Preface
Thematic Contents
To the Student
PART ONE: ACADEMIC QUICK START
1. Succeeding in College
Chapter Quick Start
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
Focus on Success
Manage Your Time
Organize a Writing and Study Area
Study Smarter
Manage Stress
CLASSROOM SKILLS
Polish Your Academic Image
Demonstrate Academic Integrity
Communicate with Your Instructor
Listen Carefully and Critically
Take Effective Notes in Class
2. Writing in College
Chapter Quick Start
ACADEMIC WRITING: WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect Your Writing to Move from More Personal to Less Personal
Expect Your Writing to Take Different Forms
Expect to Use the Language of the Discipline
Expect to Use Standard American English
Expect to Use and Document Scholarly Sources
Expect to Collaborate with Classmates
WHY STRIVE TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING SKILLS?
Writing Skills Help in College and in Your Career
Writing Facilitates Learning and Recall
Writing Clarifies Your Thinking
Writing Helps You Solve Problems
DEVELOPING STRATEGIES FOR WRITING
Start with a Positive Attitude
Use the Right Learning Tools
Use the College Writing Center
Get the Most out of Writing Conferences
Assessing Your Learning Style
What Is Your Learning Style?
LEARNING STYLE INVENTORY
A Word About Your Findings
APPLYING YOUR LEARNING STYLE TO YOUR WRITING
3. Reading and Writing about Text
READING IN COLLEGE
Changing Some Misconceptions about Reading
A Guide to Active Reading
Reading: Purse Snatching, Donna Lopiano
Understanding Difficult Text and Visuals
A Guide to Responding to text
Summarize to Check Your Understanding
Link the Reading to Your Own Experiences
Analyze the Reading
Using Your Learning Style
HOW TO APPROACH THE STUDENT ESSAYS IN THIS BOOK
How to Focus on Writing Features
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: The Games We Play: Inequality in the Pro-Sports Workplace, Tracey Aquino (student essay)
PART TWO: STRATEGIES FOR WRITING ESSAYS
4. Prewriting: How to Find and Focus Ideas
Choosing and Narrowing a Topic
Thinking about Your Purpose, Audience, and Point of View
Considering Your Audience
Choosing a Point of View
Discovering Ideas to Write About
Using the Patterns of Development
STUDENTS WRITE
Christine Lee’s Prewriting Strategies
5. Developing and Supporting a Thesis
Chapter Quick Start
What Is a Thesis Statement?
Developing Your Thesis Statement
Coming Up with a Working Thesis Statement
Writing an Effective Thesis Statement
Placing the Thesis Statement
Supporting Your Thesis Statement with Evidence
Choosing Types of Evidence
Collecting Evidence to Support Your Thesis
Choosing the Best Evidence
Using Sources to Support Your Thesis
STUDENTS WRITE
Christine Lee’s Working Thesis
Working With Text
Reading: Pet Therapy for Heart and Soul, Kerry Pechter
6. Drafting An Essay
The Structure of an Essay
Organizing Your Supporting Details
Selecting a Method of Organization
Preparing an Outline or Graphic Organizer
Connecting Your Supporting Details with Transitions and Repetition
Writing Your Introduction, Conclusion, and Title
Writing a Strong Introduction
Writing an Effective Conclusion
Drafting with a Computer
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: The Reality of Real TV, Christine Lee (student essay)
Working with Text
Reading: Black Men and Public Space, Brent Staples
7. Writing Effective Paragraphs
THE STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH
WRITING A TOPIC SENTENCE
A Topic Sentence Should Be Focused
A Topic Sentence May Preview the Organization of the Paragraph
A Topic Sentence Should Support Your Thesis
A Topic Sentence Should be Strategically Placed
INCLUDING SUPPORTING DETAILS
Effective Paragraphs Have Unity
Effective Paragraphs Are Well Developed
Effective Paragraphs Provide Specific Supporting Details
Details are Arranged Logically
USING TRANSITIONS AND REPETITION
Coherent Paragraphs Include Transitional Expressions
Coherent Paragraphs Include Repetition of Key Words
DICTION IN ACADEMIC WRITING
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: The Reality of Real TV, Christine Lee (student essay): Paragraph Excerpt
WORKING WITH TEXT
8. Revising Content and Organization
Why Revise?
