Susan Anker (B.A., M.Ed., Boston University) brings a unique perspective to the teaching of the developmental writing course. She taught English and developmental writing before entering college publishing, where she worked for 18 years: as a sales representative and English/ESL editor at Macmillan Publishing Company; as developmental English/ESL editor, executive editor, and editor in chief at St. Martin’s Press; and as vice president and editor in chief for humanities at Houghton Mifflin Company. In each of these positions, she worked with developmental writing instructors and students, maintaining her early interest in the field.

Since the publication of the first edition of Real Writing in 1998, Anker has traveled extensively to campuses across the country, continuing her conversations with instructors and students and giving workshops and presentations. She believes that the writing course is, for many students, their first, best opportunity to learn the skills they will need to succeed in college and achieve their goals.

Part One: How to Write Paragraphs and Essays

1. Course and College Basics: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Course Basics

Take the Course Seriously

Do the Assignments

Make Sure You Understand, and Get Help if You Don’t

Manage Your Time

Get to Class (on Time) and Stay until the End

Make a Calendar

Connect to the Class

Make a Friend

Get to Know Your Instructor

Sit Near the Front

Speak Up

Identify Your Course Goals and Needs

Hang in There

College Basics

Know Your Resources

Make A Plan

1. What Do I Want To Be?

2. Talk with Your Academic Advisor and Plan Out Later Semesters/Terms

Connect to the College

Know Your Learning Style

Use Your Learning Style in College

Writing Assignments

Chapter Review

2. Reading Basics: How to Understand What You Read

Understand How To Read Actively and Critically

Preview the Reading

Read Actively

Find the Main Point

Find the Support for the Main Point

Read Critically

Review and Reflect

Understand Your Syllabus

Understand Textbook Features

Highlighting a Textbook Chapter

Reviewing for a Test on a Textbook Chapter

Chapter Review

3. Writing Basics: Audience, Purpose, and Process

Understand Audience and Purpose

Understand Paragraph and Essay Form

Paragraph Form

Essay Form

Understand the Writing Process

Note: Avoiding Plagiarism

Understand Grading Criteria

Chapter Review

4. Finding, Narrowing, and Exploring Your Topic: Choosing Something to Write About

Understand What a Topic Is

Practice Narrowing a Topic

Practice Exploring Your Topic

Freewriting

Listing/Brainstorming

Discussing

Clustering and Mapping

Using the Internet

Keeping a Journal

Write Your Own Topic and Ideas

Chapter Review

5. Writing Your Topic Sentence and Thesis Statement: Making Your Point

Understand What a Topic Sentence and a Thesis Statement Are

Practice Developing a Good Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement

It Fits the Size of the Assignment

It Contains a Single Main Point

It Is Specific

It Is an Idea That You Can Show, Explain, or Prove

It is Forceful

Write Your Own Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement

Writing Assignment

Chapter Review

6. Supporting Your Point: Finding Details, Examples, and Facts

Understand What Support Is

Practice Supporting a Main Point

Generate Support

Select the Best Primary Support

Add Secondary Support

Write Your Own Support

Writing Assignment

Chapter Review

7. Making a Plan: Arranging Your Ideas

Understand What a Logical Order Is

Use Time Order to Write about Events

Use Space Order to Describe Objects, Places, or People

Use Order of Importance to Emphasize a Particular Point

Practice Arranging Ideas in a Logical Order

Choose an Order

Make a Written Plan

Outlining Paragraphs

Outlining Essays

Make Your Own Plan

Writing Assignment

Chapter Review

8. Drafting: Putting Your Ideas Together

Understand What a Draft Is

Practice Writing a Draft Paragraph

Write a Draft Using Complete Sentences

Write a Concluding Sentence

Title Your Paragraph

Write Your Own Draft Paragraph

Writing Assignment: Paragraph

Practice Writing a Draft Essay

Write Topic Sentences and Draft the Body of the Essay

Write an Introduction

Open with a Quote

Give an Example or Tell a Story

Start with a Surprising Fact or Idea

Offer a Strong Opinion or Position

Ask a Question

Write a Conclusion

Title Your Essay

Write Your Own Draft Essay

Writing Assignment: Essay

Chapter Review

9. Revising: Improving Your Paragraph or Essay

Understand What Revision Is

Understand What Peer Review Is

Practice Revising for Unity, Detail, and Coherence

Revise for Unity

Revise for Detail and Support

Revise for Coherence

Revise Your Own Paragraph

Writing Assignment: Paragraph

Revise Your Own Essay

Writing Assignment: Essay

Chapter Review

Part Two: Writing Different Kinds of Paragraphs and Essays

10. Narration: Telling Important Stories

Understand What Narration Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD NARRATION

