Table of Contents

A Note to Students from the Authors
Thematic Table of Contents 
Preface 

Part 1
How To Write Paragraphs and Essays 

1. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: Making Connections
  Reading Roadmap
  Understanding College Success
    Becoming a Prepared and Active Student
    Setting Goals
   Becoming a Critical Thinker
  What Is Critical Thinking?
    FOUR BASICS OF CRITICAL THINKING
  What Is Critical Reading?
     2PR Preview the Reading
    2PR Read the Piece: Find the Main Idea and Support
    2PR Pause to Think
    2PR Review and Respond
    A Critical Reader at Work
     Amanda Jacobowitz, A Ban on Water Bottles: A Way to Bolster the University’s Image
    Read Real World Documents Critically
  What Is Writing Critically About Readings?
   Summary
    Analysis
   Synthesis
    Evaluation
  What Is Writing Critically About Visuals?
     Summary
    Analysis
    Synthesis
    Evaluation
  What Is Problem Solving?
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey

2. Writing Basics: Audience, Purpose, and Process
  Reading Roadmap
  FOUR BASICS OF GOOD WRITING
  Understand Audience and Purpose
    Understand Paragraph and Essay Form
    Relationship Between Paragraphs and Essays 
  Understand the Writing Process
  Understand Grading Criteria
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey

3. Finding Your Topic and Writing Your Thesis Statement: Making a Point
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What a Topic Is
  Practice Narrowing a Topic
  Practice Exploring Your Topic
     Freewriting
    Listing/Brainstorming
    Discussing
    Clustering/Mapping
    Using the Internet
    Keeping a Journal
  Write Your Own Topic and Ideas
  Understand What a Topic Sentence and Thesis Statement Are
  Practice Developing a Good Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement
    It Fits the Size of the Assignment
    Relationship Between Paragraphs and Essays
    It Contains a Single Main Idea
   It Is Specific
    It Is An Idea You Can Show, Explain, or Prove
    It Is Forceful
  Write Your Own Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey

4. Supporting Your Point: Finding Details, Examples, and Facts
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Support Is
     Key Features of Good Support
    Support in Paragraphs vs. Essays
  Practice Supporting a Main Idea
    Select the Best Primary Support
    Add Secondary Support
  Write Your Own Support 
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey

5. Drafting and Revising: The Writing Process 
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What A Draft Is
  Arrange Your Ideas
    Use Time Order to Write about Events
    Use Space Order to Describe Objects, Places, or People
    Use Order of Importance to Emphasize a Particular Point
  Make a Plan
    Outlining Paragraphs
    Outlining Essays
  Practice Writing a Draft Paragraph
    Write a Draft Using Complete Sentences
    Write a Concluding Sentence
  Practice Writing a Draft Essay
    Write Topic Sentences and Draft the Body of the Essay
    Write an Introduction
    Write a Conclusion
     Title Your Essay
  Write Your Own Draft Paragraph or Essay
  Understand What Revision Is
  Practice Revising for Unity, Detail, and Coherence
    Revise for Unity
    Revise for Detail and Support
    Revise for Coherence
  Revise Your Own Paragraph
  Revise Your Own Essay
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey


Part 2
How To Write Different Kinds of Paragraphs and Essays

6. Narration: Writing That Tells Important Stories 
  Reading Roadmap 
  Understand What Narration Is
  FOUR BASICS OF GOOD NARRATION 
    Main Idea in Narration 
    Support in Narration 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Narration 
   Organization in Narration 
  Evaluate Narration
  Read and Analyze Narration 
    Student Paragraph: Jelani Lynch: My Turnaround 
    Student Essay: Arianna Morgan, The Time I Almost Lost My Baby Brother
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Narration: Alice Adoga, Department of Social Services 
    Professional Essay: Amy Tan, Fish Cheeks 
  Write Your Own Narration (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
    Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
    Checklist: How to Write Narration
    Chapter Review
   Reflecting on the Journey

7. Illustration: Writing That Gives Examples 
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Illustration Is 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ILLUSTRATION 
    Main Idea in Illustration 
    Support in Illustration 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Illustration 
    Organization in Illustration 
   Evaluate Illustration
  Read and Analyze Illustration 
    Student Paragraph: Casandra Palmer, Gifts from the Heart
    Student Essay: Sarah Bigler, High School is Not Preparing Us for College
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Illustration: John D’Urso, Auto Fleet Technician 
    Professional Essay: Andrea Whitmer, When Poor People Have Nice Things
  Write Your Own Illustration (Assignments)
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
    Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem
    Checklist: How to Write Illustration
    Chapter Review 
    Reflecting on the Journey

