Ticket to Write Writing Skills for Success

Ticket to Write, a cutting-edge developmental writing textbook, focuses on contemporary media and issues that stimulate student learning, covers paragraph and essay development simultaneously, and employs a "solutions approach" to grammar.

Preface

Part I: The Writing Process

Chapter 1: The Writing Process and Prewriting

Writing as a Winding Path

      The Writing Process

      The Building Blocks of Paragraphs and Essays

Prewriting Techniques

             Listing

             Clustering

            Fastwriting

            Reporter’s Questions

            Journaling

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Chapter 2: Discovery Drafting

Drafting a Paragraph

            Narrowing Your Topic

            Discovering and Focusing Your Topic Sentence

            Supporting Your Topic Sentence

            Organizing Your Supporting Sentences

            Identifying Irrelevant Sentences

Drafting an Essay

            Discovering and Focusing Your Thesis Statement

            Supporting Your Thesis Statement

            Organizing Your Ideas

            Organizing by Outlining                 

Unity and Coherence in Paragraphs and Essays

Introductions, Conclusions, and Titles

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Chapter 3: Revising

Why You Should Revise

Purpose

Topic, Unity, and Coherence

RAMS: Replace, Add, Move, Subtract

Checking the Parts

            Revision Checklist for a Paragraph

            Revision Checklist for an Essay

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Chapter 4: Editing and Proofreading

Check…1, 2, 3…Check…Readjust

            Editing and Proofreading Checklist

Getting Feedback: Peer Review

            Peer Review Options

            How to be a Helpful Peer Reviewer

                        Tips for Effective Peer Review

                        Sample Peer Reviewer’s Checklist

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Chapter 5: Publishing and Academic Writing

Publishing

Classroom Publishing: Formatting Your Paper

            MLA Formatting Requirements

            Formatting for Other Disciplines

Other Publishing Opportunities

            Personal Publishing

            Online Publishing

            Print Publishing

Academic Writing

            Organizational Structures for Academic Writing

            The Five-Paragraph Essay

            Digging Deeper: Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay

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Part II: Type of Paragraphs and Essays

Chapter 6: Descriptive Writing

Getting Started in Descriptive Writing

    Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Penny Pennington

Take I – Getting Started with Your Descriptive Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

            Student Essay: “Exceedingly Extraordinary Games,”Jeff Blake

            Professional Essay: “Mick, Mom, and Me,”Mary Beth Anderson

Take III – Writing Your Descriptive Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 7: Narrative Writing

Getting Started in Narrative Writing

    Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Joey Goebel

Take I – Getting Started with Your Narrative Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience1

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

    Student Essay: “Eyes Opened,” Jill Bryson

    Professional Essay: “Willie, My Thirteen-Year-Old Teacher,” Scott Leopold

Take III – Writing Your Narrative Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 8: Illustration Writing

Getting Started in Illustration Writing

    Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Erik Peterson

Take I – Getting Started: Writing an Illustration Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

            Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

     Student Essay: “I Love My Dog, But I’m Not ‘In Love’ with Her,”Kya Maalouf

     Professional Essay: “Our View on Free Speech: Want to Complain Online?

            Look Out. You Might Be Sued.” USA Today

Take III – Writing Your Illustration Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 9: Process Writing

Getting Started in Process Writing

    Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Marvin Bartlett

Take I – Getting Started with Your Process Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

    Student Essay: “Choosing a College Major,” Zosima A. Pickens

    Professional Essay: “Finding Good Dining Away from Home,”

            Ed Shuttleworth

Take III – Writing Your Process Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 10: Definition Writing

Getting Started in Definition Writing

     Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Michael J. Minerva

Take I – Getting Started with Your Definition Paragraph

            Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

    Student Essay: “Some Go Too Far,”Hassan Jones

    Professional Essay: “I Want a Wife,” Judy Brady

Take III – Writing Your Definition Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 11: Compare and Contrast Writing

Getting Started in Compare-and-Contrast Writing

     Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Deputy Chief Earl Brandon and Lt. Chip

            Stauffer

Take I – Getting Started with Your Compare-and-Contrast Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five:  Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

    Student Essay: “My Family Thanksgivings,” Frances Moret-Koerper

    Professional Essay: “What’s for Dinner, Sweetie? Heartburn,” Elizabeth Bernstein

Take III – Writing Your Compare-and-Contrast Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 12: Classification Writing

Getting Started in Classification Writing

Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Renee La Plume

Take I – Getting Started with Your Classification Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Create a Topic Sentence

Step Five: Draft Supporting Details

Step Six: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Seven: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

     Student Essay: “Vacation Types for Everyone,”Skyy Laughlin

     Professional Essay: “The 12 Most Annoying Types of Facebook,” Brandon

            Griggs

Take III – Writing Your Classification Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 13: Cause-and-Effect Writing

