Real Writing with Readings: Paragraphs and Essays for College, Work, and Everyday Life

Part One: How to Write Paragraphs and Essays 1. Course and College Basics: What You Need to Know to Get Started Course Basics Take the Course Seriously Do the Assignments Make Sure You Understand, and Get Help if You Don’t Manage Your Time Get to Class (on Time) and Stay until the End Make a Calendar Connect to the Class Make a Friend Get to Know Your Instructor Sit Near the Front Speak Up Identify Your Course Goals and Needs Hang in There College Basics Know Your Resources Make A Plan 1. What Do I Want To Be? 2. Talk with Your Academic Advisor and Plan Out Later Semesters/Terms Connect to the College Know Your Learning Style Use Your Learning Style in College Writing Assignments Chapter Review 2. Reading Basics: How to Understand What You Read Understand How To Read Actively and Critically Preview the Reading Read Actively Find the Main Point Find the Support for the Main Point Read Critically Review and Reflect Understand Your Syllabus Understand Textbook Features Highlighting a Textbook Chapter Reviewing for a Test on a Textbook Chapter Chapter Review 3. Writing Basics: Audience, Purpose, and Process Understand Audience and Purpose Understand Paragraph and Essay Form Paragraph Form Essay Form Understand the Writing Process Note: Avoiding Plagiarism Understand Grading Criteria Chapter Review 4. Finding, Narrowing, and Exploring Your Topic: Choosing Something to Write About Understand What a Topic Is Practice Narrowing a Topic Practice Exploring Your Topic Freewriting Listing/Brainstorming Discussing Clustering and Mapping Using the Internet Keeping a Journal Write Your Own Topic and Ideas Chapter Review 5. Writing Your Topic Sentence and Thesis Statement: Making Your Point Understand What a Topic Sentence and a Thesis Statement Are Practice Developing a Good Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement It Fits the Size of the Assignment It Contains a Single Main Point It Is Specific It Is an Idea That You Can Show, Explain, or Prove It is Forceful Write Your Own Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement Writing Assignment Chapter Review 6. Supporting Your Point: Finding Details, Examples, and Facts Understand What Support Is Practice Supporting a Main Point Generate Support Select the Best Primary Support Add Secondary Support Write Your Own Support Writing Assignment Chapter Review 7. Making a Plan: Arranging Your Ideas Understand What a Logical Order Is Use Time Order to Write about Events Use Space Order to Describe Objects, Places, or People Use Order of Importance to Emphasize a Particular Point Practice Arranging Ideas in a Logical Order Choose an Order Make a Written Plan Outlining Paragraphs Outlining Essays Make Your Own Plan Writing Assignment Chapter Review 8. Drafting: Putting Your Ideas Together Understand What a Draft Is Practice Writing a Draft Paragraph Write a Draft Using Complete Sentences Write a Concluding Sentence Title Your Paragraph Write Your Own Draft Paragraph Writing Assignment: Paragraph Practice Writing a Draft Essay Write Topic Sentences and Draft the Body of the Essay Write an Introduction Open with a Quote Give an Example or Tell a Story Start with a Surprising Fact or Idea Offer a Strong Opinion or Position Ask a Question Write a Conclusion Title Your Essay Write Your Own Draft Essay Writing Assignment: Essay Chapter Review 9. Revising: Improving Your Paragraph or Essay Understand What Revision Is Understand What Peer Review Is Practice Revising for Unity, Detail, and Coherence Revise for Unity Revise for Detail and Support Revise for Coherence Revise Your Own Paragraph Writing Assignment: Paragraph Revise Your Own Essay Writing Assignment: Essay Chapter Review Part Two: Writing Different Kinds of Paragraphs and Essays 10. Narration: Telling Important Stories Understand What Narration Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD NARRATION Main Point in Narration Support in Narration Choosing Major Events Giving Details about the Events Organization in Narration Read and Analyze Narration PROFILE OF SUCCESS: NARRATION IN THE REAL WORLD *Narration Paragraph: Jelani Lynch, "My Turnaround" Narration