8. Description: Writing That Creates Pictures in Words 
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Description Is 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DESCRIPTION 
    Main Idea in Description 
    Support in Description 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Description 
    Organization in Description 
  Evaluate Description
  Read and Analyze Description 
    Student Paragraph: Alessandra Cepeda, Bird Rescue 
   Student Essay: Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Description: Celia Hyde, Chief of Police 
   Professional Essay: Oscar Hijuelos, Memories of New York City Snow 
  Write Your Own Description (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
    Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
    Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
  Checklist: How to Write Description
  Chapter Review 
  Reflecting on the Journeyz

9. Process Analysis: Writing That Explains How Things Happen
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Process Analysis Is 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD PROCESS ANALYSIS 
    Main Idea in Process Analysis 
    Support in Process Analysis 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Process Analysis 
    Organization in Process Analysis 
   Evaluate Process Analysis
  Read and Analyze Process Analysis 
    Student Paragraph: Charlton Brown, Buying a Car at an Auction 
    Student Essay: Daniel Bird, What’s Appropriate: How to Talk to Children about Disasters
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Process Analysis: Monique Rizer, Chief of Staff
   Professional Essay: Kathy Stevens, Ten Tips to Ease Into Plant-Based Eating 
  Write Your Own Process Analysis (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
   Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
  Checklist: How to Write Process Analysis
  Chapter Review 
  Reflecting on the Journey

10. Classification: Writing That Sorts Things into Groups 
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Classification Is 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CLASSIFICATION 
    Main Idea in Classification 
   Support in Classification 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Classification 
    Organization in Classification 
  Evaluate Classification
  Read and Analyze Classification 
    Student Paragraph: Lorenza Mattazi, All My Music 
    Student Essay: Kelly Hultgren, Pick Up the Phone to Call, Not Text
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Classification: Grant Grebold, Professor
    Professional Essay: Stephanie Ericcson, The Ways We Lie
  Write Your Own Classification (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
   Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
  Checklist: How to Write Classification
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey 

11. Definition: Writing That Tells What Something Means 
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Definition Is 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DEFINITION 
    Main Idea in Definition 
    Support in Definition 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Definition 
    Organization in Definition 
  Evaluate Definition
  Read and Analyze Definition 
    Student Paragraph: Corin Costas, What Community Involvement Means to Me 
   Student Essay: Vidette Editorial Board, ISU Restroom Change Shows Commitment to Diversity
   Profile Of Success and Workplace Definition: Moses Maddox, Fellowship Program Specialist
    Professional Essay: Elizabeth Renter, Napping Can Dramatically Increase Memory, Learning, Awareness, and More
   Write Your Own Definition (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
   Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
   Checklist: How to Write Definition
    Chapter Review 
    Reflecting on the Journey

12. Comparison and Contrast: Writing That Shows Similarities and Differences 
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Comparison and Contrast Are 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 
    Main Idea in Comparison and Contrast 
   Support in Comparison and Contrast 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Comparison and Contrast 
    Organization in Comparison and Contrast 
  Evaluate Comparison and Contrast
  Read and Analyze Comparison and Contrast 
    Student Paragraph: Said Ibrahim, Eyeglasses vs. Laser Surgery: Benefits and Drawbacks
   Student Essay: Armand Powell, Pirate vs. Poet
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Comparison and Contrast: Darin Adams, Claims Representative
    Professional Essay: John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness 
  Write Your Own Comparison and Contrast (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
    Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
  Checklist: How to Write Comparison and Contrast
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey

13. Cause and Effect: Writing That Explains Reasons or Results 
  Reading Roadmap
   Understand What Cause and Effect Are 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CAUSE AND EFFECT 
    Main Idea in Cause and Effect 
    Support in Cause and Effect
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Cause and Effect 
    Organization in Cause and Effect 
   Evaluate Cause and Effect
  Read and Analyze Cause and Effect 
    Student Paragraph: Caitlin Prokop, A Difficult Decision with a Positive Outcome 
    Student Essay: Stephanie Alaimo and Mark Koester, The Backdraft of Technology
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Cause and Effect: Joshua Boyce, Blogger
     Professional Essay: Liz Riggs, What It’s Like to Be the First Person in Your Family to go to College 
  Write Your Own Cause and Effect (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
   Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
     Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
  Checklist: How to Write Cause and Effect
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey

