The Prentice Hall Essential Guide for College Writers

The Prentice Hall Essential Guide for College Writersfocuses on writing for a variety of purposes in a rhetorical situation. Although audience, context, and writing situation are important, a writerrs"s purpose should be and has always been the focal point of the sequence of assignments. The Prentice Hall Essential Guidebegins with observing and remembering, which are personally important to the writer. It then turns to more reader-based, academic purposes, including critical reading, expository writing, and argumentative writing. Each chapter in this sequence is self-contained, with introductions, guidelines, professional and student models, writing process advice, research tips, revising guidelines, peer review questions, and postscript reflections on the assignment.

Table of Contents

Thematic Contents       

Preface                        

Credits                       

 

Chapter 1 Writing Myths and Rituals   

Writing Fitness: Rituals and Practice   

Place, Time, and Tools    

Energy and Attitude    

Keeping a Journal    

Reading Entries Ï Write-to-Learn Entries Ï Writing Entries

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

 

Chapter 2 Situations, Purposes, and Processes for Writing   

The Rhetorical Situation   

Elements of the Rhetorical Situation    

The Writer Ï The Occasion Ï Purpose Ï Audience Ï Genre Ï Context

Why the Rhetorical Situation Is Important    

Purposes for Writing   

Writer-Based Purposes    

Subject- and Audience-Based Purposes    

Combinations of Purposes    

Subject, Purpose, and Thesis    

Purpose and Audience   

Audience Analysis    

Purpose, Audience, and Genre   

Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation   

Purpose, Audience, and Context in Two Essays    

“The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl” by Elizabeth Wong   

“I’m OK, but You’re Not” by Robert Zoellner   

Dimensions of the Writing Process   

Collecting    

Shaping    

Drafting    

Revising    

The Whole Process    

Warming Up: Journal Exercises     

A Writing Process at Work: Drafting and Revising   

From the Rough Draft of  “The Declaration of Independence” by Thomas Jefferson   

 

Chapter 3 Observing   

Techniques for Writing About Observations   

Observing People    

Observing Places    

Observing Objects    

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

“Take This Fish and Look at It” by Samuel H. Scudder   

Observing: The Writing Process   

Assignment for Observing   

Choosing a Subject    

Collecting    

Sketching Ï Taking Double-Entry Notes Ï Answering Questions Ï Freewriting

Shaping    

Spatial Order Ï Chronological Order Ï Comparison/Contrast Ï Definition Ï Simile, Metaphor, and Analogy Ï Title, Introduction, and Conclusion

Drafting    

Reread Journal Entries and Notes Ï Reobserve Your Subject Ï Reexamine Purpose, Audience, Dominant Idea, and Shape Ï Create a Draft

Revising    

Gaining Distance and Objectivity Ï Rereading and Responding to Your Readers Ï Guidelines for Revision Ï Genre Ï Context

Peer Response    

Postscript on the Writing Process   

“Permanent Tracings” by Jennifer Macke (student)      

 

Chapter 4 Remembering   

Techniques for Writing About Memories   

Remembering People    

Remembering Places    

Remembering Events    

Warming Up: Journal Exercises     

“César Chávez Saved My Life” by Daniel “Nene” Alejandrez   

Remembering: The Writing Process   

Assignment for Remembering   

Choosing a Subject    

Collecting    

Shaping    

Genre Ï Chronological Order Ï Comparison/Contrast Ï Image Ï Voice and Tone Ï Persona Ï Dialogue Ï Title, Introduction, and Conclusion

Drafting    

Revising    

Guidelines for Revision

Peer Response    

Postscript on the Writing Process   

“The Wind Catcher” by Todd Petry (student)     

 

Chapter 5 Reading   

Techniques for Analyzing and Responding to Texts   

Critical Reading Strategies    

Double-Entry Log Ï Critical Rereading Guide

Guidelines for Class Discussion    

Summarizing and Responding to an Essay   

“Teach Diversity–with a Smile” by Barbara Ehrenreich   

Summarizing    

Summary of “Teach Diversity–with a Smile”    

