About the Book
One of the most successful all-inclusive rhetorics on the market, this classic distinguishes itself with a story, poem, and photo writing assignment in each modes chapter. This systematic rhetoric/reader/handbook carefully leads the student through the process of essay writing. It provides numerous sample readings--imaginative literature as well as the essay--and specific guidelines on how to approach each rhetorical mode, writing assignments, and both student and professional models of completed assignments. In addition to covering nine rhetorical modes, the text includes a complete unit on the research paper and a comprehensive handbook section. Prereading, prewriting, and writing exercises throughout offer guidance in the fundamentals of reading and writing.
Table of Contents:
I. FUNDAMENTALS 1. The Writing Process Prewriting Writing Rewriting Revising Editing Proofreading Writing Tip Personal versus Objective Writing Generating Ideas with journal Writing Assembling a Portfolio Writing Assignments 2. Critical Thinking, Reading and Seeing Critical Thinking Separate Opinion from Fact Critical Reading Understand what you've read Look for biases or hidden prejudices Don't be turned off by issues with which you're unfamiliar Don't be seduced by phony claims Annotate your reading Student annotation of the poem "Richard Cory" Exercises Critical Seeing What is the purpose of the visual image? What is the pitch behind the image? What is the context of the image? What information does the image communicate? What is the subtext of the image? Responding to a work of art Exercise Responding to a photo Exercise Writing assignments 3. Elements of the Essay Purpose Audience The Instructor as Audience Strategy Writing Tip Narration Description Example Definition Comparison/Contrast Process Writing Tip Classification Causal Analysis Argumentation Blending Rhetorical Patterns Practical Applications of the Rhetorical Strategies Essay Examinations and the Rhetorical Strategies The Controlling Idea Writing Assignments 4. Combining, Generating, and Judging the Sentence Sentence Combining Writing Tip Sentence Combining by Adding Exercises Sentence Combining by Deleting Exercises Sentence Combining by Submerging Exercises Sentence Generating Exercises Judging the Sentence Exercises Answers to Exercises 5. The Paragraph Uses of the Paragraph Paragraphs That Signal a New Idea Paragraphs That Expand on an old Idea Paragraphs That Signal a Transition The Shape of the Paragraph Topic Sentence at the Beginning Topic Sentence at the End Topic Sentence in the Middle Topic Sentence Developed over Two Paragraphs Topic Sentence Implied Characteristic of the Paragraph Unity Coherence Completeness Writing Tip Journalistic Paragraphs Transitions between Paragraphs Repetition Transitional Words and Phrases Transitional Questions Bridging Sentences Paragraphs without Transitions Using Varied Paragraph Transitions Beginning and Ending Paragraphs Beginning Paragraphs Ending Paragraphs The Relationship between the Beginning and Ending Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment 6. Planning and Organizing the Essay Finding a Topic Prewriting Activities Freewriting Talking Clustering Writer's Block Psychological Reasons Physical Reasons The Internal Editor Finding the Thesis The Too-Narrow or the Too-Board Thesis Refining the Thesis The Informal Outline The Formal Outline Writing Tip Use of the Outline Exercises Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignments 7. Drafting, Revising, and Style Pointers on Drafting Keep Your Audience in Mind Keep Your Purpose in Mind Organize Your Main Points Include Ample Specific Details Write in Any Sequence You Prefer Be Patient Use a Computer The First Draft Student Essay -- First Draft: "Who Am I?" by Alfredo Silva Check for Adequate Examples and Details Check Paragraph Transitions Achieving Style Writing Tip Simplify Your Grammar Express Action in Verbs, Rather Than Nouns Avoid the Passive Voice Be Brief and to the Point Writing Tip Vary Sentence Types Edit Awkward Language Put a Personal Voice in the Writing Student Essay -- Second Draft: "Who Am I?" by Alfredo Silva Editing the Second Draft Student Essay -- final draft: "Who Am I?"by Alfredo Silva Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignments II. WRITING THE ESSAY 8. Narration Reading for Ideas STORY: "The Code," by Richard T. Gill Reading for Ideas POEM: "Richard Cory," by Edwin Arlington Robinson How to Write a Narration Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip:Whatis pacing? Reading for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "A Gift of Laughter," by Allan Sherman STUDENT ESSAY: "Preserving the Species," by Gabrielle