Welcome

Welcome

The Top Twenty: A Quick Guide to Troubleshooting Your Writing

The Top Twenty: A Quick Guide to Troubleshooting Your Writing

Quick Help

Directory: The Top Twenty

Quick Help: Taking a writing inventory

Top Twenty Editing Quizzes

Top Twenty Editing Quiz 1: “Thinking Globally by Eating Locally”

Top Twenty Editing Quiz 2: “Plagiarism in the Age of the Internet”

The Art and Craft of Writing (Chs. 1-6)

The Art and Craft of Writing (Chs. 1-6)

Chapter 1: Expectations for College Writing

1a Moving between social and academic writing

1b Preparing to meet expectations for U.S. academic writing

1c Positioning yourself as an academic writer

1d Becoming an engaged reader and active listener

1e Preparing for college research

1f Using media effectively

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Lessons from informal writing

Video Prompt: Something to learn from each other

Tips

Talking the Talk: Conventions

Chapter 2: Rhetorical Situations

2a Making good choices for your situation

2b Understanding academic assignments

2c Thinking about your topic and message

2d Considering your purpose and stance as a communicator

2e Analyzing audiences

2f Thinking about genres and media

2g Considering language and style

Storyboards

Storyboards on rhetorical situations

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Your whole audience

For Multilingual Writers: Bringing in other languages

Quick Help: Analyzing an assignment

Talking the Talk: Assignments

Talking the Talk: Genre names

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Developing a sense of audience

Video Prompt: Looking for the essential points (turning essay into media presentation)

Video Prompt: Pay attention to what you're interested in

Chapter 3: Exploring, Planning, and Drafting

3a Exploring a topic

3b Narrowing a topic

3c Drafting a working thesis

3d Gathering information

3e Organizing verbal and visual information

3f Planning

3g Drafting

Storyboards

Storyboards on working thesis

Student Writing

Early draft (Emily Lesk)

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Freespeaking

Considering Disabilities: A Talking Draft

For Multilingual Writers: Using your best language to explore ideas

For Multilingual Writers: Organizing information

For Multilingual Writers: Stating a thesis explicitly

Quick Help: Guidelines for drafting

Quick Help: Organizing visuals and media in academic writing

Tutorials

Tutorial: Word processing

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Brain mapping

Video Prompt: Filling in the gaps (organizing)

Video Prompt: Getting ideas from social media

Video Prompt: It's hard to delete things (drafting)

Video Prompt: This will take longer than I thought

Video Prompt: Writing processes

Video Prompt: You just have to start (drafting)

Chapter 4: Reviewing, Revising, Editing, and Reflecting

4a Rereading your draft

4b Reviewing peer writers' work

4c Getting the most from peer reviewers' comments

4d Learning from instructor comments

4e Revising with peer and instructor comments

4f Revising thesis and support

4g Rethinking organization

4h Revising title, introduction, and conclusion

4i Revising paragraphs, sentences, words, and tone

4j Checking visuals, media, and design

4k Editing

4l Proofreading the final draft

4m Reflecting on your writing

Storyboards

Storyboard on being a peer reviewer

Storyboard on getting help from peer reviewers

Storyboards on revising and editing

Student Writing

Early draft (Emily Lesk)

Final draft (Emily Lesk)

Reflective blog post (Thanh Nguyen)

Reflective cover letter (James Kung)

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Technology for revising

For Multilingual Writers: Understanding peer reviews

For Multilingual Writers: Asking an experienced writer to review your draft

For Multilingual Writers: Reviewing a draft

Quick Help: Guidelines for peer review

Talking the Talk: Revision

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Lessons from being a peer reviewer

Video Prompt: Lessons from peer review

Video Prompt: Revision happens

Chapter 5: Developing Paragraphs

5a Creating strong paragraphs

5b Writing unified paragraphs

5c Developing paragraphs with supporting details

5d Following patterns of development

5e Making paragraphs coherent

5f Linking paragraphs together

5g Writing special-purpose paragraphs

LearningCurve

Topic sentences and supporting details

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Being explicit

Quick Help: Commonly used transitions

Quick Help: Determining paragraph length

Quick Help: Editing the paragraphs in your writing

Talking the Talk: Paragraph length

Chapter 6: Working with Others

6a Collaborating in college

6b Working on group projects

6c Making presentations

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Accommodating differences

For Multilingual Writers: Constructive criticism

Quick Help: Guidelines for group projects

Talking the Talk: Collaborating or cheating?