Responding    

Types of Responses Ï Kinds of Evidence

Response to “Teach Diversity–with a Smile”    

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

“Letter to America” by Margaret Atwood    

Casebook on Responses to Climate Change      

“The Rise of Renewable Energy” by Daniel M. Kammen   

“50 Things You Can Do”   

Reading and Writing Processes   

Assignment for Reading/Writing   

Choosing a Subject    

“Teaching Tolerance in America” by Dudley Erskine Devlin   

Collecting    

Text Annotation Ï Reading Log

Shaping    

Avoiding Plagiarism    

Summary Shaping    

Description Ï Paraphrase Ï Direct Quotation Ï Avoiding Plagiarism

Sample Summaries    

Response Shaping    

Analyzing Ï Agreeing/Disagreeing Ï Interpreting and Reflecting

Outlines for Summary/Response Essays    

Drafting    

Revising    

Guidelines for Revision

Peer Response    

Postscript on the Writing Process   

“Letter to Margaret Atwood” by Dean C. Swift (student)  

 

Chapter 6 Analyzing and Designing Visuals   

Techniques for Analyzing Visuals   

Analyzing Visuals    

Composition Ï Focal Point Ï Narrative Ï Themes

Analyzing Visuals with Text    

Analyzing Visuals in Context    

“Progress or Not” by Jonathan Alter    

“Who’s a Looter?” by Tania Ralli    

Analyzing the Genre of the Visual    

Rhetorical Appeals to the Audience    

Appeal to Reason Ï Appeal to Emotion Ï Appeal to Character and Credibility Ï Combined Appeal in an Ad

Techniques for Designing Visuals   

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

“Analysis of RosettaStone Ad” by Sarah Kay Hurst (student)    

Processes for Analyzing and Designing Visuals   

Assignment for Analyzing Visuals   

Assignment for Designing Visuals   

Choosing a Subject    

Collecting    

Shaping    

Analysis Focused on the Visual

“Triple Self-Portrait” by Charles Rosen and Henri Zerner    

Analysis Focused on the Social Context

 “Out of the Picture on the Abortion Ban” by Ellen Goodman    

Analysis Focused on the Story

 “Coming Home” by Carolyn Kleiner Butler    

Drafting    

Peer Response    

Revising    

Guidelines for Revision

Postscript on the Writing Process   

“Some Don’t Like Their Blues at All” by Karyn M. Lewis (student)      

   

Chapter 7 Explaining   

Techniques for Explaining   

Explaining What: Definition   

Explaining How: Process Analysis   

Explaining Why: Causal Analysis  

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

“How to Take Control of Your Credit Cards” by Suze Orman        

Explaining: The Writing Process   

Assignment for Explaining    

Choosing a Subject    

Collecting    

Questions Ï Branching Ï Observing Ï Remembering Ï Reading Ï Investigating

Research Tips    

Shaping    

Audience and Genre Ï Definition and Classification Ï Example Ï Voice and Tone Ï Chronological Order and Process Analysis Ï Causal Analysis Ï Introduction and Lead-In Ï Lead-In, Thesis, and Essay Map Ï Paragraph Transitions and Hooks Ï Body Paragraphs

Tips for Integrating Images    

Drafting    

Revising    

Guidelines for Revision

Peer Response    

Postscript on the Writing Process   

"White Lies: White-Collar Crime in America” by Chris Blakely (student)      

 

Chapter 8 Evaluating   

Techniques for Writing Evaluations   

Evaluating Commercial Products or Services    

“The Hybrid Grows Up,” by Consumer Reports    

Evaluating Works of Art    

"’American Gothic,’ Pitchfork Perfect” by Paul Richard   

Evaluating Performances    

“Slumdog Millionaire” by Manohla Dargis   

Warming Up: Journal Exercises     

“Today’s Special” by David Sedaris   

Evaluating: The Writing Process   

Assignment for Evaluating    

Choosing a Subject    

Collecting    

Observing Ï Remembering Ï Reading Ï Investigating

Shaping    

Audience and Genre Ï Analysis by Criteria Ï Comparison and Contrast Ï Chronological Order Ï Causal Analysis Ï Title, Introduction, and Conclusion

