DETAILED CONTENTS
Preface
xxi
Chapter 1
To the Student
1
How This Book Can Help You Reach Your Goals
Writing Can Be Learned
3
1
Chapter 2
Critical Thinking: The Connection between
Reading and Writing
4
Critical Thinking
4
The Elements of Reasoning
5
Applying the Elements of Reasoning
6
Sample Article: Timing Now Right for Star Wars
Missile Defense, WILLIAM SAFIRE
7
Sample Analysis
9
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
10
PA R T 1
Getting Started: The Fundamentals
13
The Paragraph
13
Types of Sentences
14
The Essay
15
The Essay Title
15
Essay Elements
15
Chapter 3
The Introductory Paragraph
17
The Thesis Sentence
17
The Controlling Idea or Attitude in the Thesis Sentence
The Three-Item Essay Map
18
Checking Your Thesis Sentence
20
Introductory Sentences
23
Putting It All Together
26
17
ix
x
■
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Sample Essay: San Francisco or Bust!, PATTY DUBNAU
Essay Writing Technique Questions
29
27
Chapter 4
The Body Paragraphs
31
The Topic Sentence
31
Support Sentences
35
The Six Reporters’ Questions
35
Creating a Working Outline
36
Additional Writing Assignments
39
Chapter 5
The Concluding Paragraph
41
Call to Action
42
Warning
42
Prediction
42
Evaluation
43
Chapter 6
Prewriting Activities
47
Listing
47
Clustering (Mapping)
49
Cubing
50
Cross Examination
52
A Final Word about Prewriting
54
PA R T 2
Moving Forward: Strategies
for Developing Essays
The Modes of Development
55
Chapter 7
The Descriptive Essay
57
Identifying Your Purpose
57
Objective versus Subjective Description
58
Dominant Impression
58
Writing the Descriptive Paragraph
59
The Topic Sentence in a Subjective Description
Paragraph
59
Supporting Details: Sensory Images
60
Supporting Details: Comparisons Using Figurative
Language
62
55
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
63
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
63
Creating the Body Paragraphs
63
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
63
Sample Student Essay: Warning: Biohazard!,
ANGIE BUNCH
64
Vocabulary
64
Descriptive Technique Questions
65
Sample Professional Essay: El Hoyo,
MARIO SUAREZ
66
Vocabulary
67
Descriptive Technique Questions
68
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
70
Topics for a Descriptive Essay
70
Chapter 8
The Narrative Essay
72
Identifying Your Purpose
72
Writing the Narrative Paragraph
72
The Topic Sentence and the Point of the Story
72
Supporting Details: The Six Reporters’ Questions
74
Model Paragraphs
74
Using Transitional Expressions to Order Events
76
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
77
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
77
Creating the Body Paragraphs
77
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
77
Sample Student Essay: Small-Town Views,
MATT GRANT
78
Vocabulary
78
Narrative Technique Questions
79
Sample Professional Essay: I Have a Gun,
TANIA NYMAN
81
Vocabulary
81
Narrative Technique Questions
82
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
84
Topics for a Narrative Essay
84
Chapter 9
The Example Essay
86
Identifying Your Purpose
86
Writing the Example Paragraph
87
The Topic Sentence in an Example Paragraph
87
Supporting Details: The Six Reporters’ Questions
88
Using Transitional Expressions to Connect Examples
to the Topic
88
■
xi
xii
■
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
89
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
89
Creating the Body Paragraphs
90
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
90
Sample Student Essay: Opportunities in the Armed
Forces, JENNIFER STAGGS
90
Vocabulary
91
Example Technique Questions
92
Sample Professional Essay: Darkness at Noon,
HAROLD KRENTS
93
Vocabulary
93
Example Technique Questions
95
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
96
Topics for an Example Essay
96
Chapter 10
The Classification Essay
98
Identifying Your Purpose
98
Writing the Classification Paragraph
99
The Topic Sentence in a Classification Paragraph
Supporting Details: The Six Reporters’ Questions
Using Transitional Expressions to Identify
Classifications
100
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
101
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
102
Creating the Body Paragraphs
102
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
103
Sample Student Essay: Left Out,
RANDY RATERMAN
103
Vocabulary
103
Classification Technique Questions
105
Sample Professional Essay: Why I Want a Wife,
JUDY BRADY-SYFERS
106
Vocabulary
106
Classification Technique Questions
107
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
108
Topics for a Classification Essay
109
Chapter 11
The Process Essay
111
Identifying Your Purpose
111
Directional Process
112
Informational Process
112
Writing a Process Paragraph
113
The Topic Sentence in a Process Paragraph
Organizing the Process Paragraph
114
113
99
99
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Transitional Expressions: Connecting the Steps
114
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
115
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
115
Creating the Body Paragraphs
116
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
116
Sample Directional Process Student Essay: A Step-by-Step
Guide to Photography, STEPHANIE WEIDEMAN
116
Vocabulary
117
Process Technique Questions
118
Sample Informational Process Student Essay: How to Be
Successful at Kicking the Smoking Habit,
STEPHANY K. HIGGS
119
Vocabulary
119
Process Technique Questions
120
Sample Professional Essay: Are You Sure You Want