Tutorials

Tutorial: Word Processing

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Working with other people

Critical Thinking and Argument (Chs. 7-9)

Critical Thinking and Argument (Chs. 7-9)

Chapter 7: Reading Critically

7a Reading print and digital texts

7b Previewing a text

7c Reading and annotating a text

7d Summarizing a text

7e Analyzing and reflecting on a text

7f Analyzing visual texts

7g A student's critical reading of a text

Storyboards

Storyboards on reading critically

LearningCurve

Critical reading

Topics and main ideas

Student Writing

Annotations of scholarly article (Fernando Sanchez and Sarah Lum)

Critical analysis essay (Shuqiao Song)

Tips

Talking the Talk: Critical thinking

Talking the Talk: Visual texts

Tutorials

Tutorial: Active reading

Chapter 8: Analyzing Arguments

8a Recognizing and contextualizing argument

8b Thinking critically about argument

8c Considering cultural contexts

8d Reading emotional, ethical, and logical appeals

8e Identifying elements of argument

8f Identifying fallacies

8g A student's rhetorical analysis of an argument

LearningCurve

Argument

Student Writing

Rhetorical analysis (Milena Ateyea)

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Recognizing appeals in various settings

Quick Help: Guidelines for analyzing an argument

Tutorials

Tutorial: Reading visuals for audience

Tutorial: Reading visuals for purpose

Chapter 9: Constructing Arguments

9a Understanding contexts for argument

9b Arguing for a purpose

9c Determining whether a statement can be argued

9d Formulating a working thesis

9e Finding good reasons

9f Making ethical appeals

9g Making logical appeals

9h Making emotional appeals

9i Using sources in an argument

9j Organizing an argument

9k Delivering an argument

9l A student's argument essay

Student Writing

Argument project (Benjy Mercer-Golden)

Tips

Considering Disablities: Description

For Multilingual Writers: Bringing in other voices

For Multilingual Writers: Counting your own experience

Quick Help: Checklist for constructing an argument

Talking the Talk: Arguments

Video Prompts

Video Prompt: Facing a challenging argument

Doing Research and Using Sources (Chs. 10-15)

Doing Research and Using Sources (Chs. 10-15)

Chapter 10: Preparing for a Research Project

10a Considering the research process

10b Analyzing the assignment

10c Narrowing a topic

10d Moving from research question to hypothesis

10e Determining what you know

10f Making a preliminary research plan

10g Keeping a research log

10h Moving from hypothesis to working thesis

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Dictation

Talking the Talk: Reaching an audience

Video Prompts

Video Prompt: Researching something exciting

Chapter 11: Conducting Research

11a Differentiating kinds of sources

11b Using the library to get started

11c Finding library resources

11d Conducting Internet research

11e Conducting field research

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Web site accessibility

Quick Help: Conducting an interview

Quick Help: Conducting an observation

Quick Help: Designing a questionnaire

Talking the Talk: Wikis as sources

Tutorials

Tutorial: Online research tools

Chapter 12: Evaluating Sources and Taking Notes

12a Using sources for a purpose

12b Moving beyond previewing a source

12c Keeping a working bibliography

12d Evaluating usefulness and credibility

12e Reading and interpreting sources

12f Synthesizing sources

12g Taking notes and annotating sources

Storyboards

Storyboards on synthesis

LearningCurve

Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (APA)

Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (MLA)

Student Writing

Annotated bibliography (Tony Chan)

Reflective annotated bibliography (Nandita Sriram)

Synthesis project (Caroline Warner)

Tips

Talking the Talk: Research with an open mind

Quick Help: Guidelines for paraphrase notes

Quick Help: Guidelines for quotation notes

Quick Help: Guidelines for summaries

Source Map: Evaluating articles

Source Map: Evaluating Web sources

Chapter 13: Integrating Sources into Your Writing

13a Deciding whether to quote, paraphrase, or summarize

13b Working with quotations

13c Paraphrasing

13d Summarizing

13e Working with visuals and media

13f Checking for excessive use of source material

LearningCurve

Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (APA)

Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (MLA)

Student Writing

Synthesis project (Caroline Warner)

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Identifying sources

Quick Help: Deciding to quote, paraphrase, or summarize

Quick Help: Signal verbs

Talking the Talk: Saying something new

Chapter 14: Acknowledging Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

14a Understanding reasons to acknowledge sources

14b Knowing which sources to acknowledge

14c Recognizing patchwriting

14d Adapting structures and phrases from a genre without plagiarizing

14e Maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism

14f Considering your intellectual property

14g Collaborating

LearningCurve

Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (APA)

Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (MLA)

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Plagiarism as a cultural concept

Quick Help: Avoiding plagiarism

Tutorials

Tutorial: Do I need to cite that?

