Writing with Confidence: Writing Effective Sentences and Paragraphs

Rhetorical ContentsThe Writing ProcessHints and Help for WritersUNIT I. BUILDING YOUR WRITING SKILLS1. Why Write?Speaking and WritingWriting with ConfidenceFinding the Right Way to WriteWriting for Every ReasonWriting to WorkWriting to LearnWriting to CommunicateWriting for YourselfGetting a Head Start2. The Writing Process: Laying the FoundationWriting with Confidence in Six StepsStep 1: Exploring IdeasYour SubjectYour PurposeYour AudienceStep 2: PrewritingBrainstormingClusteringFreewritingStep 3: OrganizingSelectingOutliningStep 4: Writing a First DraftStep 5: Revising the DraftReviewingReading AloudPredictingMaking a Clean CopyStep 6: Producing the Final CopyEditingProofreading3. Writing a Powerful Paragraph: Building the FoundationWhat Is a Paragraph?Exploring and PlanningWriting the Topic SentenceGeneral and Specific StatementsMaking a ClaimExpressing an Attitude or OpinionWriting the Body and ConclusionGenerating IdeasSelecting and Organizing IdeasDeveloping IdeasLooking at Paragraph DevelopmentWriting a First DraftWriting a ConclusionRevising the ParagraphUnityCoherenceRefining the Topic Sentence and ConclusionUsing Peer ReviewRevision Guidelines: Writing a Powerful Paragraph4. Writing an Effective Essay: Building a Larger StructureWhat Is an Essay?Composing an EssayGetting StartedDeveloping the Thesis StatementWriting the First DraftRevisingRevision Guidelines: Writing an Effective EssayEditing and ProofreadingUnit I Blueprint for SuccessUNIT II. BUILDING AND REPAIRING SENTENCES5. Recognizing Sentences and Fixing FragmentsWhat Is a Sentence?Identifying SubjectsIdentifying VerbsWhat Is a Fragment?Fixing Simple FragmentsMissing SubjectsMissing or Incomplete VerbsInfinitives and -ing WordsHanging Details or ExamplesFixing Complex Fragments Although and Because Types Who, That, and Which TypesEditing for Mastery6. Joining Sentences through CoordinationConnecting WordsThe Coordinating ConjunctionsJoining Sentences with CoordinationPunctuating Compound SentencesJoining Sentences with SemicolonsThe SemicolonTransitional Words after the SemicolonEditing for Mastery7. Joining Sentences through SubordinationWhat Is Subordination?Subordinating with ClausesCommon Subordinating ConjunctionsPunctuating Dependent ClausesSubordinating with PhrasesEditing for Mastery8. Joining Sentences with PronounsRelative ClausesPlacement of Relative ClausesCommas with Relative ClausesRelative Pronouns as SubjectsRelative Pronouns as ObjectsRelative Clauses with WhoseNoun ClausesPhrasesEditing for Mastery9. Repairing Run-ons and Correcting Comma SplicesRun-on SentencesComma-Spliced SentencesEditing for MasteryUnit II Blueprint for SuccessIII. REVISING WITH CARE: BUILDING ON THE FRAMEWORK10. Making Subjects and Verbs AgreeWhat Is Subject-Verb Agreement?SubjectsNouns as Subjects (and Objects)Irregular PluralsPronouns as SubjectsSubjects Joined by andSpecial Present Tense VerbsTo BeTo DoTo HaveSpecial Problems with Subject-Verb AgreementQuestionsSentences That Begin with ThereCollective NounsIndefinite PronounsPhrases Between the Subject and VerbRelative ClausesEditing for Mastery11. Using the Past Tense and the Past ParticipleThe Past Tense in Its Usual FormsRegular VerbsTo Be Could and WouldThe Present-Perfect TenseForming the Present-Perfect TenseUsing the Present-Perfect TenseThe Past-Perfect TenseForming the Past-Perfect TenseUsing the Past-Perfect TenseIrregular VerbsCategory 1: -d to –yCategory 2: -d and Possible Vowel ChangeCategory 3: -t and Possible Vowel ChangeCategory 4: Single Vowel ChangeCategory 5: Double Vowel ChangeCategory 6: No ChangeCategory 7 –n or –en and Possible Vowel ChangeOther Uses of the Past ParticipleIn Three-Word Verb PhrasesIn the Passive VoiceAs an AdjectiveEditing for Mastery12. Using PronounsSelecting the Right PronounPersonal Pronouns as Subjects and ObjectsPersonal Pronouns in ComparisonsAvoiding Pronoun Confusion and BiasAgreement in NumberPronouns without