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Tables of Contents for Decisions
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
How to Use This Book
ii
12
Preface
xiv
PART I READING, THINKING, AND WRITING
1
58
1 Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
1
16
ACTIVE, CRITICAL HABITS OF MIND
1
6
1a Searching for and questioning similarities and differences
1
3
1b Challenging and being challenged by sources
4
1
1c Setting issues in a broader context
5
1
1d Forming and supporting opinions
6
1
COMPONENTS OF A CLOSE, CRITICAL READING
7
10
1e Reading to understand Writing a summary
8
1
1f Reading to evaluate Writing an evaluation
9
5
1g Reading to synthesize Writing a synthesis
14
3
2 Planning, Writing, and Revising a Draft
17
25
2a Discovering your topic, purpose, and audience
17
3
2b Generating ideas and information
20
4
2c Writing a thesis and devising a sketch
24
6
2d Writing a draft
30
2
2e Revising a draft
32
8
2f Adapting your writing strategy for essay exams
40
2
3 Developing the Paragraph and the Paper
42
17
3a Relating single paragraphs to the whole paper
42
1
3b Writing and revising to achieve paragraph unity
43
1
3c Writing and revising to achieve paragraph coherence
44
3
3d Writing and revising to achieve well-developed paragraphs
47
7
3e Writing and revising paragraphs of introduction and conclusion
54
3
3f Determining paragraph length
57
2
PART II WRITING THE RESEARCH PAPER
59
103
4 Researching Print and Electronic Sources
59
16
4a Making your research worthwhile
59
1
4b Evaluating your research question
59
1
4c Focusing your ideas
60
2
4d Doing preliminary research
62
1
4e Devising a working thesis
62
2
4f Doing focused research: Print sources
64
4
4g Doing focused research: CD-ROM and Online sources
68
6
4h Bringing your research to an end
74
1
5 Understanding the Research Process and Using Sources
75
10
5a Creating a working bibliography
75
2
5b Taking notes: Summarizing and paraphrasing
77
2
5c Quoting sources
79
3
5d Avoiding plagiarism
82
3
6 Writing the Research Paper
85
10
6a Writing a draft
85
1
6b Revising and editing
86
1
6c A sample research paper: "What Do We Want at the Mall?"
87
8
7 Documenting the Research Paper
95
36
7a Using the MLA system of documentation
97
17
7b Using the APA system of documentation
114
9
7c Using the CMS style of documentation
123
3
7d Using the CBE systems of documentation
126
5
8 Writing and Arguing in the Disciplines
131
31
8a Understanding the elements of argument
131
2
8b Making a claim (an argumentative thesis)
133
1
8c Supporting the claim
134
1
8d Reasoning: Connecting support to the claim
134
4
8e Making rebuttals
138
1
8f Presenting your argument
138
1
8g Making arguments in the humanities
138
6
8h Making arguments in the social sciences
144
8
8i Making arguments in the sciences
152
10
PART III SENTENCE DECISIONS
162
81
9 Constructing Sentences
162
12
9a Understanding sentence parts
162
6
9b Understanding basic sentence patterns
168
1
9c Modifying and expanding sentences with phrases
169
2
9d Modifying and expanding sentences with dependent clauses
171
1
9e Classifying sentences
172
2
10 Using Nouns and Pronouns
174
7
10a Using pronouns as subjects
174
1
10b Using pronouns as objects
175
1
10c Using nouns and pronouns to show possession
176
1
10d Compound constructions: Using pronouns in the objective or subjective from according to their function
177
1
10e Pronouns paired with a noun take the same case as the noun.
177
1
10f Choose the appropriate form of the pronouns whose, who, whom, whoever, and whomever depending on the pronoun's function.
