The Writer's Workplace with Readings: Building College Writing Skills

Cover Page......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
PART 1 An Invitation to Writing......Page 36
Overview of the Writing Process......Page 38
Journal Writing......Page 39
Focused Freewriting......Page 41
Brainstorming, Clustering, and Outlining......Page 42
Conducting Interviews and Surveys......Page 48
Working Together Taking a Survey: Student Attitudes about Writing......Page 52
The Subject: What the Writing Is about......Page 54
Purpose: The Writer’s Intention......Page 55
Audience: The Writer’s Intended Readers......Page 56
Voice: How the Writer’s Attitude Is Revealed......Page 57
Unity: All Parts Relating to the Central Theme......Page 60
Coherence: Clear and Logical Progression of Thought......Page 61
Working Together Knowing Your Audience......Page 64
PART 2 Creating Eff ective Sentences......Page 66
CHAPTER 3 FINDING SUBJECTS AND VERBS IN SIMPLE SENTENCES......Page 68
How Do You Find the Subject of a Sentence?......Page 69
How Do You Find the Verb of a Sentence?......Page 81
How Do You Identify the Parts of Speech?......Page 87
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 89
Working Together Crossword Puzzle: Reviewing the Terms for Sentence Parts......Page 92
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?......Page 93
Subject-Verb Agreement with the Verbs Do and Be......Page 94
Subject-Verb Agreement with Hard-to-Find Subjects......Page 98
Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns......Page 99
Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns......Page 101
Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects......Page 103
Subject-Verb Agreement with Unusual Nouns......Page 105
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 106
Working Together Focused Freewriting: Preserving Family History......Page 110
CHAPTER 5 UNDERSTANDING FRAGMENTS AND PHRASES......Page 112
What Is a Fragment?......Page 114
How Do You Correct a Fragment?......Page 115
What Is a Phrase and How Many Kinds of Phrases Are There?......Page 117
The Three Functions of the Present Participle......Page 122
How Do You Make a Complete Sentence from a Fragment that Contains a Participle?......Page 124
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 128
Working Together Examining an Advertisement for Fragments......Page 132
What Is Coordination?......Page 134
First Option for Coordination: Using a Comma Plus a Coordinating Conjunction......Page 135
Second Option for Coordination: Using a Semicolon, an Adverbial Conjunction, and a Comma......Page 140
Third Option for Coordination: Using a Semicolon......Page 145
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 148
Working Together Summarizing a Class Discussion: What Is a Fair Salary?......Page 153
What Is Subordination?......Page 154
The Difference between an Independent Clause and a Dependent Clause......Page 155
Using Subordinating Conjunctions......Page 157
Using Relative Pronouns......Page 162
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 169
Working Together Narrowing the Topic through Group Discussion: A Person’s First Job......Page 174
What Is a Fragment?......Page 176
What Is a Run-On?......Page 179
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 183
Working Together Discussion and Freewriting: First Impressions......Page 190
Pronouns and Case......Page 192
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement......Page 199
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 205
Working Together Discussion and Freewriting: Love or Duty?......Page 209
CHAPTER 10 WORKING WITH ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS, AND PARALLEL STRUCTURE......Page 211
What Is the Difference between an Adjective and an Adverb?......Page 212
Adjectives and Adverbs Used in Comparisons......Page 213
The Most Commonly Confused Adjectives and Adverbs......Page 217
Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers......Page 218
Avoiding the Double Negative with the Adverb not and Other Negative Words......Page 223
Parallel Structure: Making a Series of Words, Phrases, or Clauses Balanced within the Sentence......Page 224
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 228
Working Together Preparing and Editing a Résumé......Page 233
Practicing Fifty Irregular Verbs......Page 235
More Irregular Verbs......Page 241
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 243
Working Together Preparing for a Job Interview......Page 247
How Many Verb Tenses Are There in English?......Page 249
How Do You Use the Present Perfect and the Past Perfect Tenses?......Page 250
What Is the Sequence of Tenses?......Page 253
Avoiding Unnecessary Shifts in Verb Tense......Page 256
What Is the Difference between the Passive Voice and the Active Voice?......Page 259
What Is the Subjunctive Mood?......Page 261
Knowing How to Use should/would; can/could; will/would; and used to/supposed to......Page 262
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 263
Working Together Problem Solving: Integrity in the Workplace......Page 267
