Writing Worth Reading : The Critical Process

by Packer, Nancy Huddleston; Timpane, John

• ISBN13: 9780312061012
• ISBN10: 0312061013
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-06-01
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's

Summary

An unusually practical rhetoric and handbook,Writing Worth Readinghelps students develop the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills necessary for college-level work while it emphasizes the vital connections among them.

Table of Contents

Preface for Instructors	v
Introduction for Students	xi
PART ONE STEPS TO GOOD THINKING: THE CRITICAL PROCESS	1	(58)
The Critical Sense	3	(18)
Thinking, Reading, Writing: A Braided Chain	3	(2)
Opening the Mind: Clearing Out the Underbrush	5	(5)
Shedding Stereotypes	5	(1)
Questioning Authority	6	(1)
Slowing Down Judgment	7	(1)
Acknowledging Complexities	8	(1)
Tips for Opening the Mind	9	(1)
Exercise for Opening the Mind	9	(1)
Evaluating Rhetoric: Seeing Behind the Words	10	(11)
Weighing Emotional Appeals	10	(3)
Separating Fact from Opinion	13	(2)
Uncovering Assumptions	15	(1)
Finding the Argument	16	(2)
Tips for Evaluating Rhetoric	18	(1)
Exercises for Evaluating Rhetoric	18	(3)
The Logic of Argument	21	(17)
Premises and Inferences: The Path to Conclusions	21	(4)
Premises	22	(1)
Inferences	23	(2)
Induction and Deduction: How We Reason	25	(5)
Induction	25	(1)
Deduction	26	(2)
Enthymemes	28	(2)
Facts for Values: Telling is from Ought	30	(2)
Problems in Logic: Identifying Logical Fallacies	32	(6)
The Undistributed Middle	32	(1)
Affirming the Consequent	33	(1)
Circular Reasoning	33	(1)
Non Sequitur	33	(1)
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc	34	(1)
Ad hominem	34	(1)
Tips for the Logic of Argument	35	(1)
Exercises for the Logic of Argument	36	(2)
Critical Reading	38	(21)
A Critical Attitude: Engaging the Text	39	(1)
An Overview: Mapping the Text	39	(3)
Eight Questions: Evaluating Reading	42	(11)
What are they talking about? The Subject	42	(1)
Why are they talking about it? The Purpose	42	(1)
What's the big idea? The Thesis	43	(2)
How do you figure? Main Supporting Points	45	(1)
What's behind all this? Assumptions	46	(4)
How strong is the support? Evidence	50	(1)
So what? The Conclusion	51	(1)
Was it all worth it? The Whole Work	52	(1)
Evaluating Your Own Writing	52	(1)
Case Study: Critical Reading	53	(6)
``Why Did Communism Collapse?''	53	(1)
Glenn Blackburn
Response by Tom Russo (student)	54	(1)
Tips for Critical Reading	55	(1)
Exercises for Critical Reading	55	(4)
PART TWO FROM START TO FINISH: THE WRITING PROCESS	59	(74)
Getting Ready to Write	61	(21)
Purpose: The Aims of Writing	62	(4)
To Report	63	(1)
To Explain	63	(1)
To Persuade	64	(1)
Tips for Purpose	64	(1)
Exercises for Purpose	65	(1)
Audience: Is Anyone Out There Listening?	66	(3)
Tips for Audience	68	(1)
Exercises for Audience	68	(1)
Invention: Generating Ideas	69	(13)
Brainstorming	70	(1)
Freewriting	71	(3)
Clustering	74	(1)
Designing a Topic Tree	75	(1)
Directed Questioning	75	(3)
Using a Journal	78	(1)
Tips for Invention	79	(1)
Exercises for Invention	80	(2)
Putting Words on Paper	82	(51)
Subject and Thesis: Saying Something	82	(9)
The Subject	83	(1)
The Thesis	84	(5)
Tips for Subject and Thesis	89	(1)
Exercises for Subject and Thesis	90	(1)
Developing, Organizing, Drafting: Getting the Ideas Written	91	(10)
Getting Ready	91	(1)
Developing	92	(1)
Organizing	93	(5)
Drafting	98	(2)
Tips for Developing, Organizing, Drafting	100	(1)
Exercises for Developing, Organizing, Drafting	101	(1)
Revising: Getting the Writing Right	101	(5)