Scheidig Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: Excerpt from Night, by Elie Wiesel Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "In Another Country," by Ernest Hemingway Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "The Tell-Tale Heart," by Edgar Allan Poe Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 9. Description Readings for Ideas Story: "The Lament," by Anton Chekhov Readings for Ideas Poem: "Coats," by Jane Kenyon How to Write a Description Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip Readings for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "MMA Ramotsue Thinks about the Land," Alexander McCall Smith* STUDENT ESSAY: "Parting," by Chip McClendan Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "The Monster," by Deems Taylor Writing Assignments Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Sister Flowers," by Maya Angelou* Writing Assignments Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Laundromat," by Susan Sheehan* Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 10. Example Readings for Ideas Story: "We're Poor," by Floyd Dell Readings for Ideas Poem: "Eleanor Rigby," by John Lennon and Paul McCartney How to Write With Examples Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip: Using the mongrel Readings for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "How Near Death Is a Near Death Experience?" by Catherine Houck STUDENT ESSAY: "Poverty in Atlanta," by Tom Meade Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "What I've Learned from Men," by Barbara Ehrenreich* Writing Assignments Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "My Point of View," by Andy Rooney * Writing Assignments Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "The Word As Person: Eponyms," by Don Farrant Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 11. Definition Reading for Ideas STORY: "Arrangement in Black and White," by Dorothy Parker Reading for Ideas POEM: "Incident," by Countee Cullen How toWrite a Definition Writing Assignment Specific instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing tip: Which strategy to use? Reading for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "We Aren't Born Prejudiced," by Ian Stevenson* STUDENT ESSAY: "Prejudice: Child of Ignorance," by Cole Ollinger Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Will Someone Please Hiccup My Pat?" by William Spooner Donald Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Jim Crow Days," by Sarah L. and A. Elizabeth Delany Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Black English Has Its Place," by Ron Emmons Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 12. Comparison/Contrast Readings for Ideas Story: "Dream House," by Anthony C. Winkler* Readings for Ideas Poem: "The Twins," by Charles Bukowski How to Write a Comparison/Contrast paper Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip: How do you find the right topic? Readings for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL:"Diogenes and Alexander," by Gilbert Highet STUDENT ESSAY: "Aben and James," by Randy Varney Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Grant and Lee: A study in Contrasts," by Bruce Catton Writing Assignments Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Priest and Pagan," by Arthur Grimble Readings for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder, along with Everything Else," by Lee Dembart* Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 13. Process Reading for Ideas STORY: "How Mr. Hogan Robbed a Bank," by John Steinbeck Reading for Ideas POEM: "Tract," by William Carlos Williams How to Write a Process Paper Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip: Choosing a Process Reading for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "In the Garden of Childish Delights," by Emily Fox* STUDENT ESSAY: "Driving to Preserve Your Car," by Monica Esparza Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "In the Valley of the Shadow," by Carl Sagan Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Coming into Language," by Jimmy Santiago Baca Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "How to Say Nothing in 500 Words," by Paul Roberts Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 14. Classification/Division Reading for Ideas STORY: "Harrison Bergeron," by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Reading for Ideas POEM: "All the World's a Stage," by William Shakespeare How to Write a Classification/Division Paper Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip: Do a Personal Division Reading for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "The Plot against People," by Russell Baker STUDENT ESSAY: "Handicaps," by David