Main Point in Narration

Support in Narration

Choosing Major Events

Giving Details about the Events

Organization in Narration

Read and Analyze Narration PROFILE OF SUCCESS: NARRATION IN THE REAL WORLD

*Narration Paragraph: Jelani Lynch, "My Turnaround"

Narration Essay: Dale Hill, "How Community College Changed My Life"

Write Your Own Narration

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING NARRATION

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE NARRATION

Chapter Review

11. Illustration: Writing That Gives Examples

Understand What Illustration Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ILLUSTRATION

Main Point in Illustration

Support in Illustration

Organization in Narration

Read and Analyze Illustration

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: ILLUSTRATION IN THE REAL WORLD

* Illustration Paragraph: Casandra Palmer, "Gifts from the Heart"

*Illustration Essay: Kathleen Aharonian, "Does Anyone Want Some More Calories

With That?"

Write Your Own Illustration

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING ILLUSTRATION

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE ILLUSTRATION

Chapter Review

12. Description: Writing That Creates Pictures in Words

Understand What Description Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DESCRIPTION

Main Point in Description

Support in Description

Organization in Description

Read and Analyze Description

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: DESCRIPTION IN THE REAL WORLD

Description Paragraph: Cathy Vittoria, "The Peach Tree"

Description Essay: Cathy Vittoria, "The Peach Tree"

Write Your Own Description

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING DESCRIPTION

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE DESCRIPTION

Chapter Review

13. Process Analysis: Writing That Explains How Things Happen

Understand What Process Analysis Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD PROCESS ANALYSIS

Main Point in Process Analysis

Support in Process Analysis

Organization in Process Analysis

Read and Analyze Process Analysis

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: PROCESS ANALYSIS IN THE REAL WORLD

*Process Analysis Paragraph: Carlton Brown, "Buying a Car at an Auction"

*Process Analysis Essay: Michele Wood, "My Home-Exercise Program"

Write Your Own Process Analysis

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING PROCESS ANALYSIS

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE PROCESS ANALYSIS

Chapter Review

14. Classification: Writing That Puts Things into Groups

Understand What Classification Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CLASSIFICATION

Main Point in Classification

Support in Classification

Organization in Classification

Read and Analyze Classification

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: CLASSIFICATION IN THE REAL WORLD

*Classification Paragraph: Lorenza Mattazi, "All My Music"

Classification Essay: Danny Fitzgerald, "Blood Type and Personality"

Write Your Own Classification

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING CLASSIFICATION

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE CLASSIFICATION

Chapter Review

15. Definition: Writing That Tells What Something Means

Understand What Definition Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DEFINITION

Main Point in Definition

Support in Definition

Organization in Definition

Read and Analyze Definition

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: DEFINITON IN THE REAL WORLD

*Definition Paragraph: Abigail Klatt, "Not All CAM Is a Scam"

*Definition Essay: Kelli Whitehead, "Oh, You're a College Student"

Write Your Own Definition

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING DEFINITION

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE DEFINITION

Chapter Review

16. Comparison and Contrast: Writing That Shows Similarities and Differences

Understand What Comparison and Contrast Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

Main Point in Comparison and Contrast

Support in Comparison and Contrast

Organization in Comparison and Contrast

Read and Analyze Comparison and Contrast

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST IN THE REAL WORLD

Comparison and Contrast Paragraph: Samson Green, "Men and Women

Getting Lost"

Comparison and Contrast Essay: Lou Enrico, "Target and Wal-Mart: Not As

Different As You Think"