14. Argument: Writing That Persuades
  Reading Roadmap
  Understand What Argument Is 
    FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ARGUMENT 
    Main Idea in Argument 
    Support in Argument 
     DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Argument 
   Organization in Argument 
  Evaluate Argument
  Read and Analyze Argument 
    Profile Of Success and Workplace Argument: Stacie Brown, Legal Assistant
    Professional Essay #1: John Hawkins, Five Scientific Reasons Climate Change Is Not Happening
    Professional Essay #2: EPA, Climate Change Is Happening
  Write Your Own Argument (Assignments) 
    Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
    Reading and Writing Critically 
     Writing Critically about Readings 
    Writing about Images 
     Writing to Solve a Problem 
  Checklist: How to Write Argument
  Chapter Review
  Reflecting on the Journey


Part 3
The Four Most Serious Errors 

15. The Basic Sentence: An Overview
  The Four Most Serious Errors 
  The Parts of Speech 
  The Basic Sentence 
    Subjects
   Verbs
    Complete Thoughts
    Six Basic English Sentence Patterns
  Chapter Review

16. Fragments: Incomplete Sentences
  Understand What Fragments Are 
    In the Real World, Why Is It Important To Correct Fragments?
   Find and Correct Fragments 
    1. Fragments That Start With Prepositions
    2. Fragments That Start With Dependent Words
    3. Fragments That Start with –ing Verb Forms
    4. Fragments that Start with To and a Verb
    5. Fragments That Are Examples or Explanations
  Edit for Fragments 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Finding and Fixing Fragments

17. Run-Ons: Two Sentences Joined Incorrectly
  Understand What Run-Ons Are
     In the Real World, Why Is It Important To Correct Run-Ons?  
  Find and Correct Run-Ons 
    Add a Period
    Add a Semicolon
    Add a Semicolon, a Conjunctive Adverb, and a Comma
    Add a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction
   Add a Dependent Word
   A Word That Can Cause Run-Ons: Then
  Edit for Run-Ons
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Finding and Fixing Run-Ons

18. Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement: When Subjects and Verbs Don’t Match
  Understand What Subject-Verb Agreement Is
    In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement?
  Find and Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement 
    1. The Verb is a Form of Be, Have, or Do
    2. Words Come Between the Subject and the Verb
    3. The Sentence Has a Compound Subject
    4. The Subject Is An Indefinite Pronoun
    5. The Verb Comes before the Subject
  Edit for Subject-Verb Agreement 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Finding and Fixing Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement

19. Verb Tense: Using Verbs to Express Different Times
  Understand What Verb Tense Is
    In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Use the Correct Verb Tense?
  Practice Using Correct Verbs 
    Regular Verbs
    Irregular Verbs
    Past Participles
    Consistency of Verb Tense
  Edit for Verb Problems 
  Chapter Review
   Diagram: Finding and Fixing Verb-Tense Problems


Part 4
Other Grammar Concerns

20. Pronouns: Using Substitutes for Nouns
  Understand What Pronouns Are 
  Practice Using Pronouns Correctly 
    Identify Pronouns
    Check for Pronoun Agreement
    Indefinite Pronouns
    Collective Nouns
    Make Pronoun Reference Clear
    Use the Right Type of Pronoun
    Make Pronouns Consistent in Person
  Edit for Pronoun Problems 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Finding and Fixing Pronoun Problems

21. Adjectives and Adverbs: Using Descriptive Words 
  Understand What Adjectives and Adverbs Are 
  Practice Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly 
    Choosing Between Adjectives and Adverbs
    Using Adjectives and Adverbs in Comparisons
    Using Good, Well, Bad, and Badly
  Edit for Adjective and Adverb Problems 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Editing for Correct Usage of Adjectives and Adverbs

22. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Confusing Descriptions 
   Understand What Misplaced Modifiers Are 
  Practice Correcting Misplaced Modifiers 
  Understand What Dangling Modifiers Are 
  Practice Correcting Dangling Modifiers 
  Edit for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Editing for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

