A Writer's Workshop: Crafting Paragraphs, Building Essays, 3/e
Bob Brannan,
Johnson County Community College
ISBN: 0073385689 Copyright year: 2010
Table of Contents
*New to this Edition
Preface
Unit I: Getting Our Feet Wet
1. Practicing the Writing Process
How Do We Begin to Write?
Questions to Ask at the Start of a Writing Project
After Breaking Ground—into the Writing Process
Steps in the Writing Process
Discovering Ideas
Freewriting
Clustering
Brainstorming (Listing)
Journalist's Questions
Patterns of Development
Journal Entries
Considering Your Audience
Organizing Ideas
Rough Outlines
Formal Outlines
Drafting
Preparing a Workspace and Moving Ahead
Breaking Out of Writer's Block
Revising
Revision Priority List
Group Revising
How the Writer Can Help the Reader
How the Reader Can Help the Writer
Editing
How to Edit
Major Categories of Mechanical Errors
Proofreading
How to Proofread and Prepare Your Final Manuscript
Diagnostic Writing Assignments
Chapter Summary
2. Making the Most of Reading
Is There a Method to Effective Reading?
Methods for Reading
Prereading: Preparing to Understand
Signposts
Beginnings and Endings
Connections: Linking New to Previous Knowledge
Reading: Processing Ideas
Anticipating and Reacting
Visualizing
Linking New to Previous Knowledge
Reading: Focusing and Recording Main Ideas
Looking for Thesis, Topic, and Summary Sentences
Focusing on Primary (Essential) Examples
Expecting to Find Repeated Material
Noticing the Patterns of Development
Learning to Annotate, Outline, Summarize, and Paraphrase
Organizing Body Paragraphs
Postreading: Retaining Ideas
Chapter Summary
Unit II: Working with the Paragraph
3. Introducing the Paragraph
What Is a Paragraph?
Writing a Topic Sentence
How to Write a Topic Sentence
Focusing Topic Sentences
Revising Topic Sentences
Developing Body Paragraphs
Kinds of Support
Sufficient Support
Relevant Support—Achieving Unity
Clear Support
Writing a Concluding Sentence
How to Write a Concluding Sentence
Expanded Thought
Organizing Body Paragraphs
Connecting Sentences—Achieving Coherence
Methods for Achieving Coherence
Transitions
Repetition
Synonyms
Pronouns
Reference to Main Ideas
Selecting a Title
How to Write Effective Titles
What to Avoid in Titles
Formatting
Chapter Summary
4. Revising Paragraphs
Revising Paragraphs
Revising First-Stage Drafts: Chapters 8-11
Revising Second-Stage Drafts
Editing
Editing Review
Editing Problems for All Patterns of Development
A Special Note on Verb Tense in Narrative
Proofreading
How to Proofread and Prepare Your Final Manuscript
5. Picturing A Place
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Descriptive
Paragraphs
Using Specific, Concrete Language
Establishing and Strengthening the Dominant Impression
Organizing Descriptions by Using a Spatial Arrangement
Locating the Reader in Space and Time
Descriptive Paragraphs: Looking Closely at Student Models
“Untitled” by Andrea Turner
“Waking Up the Right Way” by Stacey Becker
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing a Descriptive Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Audience and Purpose
Working Through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising First-Stage Drafts
Revising Second and Final Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Our Family Outing” by Jo Lucas
Final-Draft Checklist
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
6. Telling Your Own Story
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Narrative Paragraphs
Creating Conflict, Suspense, and a Climax
Finding the Significance of a Story
Building a Story That Shows as well as Tells
Using Effective Dialogue
Including Metaphors and Similes to Add Clarity and Interest
Narrative Paragraphs: Looking Closely at Student Models
“Sixteen and Mother of Twelve” by Leilani Houston
“What a Joke!” by Anna Suarez
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing a Narrative Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising First-Stage Drafts
Revising Second and Final Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Do Unto Others” by Chris Potts
Final-Draft Checklist
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
7. Illustrating through Examples
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Illustration Paragraphs
Organizing Examples through Subtopic Sentences
Arranging Examples by Order of Importance
Linking Sentences
Developing Examples
Illustration Paragraphs: Looking Closely at Student Models
“Teaching with Whips” by Jeong Yi
“Dying to Have Fun” by Thomas Kellogg
“Dangers in a Deli” by Catherine Denning
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing an Illustration Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising First-Stage Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Nothing Worthwhile Comes Easy” by William Ross