Write Your Own Comparison and Contrast

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST

Chapter Review

17. Cause and Effect: Writing That Explains Reasons or Results

Understand What Cause and Effect Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CAUSE AND EFFECT

Main Point in Cause and Effect

Support in Cause and Effect

Organization in Cause and Effect

Read and Analyze Cause and Effect

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: CAUSE AND EFFECT IN THE REAL WORLD

*Cause and Effect Paragraph: Caitlin Prokop, "A Difficult Decision with a Positive Outcome"

*Cause and Effect Essay: Kimberly Sharpe, "Graduation Day: A Life-Changing

Experience"

Write Your Own Cause and Effect

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING CAUSE AND EFFECT

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE CAUSE AND EFFECT

Chapter Review

18. Argument: Writing That Persuades

Understand What Argument Is

FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ARGUMENT

Main Point in Argument

Support in Argument

Reasons and Evidence

The Conclusion

Organization in Argument

Read and Analyze Argument

PROFILE OF SUCCESS: ARGUMENT IN THE REAL WORLD

*Argument Essay: Rollina Lowe, "The Gas Tax Is Fair"

*Argument Essay: Jim Green, "Unequal Taxation"

Write Your Own Argument

CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING ARGUMENT

COMMUNITY MATTERS

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE ARGUMENT

Chapter Review

Part Three: Special College Writing Projects

19. Writing Summaries and Reports: Condensing Important Information

Write a Summary

The Reading Process for Summaries

The Writing Process for Summaries: A Checklist

Summary Assignments

Write a Report

"A Brother’s Murder": A Painful Story That Is as True As Ever

The Reading Process for Reports

The Writing Process for Reports: A Checklist

Report Assignments

Chapter Review

20. Writing the Research Essay: Using Outside Sources in Your Writing

Make a Schedule

Choose a Topic

Find Sources

Consult a Reference Librarian

Use the Online Catalog

Look at Your Library’s Web Site

Use Your Library’s Online Databases

Use the Internet

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

Search Engines and Searching with Key Words

Online Research Sites

Interview People

Evaluate Sources

Avoid Plagiarism

Keep a Running Bibliography

Indirect Quotation: Summary

Indirect Quotation: Paraphrase

Direct Quotation

Cite and Document Your Sources

Use In-Text Citations Within Your Essay

Use a Works Cited List at the End of Your Essay

Books

Electronic Sources

Other Sources

SAMPLE STUDENT RESEARCH ESSAY

CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH ESSAY

Editing

Part Four: The Four Most Serious Errors

21. The Basic Sentence: An Overview

The Four Most Serious Errors

The Parts of Speech

The Basic Sentence

Subjects

Verbs

Action Verbs

Linking Verbs

Helping Verbs

Complete Thoughts

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

22. Fragments: Incomplete Sentences

Understand What Fragments Are

In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Fragments?

Find and Correct Fragments

1. Fragments That Start with Prepositions

2. Fragments That Start with Dependent Words

3. Fragments That Start with –ing Verb Forms

4. Fragments That Start with to and a Verb

5. Fragments That Start with Examples or Explanations

Edit for Fragments

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

23. Run-Ons: Two Sentences Joined Incorrectly

Understand What Run-Ons Are

In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Run-Ons and Comma Splices?

Find and Correct Run-Ons

Add a Period

Add a Semicolon

Add a Semicolon and a Conjunctive Adverb

Add a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction

Add a Dependent Word

A Word That Can Cause Run-Ons and Comma Splices: Then

Edit Run-Ons

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

24. Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement: When Subjects and Verbs Don’t Match

Understand What Subject-Verb Agreement Is

In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement?

Practice Finding and Correcting Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement

1. The Verb is a Form of Be, Have, or Do

2. Words Come between the Subject and the Verb

Prepositional Phrase between the Subject and the Verb

Dependent Clause between the Subject and the Verb

3. The Sentence Has a Compound Subject

4. The Subject Is an Indefinite Pronoun

5. The Verb Comes before the Subject

Questions

Sentences That Begin with Here or There

Edit for Subject-Verb Agreement

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

25. Verb Tense: Using Verbs to Express Different Times

Understand What Verb Tense Is

In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Use the Correct Verb Tense?

