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Tables of Contents for Writing First
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Preface for Instructors
v
A Student's Guide to Using Writing First
xxiii
Self-Assessment Checklists for Writing Paragraphs and Essays
xxviii
WRITING PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS
1
1
UNIT 1 Focus on Paragraphs
1
36
Writing a Paragraph
3
17
Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience
3
2
Using Invention Strategies
5
8
Freewriting
5
2
Brainstorming
7
2
Clustering
9
2
Journal Writing
11
2
Selecting and Arranging Ideas
13
2
Finding an Idea to Develop
13
1
Choosing Supporting Material
13
1
Ordering Supporting Material
14
1
Drafting Your Paragraph
15
1
Revising Your Paragraph
16
4
Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Paragraph
16
3
Review Checklist: Writing a Paragraph
19
1
Fine-Tuning Your Paragraph
20
17
Writing Unified Paragraphs
20
4
Stating the Topic Sentence
20
1
Revising Paragraphs for Unity
21
3
Writing Well-Developed Paragraphs
24
3
Supporting the Topic Sentence
24
1
Revising Paragraphs for Development
25
2
Writing Coherent Paragraphs
27
10
Arranging Details Logically
27
2
Using Transitional Words and Phrases
29
1
Revising Paragraphs for Coherence
30
2
Chapter Review
32
3
Review Checklist: Fine-Tuning Your Paragraph
35
2
UNIT 2 Patterns of Paragraph Development
37
64
Exemplification
39
6
Understanding Exemplification
39
2
Writing an Exemplification Paragraph
41
4
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing an Exemplification Paragraph
44
1
Narration
45
6
Understanding Narration
45
1
Writing a Narrative Paragraph
46
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Narrative Paragraph
50
1
Description
51
7
Understanding Description
51
2
Writing a Descriptive Paragraph
53
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Descriptive Paragraph
57
1
Process
58
7
Understanding Process
58
2
Writing a Process Paragraph
60
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Process Paragraph
64
1
Cause and Effect
65
7
Understanding Cause and Effect
65
2
Writing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
67
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
71
1
Comparison and Contrast
72
8
Understanding Comparison and Contrast
72
2
Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph
74
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph
79
1
Classification
80
6
Understanding Classification
80
1
Writing a Classification Paragraph
81
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Classification Paragraph
85
1
Definition
86
7
Understanding Definition
86
2
Writing a Definition Paragraph
88
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Definition Paragraph
92
1
Argument
93
8
Understanding Argument
93
2
Writing an Argument Paragraph
95
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing an Argument Paragraph
99
2
UNIT 3 Focus on Essays
101
94
Writing an Essay
103
24
Understanding Essay Structure
103
5
Deciding on a Topic
108
1
Using Invention Strategies
109
2
Freewriting
109
1
Brainstorming
110
1
Stating Your Thesis
111
2
Arranging Ideas
113
2
Drafting Your Essay
115
3
Revising and Editing Your Essay
118
9
Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Essay
118
1
Self-Assessment Checklist: Editing Your Essay
118
5
Chapter Review
123
2
Review Checklist: Writing an Essay
125
2
Introductions and Conclusions
127
11
Introductions
127
5
Beginning with a Direct Approach
128
1
Beginning with a Narrative
128
1
Beginning with a Question (or a Series of Questions)
129
1
Beginning with a Definition
129
1
Beginning with a Background Statement
129
1
Beginning with a Quotation
130
2
Conclusions
132
6
Concluding with a Restatement of Your Thesis
132
1