Essay: Dale Hill, "How Community College Changed My Life" Write Your Own Narration CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING NARRATION COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE NARRATION Chapter Review 11. Illustration: Writing That Gives Examples Understand What Illustration Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ILLUSTRATION Main Point in Illustration Support in Illustration Organization in Narration Read and Analyze Illustration PROFILE OF SUCCESS: ILLUSTRATION IN THE REAL WORLD * Illustration Paragraph: Casandra Palmer, "Gifts from the Heart" *Illustration Essay: Kathleen Aharonian, "Does Anyone Want Some More Calories With That?" Write Your Own Illustration CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING ILLUSTRATION COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE ILLUSTRATION Chapter Review 12. Description: Writing That Creates Pictures in Words Understand What Description Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DESCRIPTION Main Point in Description Support in Description Organization in Description Read and Analyze Description PROFILE OF SUCCESS: DESCRIPTION IN THE REAL WORLD Description Paragraph: Cathy Vittoria, "The Peach Tree" Description Essay: Cathy Vittoria, "The Peach Tree" Write Your Own Description CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING DESCRIPTION COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE DESCRIPTION Chapter Review 13. Process Analysis: Writing That Explains How Things Happen Understand What Process Analysis Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD PROCESS ANALYSIS Main Point in Process Analysis Support in Process Analysis Organization in Process Analysis Read and Analyze Process Analysis PROFILE OF SUCCESS: PROCESS ANALYSIS IN THE REAL WORLD *Process Analysis Paragraph: Carlton Brown, "Buying a Car at an Auction" *Process Analysis Essay: Michele Wood, "My Home-Exercise Program" Write Your Own Process Analysis CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING PROCESS ANALYSIS COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE PROCESS ANALYSIS Chapter Review 14. Classification: Writing That Puts Things into Groups Understand What Classification Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CLASSIFICATION Main Point in Classification Support in Classification Organization in Classification Read and Analyze Classification PROFILE OF SUCCESS: CLASSIFICATION IN THE REAL WORLD *Classification Paragraph: Lorenza Mattazi, "All My Music" Classification Essay: Danny Fitzgerald, "Blood Type and Personality" Write Your Own Classification CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING CLASSIFICATION COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE CLASSIFICATION Chapter Review 15. Definition: Writing That Tells What Something Means Understand What Definition Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DEFINITION Main Point in Definition Support in Definition Organization in Definition Read and Analyze Definition PROFILE OF SUCCESS: DEFINITON IN THE REAL WORLD *Definition Paragraph: Abigail Klatt, "Not All CAM Is a Scam"*Definition Essay: Kelli Whitehead, "Oh, You're a College Student" Write Your Own Definition CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING DEFINITION COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE DEFINITION Chapter Review 16. Comparison and Contrast: Writing That Shows Similarities and Differences Understand What Comparison and Contrast Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD COMPARISON AND CONTRAST Main Point in Comparison and Contrast Support in Comparison and Contrast Organization in Comparison and Contrast Read and Analyze Comparison and Contrast PROFILE OF SUCCESS: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST IN THE REAL WORLD Comparison and Contrast Paragraph: Samson Green, "Men and Women Getting Lost" Comparison and Contrast Essay: Lou Enrico, "Target and Wal-Mart: Not As Different As You Think"Write Your Own Comparison and Contrast CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING COMPARISON AND CONTRAST COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST Chapter Review 17. Cause and Effect: Writing That