Ten Basic Rules of Capitalization......Page 268
Ten Basic Uses of the Comma......Page 273
Three Uses for the Apostrophe......Page 281
Four Uses for Quotation Marks......Page 285
Three Uses for the Semicolon......Page 286
Four Uses for the Colon......Page 287
Use of Dashes and Parentheses......Page 288
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 291
Working Together Writing a Review: Eating Out......Page 297
PART 3 Understanding the Power of Words......Page 299
Using Words Rich in Meaning......Page 300
Understanding Loaded Words: Denotation/Connotation......Page 302
Wordiness: In Writing, Less Can Be More!......Page 305
Recognizing Language Appropriate for Formal Writing......Page 308
Studying a Student Essay for Word Choices......Page 311
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 313
Working Together Being Tactful in the Workplace......Page 317
Group I: Words that Sound Alike......Page 319
Group II: Words that Sound Alike......Page 324
Group III: Contractions that Sound Like Other Words......Page 328
Group IV: Words that Sound or Look Almost Alike......Page 330
Group V: Words that Sound or Look Almost Alike......Page 334
Group VI: lay/lie, raise/rise, and set/sit......Page 338
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 343
Working Together Examining the Issue of Plagiarism......Page 346
PART 4 Creating Eff ective Paragraphs......Page 348
What Is a Paragraph?......Page 350
What Is a Topic Sentence?......Page 352
What Is a Controlling Idea?......Page 361
Mastery and Editing Tests......Page 367
Working Together Exploring Controlling Ideas: A Person’s Lifestyle......Page 370
What Is a Supporting Detail?......Page 371
How Do You Choose Supporting Details?......Page 372
Avoiding Restatement of the Topic Sentence......Page 377
How Do You Make Supporting Details Specific?......Page 380
Working Together Peer Editing: Recording Family, Community, or National Traditions......Page 384
What Is Illustration?......Page 386
Where Does the Writer Find Examples?......Page 387
Achieving Coherence......Page 390
Writing a Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach to Illustration......Page 392
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Paragraphs Using Illustration......Page 397
Working Together Researching Examples: Phobias......Page 402
What Is Narration?......Page 403
Using Narration to Make a Point......Page 404
Achieving Coherence......Page 406
Writing a Narrative Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 411
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Paragraphs Using Narration......Page 415
Working Together Telling Stories That Make a Point......Page 420
What Is Description?......Page 421
Working with Description......Page 422
Achieving Coherence: Putting Details in Spatial Order......Page 431
Writing a Descriptive Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 435
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Descriptive Paragraphs......Page 439
Working Together Writing a Character Sketch......Page 444
What Is Process Analysis?......Page 445
Making Sure All the Steps Are Included......Page 446
Achieving Coherence......Page 449
Writing a Process Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 451
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Process Paragraphs......Page 456
Working Together Building a Team......Page 460
What is Comparison/Contrast?......Page 461
Choosing a Two-Part Topic......Page 462
Achieving Coherence: Two Approaches to Ordering Material......Page 465
Achieving Coherence: Using Transitions......Page 470
Writing a Comparison/Contrast Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 473
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Comparison or Contrast Paragraphs......Page 477
Working Together A Before and After Story......Page 483
What Is Cause and Effect?......Page 485
Recognizing Terms that Signal Cause and Effect......Page 486
Avoiding Errors in Logic......Page 489
Achieving Coherence: Using Transitions......Page 491
Writing a Cause and Effect Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 493
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Cause and Effect Paragraphs......Page 497
Working Together Looking at Immediate and Long-Term Effects: The Story of Rosa Parks......Page 502
What Is Definition?......Page 505
Defining by Negation......Page 507
Defining with Examples......Page 509
Defining with Analysis or Extended Definition......Page 510
Writing a Definition Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 511
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Definition Paragraphs......Page 514
Working Together Who Is a Hero?......Page 517
What Is Classification?......Page 519
Finding the Basis for Classification......Page 520
Making Distinct Categories......Page 521
Making Sure the Classification Has a Useful Purpose......Page 522
Writing a Classification Paragraph Using a Step-by-Step Approach......Page 523
Studying Model Paragraphs to Create Classification Paragraphs......Page 526
Working Together Classification: Personalities in the Classroom......Page 529