Chapter 15: Writing a Research Project

15a Refining your plans

15b Organizing information

15c Drafting

15d Incorporating source materials

15e Reviewing and getting responses to your draft

15f Revising and editing

15g Preparing a list of sources

15h Proofreading your final copy

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Asking experienced writers to review a thesis

Quick Help: Guidelines for revising a research project

Video Prompts

Video Prompt: When to stop researching

Designing and Performing Writing (Chs. 16-18)

Designing and Performing Writing (Chs. 16-18)

Chapter 16: Design for Print and Digital Writing

16a Choosing a type of text

16b Planning a visual structure

16c Formatting print and digital texts

16d Considering visuals and media

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Color for Contrast

For Multilingual Writers: Reading patterns

Quick Help: Using visuals and media effectively

Chapter 17: Presentations

17a Concerning assignment, purpose, and audience for presentations

17b Writing to be heard and remembered

17c Creating a presentation

17d Practicing the presentation

17e Delivering the presentation

17f A student's presentation

17g Considering other kinds of presentations

Student Writing

Presentation (Shuqiao Song)

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Accessible presentations

Quick Help: Guidelines for presentations

Quick Help: Guidelines for slide presentations

Tutorials

Tutorial: Presentations

Video Prompts

Video Prompt: If I were in the audience

Video Prompt: Looking for the essential points (turning essay into media presentation)

Video Prompt: Presentation is performance

Video Prompt: You want them to hear you

Chapter 18: Communicating in Other Media

18a Considering your rhetorical context

18b Planning Web-based texts

18c Creating Web-based texts

18d Creating nondigital multimodal projects

Student Writing

Fundraising Web page (Justin Dart)

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Accessible Web texts

Quick Help: Rhetorical contexts for multimodal writing

Tutorial

Tutorial: Audio editing with Audacity

Tutorial: Photo editing with GIMP

Academic, Professional, and Public Writing (Chs. 19-26)

Academic, Professional, and Public Writing (Chs. 19-26)

Chapter 19: Academic Work in Any Discipline

19a Writing in any discipline

19b Reading in any discipline

19c Understanding academic assignments

19d Learning specialized vocabulary

19e Following disciplinary style

19f Using appropriate evidence

19g Using conventional patterns and formats

19h Making ethical decisions

19i Collaborating and communicating

Tips

Quick Help: Analyzing an assignment

Talking the Talk: The first person

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Improving with practice

Chapter 20: Writing for the Humanities

20a Reading texts in the humanities

20b Writing texts in the humanities

20c A student's close reading of poetry

Student Writing

Close reading of poetry (Bonnie Sillay)

Tips

Quick Help: Guidelines for reading texts in the humanities

Chapter 21: Writing for the Social Sciences

21a Reading texts in the social sciences

21b Writing texts in the social sciences

21c A student's psychology literature review

Student Writing

Literature review in psychology (Tawnya Redding)

Public health project (Martha Bell)

Chapter 22: Writing for the Natural and Applied Sciences

22a Reading texts in the natural and applied sciences

22b Writing texts in the natural and applied sciences

22c A student's chemistry lab report

Student Writing

Biology literature review (Joanna Hays)

Lab report in chemistry (Allyson Goldberg)

Chapter 23: Writing for Business

23a Reading texts for business

23b Writing texts for business

Student Writing

Résumés (Megan Lange)

Tips

Quick Help: Guidelines for effective business correspondence

Quick Help: Guidelines for writing more effective memos and business email

Tutorial

Tutorial: Job search and personal branding

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Writing for the real world

Chapter 24: Essay Examinations

24a Preparing for an essay examination

24b Writing an essay examination response

24c Writing take-home exams

24d A student's essay exam response

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Writing notes in your own language

Quick Help: Common strategy terms

Chapter 25: Portfolios

25a Planning a portfolio

25b Completing a portfolio

25c A student's reflective cover letter for a portfolio

25d A student's portfolio home page

Student Writing

Reflective portfolio cover letter (James Kung)

Chapter 26: Writing to Make Something Happen in the World

26a Deciding to make something happen

26b Connecting with your audience

26c Sample writing that makes something happen in the world

Student Writing

Fundraising Web page (Justin Dart)

Pitch package (Deborah Jane and Jamie Burke)

Tips

Quick Help: Characteristics of writing that makes something happen

Effective Language (Chs. 27-31)

Effective Language (Chs. 27-31)

Chapter 27: Writing to the World

27a Thinking about what seems “normal”