Explains Reasons or Results Understand What Cause and Effect Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CAUSE AND EFFECT Main Point in Cause and Effect Support in Cause and Effect Organization in Cause and Effect Read and Analyze Cause and Effect PROFILE OF SUCCESS: CAUSE AND EFFECT IN THE REAL WORLD *Cause and Effect Paragraph: Caitlin Prokop, "A Difficult Decision with a Positive Outcome"*Cause and Effect Essay: Kimberly Sharpe, "Graduation Day: A Life-ChangingExperience"Write Your Own Cause and Effect CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING CAUSE AND EFFECT COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE CAUSE AND EFFECT Chapter Review 18. Argument: Writing That Persuades Understand What Argument Is FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ARGUMENT Main Point in Argument Support in Argument Reasons and Evidence The Conclusion Organization in Argument Read and Analyze Argument PROFILE OF SUCCESS: ARGUMENT IN THE REAL WORLD *Argument Essay: Rollina Lowe, "The Gas Tax Is Fair"*Argument Essay: Jim Green, "Unequal Taxation"Write Your Own Argument CHECKLIST: TIPS FOR TACKLING ARGUMENT COMMUNITY MATTERS CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE ARGUMENT Chapter Review Part Three: Special College Writing Projects 19. Writing Summaries and Reports: Condensing Important Information Write a Summary The Reading Process for Summaries The Writing Process for Summaries: A Checklist Summary Assignments Write a Report "A Brother’s Murder": A Painful Story That Is as True As Ever The Reading Process for Reports The Writing Process for Reports: A Checklist Report Assignments Chapter Review 20. Writing the Research Essay: Using Outside Sources in Your Writing Make a Schedule Choose a Topic Find Sources Consult a Reference Librarian Use the Online Catalog Look at Your Library’s Web Site Use Your Library’s Online Databases Use the Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL) Search Engines and Searching with Key Words Online Research Sites Interview People Evaluate Sources Avoid Plagiarism Keep a Running Bibliography Indirect Quotation: Summary Indirect Quotation: Paraphrase Direct Quotation Cite and Document Your Sources Use In-Text Citations Within Your Essay Use a Works Cited List at the End of Your Essay Books Electronic Sources Other Sources SAMPLE STUDENT RESEARCH ESSAY CHECKLIST: HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH ESSAY Editing Part Four: The Four Most Serious Errors 21. The Basic Sentence: An Overview The Four Most Serious Errors The Parts of Speech The Basic Sentence Subjects Verbs Action Verbs Linking Verbs Helping Verbs Complete Thoughts Chapter Review Chapter Test 22. Fragments: Incomplete Sentences Understand What Fragments Are In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Fragments? Find and Correct Fragments 1. Fragments That Start with Prepositions 2. Fragments That Start with Dependent Words 3. Fragments That Start with –ing Verb Forms 4. Fragments That Start with to and a Verb 5. Fragments That Start with Examples or Explanations Edit for Fragments Chapter Review Chapter Test 23. Run-Ons: Two Sentences Joined Incorrectly Understand What Run-Ons Are In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Run-Ons and Comma Splices? Find and Correct Run-Ons Add a Period Add a Semicolon Add a Semicolon and a Conjunctive Adverb Add a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction Add a Dependent Word A Word That Can Cause Run-Ons and Comma Splices: Then Edit Run-Ons Chapter Review Chapter Test 24. Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement: When Subjects and Verbs Don’t Match Understand What Subject-Verb Agreement Is In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement? Practice Finding and Correcting Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement 1. The Verb is a Form of Be, Have, or Do 2. Words Come between the Subject and the Verb Prepositional Phrase between the Subject and the VerbDependent Clause between the Subject and the Verb3. The Sentence Has a Compound Subject 4. The Subject Is an Indefinite Pronoun 5. The Verb Comes before the Subject Questions Sentences That Begin with Here or There Edit for Subject-Verb