AntecedentsPronouns Referring to PronounsPronouns Referring to Collective NounsSpecial PronounsReflexive PronounsDemonstrative PronounsRelative PronounsEditing for Mastery13. Using ModifiersWhat Are Modifiers?Placing Modifiers CorrectlyMisplaced ModifiersDangling ModifiersEditing for Mastery14. Making ComparisonsComparing with Adjectives and AdverbsAdjective FormsThe Simple FormThe Comparative FormsThe Superlative FormsAdverb FormsIrregular Adjectives and AdverbsAdjectives and Adverbs That Are the Same Good and Well, Bad and BadlyLively ComparisonsEditing for Mastery15. Being ConsistentKeeping Pronouns StraightKeeping Tense ConsistentKeeping Structures ParallelEditing for Mastery16. Writing Concretely and ConciselyChoosing Words That WorkStrong VerbsVivid Adjectives and DetailsDiscarding Words That Don’t ContributeEmpty Sentence StartersVague ExpressionsRepetitionWordinessTired ExpressionsEditing for MasteryUnit III Blueprint for SuccessIV. WRITING TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS: SHAPING THE STRUCTURE17. Describing a SceneA Model Paragraph: Describing a SceneWriting Assignment for Describing a SceneGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for DescriptionRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for DescriptionFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model ParagraphFinal Writing Assignment18. Developing Through ExemplificationModels of ExemplificationThe Short ExampleThe Sentence ExampleThe Long–or Extended–ExampleWriting Assignment for Developing Through ExemplificationGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for ExemplificationRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for ExemplificationFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Longer Model of ExemplificationFinal Writing Assignment19. Writing NarrationA Model of NarrationWriting Assignment for NarrationGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the Paragraph or EssayTemplates for NarrationRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for NarrationFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model EssayFinal Writing Assignment20. Writing a ReportA Model Paragraph: A ReportWriting Assignment for a ReportGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ReportTemplates for a ReportRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for a ReportFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model ReportFinal Writing Assignment21. Describing a ProcessA Model Paragraph: Process AnalysisWriting Assignment for Describing a ProcessGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for Process AnalysisRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for Process AnalysisFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model EssayFinal Writing Assignment22. Writing about Causes and EffectsA Model Paragraph: Causal AnalysisWriting Assignment for Causal AnalysisGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for Causes and EffectsRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for Causes and EffectsFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model ParagraphFinal Writing Assignment23. Classifying InformationA Model Paragraph: ClassificationWriting Assignment for ClassificationGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for ClassificationRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for ClassificationFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model EssayFinal Writing Assignment24. Writing Comparisons and ContrastsA Model Paragraph: Comparison-ContrastWriting Assignment for Comparison-ContrastGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for Comparisons and ContrastsRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for Comparisons and ContrastsFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model EssayFinal Writing Assignment25. Defining TermsA Model of DefinitionWriting Assignment for a DefinitionGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ParagraphTemplates for DefinitionsRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for DefinitionsFurther Revising and EditingAdditional Writing AssignmentA Student Model EssayFinal Writing Assignment26. Summarizing and RespondingA Student Model: A SummaryWriting Assignment for a SummaryGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the SummaryTemplates for a SummaryRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for a SummaryFurther Revising and EditingWriting Assignment for a Response, with a Student ModelGathering, Generating, and Arranging the MaterialsComposing the ResponseTemplates for a ResponseRevising Your First DraftRevision Checklist for a ResponseFurther Revising and EditingFinal Writing AssignmentUnit IV Blueprint for SuccessV. EDITING FOR GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS: FINISHING THE JOB27. Punctuating SentencesThe Comma [,]Items in a SeriesIndependent ClausesInterruptersIntroductory or Concluding ExpressionsTwo or More AdjectivesDates, Places, and AddressesThe Period [.]StatementsAbbreviationsThe Question Mark [?]The Exclamation Point [!]The Semicolon [;]Independent ClausesItems in a SeriesThe Colon [:]The Dash [—]Parentheses [()]Quotation Marks [“”]TitlesDefinitionsWords Used in a Special WaySpeechEditing for Mastery28. Checking Spelling, Apostrophes, Hyphens, and CapitalsSpellingThe Long and Short Vowel SoundsPlurals of Nouns and Singulars of VerbsSuffixesPrefixesThe Apostrophe [’]PossessivesContractionsPlurals of LettersHyphens [-]Hyphens to Join WordsSyllablesCapitalizationEditing for Mastery29. Writing the Right WordThe Most Common Sound-Alikes and Look-AlikesContractionsToo/Two/ToThe of ErrorThree Words Ending in –dCommonly Confused WordsAccept/ExceptAdvice/AdviseAffect/EffectAn/AndBreath/BreatheBuy/ByClothes/ClothsConscience/Conscious-ence/-ent; -ance/-antFine/FindKnow/No Knew/NewLed/LeadLie/LayLose/LooseMine/MindPassed/PastQuiet/Quite/QuitRise/RaiseSit/SetThen/ThanThere is/It isWhether/WeatherEditing for Mastery30. Keeping Verbs in OrderThe Continuous TensesIn the PresentIn the PastMore Verb PhrasesTwo-Word Verb PhrasesThree-Word Verb PhrasesFour-Word Verb PhrasesIndirect QuestionsObjects after VerbsObjects with Phrasal VerbsCommon Phrasal VerbsDirect and Indirect ObjectsAdverbsSingle AdverbsPlacing Two or More AdverbsPast Participles and Present ParticiplesDouble NegativesEditing for Mastery31. Mastering the Little Words: Articles and PrepositionsArticlesA/AnSingular Countable Nouns: A/An versus TheThePlural Countable Nouns and Uncountable Nouns: Using The or NothingAdditional Advice about A/An and ThePrepositionsTo Indicate TimeTo Indicate PlaceFor Vehicles and ChairsOther PrepositionsTo Repeat the Meaning of PrefixesEditing for MasteryUnit V Blueprint for SuccessReading SelectionsMalcolm X with Alex Haley, “My Prison Studies”Kurt Vonnegut, “How to Write with Style”Dawn Turner Trice, “Doing Laundry Comes with a Load of Rules”Elizabeth Wong, “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl”Mark Schlitt, “My Fifteen Minutes of Fame” [Student Essay]Ehsan Ghoreishi, “Tough Pitches” [Student Essay]Mark Twain, “Two Views of the Mississippi”Ellen Goodman, “Divining the Strange Eating Habits of Kids”Rita Pyrillis, “Sorry for Not Being a Stereotype”“The Writing on the Wall,” adapted from The People’s AlmanacRobert Hughes, “Running with Walker”Sam Lubell, “Block That Ringtone!”Anna Quindlen, “Homeless”Jeffrey D. Sachs, “The Power of One: the $10 Solution”Gary Soto, “This Man”Sonia Nazario, “The Boy Left Behind”Appendix A Preparing PortfoliosThe Rationale for the PortfolioSection 1: The Self-Assessment EssaySection 2: The Revised PapersFinal Essay Progress LogThe Portfolio as a Semester-long ProjectAppendix B PronounsPersonal PronounsPossessive PronounsDemonstrative PronounsInterrogative PronounsRelative PronounsIndefinite PronounsReflexive PronounsAppendix C Common Irregular VerbsAppendix D Commonly Misspelled WordsAppendix E Common Expressions Using PrepositionsAnswers to Chapter ExercisesGlossaryCreditsIndex