The Critical Distance	102	(1)
Blowing the Essay to Pieces	103	(1)
The Levels of Revision	104	(2)
Case Study: A Student's Personal Essay	106	(8)
Inventing	107	(1)
Developing, Organizing, Drafting	107	(2)
Revising	109	(3)
``New Meaning for an Old Word,'' Kimberly Corsaro (student)	112	(1)
Tips for Revising	113	(1)
Exercises for Revising	114	(1)
Case Study: Getting Writting from Reading	114	(19)
Mapping the Text	114	(1)
``Feminism, Stage Three'' Michael Levin	115	(8)
Reading and Taking Notes	123	(1)
Rereading and Taking More Notes	124	(1)
Asking and Answering the Eight Questions	124	(2)
Planning the Essay and Selecting Evidence	126	(1)
Drafting and Revising	127	(1)
``Does Superwoman Want to Fly?'' Larry Boyd (student)	127	(4)
Tips for Getting Writting from Reading	131	(1)
Exercises for Getting Writing from Reading	132	(1)
PART THREE WRITING TO PERSUADE: THE ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY	133	(42)
Using Evidence	135	(17)
Expert Testimony: Learning From Those Who Know	136	(2)
Statistics and Samples: The Magic of Numbers	138	(1)
Examples: Being Specific	139	(1)
Personal Experience: What You Know on Your Own	140	(1)
Analogy: Showing How Things are Similar	140	(1)
Known Facts and Shared Beliefs: What We All Have in Common	141	(1)
Reasoning and Logic: Thinking it Through	142	(1)
Criteria for Good Evidence: Making Sure	142	(2)
Relevance	142	(1)
Representativeness	143	(1)
Accuracy	143	(1)
Detail	143	(1)
Adequacy	144	(1)
Case Study: Evidence in Action	144	(8)
``Black Jurors: Right to Acquit?''	145	(4)
Paul Butler
Tips for Using Evidence	149	(1)
Exercises for Using Evidence	150	(2)
Making the Argument	152	(23)
The Basic Moves: Claim, Evidence, Warrant	153	(5)
Claim	153	(1)
Evidence	154	(2)
Warrant	156	(2)
Putting the Components Together: Binding the Argument	158	(3)
The 1-2-3 Rule	160	(1)
Considering the Opposition: Backing, Rebuttal, Concession/Qualification	161	(5)
Backing	161	(1)
Rebuttal	162	(1)
Concession/Qualification	163	(1)
Using the Toulmin Model as a Revision Tool	164	(1)
The Other Tools of Persuasion	165	(1)
Case Study: Argument in Action	166	(9)
``In Defense of the Harp Seal Hunt,'' Stephanie Klein (student)	166	(4)
Tips for Making the Argument	170	(1)
Exercises for Making the Argument	170	(5)
PART FOUR THE ART OF THE WRITER: PARAGRAPHS, SENTENCES, WORDS, STYLE	175	(152)
The Structure and Strategies of the Paragraph	177	(48)
UNITY: A Sense of Togetherness	178	(9)
Staying with the Main Point	179	(1)
Getting Help from the Topic Sentence	180	(4)
A Special Word about the Thesis and the Topic Sentence	184	(1)
Reading and Revising for Unity	185	(1)
Tips for Unity	185	(1)
Exercises for Unity	186	(1)
Development: Strategies for Expanding Your Thoughts	187	(25)
Tips for Development	190	(1)
Exercises for Development	190	(1)
Description: Showing It	191	(1)
Tips for Description	192	(1)
Exercises for Description	192	(1)
Narration: Telling It	193	(1)
Tips for Narration	194	(1)
Exercises for Narration	194	(1)
Illustration: Making It Specific	195	(2)
Tip for Illustration	197	(1)
Exercises for Illustration	197	(1)
Process Analysis: Explaning How It Works	197	(2)
Tips for Process Analysis	199	(1)
Exercises for Process Analysis	199	(1)
Cause and Effect: Explaining Why It Happened	200	(3)
Tips for Cause and Effect	203	(1)
Exercises for Cause and Effect	203	(1)
Division and Classification: Putting It in Its Place	204	(2)
Tip for Division and Classification	206	(1)
Exercises for Division and Classification	206	(1)
Comparison and Contrast: Showing Likeness, Showing Difference	207	(2)