Getting Started in Cause-and-Effect Writing

    Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Judy Carrico

Take I – Getting Started with Your Cause-and-Effect Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II  – Student and Professional Essays

     Student Essay: “A Cause for Pinching Pennies,”Richard Ervin

     Professional Essay: “Life Interrupted,” Laura Winspear

Take III  – Writing Your Cause-and-Effect Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Chapter 14: Persuasive Writing

     Writing at Work: Snapshot of a Writer, Breck Norment

Take I – Getting Started with Your Persuasive Paragraph

Step One: Choose a Topic

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience and Purpose

Step Four: Draft Your Paragraph

Step Five: Revise Your Paragraph

Step Six: Peer Review

Take II – Student and Professional Essays

    Student Essay: “Keeping a Watchful Eye,” T.W. Burnette

    Professional Essay: “Texas Lawmakers’ Guns-On-Campus Bills Still a Bad

            Idea,” The Dallas Morning News

Take III – Writing Your Persuasive Essay

Step One: Choose a Topic and Develop a Working Thesis

Step Two: Generate Ideas

Step Three: Define Your Audience

Step Four: Draft Your Essay

Step Five: Organize Your Essay

Step Six: Apply Critical Thinking

Step Seven: Revise Your Essay

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Part III: Writing Situations

Chapter 15: Resource-Based Writing

Integrating Sources

Quoting

Paraphrasing

Summarizing

MLA Documentation

            In-Text Citations

            Works Cited Page

            MLA Handbook

APA Citation

            In-Text Citations

            Reference Page

            APA Manual

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Chapter 16: In-Class Writing

Reading and Understanding Essay Questions to Determine Form and Purpose

            Form: How to Organize Your Answer

            Purpose: How to Determine Your Focus

            Checklist for Reading Essay Questions

Using the Writing Process to Answer Essay Questions

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Chapter 17: Personal and Business Writing

Personal Journaling

            Why Journal?

            Three Journaling Categories

Business Letters

            Inquiries or Request Letters

            Business Thank-you Letters

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Chapter 18: Electronic Writing and New Technologies

Email

Blogs

Discussion Groups

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Chapter 19: Writing Newspaper Articles and Examining Journal Articles

Newspapers

            News Articles

            Editorials

            Feature Articles

Professional Journals

            Finding Professional Journals

            Academic Writing and Writing for a Professional Journal

            Literary Journals

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Part IV: Grammar and Mechanics

Chapter 20: Sentence Fragments and Run-ons

What Are Sentence Fragments?

Complete Sentences Versus Sentence Fragments

Recognizing Fragments

            Four Methods for Recognizing Sentence Fragments

Repairing Fragments

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What Are Run-On Sentences?

Recognizing Run-Ons

Repairing Run-Ons

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Chapter 21: Consistency

What Is Consistency?

Verb Consistency

            Verb Tenses

            Six Main Tenses

            Problems with Verb Consistency

What Is Pronoun Consistency?

            Point of View

            Problems with Pronoun Consistency

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Chapter 22: Subject-Verb Agreement

What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Correcting Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

            Prepositional Phrases

Clauses

Indefinite Pronouns

Collective Nouns

Expressions of Amounts

Unusual Nouns

Compound Subjects

Inverted Order: When the Subject Follows the Verb

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Chapter 23: Pronouns

 What Are Pronouns and Antecedents?

 Types of Pronoun

            Demonstrative pronouns

            Relative Pronouns

Interrogative Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns

 Pronouns Must Clearly Identify Their Antecedents

 Pronouns Must Agree in Number with Their Antecedents

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Chapter 24: Parallel Structure

What Is Parallel Structure?

Correcting Faulty Parallelism

            Problems with Verbs

            Problems with Nouns or Pronouns

            Problems with Adjectives

            Problems with Adverbs

            Problems with Phrases

            Problems with Clauses

            Problems with Chronology (Time Order)

            Problems with Order of Importance

            Problems with Correlative Conjunctions

Listen for Parallelism

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Chapter 25: Sentence Variety

What is Sentence Variety?

Sentence Functions

Sentence Constructions and How to Vary Them

Simple Sentences

Complex Sentences

Compound-Complex Sentences

Varying Sentence Length

Varying Sentence Beginnings

            Rearrange Adjectives, Adverbs, and Prepositional Phrases

            Rearrange Adverb Clauses, Noun Clauses, and Infinitive Phrases

            Rearrange Present Participial Phrases, Past Participial Phrases, and

                 Gerund Phrases

            Sentences That Begin with There is or There are

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Chapter 26: Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

What Are Misplaced Modifiers?

Misplaced Single-Word Modifiers

Misplaced Phrases and Clauses

What Are Dangling Modifiers?

