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Purchase Benefits
Thematic Table of Contents
Preface
Real Support for Instructors and Students
A Note to Students from Susan Anker
Part 1
How to Write Paragraphs and Essays
1. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: Making Connections
What Is Critical Thinking?
FOUR BASICS OF CRITICAL THINKING
What Is Critical Reading?
2PR: The Critical Reading Process
Amanda Jacobowitz, A Ban on Water Bottles: A Way to Bolster the University’s Image
What Is Writing Critically about Readings?
Box: Reading and Writing Critically
What Is Writing Critically about Visuals?
What Is Problem Solving?
Chapter Review
2. Writing Basics: Audience, Purpose, and Process
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD WRITING
Understand Audience and Purpose
DIAGRAM: Relationship between Paragraphs and Essays
Understand the Writing Process
Understand Grading Criteria
Chapter Review
3. Finding, Narrowing, and Exploring Your Topic: Choosing Something to Write About
Understand What a Topic Is
Practice Narrowing a Topic
Practice Exploring Your Topic
Write Your Own Topic and Ideas
Chapter Review
4. Writing Your Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement: Making Your Point
Understand What a Topic Sentence and a Thesis Statement Are
Practice Developing a Good Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement
DIAGRAM: Relationship between Paragraphs and Essays
Write Your Own Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement
Chapter Review
5. Supporting Your Point: Finding Details, Examples, and Facts
Understand What Support Is
Practice Supporting a Main Point
Write Your Own Support
Chapter Review
6. Drafting: Putting Your Ideas Together
Understand What a Draft Is
Arrange Your Ideas
Make a Plan
Practice Writing a Draft Paragraph
Practice Writing a Draft Essay
Write Your Own Draft Paragraph or Essay
Chapter Review
7. Revising: Improving Your Paragraph or Essay
Understand What Revision Is
Understand What Peer Review Is
Practice Revising for Unity, Detail, and Coherence
Revise Your Own Paragraph
Revise Your Own Essay
Chapter Review
Part 2
Writing Different Kinds of Paragraphs and Essays
8. Narration: Writing That Tells Important Stories
Understand What Narration Is
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD NARRATION
Main Point in Narration
Support in Narration
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Narration
Organization in Narration
Read and Analyze Narration
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Kelly Layland, Registered Nurse
Student Paragraph: Jelani Lynch: My Turnaround
Professional Essay: Amy Tan, Fish Cheeks
Write Your Own Narration (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
9. Illustration: Writing That Gives Examples
Understand What Illustration Is
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ILLUSTRATION
Main Point in Illustration
Support in Illustration
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Illustration
Organization in Illustration
Read and Analyze Illustration
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Karen Upright, Systems Manager
Student Paragraph: Casandra Palmer, Gifts from the Heart
Professional Essay: Susan Adams, The Weirdest Job Interview Questions and How to Handle Them
Write Your Own Illustration (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
10. Description: Writing That Creates Pictures in Words
Understand What Description Is
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DESCRIPTION
Main Point in Description
Support in Description
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Description
Organization in Description
Read and Analyze Description
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Celia Hyde, Chief of Police
Student Paragraph: Alessandra Cepeda, Bird Rescue
Professional Essay: Oscar Hijuelos, Memories of New York City Snow
Write Your Own Description (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
11. 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
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Process Analysis
Organization in Process Analysis
Read and Analyze Process Analysis
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Jeremy Graham, Youth Pastor and Motivational Speaker
Student Paragraph: Charlton Brown, Buying a Car at an Auction
Professional Essay: Ian Frazier, How to Operate the Shower Curtain
Write Your Own Process Analysis (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
12. Classification: Writing That Sorts Things into Groups
Understand What Classification Is
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CLASSIFICATION
Main Point in Classification
Support in Classification
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Classification
Organization in Classification
Read and Analyze Classification
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Leigh King, Fashion Writer / Blogger
Student Paragraph: Lorenza Mattazi, All My Music
Professional Essay: Frances Cole Jones, Don’t Work in a Goat’s Stomach
Write Your Own Classification (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
13. Definition: Writing That Tells What Something Means
Understand What Definition Is
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DEFINITION
Main Point in Definition
Support in Definition
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Definition
Organization in Definition
Read and Analyze Definition
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Walter Scanlon, Program and Workplace Consultant
Student Paragraph: Corin Costas, What Community Involvement Means to Me
Professional Essay: Janice E. Castro with Dan Cook and Cristina Garcia, Spanglish
Write Your Own Definition (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
14. Comparison and Contrast: Writing That Shows Similarities and Differences
Understand What Comparison and Contrast Are
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
Main Point in Comparison and Contrast
Support in Comparison and Contrast
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Comparison and Contrast
Organization in Comparison and Contrast
Read and Analyze Comparison and Contrast
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Brad Leibov, President, New Chicago Fund, Inc.