Tip for Comparison and Contrast	209	(1)
Exercises for Comparison and Contrast	209	(1)
Definition: Establishing What a Word Means	209	(3)
Tips for Definition	212	(1)
Exercises for Definition	212	(1)
Coherence: Hanging Ideas Together	212	(13)
Grouping Related Ideas	213	(1)
Accentuating the Important	214	(3)
Thoughts Descending a Staircase	217	(2)
Something Old, Something New	219	(2)
Transitional Words	221	(2)
Tips for Coherence	223	(1)
Exercises for Coherence	223	(2)
From Paragraph to Essay: The Strategies at Work	225	(26)
Choosing Strategies: Questioning Your Main Point	225	(3)
Tips for Choosing Strategies	227	(1)
Exercises for Choosing Strategies	227	(1)
Linking Paragraphs: Bonding Fore and Aft	228	(2)
Observing Chronology	229	(1)
Repeating Words or Ideas	229	(1)
Providing an Example	229	(1)
Summarizing the Preceding Paragraph	229	(1)
Questioning the Previous Paragraph	229	(1)
Using Transitional Phrases	230	(1)
Shifting to Personal Pronouns and Relative Pronouns	230	(1)
Case Study: Illustrating Transitions	230	(3)
``Disability''	230	(2)
Nancy Mairs
Tips for Linking Paragraphs	232	(1)
Exercises for Linking Paragraphs	232	(1)
Overarching Strategies: Throughlines	233	(3)
Extended Definition	233	(1)
Extended Narrative	234	(1)
Assertion and Illustrations	235	(1)
Case Study: Fusing Many Strategies	236	(5)
``Class Acts: America's Changing Middle Class''	236	(4)
Ralph Whitehead, Jr.
Tips for Overarching Strategies	240	(1)
Exercises for Overarching Strategies	240	(1)
Your Opening Paragraph: A Bold Beginning	241	(4)
The Shape of the Opening Paragraph	241	(1)
The First Sentence	242	(1)
Pitfalls to Avoid	243	(1)
Tips for Your Opening Paragraph	244	(1)
Exercises for Your Opening Paragraph	244	(1)
Your Conclusion: Finishing in Style	245	(4)
Ending on the Right Note	245	(1)
The Larger Implications	246	(1)
Pitfalls to Avoid	246	(2)
Tips for Your Conclusion	248	(1)
Exercises for Your Conclusion	248	(1)
The Title: Issuing the Invitation	249	(2)
Tips for the Title	250	(1)
Exercises for the Title	250	(1)
The Sentence from Many Angles	251	(34)
Parts of a Sentence: the Basic Thought	252	(1)
Modifiers: Enriching the Thought	253	(3)
Adding Adjectives and Adverbs	253	(1)
Building with Phrases and Clauses	254	(1)
Tips for Modifiers	255	(1)
Exercises for Modifiers	255	(1)
Coordination and Subordination: Shaping the Thought	256	(6)
The Simple Sentence	256	(1)
Coordination	257	(2)
Subordination	259	(2)
Tips for Coordination and Subordination	261	(1)
Exercises for Coordination and Subordination	261	(1)
Emphasis: Strenghthening the Thought	262	(6)
Ending with a Bang	262	(1)
Opening with a Punch	263	(2)
Treating Equal Ideas with Equal Emphasis	265	(2)
Tips for Emphasis	267	(1)
Exercises for Emphasis	268	(1)
Economy: Reducing The Verbiage	268	(7)
Excess Weight	268	(5)
Wasteful Constructions	273	(1)
Tips for Economy	274	(1)
Exercises for Economy	274	(1)
Vigor: Making Prose Energetic	275	(10)
Be Active	276	(4)
Prefer People	280	(1)
Say It Straight	281	(2)
Tips for Vigor	283	(1)
Exercises for Vigor	283	(2)
Working with Words	285	(17)
Writing with Precision: Seeking the Exact Word	286	(5)
Connotation and Denotation	286	(2)
Using Your Dictionary	288	(2)
The Idiom	290	(1)
Tips for Writing with Precision	290	(1)
Exercises for Writing with Precision	291	(1)
An Appropriate Prose: Language that Fits	291	(11)
Specific and General	291	(2)
Qualifiers	293	(1)
Short Words and Long Words	294	(2)
Prioritizing Dejargonization	296	(1)
Giving Cliches the Kiss of Death	297	(1)
The Private Language of Our Crowd	298	(1)
Avoiding Sexist Language	298	(2)