to Do This?, MANEKA GANDHI
121
Vocabulary
121
Process Technique Questions
122
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
123
Topics for a Process Essay
124
Chapter 12
The Comparison or Contrast Essay
126
Identifying Your Purpose
126
Writing a Comparison or Contrast Paragraph
128
Deciding to Compare or to Contrast and Selecting
Supporting Details
128
The Topic Sentence in a Comparison or Contrast
Paragraph
130
Organizing a Comparison or Contrast
Paragraph
130
Using Transitional Expressions to Connect
Comparisons or Contrasts
133
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
134
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
134
Creating the Body Paragraphs
135
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
135
Sample Comparison Student Essay: Commercial
vs. Residential Real Estate Sales, NANCY SMITH
136
Vocabulary
136
Comparison Technique Questions
137
Sample Contrast Student Essay: Two Different
Neighbors, TAYDE CRUZ
138
Vocabulary
138
Contrast Technique Questions
139
Sample Professional Essay: Light Skin
Versus Dark, CHARISSE JONES
140
■
xiii
xiv
■
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Vocabulary
140
Comparison and Contrast Technique Questions
142
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
143
Topics for a Comparison or Contrast Essay
143
Chapter 13
The Definition Essay
145
Identifying Your Purpose
145
Simple Definition
146
Extended Definition
146
Writing an Extended Definition Paragraph
147
The Topic Sentence of an Extended Definition
Paragraph
148
Using Transitional Expressions in Definition
Paragraphs
148
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
149
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
149
Creating the Body Paragraphs
150
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
151
Sample Student Essay: “Who” Is Out There?,
MARTIN BRINK
151
Vocabulary
151
Definition Technique Questions
152
Sample Student Essay: A Shrimper’s Life,
DONNA MORRIS
153
Vocabulary
153
Definition Technique Questions
155
Sample Professional Essay: A Jerk, SYDNEY J. HARRIS
Vocabulary
156
Definition Technique Questions
157
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
157
Topics for a Definition Essay
158
156
Chapter 14
The Cause or Effect Essay
160
Identifying Your Purpose
160
Writing a Cause or Effect Paragraph
160
Causal Chains
161
Problems to Avoid
163
The Topic Sentence in a Cause or Effect Paragraph
Using Transitional Expressions in Cause
and Effect Writing
166
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
167
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
167
164
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Creating the Body Paragraphs
167
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
168
Sample Cause Student Essay: Problems
in Parenting, MARK COLLOM
168
Vocabulary
168
Cause Technique Questions
169
Sample Effect Student Essay: Giving Out,
YVONNE OLSEN
170
Vocabulary
171
Effect Technique Questions
172
Sample Professional Essay: Why English-Only Laws
Are Useless, ROSA RIVERA
173
Vocabulary
173
Cause and Effect Technique Questions
174
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
175
Topics for a Cause or Effect Essay
176
Chapter 15
The Persuasive Essay
178
Identifying Your Purpose
178
Writing a Persuasive Paragraph
178
The Topic Sentence in a Persuasive Paragraph
179
The Pro and Con List
181
Techniques to Support the Argument
183
False Logic
184
Organization Patterns
186
Using Transitional Expressions in the Persuasive
Paragraph
188
Moving from Paragraph to Essay
189
Creating the Introductory Paragraph
189
Using the Pro and Con Lists to Create the Thesis Sentence
for a Pro Essay
190
Creating the Body Paragraphs
190
Creating the Concluding Paragraph
191
Sample Student Essay: Working Pays Off,
RANDY RATERMAN
191
Vocabulary
191
Persuasion Technique Questions
193
Creating the Introductory Paragraph and Thesis Sentence
for a Con Essay
193
Sample Student Essay: Guys and Gals,
BRYAN KEMPER
194
Vocabulary
195
Persuasion Technique Questions
196
Sample Professional Essay: Last Rites for the Indian
Dead, SUZAN SHOWN HARJO
197
Vocabulary
197
Persuasion Technique Questions
199
■
xv
xvi
■
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Critical Thinking Writing Opportunities
Topics for a Persuasive Essay
201
200
PA R T 3
Special Writing Situations
The Research Paper
203
Timed In-Class Writing
203
Literary Analysis
204
Chapter 16
The Research Paper
205
Select a Topic
205
Limit the Topic
206
Research the Topic and Take Notes
206
Outline the Paper
206
Select the Researched Support Material
207
Arrange the Quotations
207
Write the Paper
207
Document the Paper
208
Use the Appropriate Format
208
Avoid Plagiarism
208
Proofread the Paper
208
Prepare the Paper for Submission
209
The Modern Language Association (MLA)
Documentation Format
209
Citing within the Paper
209
Citing at the End of the Paper— The Works Cited
Section
212
Examples of Works Cited Entries
213
Sample Student Research Paper: Shanghaied
on Trade, JULIA MURPHY
215
Research Paper Technique Questions
222
Sample Professional Research Paper: The Ecstasy
of War, BARBARA EHRENREICH
223
Research Paper Technique Questions
230
Chapter 17
The Essay Exam
232
Time and Grade
232
Key Terms in Essay Questions
232
Prompts with Thesis Sentence and Essay Map
Examples
233
Introductory and Concluding Techniques
235
203
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
■
Chapter 18
Literary Criticism
237
The Elements of Literary Analysis
237
Character: Who?
