1 Saying What You Mean to Say in a Digital World 

a  Why do we write?

b  How important is writing to success in college and beyond?

c  How do we communicate effectively?

d  How does technology make a difference to our writing?

e  How can this handbook help you succeed as a writer?

2 Critical Reading and Viewing

a  Think critically

b  Read actively and critically

c  View images actively and critically

3 Planning and Drafting 

a  An overview of the writing process

b  Experiment and explore

c  Invent and prewrite

d  Gather information but avoid plagiarism

e  Plan and organize

f  Compose a draft

g Collaborate

h student sample Draft

4 Formulating Arguments 

a  Formulate an arguable thesis

b  Consider your purpose and audience

c  Consider the genre

d  Generate good supporting evidence

Student sample Argument paper

e  Take note of evidence for alternative views

f  Develop and test your main points

g Build a compelling case

h Avoid logical and emotional fallacies

i  Structure the argument

j  Electronic argument

k Visual argument

5 Structuring Paragraphs 

a   Write unified paragraphs

b   Write coherent paragraphs with clear patterns of organization

c   Write coherent paragraphs with sentence-linking techniques

d  Be consistent with verb tense, person and number

e   Use parallelism to make sentences coherent

f   Decide on appropriate paragraph length

g Link paragraphs together with key words

h Construct effective introductory and concluding paragraphs

6 Rewriting 

a  Shift from writer to reader

b  Revise

c  Edit

d  Proofread

e  Give and receive feedback electronically

f  student sample Final paper

2    RESEARCH

7 The Research Project 

a  Become a researcher

b  Make a schedule

c  Create a research notebook

d  Create a working bibliography

e  Gather additional background information

f  Conduct focused research

8 Using the Internet for Research 

a  Use Internet sources throughout the research process

b  Get to know the Internet and the Web

c  Search the Internet and the Web

d  S tudent samples Searches of the Internet and library databases

9 Evaluating Electronic and Print Sources 

a  Choose legitimate sources

b   Student sample A student's evaluation of Web links

10 Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism 

a   Use sources responsibly

b   Avoid plagiarism when you use sources

c   Paraphrase sources accurately

d  Student sample Avoid plagiarism when using Internet sources

e   Summarize sources briefly

f   Avoid plagiarism when you summarize

g Quote sources sparingly

h Avoid plagiarism when you quote

11 Writing the Research Paper 

a  Review your rhetorical stance and thesis.

b  Plan a structure

c  Write a draft

d  Review and revise the draft

e  Follow formatting conventions

f  Student sample Review an annotated student research paper

12 MLA Documentation Style 

a  Document using mla style

A directory to mla style

b  Electronic media in mla style

13 APA Documentation Style 

a  Document using apa style

A directory to apa style

b  Electronic media in apa style

14 CMS and CSE Documentation Styles 

a  Document using the Chicago Manual of Style (cms)

a directory to cms style

b  Document using cse style

A directory to cse style

3    WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES

15 Writing in the Disciplines 

a  Disciplinary research

b  Disciplinary discourse

16 Writing in the Humanities

a  Know the different types of writing in the humanities

b  Write interpretively or analytically about literature

c  Review some model student papers

Student sample (MLA)  Literary interpretation

Student sample (MLA)  Literary analysis

d  Look to the Internet and library for resources

A directory of resources for the humanities

17 Writing in the Natural Sciences 

a  Know the different types of writing in the natural sciences

b  Write objectively about science

c   Student sample (CSE) Research report

d  Look to the Internet and library for resources

A directory of resources for the sciences and technology

18 Writing in the Social Sciences 

a   Know the different types of writing in the social sciences

b   Write persuasively about social science

c   Student sample (APA) Research report

d  Look to the Internet and library for resources

A directory of resources for the social sciences

4    DOCUMENT DESIGN

19 The Basics of Good Design

a  Follow the three basic design principles

b  Use formatting tools

c  Use graphics

d  The ethics of downloading images

e  Respect different norms and preferences

20 Designing Specific Documents 

a  Produce a simple brochure

b  Produce a simple newsletter

c  Generate a basic design for the Web

d  Plan your Web document

e  Write your Web document

5    WRITING FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES

21 Electronic Communication

a  The rhetoric of etools

b  Use email effectively

c  Use online networks effectively

d  Use instant communications effectively

e  Use Web course tools effectively

22 Business Correspondence and Reports 

a  Write concise and professional business letters

b  Write specifically tailored letters of application

c  Write densely but appropriately packed résumés

d  Write clearly organized reports

e  Write focused memos

5 Student samples

23 Oral Presentations Using PowerPoint and Other Tools 

a  Prepare thoroughly

b  Select visual aids carefully

c  Design overhead transparencies

d  Use PowerPoint effectively

e  Practice, practice, practice

f  Speak with enthusiasm and focus

24 Essay Exams

a  Prepare for an essay exam

b  Attend to the writing process

c  Student samples Responses to an essay exam question

25 Writing Portfolios 

a  Learn about portfolios

b  Develop a writing portfolio

c  Prepare the final portfolio

d Student sample Reflective cover letter

6    SENTENCE GRAMMAR

26 Sentence Structure 

a   Learn to identify parts of speech

b   Learn to identify basic sentence patterns

c   Learn to expand sentences

d  Learn how to classify sentences  

27 Pronoun Case 

a  Subjects and subject complements (I, he, she, they, who)

