The Writer's Faqs: A Pocket Handbook : Includes Researching, Evaluating, and Documenting Online Sources

by Harris, Muriel

• ISBN13: 9780130213990
• ISBN10: 0130213993
• Edition: Spiral
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-10-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

A brief, 240 page spiral bound handbook for any writing course or writing-intensive course in English and other disciplines. For writers who want a clear, concise, user-friendly pocket guide beside them while they write, this book has it all. Its easy-to-navigate coverage offers a wide variety of traditional topics as well as the most current information on conducting online research, and using MLA, APA, Chicago Manual, and CBE citation formats. ALL writersnot only those in composition courseswill find valuable assistance with the writing process; argument reading and writing; all major areas of grammar and mechanics; conducting research in libraries and online; using the World Wide Web as a resource; and documenting and evaluating both print and electronic sources. Writers don't need to know grammatical terms because lists of frequently answered questions lead them to needed explanations offered in a friendly, informal tone and a highly readable style.

Table of Contents

WRITING.

1. Checklist for effective papers.

SENTENCE CHOICES.

2. Clarity.
3. Conciseness.
4. Variety.
5. Voice (Formal and Informal).
6. Mixed Constructions.
7. Active and Passive Verbs.
8. Parallelism.
9. Transitions.
10. Nonsexist Language.

SENTENCE GRAMMAR.

11. Fragments.
12. Comma Splices and Fused Sentences.
13. Subjects and Verbs.
14. Pronouns.
15. Adjectives and Adverbs.
16. Modifiers.
17. Shifts.

PUNCTUATION.

18. Sentence Punctuation Patterns (for Commas, Semicolons, and Colons).
19. Commas.
20. Apostrophes.
21. Semicolons.
22. Quotation Marks.
23. Other Punctuation.

MECHANICS.

24. Capitalization.
25. Italics.
26. Numbers.
27. Abbreviations.
28. Spelling.

MULTILINGUAL SPEAKERS (ESL).

29. American Style in Writing.
30. Verbs.
31. Nouns (Count and Noncount).
32. Articles (“A,” “An,” and “The“.
33. Prepositions.
34. Omitted/Repeated Words.
35. Idioms.

RESEARCH.

36. Doing Research.
37. Evaluating Sources.
38. Using Sources.

ONLINE.

39. Research Online.
40. Web Resources.
41. Evaluating Internet Sources.
42. Citing Internet Sources.

DOCUMENTATION.

43. MLA Style.
44. APA Style.
45. Other Formats.
Glossary of Usage.
Glossary of Grammatical Terms.
Index.
Corrections Symbols.
User's Guide (inside back cover).