PART 5 Structuring the College Essay......Page 530
What Is a College Essay?......Page 532
What Is a Thesis Statement?......Page 533
Creating an Effective Thesis Statement......Page 535
Writing an Effective Introductory Paragraph......Page 541
Achieving Coherence by Using Transitions......Page 545
Writing an Effective Concluding Paragraph......Page 548
A Note about Titles......Page 549
Working Together Planning the Parts of an Essay......Page 551
The Assignment: Description of a School Experience......Page 553
Step 1: Using Prewriting Techniques to Explore What You Know About the Topic......Page 554
Step 2: Finding the Controlling Idea for the Thesis Statement......Page 559
Step 3: Deciding on the Topic Sentences for Three or More Body Paragraphs......Page 560
Step 4: Writing the Introductory Paragraph......Page 561
Step 5: Studying the Student Essay for Paragraph Development......Page 562
Step 6: Putting the Draft into Essay Form with a Concluding Paragraph......Page 564
Step 7: Revising the Draft Using Peer Evaluation......Page 565
Step 8: Proofreading the Final Essay for Errors and Omissions......Page 566
Working Together Peer Editing: The Revision Stage......Page 567
Exploring the Topic: Living with a Disability......Page 569
Reading a Model Essay with Examples, Illustrations, or Anecdotes......Page 570
Writing an Essay Using Examples, Illustrations, or Anecdotes......Page 572
Working Together Brainstorming for Examples: Job Advancement......Page 578
Exploring the Topic: A Lasting Childhood Memory......Page 579
Writing an Essay Using Narration......Page 583
Working Together Sharing Our Narratives......Page 588
Exploring the Topic: Preparing for a Job Interview......Page 589
Writing an Essay Using Process Analysis (How to. . .)......Page 592
Working Together Deciding on a Logical Order: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace......Page 598
Exploring the Topic: Men and Women Look at Beauty......Page 600
Reading a Model Essay That Uses Comparison/Contrast......Page 602
Writing an Essay Using Comparison/Contrast......Page 604
Working Together Contrasting Men and Women......Page 611
What Is Persuasion?......Page 613
Analysis of a Basic Persuasive Essay......Page 614
Guidelines for Writing a Persuasive Essay......Page 616
Opposing Viewpoints: Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?......Page 617
Achieving Coherence......Page 619
Opposing Viewpoints: Should Laptops Be Allowed in the Classrooms?......Page 620
Suggested Topics for Writing a Persuasive Essay......Page 622
Working Together Analyzing a Newspaper Editorial......Page 624
How to Write a Research Paper......Page 626
Sample Entries for a Works-Cited Page in MLA Style......Page 634
How to Take an Essay Exam: Writing Well Under Pressure......Page 637
Working Together Incorporating Sources: Using Direct and Indirect Quotation, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing......Page 644
PART 6 Further Readings for the College Writer......Page 646
Annotating/Taking Notes......Page 648
An Annotated Text......Page 649
Rereading......Page 650
Visiting Rites, Susan Musgrave......Page 651
Summer Reading, Michael Dorris......Page 654
My Daughter Smokes, Alice Walker......Page 657
Unforgettable Miss Bessie, Carl T. Rowan......Page 661
A Day at the Theme Park, W. Bruce Cameron......Page 665
My Heroes, Elizabeth Berg......Page 668
America’s Gambling Craze, James Popkin with Katia Hetter......Page 672
Slice of Life, Russell Baker......Page 676
How to Mark a Book, Mortimer Adler......Page 679
Neat People vs. Sloppy People: Suzanne Britt......Page 684
Dream Houses: Tenaya Darlington......Page 687
What Is This Thing Called Family? Lee Herrick......Page 699
Why Marriages Fail: Anne Roiphe......Page 690
Requiem for the Champ, June Jordan......Page 694
What Is Intelligence, Anyway? Isaac Asimov......Page 703
The Ways of Meeting Oppression: Martin Luther King Jr.......Page 705
The Changing American Family: Alvin and Heidi Toffler......Page 708
Get a Knife, Get a Dog, But Get Rid of Guns: Molly Ivins......Page 713
Why Don’t These Women Just Leave?: Elaine Weiss......Page 716
My Body Is My Own Business: Naheed Mustafa......Page 721
Using the Articles a, an, and the......Page 725
English Word Order......Page 728
The Idiomatic Use of Prepositions......Page 729
Special Problems with English Verbs......Page 730
Other ESOL Concerns Addressed in The Writer’s Workplace......Page 735
Pronouns......Page 737
Adjectives......Page 738
Verbs......Page 739
Adverbs......Page 740
Prepositions......Page 741
Conjunctions......Page 742
Studying the Context......Page 743
Appendix C: Irregular Verbs......Page 744
Forming the Plurals of Nouns......Page 748
Adding Endings to Words Ending in -y......Page 750
When Should the Final Consonant of a Word Be Doubled?......Page 751
Is It One Word or Two?......Page 752
Spelling Commonly Mispronounced Words......Page 754
Spelling Two Hundred Tough Words......Page 756
Appendix E: Transitions......Page 759
Answer Key to Practices and Selected Exercises......Page 762
Credits......Page 779
Index......Page 780