b  Objects (me, him, her, them, whom)

c  In compound constructions

d  Who or whom

e  Possessive adjectives and pronouns

f  In comparisons

28 Verbs 

a  Regular verb forms

b  Common irregular verb forms

c  Auxiliary verbs

d  Tenses

e  Sequence of tenses

f  Transitive and intransitive verbs: sit/set, lie/lay, rise/ raise

g Active and passive voice

h Mood

29 Agreement 

a  Plural and singular subjects and verbs

b  Modified subjects

c  Compound subjects

d  Subjects joined by or or nor

e  Indefinite pronouns

f  Collective nouns

g Nouns with plural form but singular meaning

h Linking verbs

i  With there or here and to be

30 Adjectives and Adverbs 

a  Adjectives

b  Overuse of nouns as modifiers

c  Adverbs

d  Good and well or bad and badly

e  Comparative and superlative forms

7    CORRECT SENTENCES

31 Sentence Fragments 

a   Make sentences grammatically complete

b   Connect dependent clauses

c   Connect phrases

d  Use sentence fragments only for special effect

32 Comma Splices and Run-On Sentences 

a  Turn one clause into a subordinate clause

b   Separate clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction

c   Separate independent clauses with a semicolon

d  Separate independent clauses with a period

33 Pronoun Reference and Agreement 

a  Noun antecedents

b  This, that, which, and it

c  Mixed uses of it

d  That, which, and who

e  Agreement

f  Sexist pronouns

34 Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 

a  Positioning modifiers

b  Avoid ambiguity

c  Placement of lengthy modifiers

d  Disruptive modifiers

e  Dangling modifiers

35 Faulty Shifts

a  Person and number

b Verb tense, mood, subject, and voice

c  Tone

d  Mixed constructions

e  Subjects and predicates

f  Direct and indirect discourse

8    EFFECTIVE SENTENCES

36 Clarity and Conciseness 

a  Length

b  Repetition and redundancy

c  Expletives

d  Passive voice

e  Wordiness

f  Noun-heavy style

g Express your meaning precisely

h That to clarify sentence structure

i  Comparisons

j  Multiple negation

37 Coordination and Subordination 

a  Combine closely related sentences

b  Coordinate related sentences

c  Subordinate less important ideas

38 Parallelism

a  Parallel content in parallel form

b  Lists and series

c  With correlative conjunctions

d  For comparisons or contrasts

e  Make parallel constructions complete and clear

f  Enhance coherence

39 Emphasis

a   End-weight

b   Selective repetition

c   Contrast

d  Careful word choice

40 Variety 

a  Length

b   Structure

c   Repetition

d  Different standards and purposes

9    STYLE AND USAGE

41 Choosing the Right Words 

a  Denotation

b  Connotation

c  Level of formality

d  Jargon, slang, or dialect

e  Pretentiousness

f  Figurative language

42 Language And Power 

a  “Correctness”

b  Language and identity

c  Gender

d  Race and ethnicity

e  Age

f  Other differences

43 Building a Powerful Vocabulary 

a  Roots, prefixes, and suffixes

b  Denotations and connotations

c  Related words

44 Using a Thesaurus and a Dictionary

a  A thesaurus to find the exact word

b  A dictionary to learn about words

45 Spelling 

a  Spell checker

b  Homophones

A directory of homophones

c   Common spelling errors

d  General spelling rules and patterns

10    PUNCTUATION

46 End Punctuation 

The period

The question mark

The exclamation point

47 The Comma

a  After an introductory phrase or clause

b  To separate independent clauses

c  Between items in a series

d  To separate coordinate adjectives

e  To set off nonessential elements

f  To set off conjunctive adverbs

g With dates, place names and addresses, titles and degrees, and numbers

h With speaker tags

i  With markers of direct address

j  Misuse of commas

48 The Semicolon 

a   With independent clauses

b   With a conjunctive adverb

c   In a series with internal punctuation

d  Placement

e  Common semicolon errors

49 The Colon 

a  To introduce a list or an appositive

b  To set off a second independent clause

c  To introduce a quotation

d  In titles

e  In business correspondence

f  In numbers and addresses

50 The Apostrophe 

a   To indicate possession

b   To indicate contractions and omitted letters

c   To mark plural forms

d  Misusing the apostrophe

51 Quotation Marks  

a  For exact direct quotations

b  To suggest skepticism

c  To indicate shifts in register

d  With titles of short works

e  Standard punctuation practice

52 Other Punctuation Marks  

Parentheses

Dashes

Brackets

Ellipses

Slashes

11    MECHANICS

53   Capital Letters and Italics

54 Abbreviations and Numbers 

55 The Hyphen 

a  Compounds

b  In adjectives before nouns

c  In spelled-out fractions and numbers

d  To avoid ambiguity and awkward spellings

e  For end-of-line word division

12    ESL ISSUES

56 Tips on Nouns and Articles 

57 Tips on Verbs 

Phrasal verbs

Verb complements

Verbs of state

Modal auxiliary verbs

Conditional sentences

58 Tips on Vocabulary 

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms  

Glossary of Usage  

Index 

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