Concluding with a Narrative
133
1
Concluding with a Question (or a Series of Questions)
133
1
Concluding with a Prediction
134
1
Concluding with a Recommendation
134
1
Concluding with a Quotation
134
1
Chapter Review
135
2
Review Checklist: Introductions and Conclusions
137
1
Patterns of Essay Development
138
57
Exemplification
138
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing an Exemplification Essay
144
1
Narration
144
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Narrative Essay
149
1
Description
150
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Descriptive Essay
155
1
Process
156
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Process Essay
162
1
Cause and Effect
162
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay
167
1
Comparison and Contrast
168
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
174
1
Classification
174
6
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Classification Essay
179
1
Definition
180
5
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing a Definition Essay
185
1
Argument
185
10
Self-Assessment Checklist: Writing an Argument Essay
191
1
Review Checklist: Patterns of Essay Development
192
3
REVISING AND EDITING YOUR WRITING
195
1
UNIT 4 Writing Effective Sentences
195
76
Writing Simple Sentences
197
9
Identifying Subjects
197
1
Identifying Prepositional Phrases
198
2
Identifying Verbs
200
6
Action Verbs
201
1
Linking Verbs
201
1
Helping Verbs
202
2
Chapter Review
204
1
Review Checklist: Writing Simple Sentences
205
1
Writing Compound Sentences
206
12
Forming Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions
206
3
Forming Compound Sentences with Semicolons
209
2
Forming Compound Sentences with Conjunctive Adverbs
211
7
Chapter Review
215
2
Review Checklist: Writing Compound Sentences
217
1
Writing Complex Sentences
218
11
Forming Complex Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions
218
4
Forming Complex Sentences with Relative Pronouns
222
7
Chapter Review
226
1
Review Checklist: Writing Complex Sentences
227
2
Achieving Sentence Variety
229
17
Varying Sentence Types
229
2
Varying Sentence Openings
231
3
Beginning with Adverbs
231
1
Beginning with Prepositional Phrases
232
2
Combining Sentences
234
6
Using Present Participles
234
1
Using Past Participles
234
3
Using Compound Subjects or Compound Verbs
237
1
Using Appositives
238
2
Varying Sentence Length
240
6
Chapter Review
242
3
Review Checklist: Achieving Sentence Variety
245
1
Using Parallelism
246
9
Recognizing Parallel Structure
246
2
Using Parallel Structure
248
7
Paired Items
248
1
Comparisons Formed with Than or As
248
1
Items in a Series
248
4
Chapter Review
252
2
Review Checklist: Using Parallelism
254
1
Using Words Effectively
255
16
Choosing Exact Words
255
3
Using Concise Language
258
3
Avoiding Cliches
261
2
Using Similes and Metaphors
263
2
Avoiding Sexist Language
265
6
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Words Effectively
269
2
UNIT 5 Solving Common Sentence Problems
271
66
Run-Ons and Comma Splices
273
9
Recognizing Run-Ons and Comma Splices
273
1
Correcting Run-Ons and Comma Splices
274
8
Chapter Review
280
1
Review Checklist: Run-Ons and Comma Splices
281
1
Sentence Fragments
282
15
Recognizing Sentence Fragments
282
2
Correcting Phrase Fragments
284
4
Appositive Fragments
284
1
Prepositional Phrase Fragments
285
1
Participial Phrase Fragments
285
1
Infinitive Phrase Fragments
286
2
Correcting Dependent Clause Fragments
288
9
Dependent Clauses Introduced by Subordinating Conjunctions
288
1
Dependent Clauses Introduced by Relative Pronouns
288
6
Chapter Review
294
2
Review Checklist: Sentence Fragments
296
1
Subject-Verb Agreement
297
14
Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
297
3
Avoiding Agreement Problems with Be, Have, and Do