Student Paragraph: Said Ibrahim, Eyeglasses vs. Laser Surgery: Benefits and Drawbacks
Professional Essay: Mark Twain, Two Ways of Seeing a River
Write Your Own Comparison and Contrast (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
15. Cause and Effect: Writing That Explains Reasons or Results
Understand What Cause and Effect Are
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CAUSE AND EFFECT
Main Point in Cause and Effect
Support in Cause and Effect
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs versus Essays in Cause and Effect
Organization in Cause and Effect
Read and Analyze Cause and Effect
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Mary LaCue Booker, Singer, Actor
Student Paragraph: Caitlin Prokop, A Difficult Decision with a Positive Outcome
Professional Essay: Kristen Ziman, Bad Attitudes and Glowworms
Write Your Own Cause and Effect (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
16. Argument: Writing That Persuades
Understand What Argument Is
FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ARGUMENT
Main Point in Argument
Support in Argument
DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Argument
Organization in Argument
Read and Analyze Argument
PROFILE OF SUCCESS: Diane Melancon, Oncologist
Student Essay 1: "Yes" to Social Media in Education: Jason Yilmaz, A Learning Tool Whose Time Has Come
Student Essay 2: "No" to Social Media in Education: Shari Beck, A Classroom Distraction—and Worse
Write Your Own Argument (Assignments)
Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
Reading and Writing Critically
Writing Critically about Readings
Writing about Images
Writing to Solve a Problem
Checklist and Chapter Review
Part 3
Special College Writing Projects
17. Writing Summaries, Reports, and Essay Exams: Showing What You Have Learned
Write a Summary
FOUR BASICS OF A GOOD SUMMARY
Write a Report
FOUR BASICS OF A GOOD REPORT
Write a Response to an Essay Exam Question
FOUR BASICS OF A GOOD RESPONSE TO AN ESSAY QUESTION
18. Writing the Research Essay: Using Sources in Your Writing
Make a Schedule
Choose a Topic
Find Sources
Evaluate Sources
Avoid Plagiarism
Cite and Document Your Sources
DIRECTORY OF MLA IN-TEXT CITATIONS
DIRECTORY OF MLA WORKS CITED
STUDENT RESEARCH ESSAY: Dara Riesler, Service Dogs Help Heal the Mental Wounds of War
Part 4
The Four Most Serious Errors
19. The Basic Sentence: An Overview
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The Four Most Serious Errors
The Parts of Speech
The Basic Sentence
Chapter Review and Test
20. Fragments: Incomplete Sentences
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Understand What Fragments Are
Find and Correct Fragments
Edit for Fragments
Chapter Review and Test
21. Run-Ons: Two Sentences Joined Incorrectly
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Understand What Run-Ons Are
Find and Correct Run-Ons
Edit for Run-Ons
Chapter Review and Test
22. Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement: When Subjects and Verbs Don’t Match
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Understand What Subject-Verb Agreement Is
Find and Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
Edit for Subject-Verb Agreement
Chapter Review and Test
23. Verb Tense: Using Verbs to Express Different Times
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Understand What Verb Tense Is
Practice Using Correct Verbs
Edit for Verb Problems
Chapter Review and Test
Part 5
Other Grammar Concerns
24. Pronouns: Using Substitutes for Nouns
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Understand What Pronouns Are
Practice Using Pronouns Correctly
Edit for Pronoun Problems
Chapter Review and Test
25. Adjectives and Adverbs: Using Descriptive Words
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Understand What Adjectives and Adverbs Are
Practice Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly
Edit for Adjective and Adverb Problems
Chapter Review and Test
26. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Confusing Descriptions
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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 and Test
27. Coordination and Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas
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Understand What Coordination Is
Practice Using Coordination
Understand What Subordination Is
Practice Using Subordination
Edit for Coordination and Subordination
Chapter Review and Test
28. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas
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Understand What Parallelism Is
Practice Writing Parallel Sentences
Edit for Parallelism Problems
Chapter Review and Test
29. Sentence Variety: Putting Rhythm in Your Writing
Understand What Sentence Variety Is
Practice Creating Sentence Variety
Edit for Sentence Variety
Chapter Review and Test
30. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students
Basic Sentence Patterns
Pronouns
Verbs
Articles
Prepositions
Chapter Review and Test
Part 6
Word Use
31. Word Choice: Using the Right Words
Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully
Practice Avoiding Four Common Word-Choice Problems
Edit for Word Choice
Chapter Review and Test
32. Commonly Confused Words: Avoiding Mistakes with Soundalike Words
Understand Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused
Practice Using Commonly Confused Words Correctly
Edit for Commonly Confused Words
Chapter Review and Test
33. Spelling: Using the Right Letters
Finding and Correcting Mistakes
Three Strategies for Becoming a Better Speller
Chapter Review and Test
Part 7
Punctuation and Capitalization
34. Commas ( , )
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Understand What Commas Do
Practice Using Commas Correctly
Edit for Commas
Chapter Review and Test
35. Apostrophes ( ’ )
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Understand What Apostrophes Do
Practice Using Apostrophes Correctly
Edit for Apostrophes
Chapter Review and Test
36. Quotation Marks ( " " )
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Understand What Quotation Marks Do
Practice Using Quotation Marks Correctly
Edit for Quotation Marks
Chapter Review and Test
37. Other Punctuation ( ; : ( ) -- - )
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Understand What Punctuation Does
Practice Using Punctuation Correctly
Edit for Other Punctuation Marks
Chapter Review and Test
38. Capitalization: Using Capital Letters
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Understand Three Rules of Capitalization
Practice Capitalization
Chapter Review and Test
EDITING REVIEW TESTS 1–10
Part 8
Readings for Writers
39. Narration
Lauren Mack, Gel Pens
Pat Conroy, Chili Cheese Dogs, My Father, and Me
40. Illustration
True Shields, To Stand in Giants’ Shadows
Dianne Hales, Why Are We So Angry?
41. Description
Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah
Eric Liu, Po-Po in Chinatown
42. Process Analysis
Jasen Beverly, My Pilgrimage
Sherman Alexie, The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me
43. Classification
Kelly Hultgren, Pick Up the Phone to Call, Not Text
Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie
44. Definition
John Around Him, Free Money
Michael Thompson, Passage into Manhood
45. Comparison and Contrast
Courtney Stoker, The Great Debate: Essentialism vs. Dominance
Judith Ortiz Cofer, Don’t Misread My Signals
46. Cause and Effect
Holly Moeller, Say, Don’t Spray
John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness
47. Argument
Snitching
Robert Phansalkar, Stop Snitchin’ Won’t Stop Crime
Bill Maxwell, Start Snitching
Alexandra Natapoff, Bait and Snitch: The High Cost of Snitching for Law Enforcement
Rights for Illegal Immigrants
Heather Rushall, Dream Act Is Finance Fantasy
Dominic Deiro, I Have a DREAM
Index
Editing and Proofreading Marks
For Easy Reference: Selected Lists and Charts
Real Take-Away Points
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