CONTENTS Past 256 Present Continuous 256 Past Continuous 257 Present Perfect 257 Past Perfect 257 Present Perfect Continuous 257 Past Perfect Continuous 258 Future 258 Future Continuous

CONTENTS

SECTION 1. THE WRITING PROCESS 1

A. Overview of the Writing Process 2Thinking about Your Composing Process 2

Exercise 1.1: Thinking about Composing 2Exercise 1.2: Reflecting on the Composing Process 3

Stages of the Writing Process 3Understanding the Assignment 4Thinking about Audience 4Generating Ideas 5Organizing and Outlining Ideas 5Drafting 6Revising 6Editing 6

B. Understanding Writing Assignments 7Key Words in Assignments 7

Exercise 1.3: Identifying Key Words in Writing 10 Assignments

C. Thinking about Audience 11Content 11Style 12

D. Generating Ideas 12Idea-Generating Techniques: Points to Consider 12

Exercise 1.4: Generating Ideas 18

SECTION 2. ESSAY STRUCTURE 19

A. Shaping a Paragraph 20Topic Sentences 20

Exercise 2.1: Topic and Comment 21Development Sentences 21

Exercise 2.2: Topic and Development Sentences 22

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B. Shaping an Essay 22General Structure 23

Introductory Paragraph(s) 24Development Paragraphs 25Concluding Paragraph(s) 27

Order of Information 28Exercise 2.3: Ordering Information 30

Organizational Patterns 31Combining Patterns of Organization 32Exercise 2.4: Key Words and Organizational 33 Patterns in Writing Assignments

Paragraph Development Techniques 34Exercise 2.5: Writing Descriptive Sentences 36Exercise 2.6: Description: Similes and Metaphors 38Exercise 2.7: Writing Definitions 44Exercise 2.8: Writing Example Sentences 46Exercise 2.9: Using Examples in a Paragraph 48

Unity and Coherence 48Transitions 49Exercise 2.10: Transition Words and Phrases 50

C. Re-Reading and Revising the Essay 52

D. A 10-Step Guide to the Writing Process 54

E. Sample Essay 55

SECTION 3. PATTERNS OF ESSAY ORGANIZATION 61

A. Narrative Essay 62Exercise 3.1: Connecting Ideas in Narrative Writing 64

Ordering Events: Using When and While 65Verb Tense Consistency in Narrative Writing 66Example Essay: Narrative 66

B. Process Essay 68Exercise 3.2: Connecting Ideas to Describe a Process 70

Example Essay: Explaining a Process 71

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C. Comparison/Contrast Essay 72Exercise 3.3: Expressing Comparison or Contrast 78

Example Essay: Comparison and Contrast 79

D. Cause-and-Effect Essay 81Exercise 3.4: Creating a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph 84

Example Essay: Cause and Effect 84

E. Argument Essay 86How to Construct a Logical Argument 87

Exercise 3.5: Expressing Arguments 91Example Essay: Argument 92

F. Combining Patterns of Organization 94Example Essay with Combined Patterns 94

SECTION 4. RESEARCH PAPER 103

A. Choosing a Topic 104Important Terms 105

B. Finding Sources 105Where to Find Sources 105Types of Sources 106 Evaluating Sources 107

Exercise 4.1: Evaluating Sources 109

C. Taking Notes 110Guidelines for Taking Notes 111

D. Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Using 112 QuotationsTips for Paraphrasing 113Paraphrased Summary Example 115Plagiarism 116

Exercise 4.2: Recognizing Plagiarism of Language 118

E. Outlining 120

F. Writing Thesis Statements 121Exercise 4.3: Thesis Statements: Argument 123 or Report?

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G. Writing Complete Drafts 124Structure 124

Abstract 124Introduction 125Body 125Conclusion 126Transitions and Headings 126

Integrating Sources 126Reporting Verbs 127Citing Sources 128

H. Proofreading 128

I. Citation Style Guides 129

J. APA Style: References, Format, and Sample Paper 130Exercise 4.4: APA References: Correcting Errors 132

APA Format for Student Research Paper 134APA Sample Student Research Paper 135

K. MLA Style: Works Cited, Format, and 146 Sample Paper

Exercise 4.5: MLA Works Cited: Correcting Errors 149What’s New in MLA, 8th Edition? 151MLA Format for Student Research Paper 152MLA Sample Student Research Paper 153

SECTION 5. GRAMMAR AND STYLE 167

AT WORD LEVEL 168A. Word Form 168

Exercise 5.1: Recognizing Word Form Errors 168

B. Articles 169Count and Non-Count Nouns 170Nouns with General Reference 170Nouns with Definite Reference 171Nouns Using Zero (No) Article 172

Exercise 5.2: Using Articles 173

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C. Prepositions 174Exercise 5.3: Using Appropriate Prepositions 175

D. Word Choice in Formal Writing Style 176Exercise 5.4: Using More Specific Words 177Exercise 5.5: Using More Formal Words 177

E. Reference Words: Pronouns and Synonyms 178Using Pronouns to Avoid Repeating Nouns 178Using Demonstrative Pronouns to Avoid Repeating 179 an Entire PhraseUsing Synonyms for Reference 179

Exercise 5.6: Using Reference Words to 180 Avoid Repetition

F. Reducing Wordiness 181Exercise 5.7: Reducing Wordiness 182

AT SENTENCE LEVEL 184G. Parts of a Sentence 184

Clauses 184Exercise 5.8: Identifying Independent 185 and Dependent Clauses

Phrases 186

H. Subject-Verb Agreement 187Exercise 5.9: Practicing Subject-Verb Agreement 189

I. Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments 190Run-On Sentences 190Sentence Fragments 191

