Writing Clear Essays

by Donald, R.B.; Morrow, Betty Richmond; Wargetz, Lillian Griffith; Werner, Kathleen

• ISBN13: 9780134545479
• ISBN10: 0134545478
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1995-08-29
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

This book offers a traditional basis for writing composition enhanced by contemporary concepts. It's a concise rhetoric that will guide readers through the organization and development of essays in each rhetorical mode. The three-part chapter organization combines the writing process, essay structure, and word choice. It also includes a new chapter on the research paper. Its structure is in a light, informal, and supportive tone.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
To the Student	xi
To the Instructor	xii
Prologue	1	(410)
What Is an Essay?	2	(2)
Getting Started	4	(2)
Finding a Topic	4	(2)
Establishing a Purpose	6	(1)
Narrowing to a Specific Subject and Attitude	6	(2)
Deciding on Your Audience	7	(1)
Developing a Thesis Statement	8	(2)
Writing the Essay	10	(3)
Into the Essay	13	(28)
Organization	13	(9)
Expanding the Topic Sentence to the Introduction and Thesis Sentence	14	(2)
Expanding Subtopic Sentences to Topic Sentences	16	(1)
An Example of Expanding	17	(1)
Developing the Introduction	18	(1)
Developing the Body	19	(1)
Developing the Conclusion	20	(1)
Titles	21	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	22	(9)
Transitions	22	(5)
Application of Old Skills	27	(1)
Organization as Transition	27	(4)
Word Power	31	(10)
Action Verbs	32	(1)
Active versus Passive Voice	32	(2)
Replacing Weak and Colorless Verbs	34	(1)
Replacing Unnecessary To Be Verbs	35	(1)
The Active Voice in Action	36	(5)
Narrating	41	(32)
Organization	41	(17)
The Three-Part Structure for Narration	42	(2)
Introductions	44	(4)
The Body	48	(4)
The Conclusion	52	(3)
Chronological Order in Writing Other than Narrative	55	(3)
Suggested Topics	58	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	59	(6)
Coordination and Subordination	59	(5)
Relative Pronouns	64	(1)
Word Power	65	(8)
The Choice Is Yours	65	(1)
The Choice of Verbs	66	(2)
A Choice of Specific Nouns and Modifiers	68	(2)
Specific Modifiers	70	(3)
Describing	73	(29)
Description as a Help to Other Writing	74	(4)
Organization	78	(13)
Steps in Writing a Description	78	(8)
Introduction	86	(1)
Body	87	(2)
Conclusion	89	(2)
Suggested Topics	91	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	92	(5)
Structural Errors	92	(1)
Eliminating Deadwood and Redundancies	93	(4)
Word Power	97	(5)
Using Abstract Words or Concrete Words	98	(4)
Explaining with Examples	102	(32)
Organization	105	(9)
What Makes Good Examples	105	(2)
Introduction	107	(1)
Body	107	(1)
Conclusion	108	(1)
The Ordering of Examples: Climactic Order	109	(1)
Examples as a Help to Other Writing	110	(4)
Suggested Topics	114	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	115	(7)
Agreement	115	(7)
Word Power	122	(12)
Pronouns as Subjects and Objects	122	(4)
Principal Parts of Verbs	126	(1)
Tense	126	(3)
Irregular Verbs	129	(5)
Process	134	(18)
The Two Kinds of Process	134	(3)
The Traditional Method of Process	134	(1)
The ``How-to'' How-to Essay	135	(2)
Organization	137	(3)
Process Samples	137	(3)
Suggested Topics	140	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	140	(3)
Preparing the Final Draft	140	(1)
Revising	140	(3)
Word Power	143	(9)
Rewriting	144	(4)
Editing	148	(4)
Comparing and Contrasting	152	(28)
On What Basis Are You Comparing and Contrasting?	153	(1)
Organization	154	(11)
Introduction	155	(1)
Two Basic Methods of Organization	156	(2)
Conclusion	158	(1)
Writing the Comparison/Contrast Essay	159	(6)
Suggested Topics	165	(3)
Planning Sheet: Comparison/Contrast Paper	166	(2)
Techniques of Clear Writing	168	(4)