300
2
Avoiding Agreement Problems When Words Come between the Subject and the Verb
302
2
Avoiding Agreement Problems with Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects
304
1
Avoiding Agreement Problems When the Verb Comes before the Subject
305
2
Avoiding Agreement Problems with the Relative Pronouns Who, Which, and That
307
4
Chapter Review
308
2
Review Checklist: Subject-Verb Agreement
310
1
Illogical Shifts
311
13
Avoiding illogical Shifts in Tense
311
2
Avoiding illogical Shifts in Person
313
1
Avoiding illogical Shifts in Number
314
2
Avoiding illogical Shifts in Discourse
316
2
Avoiding illogical Shifts in Voice
318
3
Chapter Review
321
2
Review Checklist: illogical Shifts
323
1
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
324
13
Identifying Present Participle Modifiers
324
2
Identifying Past Participle Modifiers
326
2
Correcting Dangling Modifiers
328
3
Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
331
6
Chapter Review
334
1
Review Checklist: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
335
2
UNIT 6 Understanding Basic Grammar
337
82
Verbs: Past Tense
339
11
Understanding Regular Verbs in the Past Tense
339
2
Understanding Irregular Verbs in the Past Tense
341
3
Problem Verbs in the Past Tense: Be
344
1
Problem Verbs in the Past Tense: Can/Could and Will/Would
345
5
Can/Could
345
1
Will/Would
345
2
Chapter Review
347
2
Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Tense
349
1
Verbs: Past Participles
350
14
Identifying Regular Past Participles
350
2
Identifying Irregular Past Participles
352
4
Using the Present Perfect Tense
356
2
Using the Past Perfect Tense
358
2
Using Past Participles as Adjectives
360
4
Chapter Review
362
1
Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Participles
363
1
Nouns and Pronouns
364
24
Identifying Nouns
364
1
Forming Plural Nouns
365
2
Identifying Pronouns
367
2
Understanding Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
369
2
Solving Special Problems with Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
371
6
Compound Antecedents
371
1
Indefinite Pronoun Antecedents
372
3
Collective Noun Antecedents
375
2
Understanding Pronoun Case
377
5
Pronouns in Compounds
379
1
Pronouns in Comparisons
379
1
The Pronouns Who and Whom
380
2
Identifying Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
382
6
Reflexive Pronouns
382
1
Intensive Pronouns
383
1
Chapter Review
384
3
Review Checklist: Nouns and Pronouns
387
1
Adjectives and Adverbs
388
12
Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs
388
4
Understanding Comparatives and Superlatives
392
8
Chapter Review
396
2
Review Checklist: Adjectives and Adverbs
398
2
Grammar and Usage Issues for ESL Writers
400
19
Including Subjects in Sentences
400
1
Avoiding Special Problems with Subjects
401
1
Identifying Plural Nouns
402
1
Understanding Count and Noncount Nouns
402
2
Using Determiners with Count and Noncount Nouns
404
1
Understanding Articles
405
2
Definite Articles
405
1
Indefinite Articles
406
1
No Article
406
1
Articles with Proper Nouns
407
1
Forming Negative Statements and Questions
407
2
Negative Statements
407
1
Questions
408
1
Indicating Verb Tense
409
1
Recognizing Stative Verbs
409
1
Placing Adjectives in Order
410
1
Choosing Correct Prepositions
411
1
Using Prepositions in Familiar Expressions
411
3
Using Prepositions in Two-Word Verbs
414
5
Chapter Review
415
2
Review Checklist: Grammar and Usage Issues for ESL Writers
417
2
UNIT 7 Understanding Punctuation, Mechanics, and Spelling
419
60
Using Commas
421
14
Using Commas in a Series
421
2
Using Commas to Set Off Introductory Phrases, Conjunctive Adverbs, and Transitional Expressions
423
2
Using Commas with Appositives
425
2
Using Commas to Set Off Nonrestrictive Clauses
