Rules of Thumb | Table of Contents

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Rules of Thumb, 5/e

Jay Silverman, Nassau County Community College
Elaine Hughes, Nassau County Community College
Diana R. Wienbroer, Nassau County Community College

Acknowledgments
How to Use Rules of Thumb
New to the Fifth Edition of Rules of Thumb

Part One:Correctness

A Word about Correctness
Confusing Words
One Word or Two?
Spelling
Capitalization
Abbreviations and Numbers
Apostrophes
Consistent Pronouns
Correct Pronouns
Vague Pronouns
Recognizing Complete Sentences
Run-On Sentences and Sentence Fragments
Commas
Semicolons
Colons
Dashes and Parentheses
Quotation Marks
Underlines
Shifting Verb Tenses
Verb Agreement
Word Endings: s and ed
Tangled Sentences

Part Two:Putting a Paper Together

What to do When You're Stuck
Addressing Your Audience
Writing in Class
Finding an Organzation for Your Essay
Introductions
Paragraphs-Long and Short
Transitions
Conclusions
How to Make a Paper Longer(and When to Make it Shorter)
How to Work on a Second Draft
Proofreading Tips
Format of College Papers

Part Three:The Research Paper

How to Start a Research Project
Three Essential Research Skills
Feature:When You Find Too Many or Too Few Sources
Getting Information at the Library
Getting Information Online
Feature:Sizing Up a Website
Writing the Research Paper
Writing about Literature
Plagirism(Cheating)
Documentation:The MLA Style
Documentation:The APA Style
Documentation:The Chicago Style(Footnotes)

Part Four:Growing as a Writer

Keeping a Journal
Adding Details
Recognizing Cliches
Eliminating Offensive Language
Trimming Wordiness
Using Strong Verbs
Varying Your Sentences
Finding Your Voice

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