Punctuation Power
Tackling Problem Areas (Practice)
9. Strategies for Self-Editing
10. Wordy Sentences
11. Passive Voice
12. Inaccurate Word Choice
13. Informal Word Choice
14. Word Form Errors
15. The Big 3 Comma Errors
16. Apostrophe Errors
17. Other Punctuation Problems
18. Pronoun Reference & Shifts
19. Verb Tense (Shifts and Contrasts)
20. Subject-Verb Agreement
21. Sentence Boundaries (Run-Ons, Comma Splices, & Fragments)
22. Noun Plurals
23. The Big 3 Article Errors
24. Verb Phrases (verb form issues; modals and other auxiliaries)
25. Prepositions/Prepositional Phrases

Appendix (Review)

• Grammar Knowledge Questionnaire
• Final Writing & Error Analysis
• Reflection & Analysis Activities

Answer Keys

Index