178
1
10g Choose the case of a pronoun in the second part of a comparison depending on the meaning intended
179
2
11 Using Verbs
181
10
11a Using the principal parts of regular verbs consistently
181
1
11b Learning the forms of irregular verbs
182
3
11c Using auxiliary verbs
185
1
11d Using transitive and intransitive verbs
186
1
11e Understanding the uses of verb tenses
187
1
11f Sequencing verb tenses
187
1
VOICE
188
1
11g Using the active and passive voices
188
1
MOOD
189
2
11h Understanding the use of mood
189
2
12 Using Adjectives and Adverbs
191
8
12a Distinguishing between adjectives and adverbs
191
2
12b Use an adverb (not an adjective) to modify verbs as well as verbals
193
1
12c Use an adverb (not an adjective) to modify another adverb or an adjective
193
1
12d Use an adjective (not an adverb) after a linking verb to describe a subject
193
2
12e Using comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs
195
2
12f Avoid double comparisons, double superlatives, and double negatives
197
1
12g Avoid overusing nouns as modifiers
198
1
13 Correcting Sentence Fragments, Comma Splices, and Fused Sentences
199
10
SENTENCE FRAGMENTS
199
5
13a Eliminate fragments: Revise dependent clauses set off as sentences
199
2
13b Eliminate fragments: Revise phrases set off as sentences
201
2
13c Eliminate fragments: Revise repeating structures or compound predicates set off as sentences
203
1
13d Use fragments intentionally on rare occasions.
203
1
COMMA SPLICES AND FUSED SENTENCES
204
5
13e Identify fused sentences and comma splices.
204
1
13f Correct fused sentences and comma splices in one of five ways.
205
4
14 Correcting Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers
209
6
MISPLACED MODIFIERS
209
4
14a Position modifiers so that they refer clearly to the words they should modify.
209
1
14b Position limiting modifiers with care.
210
1
14c Reposition modifiers that describe two elements simultaneously.
210
1
14d Reposition a lengthy modifier that splits a subject and its verb.
210
2
14e Reposition a modifier that splits a verb and its object or a verb and its complement.
212
1
14f Reposition a modifier that splits the parts of an infinitive.
212
1
14g Reposition a lengthy modifier that splits a verb phrase.
213
1
DANGLING MODIFIERS
213
2
14h Identify and revise dangling modifiers.
213
2
15 Correcting Common Errors in Agreement and Reference
215
13
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
215
5
15a Make a third-person subject agree in number with its verb.
215
5
PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT
220
2
15b Pronouns and their antecedents should agree in number
221
1
PRONOUN REFERENCE
222
6
15c Maintain clear pronoun reference.
223
5
16 Correcting Errors in Consistency
228
9
SHIFTS
228
3
16a Revise shifts in person and number.
228
1
16b Revise shifts in tense, mood, and voice.
229
1
16c Revise for shifts in tone.
230
1
16d Maintain consistent use of direct or indirect discourse.
230
1
MIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
231
2
16e Establish clear, grammatical relations between sentence parts.
232
1
16f Establish consistent relations between subjects, and predicates.
233
1
INCOMPLETE SENTENCES
233
4
16g Edit elliptical constructions to avoid confusion.
233
2
16h Make comparisons consistent, complete, and clear.
235
2
17 Correcting Faulty Parallelism
237
6
17a Use parallel words, phrases, and clauses with coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet.
237
3
17b Use parallelism with correlative conjunctions: either or, neither nor, both and, not only but also.
240
1
17c Use parallelism in sentences with compared and contrasted elements.
240
1
17d Use parallelism among sentences to enhance paragraph coherence.
241
1
17e Use parallel entries when writing lists or outlines.
241
2
PART IV STYLE DECISIONS
243
20
18 Being Clear, Concise, and Direct
243
5
18a Revise to eliminate wordiness.
243
2
18b Use strong verbs.
245
3
19 Building Emphasis with Coordination and Subordination
248
7
19a Use coordinate structures to emphasize equal and related ideas.
248
2
19b Use subordinate clauses to create emphasis.
250
3
19c Using coordination and subordination for sentence variety
253
2
20 Choosing the Right Word
255
8
20a Understanding dictionary entries
255
1
20b Using the dictionary for building your vocabulary
256
1
20c Beyond the dictionary: Understanding the impact of word choices
257
6
PART V PUNCTUATION DECISIONS
263
38
21 Using End Punctuation
263
3
21a Using the period
263
1
21b Using the question mark
264
1
21c Using the exclamation point
265
1
22 Using Commas and Semicolons
266
13
USING COMMAS CORRECTLY
267
9
22a Using commas with introductory and concluding expressions
267
2
22b Using a comma before a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses.