Tips for Appropriate Prose	300	(1)
Exercises for Appropriate Prose	300	(2)
Developing Your Own Style	302	(25)
Characteristics of Good Style: Best Foot Forward	302	(4)
Tips for Characteristics of Good Style	305	(1)
Exercises for Characteristics of Good Style	305	(1)
The Personal Voice: Being There in Your Writing	306	(3)
Tips for Personal Voice	308	(1)
Exercise for Personal Voice	308	(1)
Tone: The Voice from Deep Within	309	(4)
Finding the Right Tone	309	(1)
Avoiding the Wrong Tone	310	(2)
Tips for Tone	312	(1)
Exercises for Tone	312	(1)
Writing With Flair: Risks That Pay Off	313	(8)
Appeals to the Senses	314	(2)
Figurative Language	316	(2)
Changing the Pace	318	(2)
Tips for Flair	320	(1)
Exercises for Flair	321	(1)
The High Informal Style: The Right Balance	321	(2)
Tips for the High Informal Style	323	(1)
Exercises for the High Informal Style	323	(1)
Case Study: Revising for Style	323	(4)
Essay on Anne Sexton's poetry	324	(3)
Courtney Hough
PART FIVE PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: COLLEGE WRITING	327	(160)
Doing Research	329	(47)
Choosing a General Subject	330	(3)
Working with an Assigned Topic	330	(1)
Discovering Your Own Topic	331	(2)
Compling a Working Bibliography	333	(15)
Time Management	333	(1)
Using Notecards	334	(1)
The Modern Library	335	(1)
Primary and Secondary Sources	336	(1)
The Reference Section	336	(3)
Book Files and Catalogs	339	(1)
The Online Catalog	339	(2)
Card Catalogs	341	(1)
Periodical Catalogs and Guides	342	(4)
Other Library Resources	346	(1)
Being Your Own Source	347	(1)
Using The Internet in Your Research	348	(5)
What Kinds of Sources Are Available?	349	(1)
Interactive Resources on the Internet: E-mail, Mailing Lists, Newsgroups, and Bulletin Boards	350	(1)
Narrowing the Net	350	(1)
Browsers, Directories, and Search Engines	351	(1)
Let the User Beware: Being Critical about Internet Sources	352	(1)
Limiting Your Area of Research	353	(1)
Formulating a Tentative Thesis	354	(1)
Reading and Taking Notes	355	(7)
Recognizing Good Sources	355	(1)
Taking Notes	356	(6)
Restating Your Thesis	362	(1)
Preparing an Outline	363	(2)
Writing a First Draft	365	(11)
Using Your Evidence	365	(5)
Integrating Different Sources	370	(2)
Tips for Doing Research	372	(1)
Exercises for Doing Research	373	(3)
Writing Research	376	(50)
Documenting Your Sources	376	(24)
Plagiarism	377	(4)
The MLA Documentation System	381	(10)
Sample Entries for Online Sources	391	(2)
Sample Entries for Other Sources	393	(1)
Using References in Your Text	394	(1)
Common Kinds of Parenthetical References	395	(5)
Revising and Writing the Final Draft	400	(3)
Case Study: A Sample Research Paper	403	(23)
``The Standardized Testing Controversy,''	404	(20)
Christina Gerke
Tips for Writing Research	424	(1)
Exercises for Writing Research	424	(2)
Writing in All Disciplines: The Report	426	(17)
Determining Your Scope	427	(1)
Getting a Handle on the Subject	428	(6)
The Precis	429	(1)
The Pentad	430	(1)
The Journalistic Method	430	(1)
Format for Analyzing Raw Data	431	(2)
Division and Classification	433	(1)
Cogitating and Reviewing	434	(1)
Devising an Organizational Thesis	434	(4)
Establishing Chronological Order	435	(1)
Indicating Main Divisions	435	(1)
Suggesting Recurrent Themes	435	(1)
Indicating the Means of Discussion	436	(1)
Defining the Subject	436	(1)
Establishing the ``Angle''	437	(1)
Setting Up a Comparison	437	(1)
Choosing the Right Organizational Thesis	438	(1)
Getting from Thesis to Outline	438	(5)
Parting Shots	439	(2)
Tips for the Report	441	(1)
Exercises for the Report	441	(2)