Agreement Chapter Review Chapter Test 25. Verb Tense: Using Verbs to Express Different Times Understand What Verb Tense Is In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Use the Correct Verb Tense? Practice Using Correct Verbs Regular Verbs Present-Tense Endings: -s and No Ending One Regular Past-Tense Ending: -ed One Regular Past Participle Ending: -ed Irregular Verbs Present Tense, Be and Have Past Tense, Be Past Participles Have/Has + Past Participle = Present Perfect Tense Had + Past Participle = Past Perfect Tense Be + Past Participle = Passive Voice Consistency of Verb Tense Edit for Verb Problems Chapter Review Chapter Test PART FOUR TEST Part Five: Other Grammar Concerns 26. Pronouns: Using Substitutes for Nouns Understand What Pronouns Are Practice Using Pronouns Correctly Identify Pronouns Check for Pronoun Agreement Indefinite Pronouns Collective Nouns Make Pronoun References Clear Use the Right Type of Pronoun Subject Pronouns Object Pronouns Possessive Pronouns Pronouns Used with Compound Subjects and Objects Pronouns Used in Comparisons Choosing between Who and Whom Make Pronouns Consistent in Person Edit for Pronoun Use Chapter Review Chapter Test 27. Adjectives and Adverbs: Using Descriptive Words Understand What Adjectives and Adverbs Are Practice Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly Choosing between Adjectives and Adverbs Using Adjectives and Adverbs in Comparisons Using Good, Well, Bad, and Badly Edit for Adjectives and Adverbs Chapter Review Chapter Test 28. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Confusing Descriptions Understand What Misplaced Modifiers Are Practice Correcting Misplaced Modifiers Understand What Dangling Modifiers Are Practice Correcting Dangling Modifiers Edit for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Chapter Review Chapter Test 29. Coordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas Understand What Coordination Is Practice Using Coordination Using Coordinating Conjunctions Using Semicolons Edit for Coordination Chapter Review Chapter Test 30. Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas Understand What Subordination Is Practice Using Subordination Edit for Subordination Chapter Review Chapter Test 31. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas Understand What Parallelism Is Practice Writing Parallel Sentences Parallelism in Pairs and Lists Parallelism in Comparisons Parallelism with Certain Paired Words Edit for Parallelism Chapter Review Chapter Test 32. Sentence Variety: Putting Rhythm in Your Writing Understand What Sentence Variety Is Practice Creating Sentence Variety Start Some Sentences with Adverbs Join Ideas Using an –ing Verb Join Ideas with a Past Participle Join Ideas Using an Appositive Join Ideas Using an Adjective Clause Edit for Sentence Variety Chapter Review Chapter Test 33. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students Basic Sentence Patterns Statements Negatives Questions There Is and There Are Pronouns Confusing Subject and Object Pronouns Confusing Gender Leaving Out a Pronoun Using a Pronoun to Repeat a Subject Using Relative Pronouns Verbs The Simple Tenses Simple Present Simple Past Simple Future The Perfect Tenses The Present Perfect The Past Perfect The Future Perfect The Progressive Tenses Modal Auxiliaries/Helping Verbs Gerunds and Infinitives Articles Using Definite and Indefinite Articles Prepositions Prepositions after Adjectives Prepositions after Verbs Chapter Review Chapter Test PART FIVE TEST Part Six: Word Use 34. Word Choice: Using the Right Words Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully Dictionary Thesaurus Practice Avoiding Four Common Word-Choice Problems Vague and Abstract Words Slang Wordy Language Clichés Edit for Word Choice Chapter Review Chapter Test 35. Commonly Confused Words: Avoiding Mistakes with Sound-Alike Words Understanding Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused Practice Using Commonly Confused Words Correctly Edit for Commonly Confused Words Chapter Review Chapter Test 36. Spelling: Using the Right Letters Finding and Correcting Mistakes Use a Spell Checker—with Caution Use Proofreading Techniques Make a Personal Spelling