269
1
22c Using commas between items in a series
269
1
22d Using commas to set off nonessential elements
270
2
22e Using commas to acknowledge conventions of quoting, naming, and various forms of separation
272
2
22f Editing to avoid misuse or overuse of commas
274
2
USING SEMICOLONS CORRECTLY
276
3
22g Use a semicolon, not a comma, to join independent clauses that are intended to be closely related.
276
1
22h Use a semicolon, not a comma, to join two independent clauses that are closely linked by a conjunctive adverb.
277
1
22i Join independent clauses with a semicolon before a coordinating conjunction when one or both clauses contain a comma or other internal punctuation.
277
1
22j Use a semicolon to separate items in a series when each item is long or when one or more items contain a comma.
278
1
22k Place a semicolon after end quotation marks.
278
1
23 Using Apostrophes and Quotation Marks
279
11
APOSTROPHES
279
3
23a Using apostrophes to show possession with nouns and pronouns
279
2
23b Using apostrophes in contractions to mark the omission of letters and numbers
281
1
23c Using apostrophes to mark plural forms
282
1
QUOTATION MARKS
282
8
23d Quoting prose
283
4
23e Quoting poetry, dialogue, and other material
287
1
23f Avoiding misuse or overuse of quotation marks
288
2
24 Using Other Marks
290
11
24a Using the colon
290
2
24b Using dashes for emphasis
292
2
24c Using parentheses to set off nonessential information
294
2
24d Using brackets for editorial clarification
296
2
24e Using an ellipsis to indicate a break in continuity
298
2
24f Using the slash
300
1
PART VI MECHANICS AND SPELLING DECISIONS
301
22
25 Using Capitals and Italics
301
7
CAPITALS
301
4
25a Capitalize the first letter of the first word in every sentence.
301
1
25b Capitalize words of significance in a title.
302
1
25c Capitalize the first word in every line of poetry.
303
1
25d Capitalize proper nouns--people, places, objects; proper adjectives; and ranks of distinction.
303
2
ITALICS
305
3
25e Italicize words if they need a specific emphasis.
305
1
25f Italicize words, letters, and numbers to be defined or identified.
305
1
25g Use italics for titles of book-length works separately published or broadcast, as well as for individually named transport craft.
306
2
26 Using Abbreviations and Numbers
308
5
ABBREVIATIONS
308
3
26a Abbreviating titles of rank both before and after proper names
308
1
26b Abbreviating specific dates and numbers
309
1
26c Using acronyms, uppercase abbreviations, and corporate abbreviations
309
1
26d Using abbreviations for parenthetical references
310
1
26e Revising to eliminate most abbreviations from sentences
310
1
NUMBERS
311
2
26f Write out numbers that begin sentences and numbers that can be expressed in one or two words.
311
1
26g Use figures in sentences according to convention.
311
1
26h Edit to eliminate numbers and figures mixed together in one sentence, unless these have different references.
312
1
27 Using Hyphens
313
2
27a Using hyphens to join compound words
313
1
27b Using hyphens to divide a word at the end of a line.
314
1
28 Making Spelling Decisions
315
8
28a Recognize sources of common spelling errors.
315
2
28b Learn basic spelling rules for ie ei.
317
1
28c Learn rules for using prefixes.
318
1
28d Learn rules for using suffixes.
318
2
28e Learn rules for forming plurals.
320
3
INTERNET APPENDIX OTHER APPENDICES
323
60
Appendix A Using the Internet
323
18
Appendix B Manuscript Form, Preparation, and Design
341
14
Appendix C Writing in a Business Environment
355
9
Appendix D ESL Reference Guide
364
19
Glossary of Usage
383
Index
I-1
Revision Symbols
Spotlight Reference Guide