Reading, Interpreting, and Writing about Literature	443	(33)
Reading Literature	444	(16)
General Topics in Literature	445	(5)
Special topics in Fiction	450	(1)
``My First Goose'' Isaac Babel	451	(5)
Special Topics in Poetry	456	(1)
``Ars Poetica'' Archibald MacLeish	457	(3)
Interpreting Literature	460	(3)
Responsible Interpretation	460	(1)
Bases for Interpretation	461	(2)
Case Study: Speculating about a Poem	463	(5)
``The Silken Tent''	463	(1)
Robert Frost
Freewriting	464	(4)
Ines Echevarria
Writing About Literature	468	(1)
Case Study: Writing about Fiction	468	(8)
Essay on ``My First Goose''	470	(3)
Tripti Thomas
Some Do's and Don'ts	473	(1)
Tips for Reading, Interpreting, and Writing about Literature	474	(1)
Exercises for Reading, Interpreting, and Writing about Literature	474	(2)
The In-Class Essay Examination	476	(11)
Studying for the Exam	477	(1)
Taking the Exam	478	(5)
Organizing Your Time	479	(1)
Noting Significant Words in the Question	479	(2)
Shaping Your Answer	481	(1)
Writing Your Answer	481	(1)
Adding, Reviewing, Polishing	482	(1)
Case Study: An In-Class Essay Examination	483	(1)
Essay on American Individualism	483	(1)
Jeri Shikuma
Short Answers	484	(3)
Tips for the In-Class Essay Examination	485	(1)
Exercises for the In-Class Essay Examination	486	(1)
PART SIX THE NUTS AND BOLTS: A HANDBOOK OF GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, MECHANICS, AND USAGE	487	(76)
Basic Grammar	489	(16)
The Parts of Speech and Their Functions	489	(11)
Nouns	489	(1)
Pronouns	490	(3)
Exercises for Pronouns	493	(1)
Verbs	493	(3)
Exercies of Verbs	496	(1)
Adjectives	497	(1)
Adverbs	498	(1)
Exercise for Adjectives and Adverbs	498	(1)
Conjuctions	498	(1)
Exercises for Conjunctions	499	(1)
Prepositions	499	(1)
Exercises for Prepositions	500	(1)
Interjections	500	(1)
Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences	500	(5)
Phrases	500	(1)
Clauses	501	(1)
Sentences	502	(1)
Exercises for Phrases, Caluses, and Sentences	503	(2)
Problems in Sentences	505	(17)
Subject-Verb Agreement	505	(4)
Exercises for Subject-Verb Agreement	509	(1)
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement	509	(2)
Exercises for Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement	511	(1)
Pronoun Reference	511	(4)
Exercise for Pronoun Reference	514	(1)
Comma Splices and Fused Sentences	515	(1)
Exercise for Comma Splices and Fused Sentences	515	(1)
Sentence Fragments	516	(1)
Exercises for Sentence Fragments	516	(1)
Modifiers: Misplaced, Squinting, and Dangling	517	(2)
Exercise for Modifiers	519	(1)
Parallel Construction	519	(3)
Exercise for Parallel Construction	521	(1)
Punctuation	522	(17)
Endings	522	(1)
Periods	522	(1)
Exclamation Points and Question Marks	523	(1)
Commas	523	(3)
Exercise for Commas	526	(1)
Parentheses and Dashes	526	(3)
Parentheses	526	(2)
Dashes	528	(1)
Exercise for Parentheses and Dashes	528	(1)
Semicolons	529	(1)
Colons	529	(2)
Exercise for Semicolons and Colons	531	(1)
Apostrophes	531	(3)
Exercises for Apostrophes	534	(1)
Punctuation of Quotations	534	(2)
Ellipses	536	(1)
Other Punctuation	537	(2)
Brackets	537	(1)
Virgules	537	(1)
Exercises for Punctuation	538	(1)
Mechanics	539	(7)
Abbreviations	539	(1)
Capitalization	540	(2)
Italics	542	(1)
Numbers	543	(1)
Hyphens	543	(3)
Exercises for Mechanics	545	(1)
Glossary of Usage	546	(17)
APPENDIXES	563	(16)
Bibliography of Internet Reference Guides	565	(2)
Other Systems of Documentation	567	(6)
The MLA Notes and Bibliography System	567	(3)
The American Psychological Association Style	570	(3)
Style Manuals and Handbooks in Various Disciplines	573	(6)
Index	579