Exercise 5.10: Correcting Run-On Sentences 192Exercise 5.11: Correcting Sentence Fragments 192

J. Comma Splice 193Exercise 5.12: Recognizing Comma Splices 194

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K. Adjective Clauses 195Identifying Adjective Clauses 195Non-Identifying Adjective Clauses 196

Exercise 5.13: Comma Use in Adjective Clauses 197

L. Parallel Structure 198Exercise 5.14: Creating Parallel Structures 199

M. Sentence Combining 200Exercise 5.15: Combining Sentences 203 with Subordinators

N. Sentence Variety 205Varying the Positions of Modifiers 205Changing Emphasis with a Divided Sentence 206Example Paragraph and Revision 207

SECTION 6. PUNCTUATION 209

A. Period 210End of Sentence 210

Exercise 6.1: Period at End of Sentence 211Decimals 211

Exercise 6.2: Period with Decimals 211

B. Question Mark 212Exercise 6.3: Question Mark and Period 212

C. Exclamation Point 213Exercise 6.4: Exclamation Point 213

D. Comma 214After Introductory or Transitional Words or Phrases 214

Exercise 6.5: Comma with Introductory or 214 Transitional Words or Phrases

After Introductory Clauses 215Exercise 6.6: Comma after Introductory Clauses 215

Before Conjunctions 216Exercise 6.7: Comma before Conjunctions 216

In Lists of Words, Phrases, or Clauses 217Exercise 6.8: Comma with Lists of Words, Phrases, 217 or Clauses

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With Coordinate Adjectives 218Exercise 6.9: Comma with Coordinate Adjectives 218

With Quotations 219Exercise 6.10: Comma with Quotations 219

With Some Abbreviations 220Exercise 6.11: Comma with Abbreviations 221

With Interrupting Expressions 221Exercise 6.12: Comma with Contrasting or 223 Interrupting Elements or Those Needing Separation for Clarity

E. Semicolon 224With Independent Clauses 224

Exercise 6.13: Semicolon with Independent Clauses 224When Separating Elements with Internal Commas 224

Exercise 6.14: Semicolon Separating Elements 225 with Internal Commas

F. Colon 226Before a Series 226Before Long Quotations 226Before Short Quotations 226Before the Second Part of Sentence 227With a Salutation 227In Bibliographic References 227In Time Expressions 227In Ratios 227

Exercise 6.15: Colon 228

G. Hyphen 229 With Compound Nouns 229With Compound Adjectives 229With Prefixes 229With Fractions 230With Syllable Division 230

H. Dash 230With Strong Interrupting Element 230With Change in Flow of Ideas 231With Introductory Series 231 Before Items Listed in a Category 231

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I. Double Quotation Marks 231With Direct Quotations 231With Long Direct Quotations 232For Reference to Language Use 233For Special Meaning 233

J. Single Quotation Marks 234With Direct Quotations 234

K. Parentheses 234With Interrupting Expressions 234With Numbers 234With Dates 235With Citations 235

L. Brackets 235To Show Added Words 235To Show Errors in Quoted Passage 235To Show Omitted Words 236

M. Apostrophe 236With Contractions 236To Show Possession 236

N. Ellipsis 237To Show Omitted Words 237

O. Capital Letters 237At the Beginning of a Sentence 237As Part of Spelling 238

P. Indentation of Paragraphs and Quotations 239First Line of Paragraphs 239 Block Indentation of Long Quotations 240

Q. Abbreviation Period 241

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SECTION 7. QUICK REFERENCE 243

A. Connections between Ideas 244Examples of Appropriate Expressions for 244 Connecting Ideas

Time 244Space 244Means 244Comparison/Contrast 244Concession 245Cause/Reason 245Condition 245Elaboration/Analysis 245Referring to a Specific Point in the Text 245

B. Words Often Confused 249

C. Active and Passive Voice 253

D. Verb Tenses 255Simple Present 256Simple Past 256Present Continuous 256Past Continuous 257Present Perfect 257Past Perfect 257Present Perfect Continuous 257Past Perfect Continuous 258Future 258Future Continuous 258Future Perfect 258Future Perfect Continuous 258

E. Irregular Verb Forms 259

F. Gerunds and Infinitives 261Gerund Functioning as a Noun 261Infinitive Functioning as a Noun 261Common Verbs Followed by the Gerund 262Common Verbs Followed by the Infinitive 262

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Common Verbs Followed by the Gerund or 262 the InfinitiveCommon Adjectives (Usually Followed 262 by the Infinitive)

G. Using Prepositions 263Phrasal Verbs 263Verb + Preposition Combinations 264Adjective + Preposition Combinations 264Common Preposition + Noun Phrases 264

SECTION 8: SPECIAL TYPES OF WRITING 265

A. Email Guidelines 266Email Do’s 266Email Don’ts 267Sample Emails 269

B. Resumes 271Length 271General Formatting 271Content 272Language 273Sample Resumes 274

C. Cover Letters 279Sample Cover Letter 280

D. Personal Statements 281Guidelines 281Sample Personal Statement 282

Common Correction Symbols for Editing 285Glossary 287Answer Key 291Index 321

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Documents

CONTENTS Past 256 Present Continuous 256 Past Continuous 257 Present Perfect 257 Past Perfect 257 Present Perfect Continuous 257 Past Perfect Continuous 258 Future 258 Future Continuous