Beckham Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Three Types of Resistance to Oppression," by Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "College Pressures," by William Zinsser Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Mother Tongue," by Amy Tan* Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 15. Causal Analysis Reading for Ideas STORY: "The Girls in Their Summer Dresses," by Irwin Shaw Reading for Ideas POEM: "Money," by Victor Contoski How to Write an Analysis of Cause Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip: Analyze the cause of a local problem Reading for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "Mary Todd Lincoln: Second Thoughts on Our Most Vilified First Lady," by Irving Stone STUDENT ESSAY: "Crooks, Fools, and Congressmen," by Letitia Sanchez Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Why We Crave Horror Movies," by Stephen King Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Grow Up? Not so Fast," by Lev Grossman Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Black Men and Public Space," by Brent Staples Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment 16. Argumentation Reading for Ideas STORY: "War," by Luigi Pirandello Reading for Ideas POEM: "Dooley Is a Traitor," by James Michie How to Write an Argument Writing Assignment Specific Instructions Student Tip for Inventing Ideas Writing Tip: Focus and Fairness Reading for Ideas PROFESSIONAL MODEL: "The Case against Man," by Isaac Asimov STUDENT ESSAY: "Against Fraternities," by Francis Shriver Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "I Want a Wife," by Judy Syfers Writing Assignments Reading for Ideas ALTERNATE READING: "Don't Impose Your Values Argument is Bigotry in Disguise," by John Leo* Writing Assignments Cluster Argument: Three Positions on Same Sex Marriage Reading for Ideas PRO: "Gay Marriage," Michael Alvear* Reading for Ideas CON: "The Marriage Buffet,"by David Frum * Reading for Ideas NEUTRAL: "A More Perfect Union," by Jonathan Rauch* Writing Assignments Internet Research Assignment Additional Writing Assignments Rewriting Assignment Photo Writing Assignment III. THE ESSAY EXAMINATION 17. Preparing for the Essay Examination How to Do Well on Essay Examinations Read the Question Carefully, at Least Twice Give the Question Some Thought before Starting to Write Organize Your Thoughts through Prewriting Time Yourself Carefully Using Rhetorical Strategies in Essay Examinations Sample Essay Exams IV. THE RESEARCH PAPER 18. The Research Paper Choosing a topic Doing the research Search Engines Evaluating the Reliability of Web Sites Check on Who Owns and Operates It Check the Writer's Tone Check the Opinions of the Writer What Are the Writer's Credentials? Compile a Bibliography Take Notes Using a Computer or Photocopier to Take Notes Formulating the Thesis, Outlining the Paper, and Writing Abstract The Thesis The Outline The Abstract 19. Writing and Documenting the Paper Plagiarism Documenting the Humanities Paper (MLA) Using Parenthetical Documentation (MLA) Using Content Notes (MLA) Preparing the List of "Works Cited" (MLA) Citing Electronic Sources (MLA) Documenting the Social Sciences Paper (APA) Using Parenthetical Documentation (APA) Using Content Notes (APA) Preparing the List of "References" (APA) Citing Electronic Sources (APA) Preparing the Final Copy (MLA) Preparing the Final Copy (APA) Exercises Sample Student Papers V. HANDBOOK 20. Grammar Fundamentals The Sentence The Subject and Predicate The Complete Subject and Predicate The Compound Subject and Predicate Exercises The Clause and Phrase The Clause The Phrase Exercises Sentence Types Classification According to Function Classification According to Form Exercises Parts of Speech The Verb The Noun The Pronoun The Adjective The Article The Adverb The Preposition The Conjunction The Interjection Context and Parts of Speech Exercises 21. Correcting Common Errors Errors with Sentences Exercises Errors in Agreement Errors with Verbs Exercises Errors with Pronouns Exercises Errors in Point of View Person Tense Mood Voice Discourse Key Words Exercises Errors in Reference Exercises Errors with Modifiers Exercises Errors in Parallelism Exercises Errors in Diction Use the Correct Word Exercises Use Concrete Words Exercises Wordiness Exercises Combining Sentences Subordination by Phrase Subordination by Dependent Clause Choosing the Right Subordinator Exercises Errors in Punctuation The Period The Comma The Semicolon The Colon The Dash The Question Mark The Exclamation Point The Apostrophe Parentheses Quotation Marks Italics The Hyphen Exercises Errors in Capitalization Exercises Errors in Spelling Exercises Appendix: Answers to Self-Grading Exercises
