The Practical Writer

by Bailey, Edward P.; Powell, Philip A.

• ISBN13: 9781413030631
• ISBN10: 1413030637
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-25
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

The Practical Writer provides you with a manageable step-by-step approach to writing, from the one-paragraph essay to the five-paragraph essay, and beyond it into the research-driven paper. Everything you need to master college-level writing is right here!: A proven model for writing takes you through a two-stage process of crafting the one-paragraph essay and concludes with techniques on how to write a sound five-paragraph essay. Comprehensive guidelines for writing a successful 3,000- to 4,000-word research paper are provided. Part 5, "The Research Paper," reflects the latest MLA recommendations for format and documentation and includes strategies for finding and using online sources and citing electronic sources. A mini-handbook on punctuation and expression offers sets of exercises on everything from comma splices to subject-verb agreement. Chapter 6, "Tips on the Writing Process," features a new section on peer review. Correlations to the updated Book Companion Website with Test Your Knowledge sections are consistently integrated throughout the text. New icons prompt you to use the website as a tool to hone your skills as well as to further your study and research. Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vi
Acknowledgments	p. viii
A Model for Writing	p. 1
The One-Paragraph Essay (Stage I)	p. 3
Overview of the One-Paragraph Essay (Stage I)	p. 5
Support: Examples, Statistics, Statements by Authorities	p. 14
Topic Sentence	p. 27
Unity	p. 34
Coherence	p. 38
Tips on the Writing Process	p. 46
The One-Paragraph Essay (Stage II)	p. 53
Overview of the One-Paragraph Essay (Stage II)	p. 55
Support: Subtopic Sentences	p. 60
Checklist for the One-Paragraph Essay	p. 67
The Five-Paragraph Essay	p. 69
Overview of the Five-Paragraph Essay	p. 71
Alternative Techniques of Layout	p. 84
Thesis Statement with Blueprint	p. 91
Central Paragraphs	p. 98
Introduction	p. 105
Conclusion	p. 108
Checklist for the Five-Paragraph Essay	p. 112
Beyond the Model Essay	p. 113
More Patterns of Development	p. 115
Comparison and Contrast	p. 117
Cause and Effect	p. 126
Classification	p. 136
Process	p. 144
The Research Paper	p. 149
Overview of the Research Paper	p. 151
Finding Support	p. 188
Taking and Organizing Notes	p. 209
Organizing Your Thoughts and Support	p. 222
Using Borrowed Material in Your Paper	p. 235
Parenthetical Documentation	p. 247
Works Cited	p. 256
Improving Your Punctuation and Expression	p. 289
Punctuation	p. 291
Definitions	p. 293
Sentence Fragment	p. 303
Comma Splice and Fused Sentence	p. 308
Comma	p. 313
Semicolon	p. 322
Colon	p. 326
Dash	p. 330
Apostrophe	p. 334
Quotation Marks	p. 337
Expression	p. 345
Subordination	p. 347
Sentence Variety	p. 352
Parallelism	p. 358
Misused Modifiers	p. 368
Subject-Verb Agreement	p. 374
Pronoun Agreement	p. 381
Passive Voice	p. 388
Word Choice	p. 395
Appendixes
Theme Format	p. 401
Commonly Confused Words	p. 403
Glossary of Grammatical Terms	p. 408
Index	p. 412
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