Practice Using Correct Verbs

Regular Verbs

Present-Tense Endings: -s and No Ending

One Regular Past-Tense Ending: -ed

One Regular Past Participle Ending: -ed

Irregular Verbs

Present Tense, Be and Have

Past Tense, Be

Past Participles

Have/Has + Past Participle = Present Perfect Tense

Had + Past Participle = Past Perfect Tense

Be + Past Participle = Passive Voice

Consistency of Verb Tense

Edit for Verb Problems

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

PART FOUR TEST

Part Five: Other Grammar Concerns

26. Pronouns: Using Substitutes for Nouns

Understand What Pronouns Are

Practice Using Pronouns Correctly

Identify Pronouns

Check for Pronoun Agreement

Indefinite Pronouns

Collective Nouns

Make Pronoun References Clear

Use the Right Type of Pronoun

Subject Pronouns

Object Pronouns

Possessive Pronouns

Pronouns Used with Compound Subjects and Objects

Pronouns Used in Comparisons

Choosing between Who and Whom

Make Pronouns Consistent in Person

Edit for Pronoun Use

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

27. Adjectives and Adverbs: Using Descriptive Words

Understand What Adjectives and Adverbs Are

Practice Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

Choosing between Adjectives and Adverbs

Using Adjectives and Adverbs in Comparisons

Using Good, Well, Bad, and Badly

Edit for Adjectives and Adverbs

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

28. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Confusing Descriptions

Understand What Misplaced Modifiers Are

Practice Correcting Misplaced Modifiers

Understand What Dangling Modifiers Are

Practice Correcting Dangling Modifiers

Edit for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

29. Coordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas

Understand What Coordination Is

Practice Using Coordination

Using Coordinating Conjunctions

Using Semicolons

Edit for Coordination

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

30. Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas

Understand What Subordination Is

Practice Using Subordination

Edit for Subordination

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

31. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas

Understand What Parallelism Is

Practice Writing Parallel Sentences

Parallelism in Pairs and Lists

Parallelism in Comparisons

Parallelism with Certain Paired Words

Edit for Parallelism

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

32. Sentence Variety: Putting Rhythm in Your Writing

Understand What Sentence Variety Is

Practice Creating Sentence Variety

Start Some Sentences with Adverbs

Join Ideas Using an –ing Verb

Join Ideas with a Past Participle

Join Ideas Using an Appositive

Join Ideas Using an Adjective Clause

Edit for Sentence Variety

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

33. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students

Basic Sentence Patterns

Statements

Negatives

Questions

There Is and There Are

Pronouns

Confusing Subject and Object Pronouns

Confusing Gender

Leaving Out a Pronoun

Using a Pronoun to Repeat a Subject

Using Relative Pronouns

Verbs

The Simple Tenses

Simple Present

Simple Past

Simple Future

The Perfect Tenses

The Present Perfect

The Past Perfect

The Future Perfect

The Progressive Tenses

Modal Auxiliaries/Helping Verbs

Gerunds and Infinitives

Articles

Using Definite and Indefinite Articles

Prepositions

Prepositions after Adjectives

Prepositions after Verbs

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

PART FIVE TEST

Part Six: Word Use

34. Word Choice: Using the Right Words

Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully

Dictionary

Thesaurus

Practice Avoiding Four Common Word-Choice Problems

Vague and Abstract Words

Slang

Wordy Language

Clichés

Edit for Word Choice

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

35. Commonly Confused Words: Avoiding Mistakes with Sound-Alike Words

Understanding Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused

Practice Using Commonly Confused Words Correctly

Edit for Commonly Confused Words

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

36. Spelling: Using the Right Letters

Finding and Correcting Mistakes

Use a Spell Checker—with Caution

Use Proofreading Techniques

Make a Personal Spelling List

Becoming a Better Speller

Master Commonly Confused Words

Learn Six Spelling Rules

Edit for Spelling Errors

