Exploring Writing: Paragraphs and Essaysserves as a guidebook for every step of the writing process. Emphasizing both process and practice, with a focus on revision, the new second edition helps to apply and advance writing skills using John Langan's proven techniques. Mastering essential sentence skills, learning to write effective paragraphs and essays, and becoming a critical reader are turning points for every writer, and they will prepare the students for writing situations in college and beyond.

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NEW
APPENDIX: Writing a Resume and Cover Letter
INDEX

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Exploring Writing: Paragraphs and Essays

Exploring Writing: Paragraphs and Essays

9780073371856

0073371858

Summary

Table of Contents

By John Langan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

PART ONE: WRITING: SKILLS AND PROCESS

An Introduction to Writing

Point and Support

An Important Difference between Writing and Talking

Point and Support in a Paragraph

Knowing Your Purpose and Audience

Benefits of Paragraph Writing

Writing as a Skill

Writing as a Process of Discovery

Keeping a Journal

Tips on Using a Computer

Ways to Use a Computer at Each Stage of the Writing Process

Review Activities

The Writing Process

Prewriting

Technique 1: Freewriting

Technique 2: Questioning

Technique 3: Making a List

Technique 4: Clustering

Technique 5: Preparing a Scratch Outline

Writing a First Draft

Writing a First Draft: A Student Model

Revising

Revising Content

Revising Sentences

Editing

An Illustration of the Revising and Editing Processes

Using Peer Review

Identification

Scratch Outline

Comments

Review Activities

Taking a Writing Inventory

Prewriting

Outlining

Revising

PART ONE: A Writer’s Template: Across Disciplines

PART TWO: BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WRITING

The First and Second Steps in Writing

Step 1: Begin with a Point

Identifying Common Errors in Topic Sentences

Understanding the Two Parts of a Topic Sentence

Selecting a Topic Sentence

Writing a Topic Sentence I

Writing a Topic Sentence II

Step 2: Support the Point with Specific Evidence

The Point as an “Umbrella” Idea

Reinforcing Point and Support

The Importance of Specific Details

Recognizing Specific Details I

Recognizing Specific Details II

Providing Supporting Evidence

The Importance of Adequate Details

Identifying Adequate Supporting Evidence

Adding Details to Complete a Paragraph

Writing a Simple Paragraph

The Third Step and Fourth Steps in Writing

Step 3: Organize and Connect the Specific Evidence

Common Methods of Organization: Time Order and Emphatic Order

Transitions

Other Connecting Words

Step 4: Write Clear, Error-Free Sentences

Revising Sentences

Use Parallelism

Use a Consistent Point of View

Use Specific Words

Use Concise Wording

Vary Your Sentences

Editing Sentences

Hints for Editing