The Concise Canadian Writer's Handbook

by William E. Messenger, Jan de Bruyn, Judy Brown, Ramona Montagnes

Overview

This streamlined version of Canada's most trusted guide to research, writing, and documentation delivers invaluable advice on every aspect of the writing process, from composing a sentence to producing a full-length research paper. This handbook features descriptions and examples of the entire writing process from basic grammar and punctuation to constructing sentences and paragraphs. It also covers how to quote and paraphrase to avoid plagiarism, and includes updated coverage of MLA, APA, Chicago, CSE, and IEEE styles. This text is suitable for students of all levels of study and includes EAL icons that point to material of particular benefit to students learning English as an additional language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190163976
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/15/2023
Edition description:	4th ed.
Pages:	436
Product dimensions:	8.31(w) x 7.16(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

William E. Messenger, Professor emeritus (deceased), University of British Columbia,Jan de Bruyn, Professor emeritus (deceased), University of British Columbia,Judy Brown, Former senior instructor and associate head, English (deceased), University of British Columbia,Ramona Montagnes, Former head of Writing Centre, University of British Columbia

William E. Messenger and Jan de Bruyn (both now deceased), both professors emeriti of the University of British Columbia, produced the first edition of The Canadian Writer's Handbook (main volume) in 1980. Judy Brown (now deceased) joined the project as an editorial consultant on the third edition; she was senior instructor and associate head in the English department at UBC. Ramona Montagnes is the former head of the Writing Centre at UBC, where she taught composition courses for the Writing Centre and the English Department.

