Paragraph Practice Writing the Paragraph and the Short Composition

by Sullivan, Kathleen E.

• ISBN13: 9780024183514
• ISBN10: 0024183512
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-09-24
• Publisher: MACMILLAN

Summary

Summary Strong on examples and exercises, this is one writing workbook that truly abides by the maxim, "practice, practice, practice." Using a blend of proven teaching methods and numerous exercises, the text guides students from mastery of basic sentence skills to short compositions. The opening chapter starts with clustering and other process-oriented exercises, Subsequent chapters progress from topic sentences and paragraphs to thesis statements and compositions, At every level, the text pairs exercises in recognition with actual writing practice, With its clear, step-by-step progression of topics and exercises, this workbook can be used effectively in courses from the developmental level to regular freshman composition. This latest edition features an even broader range of material. New explanations and exercises make the early chapters more accessible than ever; while new material in the later chapters-including a new chapter on sentence style-make the second half of the text slightly more substantive and challenging. This edition also benefits from a new format, many new exercises, and a more engaging, streamlined style. While loyalists will notice the text's many improvements, Paragraph Practice, 7/E maintains the emphasis on organization and practice that have helped generations of students achieve stronger writing.

Table of Contents

Getting Started	1	(19)
Do you recognize this experience?	1	(1)
You have plenty to write about	1	(1)
Be Yourself	2	(1)
Think about what more than how	2	(1)
Content may need to be triggered	3	(1)
The outside world can be helpful	3	(1)
You may need to help yourself	4	(1)
Consider a special state of mind	4	(1)
Try some special prewriting exercises and practice paragraphs	5	(10)
Consider these afterthoughts on clustering and paragraphing	15	(2)
Try clustering; then practice paragraphing some additional topics	17	(1)
Try these simple exercises to help you relax before writing	17	(1)
Summary	18	(1)
Introduction to the Paragraph	19	(16)
What is paragraph?	19	(1)
What does a paragraph look like on the page?	19	(2)
What is the difference between a paragraph and a composition?	21	(1)
How long is a paragraph?	22	(1)
How is a paragraph organized or developed?	22	(10)
The paragraph should contain only one central idea	22	(3)
The paragraph should have unity	25	(1)
The paragraph should have conherence and continuity	26	(1)
The paragraph should be adequately developed	27	(5)
Summary	32	(3)
PART ONE PRACTICING THE PARAGRAPH
The Topic Sentence	35	(5)
What is a topic sentence?	35	(1)
What is the difference between a topic sentence and a title?	35	(4)
Identify topic sentences and titles	36	(2)
Recognize broad and narrow statements	38	(1)
Is the topic sentence always the first sentence in the paragraph?	39	(1)
Summary	39	(1)
Practicing the Topic Sentence	40	(19)
Be complete	40	(2)
Identify fragments and sentences	41	(1)
Make sentences from fragments	42	(1)
Be clear	42	(9)
Evaluate topic sentences	44	(1)
Rewrite topic sentences	45	(3)
Identifying sentences that are specific, too broad, borderline	48	(1)
Make sentences specific	49	(1)
Recognize degrees of specificity	50	(1)
Find the right word	51	(7)
Avoid cheap substitutes	53	(1)
Avoid tried substitutes	53	(1)
Avoid weak substitutes	54	(1)
Avoid wordiness	55	(1)
Avoid ``this, that, and it'' errors	56	(1)
Be careful of many meaning	57	(1)
Summary	58	(1)
Coherence and Continuity	59	(19)
Picture a puzzle	59	(1)
Compare the paragraph and the puzzle	59	(1)
Make the paragraph coherent	60	(1)
Write a simple outline	61	(4)
Study two paragraphs and outlines	65	(1)
Compare the outline and the paragraph	66	(5)
Before or after writing a rough draft paragraph, organize an outline	67	(2)
Reassemble jumbled paragraphs	69	(2)
Give the paragraph continuity	71	(1)
Use transitions	71	(6)
Underline transitional words or phrases	73	(2)
Write in transitional words or phrases	75	(2)
Summary	77	(1)
Problems of Form and Organization: PART A	78	(11)
Explain how to do or make something	79	(1)
Explain how to build something	80	(1)
Describe someone's face	81	(1)
Describe a room in your home	82	(1)
Describe a memorable incident	83	(1)
Describe a picture in a magazine	84	(1)
Discuss an animal	85	(1)
Support a general statement with particulars	86	(1)
Discuss your neighbors	87	(1)
Discuss your hobby in a special way	88	(1)
Problems of Form and Organization: PART B	89	(21)
Discuss something in close detail	91	(1)