Useful Techniques for Revision
Using a Graphic Organizer for Revision
Key Questions for Revision
Analyzing Your Purpose and Audience
Analyzing Your Thesis, Topic Sentences, and Evidence
Analyzing Your Organization
Analyzing Your Paragraph Development
Working with Classmates to Revise Your Essay
How to Find a Good Reviewer
Suggestions for the Writer
Suggestions for the Reviewer
USING YOUR INSTRUCTOR’S COMMENTS
Revising an Essay Using Your Instructor’s Comments
Using Your Instructor’s Comments to Improve Future Essays
Considering Your Learning Style
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: A Trend Taken Too Far: The Reality of Real TV, Christine Lee (student essay)
9. Editing Sentences and Words
Chapter Quick Start
Analyzing Your Sentences
Are Your Sentences Concise?
Are Your Sentences Varied?
Are Your Sentences Parallel in Structure?
Do Your Sentences Have Strong, Active Verbs?
Analyzing Your Word Choice
Are Your Tone and Level of Diction Appropriate?
Do You Use Words with Appropriate Connotations?
Do You Use Concrete Language?
Do You Use Fresh, Appropriate Figures of Speech?
Evaluating Your Word Choice
Suggestions for ProofReading
STUDENTS WRITE
Excerpt from Christine Lee’s Edited Second Draft
PART THREE: PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT
10. Narration: Recounting Events
Writing a Narrative
What Is Narration?
Reading: Right Place, Wrong Face, Alton Fitzgerald White
Characteristics of a Narrative
Visualizing a Narrative: A Graphic Organizer
Reading: Selling Civility, Peter Scott
Integrating a Narrative into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: You Can Count on Miracles, Aphonetip Vasavong (student essay)
Reading a Narrative
Working with Text: Reading Narratives
Thinking Critically about Narration
Reading: Selling in Minnesota, Barbara Ehrenreich
Reading: Another Mother’s Child: A Letter to a Murdered Son, Norma Molen (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
11. Description: Portraying People, Places, and Things
Writing a Description
What Is Description?
Reading: Eating Chili Peppers, Jeremy MacClancy
Characteristics of Descriptive Writing
Visualizing a Description: A Graphic Organizer
Reading: Inferior Decorating, Amy Tan
Integrating Description into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Generating Ideas and Details
Creating a Dominant Impression
STUDENTS WRITE
*Reading: Heatstroke with a Side of Burn Cream, Ted Sawchuck (student essay)
Reading a Description
Working with Text: Reading Descriptive Essays
Thinking Critically about Description
*Reading: Shipwreck, Cat Bohannon
*Reading: Bloggers Without Borders…, Riverbend (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
12. Illustration: Explaining With Examples
Writing an Illustration Essay
What Is Illustration?
Reading: Rambos of the Road, Martin Gottfried
Characteristics of Illustration Essays
Visualizing an Illustration Essay: A Graphic Organizer
*Reading: Geeks in the Clubhouse, Tim Gideon and Jeff Pearlman
Integrating Illustration into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Choosing and Evaluating Your Examples
STUDENTS WRITE
*Reading: Conforming to Stand Out: A Look at American Beauty, Nick Ruggia (student essay)
Reading an Illustration Essay
WORKING WITH TEXT: READING ILLUSTRATION ESSAYS
Thinking Critically about Illustration
Reading: Goin’ Gangsta, Choosin’ Cholita: Claiming Identity,Nell Bernstein
Reading: Words That Wound, Kathleen Vail (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
13. Process Analysis: Explaining How Something Works or Is Done
Writing a Process Analysis
What Is Process Analysis?
*Reading: How to Use Online Dating Sites, Ed Grabianowski
*Reading: How Internet Search Engines Work, Curt Franklin
Characteristics of Process Analysis Essays
Visualizing a Process Analysis Essay: A Graphic Organizer
Integrating Process Analysis into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Listing the Steps and Gathering Details
Evaluating Your Ideas and Thesis
STUDENTS WRITE
*Reading: Feed Your Friends . . . and Their Friends . . . and Their Friends: Chili for Fifty, Eric Michalski (student essay)
Reading a Process Analysis
Working with Text: Reading Process Analysis Essays
Thinking Critically about Process Analysis
Reading: Remote Control: How to Raise a Media Skeptic, Susan Douglas
*Reading: Panacea, Dorothy Allison (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
14. Comparison and Contrast: Showing Similarities and Differences
Writing a Comparison or Contrast Essay
What Are Comparison and Contrast?