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

PART SIX TEST

Part Seven: Punctuation and Capitalization

37. Commas

Understand What Commas Do

Practice Using Commas Correctly

Commas between Items in a Series

Commas in Compound Sentences

Commas after Introductory Word Groups

Commas around Appositives and Interrupters

Commas around Adjective Clauses

Other Uses for Commas

Commas with Quotation Marks

Commas in Addresses

Commas in Dates

Commas with Names

Commas with Yes or No

Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

38. Apostrophes

Understand What Apostrophes Do

Practice Using Apostrophes Correctly

Apostrophes to Show Ownership

Apostrophes in Contractions

Apostrophes with Letters, Numbers, and Time

Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

39. Quotation Marks

Understand What Quotation Marks Do

Practice Using Quotation Marks Correctly

Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations

Setting Off a Quotation within Another Quotation

No Quotation Marks for Indirect Quotations

Quotation Marks for Certain Titles

Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

40. Other Punctuation

Understand What Punctuation Does

Practice Using Punctuation Correctly

Semicolon ;

Semicolons to Join Closely Related Sentences

Semicolons When Items in a List Contain Commas

Colon :

Colons before Lists

Colons before Explanations or Examples

Colons in Business Correspondence and in Subtitles

Parentheses ( )

Dash —

Hyphen -

Hyphens to Join Words That Form a Single Description

Hyphens to Divide a Word at the End of a Line

Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

41. Capitalization

Understand Three Rules of Capitalization

Practice Capitalization

Capitalization of Sentences

Capitalization of Names of Specific People, Places, Dates, and Things

People

Places

Dates

Organizations, Companies, and Groups

Languages, Nationalities, and Religions

Courses

Commercial Products

Capitalization of Titles

Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing

Chapter Review

Chapter Test

PART SEVEN TEST

EDITING REVIEW TEST 1: Part 4

EDITING REVIEW TEST 2: Part 4

EDITING REVIEW TEST 3: Parts 4-5

EDITING REVIEW TEST 4: Parts 4-5

EDITING REVIEW TEST 5: Parts 4-6

EDITING REVIEW TEST 6: Parts 4-6

EDITING REVIEW TEST 7: Parts 4-7

EDITING REVIEW TEST 8: Parts 4-7

EDITING REVIEW TEST 9: Parts 4-7

EDITING REVIEW TEST 10: Parts 4-7

Part Eight: Readings for Writers

42. Narration

*Monique Rizer (student), When Students are Parents

Walter Scanlon , It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status

Patrick Conroy, Chili Cheese Dogs, My Father, and Me

43. Illustration

*Rose Martinez (student), Reality TV

Dianne Hales, Why Are We So Angry?

James Verini, Supersize It

44. Description

*Brian Healy (student), First Day in Fallujah

*David Dosa, A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat

*Eric Liu, Po-Po in Chinatown

45. Process Analysis

*Jasen Beverly (student), My Pilgrimage

*Tara Parker-Pope, How to Boost Your Willpower

*Noreen Malone, What Happens If You Fall Into A Black Hole?

46. Classification

*Vanessa Radzimski (student), Vanessa the Vegetarian

Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie

*Carolyn Foster Segal, The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe

47. Definition

*John Around Him (student), Free Money

*Michael Thompson, Passage into Manhood

Janice E. Castro with Dan Cook and Cristina Garcia, Spanglish

48. Comparison and Contrast

*Jackie Davison (student), Happy Birthday, Sis

Judith Ortiz Cofer, Don’t Misread My Signals

Deborah Tannen, Gender Patterns Begin at the Beginning

49. Cause and Effect

*Ruth Russell (student), The Wounds That Can’t Be Stitched Up

Pat Wingert, Uniforms Rule

*John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness

50. Argument

*Robert Phansalkar (student), Stop Snitchin Won’t Stop Crime

*Bill Maxwell, Start Snitching

*Alexandra Natapoff, Bait and Snitch: The High Cost of Snitching for Law Enforcement

Useful Appendices

A. Succeeding on Tests

B. Solving Problems

Answers to Odd-Numbered Editing Exercises

Supplemental Materials

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Real Writing with Readings : Paragraphs and Essays for College, Work, and Everyday Life

9780312539047

0312539045

Supplemental Materials

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

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