27b Clarifying meaning

27c Meeting audience expectations

Tips

Quick Help: Communicating across cultures

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Writing for the real world

Chapter 28: Language That Builds Common Ground

28a Avoiding stereotypes and generalizations

28b Avoiding assumptions about gender

28c Avoiding assumptions about race and ethnicity

28d Considering other kinds of difference

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Knowing your readers

Quick Help: Editing to build common ground

Chapter 29: Language Variety

29a Using varieties of language in academic writing

29b Using standard varieties of English

29c Using varieties of English to evoke a place or community

29d Using varieties of English to build credibility within a community

29e Using other languages

Tips

Considering Disabilities: American Sign Language

For Multilingual Writers: Choosing appropriate words

For Multilingual Writers: Global varieties of English

Quick Help: Using varieties of language effectively

Video prompts

Video Prompt: Correctness in context

Chapter 30: Word Choice

30a Choosing appropriate words for the context

30b Using words with appropriate connotations

30c Balancing general and specific language

30d Using figurative language

LearningCurve

Word choice

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Avoiding fancy language

For Multilingual Writers: Mastering idioms

Quick Help: Editing for appropriate and precise language

Talking the Talk: Texting abbreviations

Chapter 31: Dictionaries, Vocabulary, and Spelling

31a Finding information in dictionaries

31b Using different kinds of dictionaries

31c Building your vocabulary

31d Understanding vocabulary in context

31e Checking spelling

31f Following spelling rules

LearningCurve

Vocabulary

Tips

Considering Disabilities: Spelling

For Multilingual Writers: American spellings

For Multilingual Writers: Consulting a learner's dictionary

For Multilingual Writers: Using the dictionary to learn idioms

Quick Help: Building your vocabulary

Quick Help: Common errors with spell checkers

Quick Help: Dictionary information

Quick Help: The most troublesome homonyms

Talking the Talk: Spell checkers and wrong-word errors

Documenting Sources (Chs. 32-35)

Documenting Sources (Chs. 32-35)

Chapter 32: MLA Style

32a Understanding the basics of MLA style

32b Formatting MLA manuscripts

32c Creating MLA in-text citations

Directory to MLA-style in-text citations

32d Preparing an MLA list of works cited

Directory to MLA-style works-cited models

32e A student research essay, MLA style

Student Writing

MLA-style research project (David Craig)

Tips

Quick Help: Citing digital sources (MLA)

Quick Help: Citing sources that don't match any model exactly (MLA)

Quick Help: Citing visuals that appear in your text (MLA)

Quick Help: Formatting print periodical entries (MLA)

Source Map: Articles from databases in MLA style

Source Map: Articles in print periodicals in MLA style

Source Map: Books in MLA style

Source Map: Works from Web sites in MLA style

Tutorials

Tutorial: How to cite an article in MLA style

Tutorial: How to cite a book in MLA style

Tutorial: How to cite a database in MLA style

Tutorial: How to cite a Web site in MLA style

Chapter 33: APA Style

33a Understanding the basics of APA style

33b Formatting APA manuscripts

33c Creating APA in-text citations

Directory to APA-style in-text citation models

33d Preparing the APA list of references

Directory to APA-style references

33e A student research essay, APA style

Student Writing

APA-style research project (Martha Bell)

Tips

Quick Help: Citing digital sources (APA)

Quick Help: Citing sources that don't match any model exactly (APA)

Source Map: Articles from databases in APA style

Source Map: Articles in print periodicals in APA style

Source Map: Books in APA style

Source Map: Reports and long works from Web sites in APA style

Tutorials

Tutorial: How to cite a book in APA style

Tutorial: How to cite an article in APA style

Tutorial: How to cite a database in APA style

Tutorial: How to cite a Web site in APA style

Chapter 34: Chicago Style

34a Understanding the basics of Chicago style

34b Formatting Chicago manuscripts

34c Preparing Chicago notes and bibliographic entries

Directory to Chicago-style notes and bibliographic entries

34d A student research essay, Chicago style

Student Writing

Chicago-style research project (Amanda Rinder)

Tips

Quick Help: Citing sources that don't match any model exactly (Chicago)

Source Map: Articles from databases in Chicago style

Source Map: Books in Chicago style

Source Map: Works from Web sites in Chicago style

Chapter 35: CSE Style

35a Formatting CSE manuscripts

35b Creating CSE in-text citations

35c Preparing a CSE list of references

Directory to CSE-style references

35d A student research essay, CSE style

Student Writing

Biology literature review (Joanna Hays)

Tips

Source Map: Books in CSE style

Source Map: Works from databases in CSE style

Grammar (Chs. 36-43)

Grammar (Chs. 36-43)