*Reading: Amusing Ourselves to Death: Is The Onion Our Most Intelligent Newspaper?, Greg Beato
Reading: Dearly Disconnected, Ian Frazier
Characteristics of Comparison or Contrast Essays
Visualizing a Comparison or Contrast Essay: Two Graphic Organizers
Reading: Who’s Eating What, and Why, in the United States and Europe? Thomas Kinnear, Kenneth Bernhardt, and Kathleen Krentler
Integrating Comparison and Contrast into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Evaluating Your Ideas and Thesis
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: Border Bites, Heather Gianakos (student essay)
Reading Comparison and Contrast
Working with Text: Reading Comparison or Contrast Essays
Thinking Critically about Comparison and Contrast
Reading: His Marriage and Hers: Childhood Roots, Daniel Goleman
Reading: Defining a Doctor, with a Tear, a Shrug, and a Schedule, Abigail Zuger (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
15. Classification and Division: Explaining Categories and Parts
Writing a Classification or Division Essay
What Are Classification and Division?
*Reading: My Life on the McJob: Fast Food Managers, Jerry Newman
Characteristics of Classification and Division Essays
Visualizing a Classification or Division Essay: A Graphic Organizer
Reading: A Brush with Reality: Surprises in the Tube, David Bodanis
Integrating Classification or Division into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Evaluating Your Ideas and Thesis
STUDENTS WRITE
*Reading: Immigration: Legal and Illegal, Sunny Desai (student essay)
Reading a Classification or Division Essay
Working with Text: Reading Classification or Division
Thinking Critically about Classification and Division
Reading: Territoriality, Joseph A. DeVito
*Reading: The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe, Carolyn Foster Segal (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
16. Definition: Explaining What You Mean Chapter Quick Start
Writing a Definition
What Is a Definition?
*Reading: Freegans at Work, Sarah Dowdey
Characteristics of Extended Definitions
Visualizing an Extended Definition Essay: A Graphic Organizer
*Reading: Latin Lingo, Ilan Stavans
Integrating Definitions into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Evaluating Your Ideas and Thesis
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: Leveling the Playing Field: The NFL Salary Cap, David Harris (student essay)
Reading Definitions
Working with Text: Reading Definitions
Thinking Critically about Definition
Reading: Dude, Do You Know What You Just Said? Mike Crissey
*Reading: The Animal Kingdom Storms Reality TV and the Documentary Industry, Alicia Rebensdorf (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
17. Cause and Effect: Using Reasons and Results to Explain
Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay
What Are Causes and Effects?
*Reading: Can Diet Help Stop Depression and Violence?, Jurriaan Kamp
Characteristics of Cause-and-Effect Essays
Visualizing Cause-and-Effect Essays: Three Graphic Organizers
*Reading: Sprawl Is Harmful to Wildlife, Jutka Terris
Integrating Cause and Effect into an Essay
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Evaluating Your Ideas and Thesis
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: An Early Start, Harley Tong (student essay)
Reading Cause-and-Effect Essays
Working with Text: Reading Causal analyses
Thinking Critically about Cause and Effect
Reading: Part-Time Employment Undermines Students’ Commitment to School, Laurence Steinberg
Reading: Hitting the "Granite Wall," Gary M. Stern (patterns combined)
Applying Your Skills: Additional Essay Assignments
PART FOUR: READING AND WRITING ARGUMENTS
18. Reading Arguments
THE BASIC PARTS OF AN ARGUMENT
Reading: When Volunteerism Isn’t Noble, Lynn Steirer
GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR READING ARGUMENTS
Reading: Economic Affirmative Action, Ted Koerth
Strategies for Following the Structure of an Argument
Using a Graphic Organizer
Strategies for Analyzing and Evaluating an Argument
Analyzing the Elements of and Reasoning in an Argument
THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT ARGUMENT
APPLYING YOUR SKILLS: ADDITIONAL READINGS
Reading: How Much Is That Kidney in the Window? Bruce Gottlieb
Reading: "Strip-Mining" the Dead: When Human Organs Are for Sale, Gilbert Meilaender
INTEGRATING THE READINGS
19. Writing Arguments
WRITING AN ARGUMENT
Reading: Abolish the Penny, William Safire
Characteristics of Argument Essays
Visualizing an Argument Essay: A Graphic Organizer
Reading: Not White, Just Right, Rachel Jones
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
Generating Ideas and Writing Your Thesis
Developing Your Thesis and Making a Claim
Evaluating Your Ideas, Evidence, and Claim
Considering Opposing Viewpoints
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: AIDS and You: A World Crisis and Its Local Effects, Stanford DeWinter (student essay)
READING AN ARGUMENT
WORKING WITH TEXT: RESPONDING TO ARGUMENTS
Reading: Would You Buy a Car That Looked Like This? Andrew Simms
Reading: Why Consumers Have Been Choosing SUVs, John Merline
INTEGRATING THE READINGS
APPLYING YOUR SKILLS: ADDITIONAL ESSAY ASSIGNMENTS
PART FIVE: WRITING WITH SOURCES
20. Planning a Paper with Sources
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE SOURCES?