427
2
Using Commas in Dates and Addresses
429
6
Chapter Review
432
2
Review Checklist: Using Commas
434
1
Using Apostrophes
435
9
Using Apostrophes to Form Contractions
435
2
Using Apostrophes to Form Possessives
437
2
Singular Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns
437
1
Plural Nouns
437
2
Revising Incorrect Use of Apostrophes
439
5
Chapter Review
441
2
Review Checklist: Using Apostrophes
443
1
Understanding Mechanics
444
14
Capitalizing Proper Nouns
444
3
Punctuating Direct Quotations
447
4
Setting Off Titles of Books, Stories, and Other Works
451
2
Using Minor Punctuation Marks
453
5
The Colon
453
1
The Dash
454
1
Parentheses
454
1
Chapter Review
455
2
Review Checklist: Understanding Mechanics
457
1
Understanding Spelling
458
21
Becoming a Better Speller
458
2
Deciding between ie and ei
460
2
Understanding Prefixes
462
1
Understanding Suffixes
462
4
Words Ending in Silent -e
463
1
Words Ending in -y
464
1
Doubling the Final Consonant
465
1
Learning Commonly Confused Words
466
13
Chapter Review
476
2
Review Checklist: Understanding Spelling
478
1
BECOMING A CRITICAL READER
479
1
UNIT 8 Reading Essays
479
70
Reading Critically
481
9
Approaching a Reading Assignment
481
2
Highlighting a Reading Assignment
483
2
Annotating a Reading Assignment
485
2
Outlining a Reading Assignment
487
1
Writing a Response Paragraph
488
2
Review Checklist: Reading Critically
489
1
Readings for Writers
490
59
Exemplification
491
5
Don't Call Me a Hot Tamale
491
3
Judith Ortiz Cofer
The Suspected Shopper
494
2
Ellen Goodman
Narration
496
7
The Sanctuary of School
497
3
Lynda Barry
Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police
500
3
Martin Gansberg
Description
503
5
Graduation
503
3
Maya Angelou
The Grandfather
506
2
Gary Soto
Process
508
5
Slice of Life
508
3
Russell Baker
Indelible Marks
511
2
Joyce Howe
Cause and Effect
513
5
The ``Black Table'' Is Still There
513
3
Lawrence Otis Graham
The Old Block
516
2
Anna Quindlen
Comparison and Contrast
518
7
How the Lawyers Stole Winter
518
4
Christopher B. Daly
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
522
3
John Gray
Classification
525
7
Wait Divisions
526
2
Tom Bodett
The Men We Carry in Our Minds
528
4
Scott Russell Sanders
Definition
532
6
Tortillas
532
3
Jose Antonio Burciaga
Dyslexia
535
3
Eileen Simpson
Argument
538
11
In Defense of Talk Shows
539
2
Barbara Ehrenreich
The New Prohibitionism
541
3
Charles Krauthammer
I Have a Dream
544
5
Martin Luther King Jr.
APPENDIX A Writing Paragraphs and Essays for Exams
549
7
1 Before the Exam
549
2
Attend Every Class
549
1
Read Every Assignment
549
1
Take Careful Notes
550
1
Study on Your Own
550
1
Study with a Group
550
1
Make an Appointment with Your Instructor
550
1
Review the Material One Last Time
550
1
2 At the Exam
551
2
Read Through the Entire Examination
551
1
Budget Your Time
551
1
Reread Each Question
551
1
Brainstorm to Help Yourself Remember Your Material
552
1
Write Down the Main Idea
552
1
List Your Main Points
552
1
Draft Your Answer
552
1
Reread, Revise, and Edit
553
1
3 Writing a Paragraph
553
1
4 Writing an Essay
553
3
APPENDIX B Writing a Research Paper
556
21
1 Choosing a Topic
556
1
2 Looking for Sources
557
1
3 Zeroing In on Your Topic
557
1
4 Doing Research
557
1
5 Taking Notes
558
1
6 Watching Out for Plagiarism
559
3
Document Ideas from Your Sources
560
1
Place Borrowed Words in Quotation Marks
561
1
Use Your Own Phrasing
561
1
Distinguish Your Ideas from the Source's Ideas
562
1
7 Drafting a Thesis Statement
562
1
8 Making an Outline
562
1
9 Writing Your Paper
563
1
10 Documenting Your Sources
564
13
Parenthetical References in the Text
564
2
The Works Cited List
566
4
Sample Research Paper in MLA Style
570
7
Answers to Odd-Numbered Exercises
577
10
Index
587