Chapter 36: Parts of Speech

36a Verbs

36b Nouns

36c Pronouns

36d Adjectives

36e Adverbs

36f Prepositions

36g Conjunctions

36h Interjections

LearningCurve

Nouns and Pronouns

Prepositions and conjunctions

Prepositions For Multilingual Writers

Verbs, adjectives, and adverbs

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Count and noncount nouns

Sentence Map: Parts of Speech

Chapter 37: Parts of Sentences

37a The basic grammar of sentences

37b Subjects

37c Predicates

37d Phrases

37e Clauses

37f Types of Sentences

LearningCurve

Sentence structure For Multilingual Writers

Verbs For Multilingual Writers

Tips

Quick Help: Basic sentence patterns

Quick Help: Choosing between infinitives and gerunds

Talking the Talk: Understanding grammatical terms

Chapter 38: Nouns and Noun Phrases

38a Using count and noncount nouns

38b Using determiners

38c Using articles

LearningCurve

Articles and nouns For Multilingual Writers

Chapter 39: Verbs

39a Using appropriate verb forms

39b Forming verb phrases

39c Understanding regular and irregular verbs

39d Using lay and lie, sit and set, raise and rise

39e Indicating verb tenses

39f Sequencing verb tenses

39g Using active and passive voice

39h Using mood and forming conditional sentences

LearningCurve

Active and passive voice

Verbs

Verbs For Multilingual Writers

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for -ed or -d endings

Quick Help: Editing for -s and -es endings

Quick Help: Editing verb tenses

Chapter 40: Subject-Verb Agreement

40a Understanding subject-verb agreement

40b Making separated subjects and verbs agree

40c Making verbs agree with compound subjects

40d Making verbs agree with collective nouns

40e Making verbs agree with indefinite pronouns

40f Making verbs agree with who, which, and that

40g Making linking verbs agree with subjects

40h Making verbs agree with subjects ending in -s

40i Making verbs agree with following subjects

40j Making verbs agree with titles and with words used as words

LearningCurve

Subject-verb agreement

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for subject-verb agreement

Chapter 41: Pronouns

41a Understanding pronoun case

41b Using who, whoever, whom, and whomever

41c Considering case in compound structures

41d Considering case in elliptical constructions

41e Using we or us before a noun

41f Making pronouns agree with antecedents

41g Avoiding sexist pronouns

41h Revising ambiguous pronoun references

41i Revising vague use of it, this, that, and which

41j Using who, which, or that to refer to people

41k Revising indefinite use of you, it, and they

41l Revising implied antecedents

LearningCurve

Pronouns

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for case

Quick Help: Editing for clear pronoun reference

Quick Help: Editing for pronoun-antecedent agreement

Quick Help: Editing out the generic use of he, his, or him

Talking the Talk: Correctness or stuffiness?

Chapter 42: Adjectives and Adverbs

42a Understanding adjectives and adverbs

42b Using adjectives after linking verbs

42c Using adverbs

42d Comparatives and superlatives

42e Using nouns as modifiers

42f Using adjectives ending in -ed and -ing

42g Putting adjectives in order

LearningCurve

Sentence structure for multilingual writers

Tips

Quick Help: Editing adjectives and adverbs

For Multilingual Writers: Adjectives with plural nouns

Chapter 43: Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

43a Using prepositions idiomatically

43b Using two-word verbs idiomatically

LearningCurve

Prepositions for multilingual writers

Tips

Quick Help: Strategies for learning prepositions idiomatically

Clarity (Chs. 44-49)

Clarity (Chs. 44-49)

Chapter 44: Confusing Shifts

44a Revising shifts in tense

44b Revising shifts in mood

44c Revising shifts in voice

44d Revising shifts in person and number

44e Revising shifts between direct and indirect discourse

44f Revising shifts in tone and diction

LearningCurve

Shifts

Chapter 45: Parallelism

45a Making items in a series parallel

45b Using parallel structures to pair ideas

45c Including all necessary words

45d Using parallel structures for emphasis and effect

LearningCurve

Parallelism

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for parallelism

Chapter 46: Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

46a Identifying comma splices and fused sentences

46b Separating the clauses into two sentences

46c Linking the clauses with a comma and a coordinating conjunction

46d Linking the clauses with a semicolon

46e Recasting two clauses as one independent clause

46f Recasting one independent clause as a dependent clause

46g Linking two independent clauses with a dash

LearningCurve

Comma splices and fused sentences

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Sentence length

Quick Help: Editing for comma splices and fused sentences

Chapter 47: Fragments

47a Identifying fragments

47b Revising phrase fragments

47c Revising compound-predicate fragments

47d Revising dependent-clause fragments

LearningCurve

Fragments

Chapter 48: Modifier Placement

48a Revising misplaced modifiers

48b Revising disruptive modifiers

48c Revising dangling modifiers

LearningCurve

Modifiers

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for misplaced or dangling modifiers

Chapter 49: Consistent and Complete Structures

49a Revising faulty sentence structure

49b Matching subjects and predicates

49c Completing elliptical constructions

49d Checking for missing words

49e Making complete comparisons

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Deciding which articles to use

Quick Help: Editing for consistency and completeness

Style (Chs. 50-53)

Style (Chs. 50-53)

Chapter 50: Concise Writing

50a Eliminating unnecessary words

50b Simplifying sentence structure

50c Using active and passive voice appropriately

LearningCurve

Active and passive voice

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for conciseness

Chapter 51: Coordination and Subordination

51a Relating equal ideas

51b Distinguishing main ideas

LearningCurve

Coordination and subordination

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for coordination and subordination

Chapter 52: Sentence Variety

52a Varying sentence length

52b Varying sentence openings

52c Varying sentence types

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for sentence variety

Chapter 53: Memorable Prose

53a Writing emphatic sentences

53b Choosing strong verbs

53c Using special effects

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for memorable prose

Punctuation (Chs. 54-59)