Comparisons Within the Sentence	168	(4)
Word Power	172	(8)
Metaphor: A Special Type of Comparison	172	(2)
Mixed Metaphors	174	(1)
Analogies and Metaphors	175	(1)
Examples of Extended Analogy	175	(5)
Dividing and Classifying	180	(26)
Division and Classification	180	(1)
Groupings Become Increasingly Narrowed and Specialized	181	(4)
Organization	185	(8)
Introduction	186	(1)
Body	187	(1)
Conclusion	187	(6)
Suggested Topics	193	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	194	(7)
Sentence Variety	194	(7)
Word Power	201	(5)
Idiom	201	(1)
Cliches and Trite Expressions	202	(4)
Combining Methods of Development	206	(21)
Advantages of Combining Different Methods of Development	206	(1)
Organization	207	(5)
Introduction and Thesis Statement	207	(1)
Body	208	(1)
Conclusion	209	(3)
Suggested Topics	212	(2)
Techniques of Clear Writing	214	(4)
Parallel Wording	214	(4)
Word Power	218	(9)
Good Diction: The Right Word in the Right Place	218	(7)
Review of Rules Regarding Good Diction	225	(2)
Defining	227	(34)
The Need for Definition	227	(10)
Methods of Definition	229	(6)
Two Student Essays Developed by Differing Methods	235	(2)
Organization	237	(6)
Introduction	237	(1)
Body	238	(1)
Conclusion	239	(4)
Suggested Topics	243	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	243	(8)
Point of View	246	(5)
Word Power	251	(10)
The Dictionary	251	(6)
Denotation and Connotation	257	(4)
Cause and Effect	261	(37)
Sufficient Cause/Contributing Cause	262	(2)
Enough Information	264	(1)
Narrowed Topic	264	(1)
Analyzing Causes	264	(2)
The Chain of Cause and Effect	266	(1)
Organization	267	(11)
Introduction	267	(1)
Body	268	(1)
Conclusion	268	(4)
Tracing a Complex Cause and Effect Relationship	272	(4)
Analogy	276	(2)
Suggested Topics	278	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	279	(8)
Clarity Through Emphasis	279	(5)
Revising for Economy and Precision	284	(3)
Word Power	287	(11)
It Ain't Necessarily So!	287	(2)
False Implications	289	(1)
Confusing Words	289	(1)
Words and Phrases Frequently Misused	290	(8)
Argument and Persuasion	298	(42)
What Is Argument? What Is Persuasion?	298	(1)
The Prevalence of Argument and Persuasion	299	(1)
Subjects to Avoid in Argument and Persuasion	299	(1)
Logical Argument and Errors in Logic	299	(5)
Emotional Argument and Ethical Violations	304	(6)
Organization	310	(19)
Introduction	311	(1)
Body	312	(2)
Verbal Signals of Argument	314	(1)
Conclusion	315	(2)
Formal Argument	317	(1)
Inductive Reasoning	318	(1)
Persuasive Strategies	319	(2)
Deductive Reasoning	321	(1)
The Chain of Reasoning	322	(1)
Special Cautions	322	(3)
Testing the Complete Argument	325	(4)
Suggested Topics	329	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	329	(7)
Sentence Combining for Brevity and Clarity	329	(7)
Word Power	336	(4)
Wording Your Argument	336	(1)
Labeling	336	(4)
Writing About Literature	340	(36)
Reading Literature and Prewriting	340	(1)
Elements of Fiction	341	(9)
Analysis of ``I See You Never''	350	(2)
Organization	352	(9)
Choosing Your Topic	352	(1)
Introduction	353	(2)
Body	355	(2)
Conclusion	357	(1)
More Fiction	358	(2)
Misunderstanding What Is Read	360	(1)
Techniques of Clear Writing	361	(6)
The Historical Present Tense	361	(1)
Figurative Language	362	(5)
Word Power	367	(9)
Useful Terms for Literary Criticism	367	(9)
Writing the Research Paper	376	(19)
The Process	376	(1)
The Steps: One at a Time	377	(5)
Techniques for Writing a Research Paper	382	(13)
Use of Others' Writing	383	(1)
Discussion Activity: Paraphrasing	384	(11)
The Essay Test	395	(16)
How to Prepare for an Essay Test	395	(2)
How to Take an Essay Test	397	(3)
Five Wrong Ways to Answer an Essay Question	400	(1)
...And How to Correct the Five Wrong Ways	400	(11)
List of Exercises	411	(2)
Index	413