Describe your sensory reaction to an object	92	(2)
Write about your biggest problem in college	94	(3)
Define and discuss a significant word or term	97	(3)
Make a comparison by showing similarities	100	(1)
Make a comparison (contrast) by showing differences	100	(2)
Summarize a plot	102	(2)
Discuss a character in a story	104	(2)
Propose a change in the existing state of affairs	106	(3)
Give one reason in support of your proposed change	109	(1)
Problems of Variety and Imagination	110	(19)
Describe an unpleasant sensory experience	113	(1)
Describe a pleasant sensory experience	114	(1)
Describe an experience in flashblack form	115	(1)
Describe a moment when you found or learned something new	115	(1)
Explain how or why you associate one thing with another	116	(1)
Discuss a quotation	117	(1)
Write what would happen if...	118	(1)
Describe someone you see often	118	(1)
Describe a famous painting	119	(1)
Describe your reactions to illness	120	(1)
Notes on exercises in Chapter 8	120	(9)
PART TWO WRITING THE SHORT COMPOSITION
The Short Composition	129	(5)
What is a short composition?	129	(1)
What does a short composition look like on the page?	129	(1)
What is a title?	130	(1)
Why should a composition be organized?	131	(1)
How is a composition organized?	131	(3)
The Thesis Statement	134	(5)
What is a thesis statement?	134	(1)
What is the difference between a thesis statement and a topic sentence?	134	(1)
Where should the thesis statement be placed within the composition?	134	(1)
Are all thesis statements alike in content and form?	135	(1)
Is it all right to change the thesis statement?	136	(1)
Are the divisions of the thesis designed simply to or organize the discussion?	136	(2)
Do compositions always contain a thesis statement?	138	(1)
Is the thesis always a single sentence?	138	(1)
Is the division of the thesis statement limited to two or three parts or supports?	138	(1)
Summary	138	(1)
Practicing the Thesis Statement	139	(11)
The most common form of the supported thesis statement	140	(1)
Develop thesis statement with two or these supports	140	(1)
Other forms of the supported thesis statement	141	(1)
Coping with problems in writing the supported thesis statement	142	(6)
Identify faultiness in thesis statements	144	(2)
Develop thesis statements in response to questions or problems	146	(2)
Summary	148	(2)
Organizing the Discussion	150	(6)
Evolve a plan	150	(1)
Follow your plan...Exactly!	151	(1)
The plan is the same, regardless of length	151	(1)
Weight or length of each part depends on the thesis	152	(2)
Write topic sentences that might begin discussion paragraphs	153	(1)
Development within the paragraph must stay on course	154	(1)
Summary	155	(1)
Developing the Discussion	156	(9)
Is anybody listening?	156	(1)
Think about your reader	156	(1)
What does it mean to develop?	157	(1)
Study examples	157	(4)
Do not simply make the discussion longer	161	(1)
Know your subject	161	(2)
Revise and develop undernourished paragraphs	161	(2)
Summary	163	(2)
Introducing, Concluding, and Titling the Short Composition	165	(7)
How is the introduction organized?	166	(1)
How is the conclusion organization?	166	(1)
Consider some introductory techniques	167	(1)
Make the conclusion short and simple	168	(1)
Give the composition a title	169	(1)
About exercises	170	(1)
Summary	171	(1)
Writing More: Sophisticated Sentences	172	(17)
Strong and Weak Sentence Positions	173	(2)
Revise sentences to utilize strong and weak positions	174	(1)
Active and Passive Voice	175	(2)
Rewrite sentences, changing verbs to active voice	176	(1)
Reconvert well-known expression to original active voice	177	(1)
Conciseness and Wordiness	177	(7)
False modesty	178	(1)
Hiding behind words	179	(1)
Decorating with words	179	(2)
Too many modifiers	181	(1)
General wordiness	182	(1)
Identify five forms of wordiness	183	(1)
Variety	184	(2)
Vary sentence length	184	(1)
Vary sentence construction	184	(2)
Parallelism	186	(2)
Identifying parallel or nonparallel sentences	187	(1)
Summary	188	(1)
Practicing the Short Composition	189	(40)
Write a portrait of a relative	189	(3)
Explain what you admire about a friend	192	(2)
Discuss something you dislike	194	(2)
Discuss a good or bad job	196	(2)
Explain a rule by which you live	198	(2)
Present two sides of an issue	200	(3)
Describe an event in your life	203	(2)
Describe a place or scene	205	(3)
Discuss your experience with mechanization and/or depersonalization	208	(3)
Discuss love	211	(4)
APPENDIXES
A. Appearance and form of the submitted paper	215	(2)
B. Correlation symbols	217	(10)
C. Paragraph evaluation	227	(1)
D. Composition evaluation	228	(1)
E. 300 words most frequently misspelled	229