238
How Do Writers Develop a Character?
238
What Is the Result of the Characterization?
238
What Is the Character’s Function?
238
Does the Character Change?
239
What Is Your Overall Impression of the Character?
How Credible Is the Character?
239
Plot: What?
240
The Basic Elements of the Plot
240
Setting: Where?
241
Time: When?
241
Theme: Why?
241
Questions to Determine Theme
242
Problems to Avoid
242
Technique: How?
243
Point of View
243
Language Devices
243
Word Selection
244
The Thesis Sentence in Literary Analysis
244
Sample Literary Analysis of a Poem: “After ApplePicking,” by ROBERT FROST
245
Sample Literary Analysis of a Novel: Sula,
TONI MORRISON
249
A Final Word
256
The Writer’s Resources
Parts of Speech
257
258
Nouns
258
Pronouns
259
Personal Pronouns
260
Relative Pronouns
261
Demonstrative Pronouns
262
Indefinite Pronouns
262
Reflexive Pronouns
262
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
263
Verbs
265
Present Tense
265
Past Tenses for Regular Verbs
265
Past Tenses for Irregular Verbs
265
The Verb Be
270
Complex Verb Forms
271
239
xvii
xviii
■
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses
272
Passive Voice
273
Subject-Verb Agreement
276
Compound Subject-Verb Agreement
277
Adjectives
280
Adverbs
280
Clauses and Phrases
282
Independent and Dependent Clauses
282
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses
282
Combining Clauses
283
Common Punctuation Errors for Clauses
284
Phrases
285
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
287
Prepositions
290
Preposition Combinations
291
Articles
293
Punctuation and Other Rules of Style
298
Capitalization
298
Numbers
298
Apostrophes
299
Quotation Marks
300
Parentheses
301
Brackets
301
Dashes
301
Hyphens
302
Underlining and Italics
302
Interrupters
304
Words and Meaning
306
Commonly Misspelled Words
306
Words That Sound Alike
306
Contractions That Sound Like Other Words
310
Words That Sound or Look Almost Alike
311
Confusing Verbs That Sound Alike
315
Two- and Three-Word Verb Phrases
317
Additional Readings
323
Description
Have You Ever Met an Asian Man You Thought Was
Sexy?, ERIC KIM
324
The Joy Luck Club, AMY TAN
326
D E TA I L E D C O N T E N T S
Narration
For My Indian Daughter, LEWIS SAWAQUAT
Kubota, GARRETT HONGO
334
331
Example
Believers in Search of Piercing Insight,
D. JAMES ROMERO
342
The Baffling Question, BILL COSBY
345
Classification
Single White Female, VIET D. DINH
347
Confessions of an Ex-Smoker, FRANKLIN ZIMRING
350
Process
Coming Out: A Process of Dilemma,
SEAN T. WHERLEY
353
Managing Your Time, EDWIN BLISS
356
Compare and Contrast
A Battle of Cultures, K. CONNIE KANG
Two Ways to Belong in America,
BHARATI MUKHERJEE
363
360
Definition
Who’s a Hillbilly?, REBECCA THOMAS KIRKENDALL
367
A Magic Circle of Friends, ELVIRA M. FRANCO
370
Cause and Effect
Halfway to Dick and Jane, JACK AGUEROS
372
Why We Crave Horror Movies, STEPHEN KING
376
Persuasion
Honey, I Warped the Kids, CARL CANNON
Why Blame TV, JOHN LEONARD
382
Why I Hunt, DAN SISSON
386
Why I Don’t Hunt, STEVE RUGGERI
388
Limited Answer Key
Glossary
Credits
Index
393
401
405
391
379
■
xix