Using Sources to Add Detail to an Essay
Using Sources to Write a Research Paper
PLANNING YOUR PAPER
Choosing an Interesting and Workable Topic
Narrowing and Discovering Ideas about Your Topic
Writing a Working Thesis and Listing Research Questions
CHOOSING AND EVALUATING USEFUL SOURCES
Choosing between Print and Electronic Sources
Choosing Relevant Sources
Choosing Reliable Sources
Evaluating Internet Sources
ANALYZING AND THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT SOURCES
Separating Facts from Opinions
Identifying Bias or Viewpoint
Recognizing Generalizations
WORKING WITH TEXT: READING SOURCES
Improving Your Reading of Electronic Sources
21. Finding Sources and Taking Notes
AN OVERVIEW OF LIBRARY SOURCES
Learning Your Way around the Library
Locating Useful Library Sources
RESEARCH AND THE INTERNET
EXTRACTING INFORMATION FROM SOURCES
Gathering Necessary Citation Information
Constructing an Annotated Bibliography
SYSTEMS OF NOTE-TAKING
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
What Counts as Plagiarism
CONDUCTING FIELD RESEARCH
FINDING SOURCES FOR YOUR OWN TOPIC
22. Writing a Paper Using Sources
ORGANIZING AND WRITING YOUR FIRST DRAFT
Evaluating Your Research and Synthesizing Information
Planning Your Organization
Drafting Your Research Paper
INTEGRATING INFORMATION FROM SOURCES
Deciding What to Document
Writing In-Text Citations
Using Quotations Appropriately
REVISING YOUR RESEARCH PAPER
Analyzing and Revising Your Paper as a Whole
Analyzing and Revising Paragraphs and Sentences
PREPARING YOUR FINAL DRAFT
Editing and ProofReading Your Paper
Documenting your Sources: MLA Style
MLA Style for In-Text Citations
MLA Style for the List of Works Cited
Documenting your Sources: APA Style
APA Style for In-Text Citations
APA Style for the List of References
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: Do Animals Have Emotions? Nicholas Destino (student essay)
PART SIX: ACADEMIC APPLICATIONS
23. Reading and Writing about Literature
Reading: The Bean Eaters, Gwendolyn Brooks
A GENERAL APPROACH TO READING LITERATURE
THE LANGUAGE OF LITERATURE
Similes, Metaphors, and Personification
ANALYZING SHORT STORIES
Reading: The Secret Lion, Alberto Ríos
Reading: The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin
ANALYZING POETRY
Reading: Two Look at Two, Robert Frost
Reading: Filling Station, Elizabeth Bishop
WHAT IS LITERARY ANALYSIS?
Characteristics of Literary Analysis
A GUIDED WRITING ASSIGNMENT
STUDENTS WRITE
Reading: The Keeping of "The Secret Lion," Andrew Decker (student essay)
24. Essay Examinations, Portfolios, and Oral Presentations
ESSAY EXAMINATIONS
PREPARING FOR ESSAY EXAMS
Write Study Sheets That Synthesize Information
Predict Essay Exam Questions
Draft Answers in Outline Form
Reduce Informal Outlines to Key-Word Outlines
TAKING ESSAY EXAMS
Analyzing Essay Exam Questions
STUDENTS WRITE
Thinking Critically about Essay Exams
PORTFOLIOS
CREATING A WRITING PORTFOLIO
Purposes of a Writing Portfolio
Using Your Course Syllabus as a Guide
Organizing Your Portfolio
Choosing Pieces to Include
Writing the Introductory Letter or Essay
STUDENTS WRITE
GIVING ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Planning Your Presentation
Organizing and Drafting Your Presentation
Rehearsing Your Presentation
Delivering an Effective Presentation
INDEX
* new to this edition