List Becoming a Better Speller Master Commonly Confused Words Learn Six Spelling Rules Edit for Spelling Errors Chapter Review Chapter Test PART SIX TEST Part Seven: Punctuation and Capitalization 37. Commas Understand What Commas Do Practice Using Commas Correctly Commas between Items in a Series Commas in Compound Sentences Commas after Introductory Word Groups Commas around Appositives and Interrupters Commas around Adjective Clauses Other Uses for Commas Commas with Quotation Marks Commas in Addresses Commas in Dates Commas with Names Commas with Yes or No Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing Chapter Review Chapter Test 38. Apostrophes Understand What Apostrophes Do Practice Using Apostrophes Correctly Apostrophes to Show Ownership Apostrophes in Contractions Apostrophes with Letters, Numbers, and Time Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing Chapter Review Chapter Test 39. Quotation Marks Understand What Quotation Marks Do Practice Using Quotation Marks Correctly Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations Setting Off a Quotation within Another Quotation No Quotation Marks for Indirect Quotations Quotation Marks for Certain Titles Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing Chapter Review Chapter Test 40. Other Punctuation Understand What Punctuation Does Practice Using Punctuation Correctly Semicolon ; Semicolons to Join Closely Related Sentences Semicolons When Items in a List Contain Commas Colon : Colons before Lists Colons before Explanations or Examples Colons in Business Correspondence and in Subtitles Parentheses ( ) Dash — Hyphen - Hyphens to Join Words That Form a Single Description Hyphens to Divide a Word at the End of a Line Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing Chapter Review Chapter Test 41. Capitalization Understand Three Rules of Capitalization Practice Capitalization Capitalization of Sentences Capitalization of Names of Specific People, Places, Dates, and Things People Places Dates Organizations, Companies, and Groups Languages, Nationalities, and Religions Courses Commercial Products Capitalization of Titles Edit Paragraphs and Your Own Writing Chapter Review Chapter Test PART SEVEN TEST EDITING REVIEW TEST 1: Part 4 EDITING REVIEW TEST 2: Part 4 EDITING REVIEW TEST 3: Parts 4-5 EDITING REVIEW TEST 4: Parts 4-5 EDITING REVIEW TEST 5: Parts 4-6 EDITING REVIEW TEST 6: Parts 4-6 EDITING REVIEW TEST 7: Parts 4-7 EDITING REVIEW TEST 8: Parts 4-7 EDITING REVIEW TEST 9: Parts 4-7 EDITING REVIEW TEST 10: Parts 4-7 Part Eight: Readings for Writers 42. Narration *Monique Rizer (student), When Students are Parents Walter Scanlon , It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status Patrick Conroy, Chili Cheese Dogs, My Father, and Me 43. Illustration *Rose Martinez (student), Reality TV Dianne Hales, Why Are We So Angry? James Verini, Supersize It 44. Description *Brian Healy (student), First Day in Fallujah *David Dosa, A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat *Eric Liu, Po-Po in Chinatown 45. Process Analysis *Jasen Beverly (student), My Pilgrimage *Tara Parker-Pope, How to Boost Your Willpower *Noreen Malone, What Happens If You Fall Into A Black Hole? 46. Classification *Vanessa Radzimski (student), Vanessa the Vegetarian Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie *Carolyn Foster Segal, The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe 47. Definition *John Around Him (student), Free Money *Michael Thompson, Passage into Manhood Janice E. Castro with Dan Cook and Cristina Garcia, Spanglish 48. Comparison and Contrast *Jackie Davison (student), Happy Birthday, Sis Judith Ortiz Cofer, Don’t Misread My Signals Deborah Tannen, Gender Patterns Begin at the Beginning 49. Cause and Effect *Ruth Russell (student), The Wounds That Can’t Be Stitched Up Pat Wingert, Uniforms Rule *John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness 50. Argument *Robert Phansalkar (student), Stop Snitchin Won’t Stop Crime *Bill Maxwell, Start Snitching *Alexandra Natapoff, Bait and Snitch: The High Cost of Snitching for Law Enforcement Useful Appendices A. Succeeding on Tests B. Solving Problems Answers to Odd-Numbered Editing Exercises