Table of Contents

Important Topics for EAL StudentsPrefacePART I: Principles of Composition1. Kinds of Paragraphs1a Functions of Paragraphs1b Kinds of Paragraphs: Methods of DevelopmentUnity, Coherence, and Emphasis in Paragraphs2. Paragraph Unity3. Paragraph Coherence4. Coherence Through Organization: Beginning, Middle, and Ending4a The Beginning: Topic Sentences4b The Middle4c The Ending5. Structural Coherence5a Parallelism5b Repetition5c Pronouns and Demonstrative Adjectives5d Transitional Terms6. Emphasis in Paragraphs7. Length of Paragraphs7a Too Many Long Paragraphs7b Too many Short Paragraphs7c Variety7d Review: A Sample Paragraph with an AnalysisThe Whole Essay8. The Whole Essay: Unity, Coherence, and Emphasis8a Unity8b Coherence8c Emphasis9. The Process of Planning, Writing, and Revising the Essay9a Finding a Subject and Pre-writing9b Limiting the Subject9c Considering Audience and Purpose9d Gathering Evidence9e Classifying and Organizing the Evidence9f The Thesis Statement and the Outline9g The Importance of Outlining9h Kinds of Outlines9i Sentence Outlines9j Constructing Sentence Outlines9k Writing the First Draft9-l Notes on Beginnings9m Revising9n Preparing the Final Draft9-o Proofreading10. Argument: Writing to Convince or Persuade10a Subject10b Audience10c Evidence10d Organization10e Being Reasonable10f Including the Opposition10g Using Induction and Deduction10h Detecting and Avoiding Fallacies11. Writing In-Class Essays and Essay ExaminationsPART II: Understanding Sentences12. Sentence Patterns and Conventions12a Subject and Predicate, Noun and Verb12b Articles and Other Modifiers12c Sentence Pattern 1: subject + verb12d Sentence Pattern 2A: subject + verb + direct object12e Sentence Pattern 2B (passive voice): subject + passive voice verb12f Sentence Pattern 3: subject + verb + indirect object + direct object12g Sentence Pattern 4A: subject + linking verb + subjective complement (predicate adjective)12h Sentence Pattern 4B: subject + linking verb + subjective complement (predicate noun)12i Sentence Pattern 5A: subject + verb + direct object + objective complement (adjective)12j Sentence Pattern 5B: subject + verb + direct object + objective complement (noun)12k Sentence Pattern 6 (expletive): there or it + linking verb (+ complement) + subject12-l Other Elements: Structure Words12m Independent (Main) Clauses12n Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses12-o Functions of Subordinate Clauses12p Phrases12q Appositives12r Absolute Phrases12s Order of Elements in Declarative Sentences12t Order of Elements in Interrogative Sentences12u The Structure of Imperative Sentences12v What Is a Sentence? 12w Minor Sentences12x Fragments12y Major Sentences12z Kinds of Major SentencesPART III: Parts of Speech13. Nouns13a Inflection of Nouns13b Grammatical Function of Nouns13c Nouns and Inclusive Language14. Pronouns14a Personal Pronouns14b Impersonal Pronouns14c Interrogative Pronouns14d Relative Pronouns14e Case14f Demonstrative Pronouns14g Indefinite Pronouns14h Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns14i Reciprocal Pronouns15. Agreement of Pronouns with Their Antecedents15a Antecedents Joined by and15b Antecedents Joined by or or nor15c Indefinite Pronoun as Antecedent15d Pronouns and Inclusive Language: Avoiding Gender Bias15e Sensitive Language15f Collective Noun as Antecedent15g Agreement with Demonstrative Adjectives16. Reference of Pronouns16a Remote Antecedent16b Ambiguous Reference16c Vague Reference16d Missing Antecedent16e Indefinite you, they, and it17. Verbs17a Kinds of Verbs: Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking17b Inflection of Verbs: Principal Parts17c Irregular Verbs17d Inflection for Person and Number17e Auxiliary Verbs17f Inflection of do, be, and have17g Time and the Verb: Inflection for Tense17h Sequence of Tenses17i Verb Phrases in Compound Predicates17j Tenses in Writing about Literature17k Mood17-l Voice: Active and Passive18. Agreement Between Subject and Verb18a Words Intervening Between Subject and Verb18b Compound Subject: Singular Nouns Joined by and18c Compound Subject: Parts Joined by or or a Correlative18d Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns18e Subject Following Verb18f Agreement with Collective Nouns18g Nouns That Are Always Singular or Always Plural18h Plurals: criteria, data, media, etc.18i Agreement with Relative Pronouns18j Titles of Works: Words Referred to as Words19. Adjectives19a Kind of Adjectives19b Comparison of Descriptive Adjectives19c Articles: a, an, and the19d Placement of Adjectives19e Order of Adjectives19f Adjectives Functioning as Nouns20. Adverbs20a Kinds and Functions of Adverbs20b Forms of Adverbs20c Comparison of Adverbs20d Placement of Adverbs21. Verbals: Infinitives, Participles, and Gerunds21a Infinitives21b Tense and Voice of Infinitives21c Split Infinitives21d Participles21e Tense and Voice of Participles21f Gerunds21g Tense and Voice of Gerunds21h Possessives with Gerunds21i Verbals in Absolute Phrases22. Prepositions22a Functions of Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases22b Placement of Prepositions22c Common Prepositions22d Two-Part Verbs; Verb Idioms23. Conjunctions23a Coordinating Conjunctions23b Correlative Conjunctions23c Subordinating Conjunctions24. InterjectionsPART IV: Writing Effective SentencesBasic Sentence Elements and Their Modifiers25. Basic Sentence Elements: Subject, Verb, Object, Complement25a Subject25b Finite Verb25c Direct Object25d Subjective Complement26. Modifiers26a Adjectival Modifiers26b Adverbial Modifiers26c Overlapping Modifiers26d Using Modifiers: A Sample ScenarioSentence Length, Variety, and Emphasis27. Sentence Length27a Short Sentences27b Long Sentences28. Sentence Variety28a Variety of Lengths28b Variety of Kinds28c Variety of Structures29. Emphasis in Sentences29a Endings and Beginnings29b Loose Sentences and Periodic Sentences29c The Importance of the Final Position29d Changing Word Order29e Movable Modifiers29f Using the Expletive and the Passive Voice for Emphasis29g Emphasis by Repetition29h Emphasis