Punctuation (Chs. 54-59)

Chapter 54: Commas

54a Understanding comma use

54b Using commas after introductory elements

54c Using commas in compound sentences

54d Using commas with nonrestrictive elements

54e Using commas to separate items in a series

54f Using commas with parenthetical and transitional expressions

54g Using commas with contrasting elements, interjections, direct address, and tag questions

54h Using commas with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers

54i Commas with quotations

54j Using commas for clarity

54k Avoiding unnecessary commas

LearningCurve

Commas

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for commas

Chapter 55: Semicolons

55a Using semicolons with independent clauses

55b Using semicolons to separate items in a series

55c Using semicolons with quotation marks

55d Avoiding misused or overused semicolons

LearningCurve

Semicolons and colons

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for semicolons

Chapter 56: End Punctuation

56a Using periods

56b Using question marks

56c Using exclamation points

56d Using end punctuation in informal writing

Chapter 57: Apostrophes

57a Understanding apostrophes

57b Using apostrophes to signal possessive case

57c Using apostrophes to signal contractions

57d Using guidelines for apostrophes with plurals

LearningCurve

Apostrophes

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for apostrophes

Chapter 58: Quotation Marks

58a Using quotation marks to signal direct quotations

58b Using quotation marks to signal titles and definitions

58c Using quotation marks to signal irony and invented words

58d Avoiding misused quotation marks

58e Using quotation marks with other punctuation

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: Quotation marks

For Multilingual Writers: Quoting in American English

Quick Help: Editing for quotation marks

Chapter 59: Other Punctuation Marks

59a Using parentheses

59b Using brackets

59c Using dashes

59d Using colons

59e Using slashes

59f Using ellipses

LearningCurve

Semicolons and colons

Mechanics (Chs. 60-63)

Mechanics (Chs. 60-63)

Chapter 60: Capital Letters

60a Capitalizing the first word of a sentence or line of poetry

60b Capitalizing proper nouns and proper adjectives

60c Capitalizing titles of works

60d Avoiding unnecessary capitalization

LearningCurve

Capital letters

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: English capitalization

Quick Help: Editing for capitalization

Chapter 61: Abbreviations and Numbers

61a Abbreviating titles and academic degrees

61b Abbreviating years and hours

61c Using acronyms and initial abbreviations

61d Abbreviating company names

61e Using Latin abbreviations

61f Abbreviating reference information, geographic terms, and months

61g Using symbols and units of measurement

61h Using numbers within sentences

61i Using numbers to begin sentences

61j Following conventions for figures

Tips

For Multilingual Writers: The term hundred

Quick Help: Editing abbreviations and numbers

Talking the Talk: Abbreviations and numbers in disciplines

Chapter 62: Italics

62a Using italics for titles

62b Using italics for words, letters, and numbers referred to as terms

62c Using italics for non-English words and phrases

62d Using italics for names of vehicles

62e Using italics for emphasis

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for italics

Chapter 63: Hyphens

63a Using hyphens with compound words

63b Using hyphens with prefixes and suffixes

63c Avoiding unnecessary hyphens

Tips

Quick Help: Editing for hyphens

LearningCurve

LearningCurve

LearningCurve: Active and passive voice

LearningCurve: Apostrophes

LearningCurve: Argument

LearningCurve: Articles and nouns for multilingual writers

LearningCurve: Capital letters

LearningCurve: Comma splices and fused sentences

LearningCurve: Commas

LearningCurve: Coordination and subordination

LearningCurve: Critical reading

LearningCurve: Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (APA)

LearningCurve: Evaluating, integrating, and acknowledging sources (MLA)