Research Tips    

Peer Response    

Drafting    

Revising    

Guidelines for Revision

Postscript on the Writing Process     

“Vulgar Propriety” by Courtney Klockeman (student)   

 

Chapter 9 Problem Solving   

Techniques for Problem Solving   

Demonstrating That a Problem Exists    

Proposing a Solution and Convincing Your Readers    

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

“Should Educators Use Commercial Services to Combat Plagiarism?” by John Barrie and Rebecca Moore Howard  

“The Argument Culture” by Deborah Tannen   

Problem Solving: The Writing Process   

Assignment for Problem Solving    

Choosing a Subject    

Collecting    

Identify and Focus on the Specific Problem Ï Demonstrate That the Problem Needs a Solution Ï Discover Possible Solutions Ï Evaluate Possible Solutions Ï Convince Your Readers Ï Answers Possible Objections Ï List Possible Steps for Implementation Ï Observing Ï Remembering Ï Reading and Investigating

Research Tips    

Shaping    

Genres for Problem Solving Ï Outlines for Problem Solving Ï Causal Analysis Ï Criteria Analysis Ï Chronological Order

Drafting    

Peer Response    

Revising    

Guidelines for Revision

Postscript on the Writing Process   

"Can Citizen Journalism Pick Up the Pieces?” by Adam Richman (student)   

 

Chapter 10 Arguing   

Techniques for Writing Arguments   

Claims for Written Argument    

Claims of Fact or Definition Ï Claims about Cause and Effect Ï Claims about Value Ï Claims about Solutions or Policies

Appeals for Written Argument    

Appeal to Reason Ï Appeal to Character Ï Appeal to Emotion Ï Combined Appeals

Rogerian Argument    

The Toulmin Method of Argument    

Example of a Toulmin Analysis Ï Using the Toulmin Model

Warming Up: Journal Exercises   

 “The Internet: A Clear and Present Danger?” by Cathleen A. Cleaver   

*  Casebook on Wikipedia

* Wikipedia and the Meaning of Truth” by Simson L. Garfinkel   

* Why You Can’t Cite Wikipedia in My Class” by Neil L. Waters   

* Professors Should Embrace Wikipedia” by Mark A. Wilson             

Arguing: The Writing Process   

Assignment for Arguing

Choosing a Subject   

Collecting    

Remembering Ï Observing Ï Investigating

Analyzing Statistics    

Shaping    

List “Pro” and “Con” Arguments Ï Draw Circle of Alternative Positions Ï Outlines for Arguments Ï Developing Arguments

Research Tips    

Drafting    

Revising    

Revision Guidelines Ï Revising Fallacies in Logic

Peer Response    

Postscript on the Writing Process   

“Standardized Tests: Shouldn’t We Be Helping Our Students?” by Eric Boese (student)   

   

Chapter 11Researching    

Techniques for Researching    

Using Purpose, Audience and Genre as Guides    

Know Your Purpose / Accommodate Your Audience / Consider Your Genre

Using the Best Sources: Currency, Reliability, and Relevance    

Warming Up: Journal Exercise    

Maintaining Your Voice and Purpose: Effectively Incorporating Sources    

Documenting Your Sources    

Research Processes    

Developing a Research Strategy    

Recording Bibliographic Information

Using Primary and Secondary Sources

Noting the Source's Relevance, Reliability, and Currency

Choosing and Evaluating Sources     

 The 21^st Century Library: Physical and Online Sources Ï Online Database Sources Ï Open Web Sources

Writing Processes    

Avoiding Plagiarism

Citing Sources in Your Text

Documenting Sources    

In-Text Documentation: MLA Style Ï Works Cited List: MLA Style Ï In-Text Documentation: APA Style Ï References List: APA Style

“Foreign Language Study: An American Necessity” by Kate McNerny (student) (MLA Format Research Paper)    

 

 

Index