23. Coordination and Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas 
  Understand What Coordination Is 
  Practice Using Coordination
    Using Coordinating Conjunctions
    Using Semicolons 
  Understand What Subordination Is 
  Practice Using Subordination
  Edit for Coordination and Subordination 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Editing for Coordination and Subordination

24. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas
  Understand What Parallelism Is 
  Practice Writing Parallel Sentences 
    Parallelism in Pairs and Lists
    Parallelism in Comparisons
   Parallelism with Certain Paired Words
  Edit for Parallelism Problems 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Editing for Parallelism

25. Sentence Variety: Putting Rhythm in Your Writing 
  Understand What Sentence Variety Is 
  Practice Creating Sentence Variety 
    Start Some Sentences with Adverbs
    Join Ideas Using an –ing Verb
    Join Ideas Using a Past Participle
    Join Ideas Using an Appositive
   Join Ideas Using an Adjective Clause
   Edit for Sentence Variety 
  Chapter Review
  Diagram: Editing for Sentence Variety

26. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students 
  Basic Sentence Patterns 
     Statements
   Negatives
   Questions
    There Is and There Are
  Pronouns
     Confusing Subject and Object Pronouns
    Confusing Gender
   Leaving Out a Pronoun
    Using a Pronoun to Repeat a Subject
    Using Relative Pronouns
   Verbs 
   The Simple Tenses
    The Perfect Tenses
    The Present Progressive Tenses
    Modal (Helping) Verbs
   Gerunds and Infinitives
  Articles 
    Definite and Indefinite Articles
    Count and Noncount Nouns
  Prepositions 
    Prepositions after Adjectives 
   Prepositions after Verbs
  Chapter Review


Part 5
Word Use 

27. Word Choice: Using the Right Words 
 Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully 
    Dictionary
    Thesaurus
  Practice Avoiding Four Common Word-Choice Problems 
    Vague and Abstract Words
    Slang
    Wordy Language
    Clichés
   Edit for Word Choice
    Chapter Review
  Diagram: Editing for Word Choice

28. Commonly Confused Words: Avoiding Mistakes with Soundalike Words 
  Understand Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused 
  Practice Using Commonly Confused Words Correctly
  Edit for Commonly Confused Words 
  Chapter Review

29. Spelling: Using the Right Letters 
  Finding and Correcting Spelling Mistakes 
    Use a Dictionary
    Use a Spell Checker—With Caution
    Use Proofreading Techniques
   Make a Personal Spelling List
  Strategies for Becoming a Better Speller 
    Master Commonly Confused Words
    Learn Six Spelling Rules
    Exceptions When Forming Plurals
    Consult a List of Commonly Misspelled Words
  Chapter Review 


Part 6
Punctuation and Capitalization 

30. Commas ( , )
   Understand What Commas Do 
  Practice Using Commas Correctly
    Commas between Items in a Series
    Commas between Coordinate Adjectives
    Commas in Compound Sentences
   Commas after Introductory Words
    Commas around Appositives and Interrupters
    Commas around Adjective Clauses
    Other Uses for Commas  
  Edit for Commas
  Chapter Review

31. Apostrophes ( ’ )
  Understand What Apostrophes Do 
  Practice Using Apostrophes Correctly 
    Apostrophes to Show Ownership
    Apostrophes in Contractions
    Apostrophes with Letters, Numbers, and Time
  Edit for Apostrophes 
  Chapter Review

32. Quotation Marks ( “ ” )
  Understand What Quotation Marks Do
  Practice Using Quotation Marks Correctly 
   Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations
   No Quotation Marks for Indirect Quotations
   Quotation Marks for Certain Titles
  Edit for Quotation Marks 
  Chapter Review

33. Other Punctuation ( ; : ( ) — - ) 
  Understand What Punctuation Does
  Practice Using Punctuation Correctly 
    Semicolon ;
    Colon :
    Parentheses ( )
    Dash –
    Hyphen -
   Edit for Other Punctuation Marks 
  Chapter Review

34. Capitalization: Using Capital Letters
  Understand Three Rules of Capitalization 
  Practice Capitalization 
    Capitalization of Sentences
    Capitalization of Names of Specific People, Places, Dates, and Things
    Capitalization of Titles
  Chapter Review
  EDITING REVIEW TESTS 1–10 

Index 
Real Take-Away Points
Editing and Proofreading Marks