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Chapter 27: Word Choice

Wordiness

Redundancy (You’ve Said It Before; Don’t Say It Again)

Wordy Phrases You Can Omit

Vagueness

Clichés

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Chapter 28: Figurative Language

What is Figurative Language?

Literal Language

Figurative Language

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Chapter 29: Easily Confused Words and Phrases; Spelling, Abbreviations, and Numbers

What Are Homophones?

Easily Confused Phrases

Why Is Spelling Difficult?

            Five Handy Spelling Rules

Abbreviations

Numbers

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Chapter 30: Punctuation Marks 

Final Punctuation

Quotation Marks

Apostrophes

Commas

Colons

Semicolon

Hyphens

Dashes

Parentheses

Italics and Underlining

Ellipsis Points

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Part V: Reading Tips and Additional Readings

 

Chapter 31: Reading Tips

What is Critical Reading?

Before You Begin Reading

Create a Positive Reading Environment

Get Acquainted with the Textbook

Get Acquainted with Shorter Material

Activate Your Background Knowledge

Determine Your Purpose for Reading

Skimming

Scanning

While You’re Reading

Connect with the Material

Annotate

Increase Your Vocabulary

Ask Questions

Read and Reread

After You Read

            Summarizing

            Take on a Different Persona

Collaborate in a Study Group

Get Help from the Professionals

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Additional Readings

 

“My Home Is New Orleans” by Mike Miller

            A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

            Making Critical Connections

“My Journey from Scribbling to Art in Only 60 Years” by Bob Allen

             A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

“Ah, To Return to the Halcyon Days of Academe” by Craig Wilson

            A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

 “Boxers, Briefs, and Books” by John Grisham

            A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

 “Popular Culture: Shaping and Reflecting Who We Are” by Billy Wilson

            A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

 “The Death of My Father” by Steve Martin

             A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

“Can’t We Talk?” by Deborah Tannen

             A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

“More Than Meet Public’s Eye” by Mike Hume

             A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

“The Pitfalls of Linking Doctors’ Pay to Performance” by Sandeep Jauhar

            A Closer Look

            Making Critical Connections

 

 

Part VI: Study Skills (available in the MWL/eText only)

 

Chapter 32:  Motivation and Learning Styles

What is Motivation?

Rah-Rah-Rah! Erase Negative Attitudes and Low Self-Esteem

Using Your Learning Style to Improve and Develop Your Study Skills

            What is a Learning Style?

            Why Determining Your Learning Style Can Help You

            Ten Study Skills Tips to Use If You’re Predominantly a Visual Learner

            Ten Study Skills Tips to Use If You’re Predominantly an Auditory Learner

            Ten Study Skills Tips to Use If You’re Predominantly Kinesthetic Learner

Using Intrinsic and Extrinsic Types of Motivation

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Chapter 33: Time Management

What Is Time Management?

Using Time Charts

The Big Picture: Look at Your School Term

The Smaller Picture: Look at Your Week

The Daily Picture: Create Your To-Do List

Your G.P.A. (Goals, Plans, Actions)

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Make a Sign

Don’t Overcommit

Do the Hard Parts First

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Chapter 34: Note-Taking and Listening Skills

Why Taking Notes Is Important

            Do’s and Don’ts for Taking Notes

            Using Shorthand

Taking Notes in Class

            Before Class

            During Class

            Arranging Your Notes

            Hone Your Listening Skills

What to Listen for and Note in Classes

            Main Points

            Verbal Hints

            Transitional Words and Phrases

            Other Verbal Hints

            Body Language

            If You’re Overwhelmed

After Class

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Chapter 35: Mnemonics

What Is Mnemonics?

            Short Sayings

            Rhymes

            Mental Pictures

            Definitions

            Acronyms

            Acrostics

            Auditory Aids

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Chapter 36: Vocabulary

Vocabulary in Writing

Dictionaries

Thesauruses

Denotation and Connotation

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Chapter 37: Strategies for Reducing Stress
College Life = Stress

            What Is Stress?

            Causes of Stress

Dealing with Stress

            Deep Breathing

            Progressive Muscle Relaxation

            Changing Your Thought Patterns

            Working It Out

            Thinking It Out

            Just Say No

            Eat Right, Sleep Right

            Write About It

Dealing with Test Anxiety

            What You Can Do Before a Test

            What You Can Do During the Test

            What You Can Do After the Test

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Chapter 38: Strategies for Taking Exams

Objective Tests

Word Choice: Absolute Words and Qualifiers

Multiple Choice

True/False

Fill-in-the-Blank (Sentence Completion)

Matching

Essay Tests

Hints for Taking Essay Tests

Instruction Words and What They Mean

Tips for Taking Timed Writing

What to Do Before, During, and After an Exam

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