LearningCurve: Fragments

LearningCurve: Modifiers

LearningCurve: Nouns and Pronouns

LearningCurve: Parallelism

LearningCurve: Prepositions and conjunctions

LearningCurve: Prepositions for multilingual writers

LearningCurve: Pronouns

LearningCurve: Semicolons and colons

LearningCurve: Sentence structure for multilingual writers

LearningCurve: Shifts

LearningCurve: Subject-verb agreement

LearningCurve: Topic sentences and supporting details

LearningCurve: Topics and main ideas

LearningCurve: Verbs

LearningCurve: Verbs for multilingual writers

LearningCurve: Verbs, adjectives, and adverbs

LearningCurve: Vocabulary

LearningCurve: Word choice

Glossaries

Glossaries

Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Usage

Appendix

Appendix

Acknowledgments

Directories of special content

Revision symbols

Preface

Research for The St. Martin’s Handbook

New to this edition

Features of The St. Martin’s Handbook

Index

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y

Z

More Resources

Exercises

Exercise 1.1 Reflecting on your informal writing

Exercise 2.1 Analyzing a sample assignment

Exercise 2.2 Reflecting on the decision to write

Exercise 2.3 Writing for different audiences

Exercise 2.4 Considering academic genres

Exercise 2.5 Considering genre, medium, tone, and style

Exercise 3.1 Using strategies to explore a topic

Exercise 3.2 Evaluating a working thesis

Exercise 3.3 Drafting a preliminary working thesis

Exercise 3.4 Reflecting on organization

Exercise 3.5 Creating a plan

Exercise 4.1 Reflecting on your revision plan

Exercise 4.2 Preparing for peer review

Exercise 4.3 Analyzing your draft

Exercise 4.4 Evaluating thesis and support

Exercise 4.5 Evaluating conclusions

Exercise 4.6 Evaluating paragraphs

Exercise 4.7 Revising your own paragraph

Exercise 4.8 Creating an editing checklist

Exercise 4.9 Planning a revised draft

Exercise 5.1 Reflecting on topic sentences

Exercise 5.2 Exploring a topic

Exercise 5.3 Reflecting on essay development

Exercise 5.4 Reflecting on organizing a comparison and contrast paragraph

Exercise 5.5 Brainstorming paragraph development

Exercise 5.6 Evaluating paragraph development

Exercise 5.7 Reflecting on paragraph breaks

Exercise 5.8 Reflecting on linking paragraphs

Exercise 7.1 Previewing a text

Exercise 7.2 Annotating a text

Exercise 7.3 Analyzing a text

Exercise 8.1 Analyzing an essay about free speech by Derek Bok

Exercise 8.2 Analyzing and responding to argument

Exercise 9.1 Determining whether a statement is arguable

Exercise 9.2 Drafting a working thesis and identifying claims, reasons, and assumptions

Exercise 9.3 Moving from topic to working thesis

Exercise 9.4 Collaborating to identify claims in advertisement

Exercise 9.5 Analyzing ethical appeals in a visual argument

Exercise 9.6 Reflecting on establishing credibility

Exercise 9.7 Identifying implied premises in deductive arguments

Exercise 9.8 Reflecting on logical appeals

Exercise 9.9 Considering emotional appeals

Exercise 9.10 Brainstorming emotional appeals

Exercise 9.11 Drafting an argument

Exercise 10.1 Analyzing two possible topics

Exercise 10.2 Examining what you know about a topic

Exercise 12.1 Evaluating potential sources

Exercise 12.2 Annotating a digital source

Exercise 13.1 Reflecting on integrating sources

Exercise 14.1 Identifying plagiarism

Exercise 15.1 Testing your thesis

Exercise 16.1 Reviewing your use of design elements

Exercise 17.1 Analyzing a presentation

Exercise 18.1 Analyzing a Web site

Exercise 19.1 Analyzing a communication assignment

Exercise 19.2 Analyzing evidence in journals

Exercise 21.1 Analyzing a literature review

Exercise 22.1 Reading journal articles

Exercise 24.1 Planning an essay exam response

Exercise 25.1 Analyzing work you have collected

Exercise 28.1 Revising sexist language

Exercise 29.1 Considering effects of standard English

Exercise 30.1 Analyzing informal and formal word choice

Exercise 30.2 Revising inconsistent formality

Exercise 30.3 Choosing words with appropriate denotation

Exercise 30.4 Choosing synonyms

Exercise 30.5 Revising to make language concrete

Exercise 31.1 Checking spelling and pronunciation

Exercise 31.2 Checking etymology

Exercise 31.3 Using contextual clues

Exercise 31.4 Finding errors missed by a spell checker

Exercise 31.5 Using homonyms

Exercise 36.1 Identifying verbs

Exercise 36.2 Identifying nouns and articles

Exercise 36.3 Identifying pronouns and antecedents

Exercise 36.4 Identifying adjectives and adverbs

Exercise 36.5 Identifying prepositions

Exercise 36.6 Identifying conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs

Exercise 37.1 Identifying complete and simple subjects

Exercise 37.2 Identifying predicates and their components

Exercise 37.3 Identifying phrases

Exercise 37.4 Identifying clauses

Exercise 37.5 Adding dependent clauses to improve sentences

Exercise 37.6 Classifying sentences

Exercise 38.1 Rewriting sentences with noun or noun-phrase errors

Exercise 38.2 Adding articles to a passage

Exercise 39.1 Writing the past tense or past participle of verbs

Exercise 39.2 Identifying appropriate verb forms

Exercise 39.3 Choosing correct verb forms

Exercise 39.4 Creating appropriate sequences of verb tenses

Exercise 39.5 Converting sentences to the active or passive voice

Exercise 39.6 Revising for appropriate subjunctive verb forms

Exercise 40.1 Identifying appropriate verb forms

Exercise 40.2 Revising for subject-verb agreement

Exercise 41.1 Choosing who, whoever, whom, or whomever

Exercise 41.2 Identifying appropriate pronouns

Exercise 41.3 Revising pronouns

Exercise 41.4 Revising to clarify pronoun reference

Exercise 41.5 Revising a paragraph to clarify pronoun reference

Exercise 42.1 Revising adjectives and adverbs

Exercise 42.2 Revising for modifier use

Exercise 43.1 Revising to include prepositions

Exercise 43.2 Using two-word verbs correctly

Exercise 44.1 Revising to eliminate unnecessary shifts

Exercise 45.1 Using parallel words and phrases

Exercise 45.2 Revising for errors in parallelsim

Exercise 46.1 Revising to correct comma splices and fused sentences

Exercise 46.2 Evaluating methods for correcting comma splices

Exercise 47.1 Revising to eliminate sentence fragments

Exercise 47.2 Finding, explaining, and revising sentence fragments

Exercise 48.1 Moving misplaced modifiers for clarity

Exercise 48.2 Revising limiting and squinting modifiers

Exercise 48.3 Revising disruptive modifiers

Exercise 48.4 Revising dangling phrases

Exercise 49.1 Revising sentence structure for consistency

Exercise 49.2 Revising for completeness and consistency

Exercise 50.1 Rewriting sentences using the active voice

Exercise 50.2 Revising for conciseness

Exercise 51.1 Using coordination

Exercise 51.2 Combining sentences using subordination

Exercise 52.1 Revising for sentence length

Exercise 52.2 Revising using periodic and cumulative sentences

Exercise 53.1 Revising to highlight main ideas

Exercise 53.2 Writing sentences using antithesis

Exercise 53.3 Experimenting with word order

Exercise 54.1 Adding necessary commas

Exercise 54.2 Using commas and coordinating conjunctions

Exercise 54.3 Using commas to set off nonrestrictive elements

Exercise 54.4 Using commas to set off items in a series

Exercise 54.5 Using commas with contrasting elements, interjections, direct address, and tag questions

Exercise 54.6 Using commas with dates, addresses, titles, and numbers

Exercise 54.7 Using commas with quotations

Exercise 55.1 Combining sentences using semicolons

Exercise 55.2 Revising for misused or overused semicolons

Exercise 56.1 Revising for appropriate use of end punctuation

Exercise 57.1 Forming the possessive case using apostrophes

Exercise 57.2 Using apostrophes where appropriate

Exercise 58.1 Using quotation marks to signal titles, definitions, irony, or invented terms

Exercise 59.1 Revising using parentheses and brackets

Exercise 59.2 Revising using dashes

Exercise 59.3 Using colons as needed

Exercise 59.4 Writing using models of effective punctuation

Exercise 60.1 Capitalizing as needed

Exercise 60.2 Evaluating and correcting capitalization

Exercise 61.1 Eliminating inappropriate abbreviations

Exercise 61.2 Revising numbers for correctness and consistency

Exercise 62.1 Identifying words needing italicization

Exercise 63.1 Inserting and deleting hyphens

Thinking Critically

Thinking critically about your expectations for college writing

Thinking critically about rhetorical situations

Thinking critically about your writing process

Thinking critically about your reviewing and revising process

Thinking critically about paragraphs

Thinking critically about your collaborative work

Thinking critically about reading

Thinking critically about analyzing arguments

Thinking critically about constructing arguments

Thinking critically about your own research

Thinking critically about conducting research

Thinking critically about your evaluation of sources

Thinking critically about your integration of sources

Thinking critically about your own acknowledgment of sources

Thinking critically about research projects

Thinking critically about design for writing

Thinking critically about oral and multimedia presentations

Thinking critically about multimodal texts

Thinking critically about reading and writing in a discipline

Thinking critically about writing in the humanities

Thinking critically about writing in the social sciences

Thinking critically about writing for the sciences

Thinking critically about business writing

Thinking critically about essay examinations

Thinking critically about portfolios

Thinking critically about writing that makes something happen in the world

Thinking critically about assumptions in your writing

Thinking critically about assumptions in your writing

Thinking critically about language variety

Thinking critically about word choice

Thinking critically about dictionaries, vocabulary, and spelling

Thinking critically about parts of speech

Thinking critically about sentences

Thinking critically about verbs

Thinking critically about subject-verb agreement

Thinking critically about pronouns

Thinking critically about adjectives and adverbs

Thinking critically about shifts

Thinking critically about parallelism

Thinking critically about comma splices and fused sentences

Thinking critically about fragments

Thinking critically about modifiers

Thinking critically about consistency and completeness

Thinking critically about conciseness

Thinking critically about coordination and subordination

Thinking critically about sentence variety

Thinking critically about prose style

Thinking critically about commas

Thinking critically about semicolons

Thinking critically about end punctuation

Thinking critically about apostrophes

Thinking critically about quotation marks

Thinking critically about punctuation

Thinking critically about capitalization

Thinking critically about abbreviations and numbers

Thinking critically about italics

Thinking critically about hyphenation