by Stylistic Contrast29i Emphasis by Syntax29j Emphasis by Punctuation30. Analyzing Sentences30a The Chart Method30b The Vertical MethodCommon Sentence Problems31. Sentence Coherence32. Fragments33. Comma Splices34. Run-on (Fused) Sentences35. Misplaced Modifiers35a Movability and Poor Placement35b Only, almost, etc.35c Squinting Modifiers36. Dangling Modifiers36a Dangling Participial Phrases36b Dangling Gerund Phrases36c Dangling Infinitive Phrases36d Dangling Elliptical Clauses36e Dangling Prepositional Phrases and Appositives37. Mixed Constructions38. Faulty Alignment39. Shifts in Perspective: Inconsistent Point of View39a Shifts in Tense39b Shifts in Mood39c Shifts in Voice39d Shifts in Person of Pronoun39e Shifts in Number of Pronoun40. Faulty Parallelism40a With Coordinate Elements40b With Correlative Conjunctions40c In a Series41. Faulty Coordination: Logic, Emphasis, and Unity42. Faulty LogicPART V: Punctuation43. Internal Punctuation: The Comma43a The Comma with Independent Clauses Joined by a Coordinating Conjunction43b The Comma with Short Independent Clauses Not Joined by a Coordinating Conjunction43c The Comma Between Items in a Series43d The Comma Between Parallel Adjectives43e The Comma with Introductory or Concluding Words, Phrases, and Clauses43f The Comma with Nonrestrictive Elements43g The Comma with Sentence Interrupters44. Internal Punctuation: The Semicolon44a The Semicolon Between Independent Clauses44b The Semicolon Between Items in a Series45. Internal Punctuation: The Colon46. Internal Punctuation: The Dash47. Parentheses48. Brackets49. End Punctuation: The Period50. End Punctuation: The Question Mark51. End Punctuation: The Exclamation Point52. Quotation Marks52a Direct Speech52b Direct Quotation from a Source52c Quotation Within Quotation52d Words Used in a Special Sense52e Other Marks with Quotation Marks53. Ellipses for Omissions54. Avoiding Common Errors in Punctuation54a Run-on (Fused) Sentences54b Comma Splice54c Unwanted Comma Between Subject and Verb54d Unwanted Comma Between Verb and Object or Complement54e Unwanted Comma After Last Adjective of a Series54f Unwanted Comma Between Coordinated Words and Phrases54g Commas with Emphatic Repetition54h Unwanted Comma with Short Introductory or Parenthetical Element54i Unwanted Comma with Restrictive Appositive54j Unwanted Comma with Indirect Quotation54k Unwanted Question Mark After Indirect Question54-l Unwanted Semicolon with Subordinate Element54m Unwanted Colon After Incomplete Construction54n Unwanted Double Punctuation: Comma or Semicolon with a DashPART VI: Mechanics and Spelling55. Abbreviations55a Titles Before Proper Names55b Titles and Degrees After Proper Names55c Standard Words Used with Dates and Numerals55d Agencies and Organizations Known by Their Initials55e Scientific and Technical Terms Known by Their Initials55f Latin Expressions Commonly Used in English55g Terms in Official Titles56. Capitalization56a Names and Nicknames56b Professional and Honorific Titles56c Words Designating Family Relationships56d Place Names56e Months, Days, and Holidays56f Religious Names56g Names of Nationalities and Organizations56h Names of Institutions, Sections of Government, Historical Events, and Buildings56i Academic Courses and Languages56j Derivatives of Proper Nouns56k Abbreviations of Proper Nouns56-l I and O56m Titles of Written and Other Works56n First Words56-o With Personification and for Emphasis57. Titles57a Italics for Whole or Major Works57b Quotation Marks for Short Works and Parts of Longer Works57c Titles Within Titles58. Italics58a Names of Ships, Trains, and Planes58b Non-English Words and Phrases58c Words Referred to as Words58d For Emphasis59. Numerals59a Time of Day59b Dates59c Addresses59d Technical and Mathematical Numbers59e Parts of a Written Work59f Numbers of More Than Two Words59g Commas with Numerals60. Spelling Rules and Common Causes of Error60a ie or ei60b Prefixes60c Suffixes60d Final e Before a Suffix60e Final y after a Consonant and Before a Suffix60f Doubling of a Final Consonant Before a Suffix60g Changes in Spelling of Roots60h Confusion with Other Words60i Homophones and Other Words Sometimes Confused60j One Word or Two? 60k Hyphenation60-l Plurals60m Apostrophes to Indicate Omissions60n Possessives61. Spelling ListPART VII: DictionIntroduction: Style and the Larger Elements of Composition62. About Dictionaries62a Kinds of Dictionaries62b Features of Dictionaries62c Three Sample Dictionary Entries63. Level63a Slang63b Informal, Colloquial63c "Fine Writing"64. Figurative Language64a Inappropriate Metaphors64b Overextended Metaphors64c Dead Metaphors64d Mixed Metaphors65. Concrete and Abstract Diction; Weak Generalizations65a Concreteness and Specificity65b Weak Generalizations66. Connotation and Denotation67. Euphemism68. Wrong Word69. Idiom70. Wordiness, Jargon, and Associated Problems70a Wordiness70b Repetition70c Redundancy70d Ready-Made Phrases70e Triteness, Clichés70f Overuse of Nouns70g Nouns Used as Adjectives70h Jargon71. Usage: A Checklist of Troublesome Words and PhrasesPART VIII: Research, Writing, and Documentation72. Finding Resources72a Libraries72b The Internet73. The Research Plan73a Academic Proposals73b A Preliminary Bibliography73c A Working Bibliography74. Taking Notes74a The Note Itself74b The Source74c The Slug74d Recording Your Own Ideas75. Writing the Essay75a Keeping Track of Notes in Your Drafts76. Acknowledging Sources76a "Common Knowledge"77. Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary, and Plagiarism77a Legitimate Paraphrase77b Illegitimate Paraphrase77c Paraphrase and Quotation Mixed77d Summary77e Maintaining Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism77f Integrating and Contextualizing Quotations78. Documentation78a The Name-Page Method (MLA Style)78b The Name-Date Method (APA Style)78c The Note Method (Chicago Style)78d The Number MethodAppendix: Checklist for Use in Revising, Editing, and ProofreadingOmnibus Checklist for Planning and RevisingSpecialized Checklist for Writers with English as an Additional LanguageIndex