Final-Draft Checklist
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
8. Creating and Explaining Groups
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Classification Paragraphs
Using a Single Organizing Principle
Selecting an Organizing Principle
Dividing and Developing Topics
Completing the Groups
Classification Paragraphs: Looking Closely at Student Models
“Mall Crashers” by Chanthan Srouch
“Shopping the Easy Way” by Ann Nall
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing a Classification Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“I Do” by Richard Bailey
Final-Draft Checklist
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
9. Recognizing Causes, Explaining Effects
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Cause or Effect Paragraphs
Discovering Causes and Effects
Developing Causes and Effects
Choosing Real Causes and Effects
Thinking Critically
Cause or Effect Paragraphs: Analyzing Student Models
“Making the Promise Last” by Gebdao Kaiwalweroj
“The Thousand-Dollar Lesson” by Lucas Eimers
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing a Cause or Effect Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Building Memories” by Brian Peraud
Final-Draft Checklist
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
10. Explaining Activities: Doing Them, Understanding Them
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Process-Analysis Paragraphs
Listing All Necessary Steps
Explaining Steps Thoroughly—Giving Reasons and Warnings
Defining All Terms
Avoiding Monotonous Sentence Patterns
Process Analysis Paragraphs: Analyzing Student Models
“A Boy's Best Friend” by Steve Oh
“Recipe for a Red-Hot Sunday” by Jeff Coburn
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing a Process Analysis Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Staying Alive” by Carla Schumann
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
11. Explaining Similarities and Differences
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Comparison/Contrast Paragraphs
Making a Meaningful Comparison or Contrast
Making an Interesting Comparison or Contrast
Developing Topics Thoroughly
Using Transitions and Other Connectors
Comparison and Contrast Paragraphs: Analyzing Student Models
“Two Different Worlds” by David Harrison
“Breakin' Through” by Gina Rizzo
Questions for Paragraph Analysis
Writing a Comparison or Contrast Paragraph
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“The Joy of Simple Living” by Ana Maria Sauer
Final-Draft-Checklist
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
Unit III: Working with the Essay
12. Introducing the Essay
What Is an Essay?
Essay Form
Introductory Paragraphs
Thesis Sentence
Limiting the Thesis Sentence
Making a Clear Statement about the Topic
Polishing the Thesis Sentence
Developing Introductions
Methods for Developing Introductory Paragraphs
Hooks
Avoiding Weak Introductions
Body Paragraphs
Topic and Summary Sentences in Body Paragraphs
Developing Body Paragraphs
Arranging Body Paragraphs within Essays
Using Outlines
Concluding Paragraphs
Lead Sentences and Summaries
Developing Conclusions
Concluding Paragraphs with Expanded Thoughts
Avoiding Weak Conclusions
Creating Coherence
Selecting a Title
Chapter Summary
13. Revising Essays
Revising Essays
Revising First-Stage Drafts
Common First-Stage Draft Issues
Revising Second-Stage Drafts
Common Second-Stage Draft Issues
Editing
Common Editing Problems
Proofreading
How to Proofread and Prepare Your Final Manuscript
Final-Draft Checklist
14. Expanding Paragraphs into Essays
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Illustrating Essays through Examples (Illustration)
Illustration Essays: Looking Closely at Student Models
“The Jobs from Hell” by Eric Latham
“Teaching with Whips” by Jeong Yi
Key Elements of Illustration Essays
Creating and Explaining Groups (Classification)
Classification Essays: Looking Closely at Student Models
“A Skill beyond Price” by Ho-Chul Sung
“Shopping the Easy Way” by Ann Nall
Key Elements of Classification Essays
Explaining Causes and Effects (Cause and Effect)
Cause and Effect Essays: Looking Closely at Student Models
“My Friend Who Gave Up on Life” by Julie Hammond
“The Thousand-Dollar Lesson” by Lucas Eimers
Key Elements of Cause-and- Effect Essays
Explaining Activities, Doing Them, Understanding Them (Process Analysis)
Process Analysis Essays: Looking Closely at Student Models
“Jokers Wild” by Michael Feldman
“A Boy's Best Friend” by Steve Oh
Key Elements in Process-Analysis Essays
Explaining Similarities and Differences (Comparison and Contrast)
Comparison/Contrast Essays: Looking Closely at Student Models
“I'll Park. You Get the Tickets—Hurry!” by Hugh Edwards
“Break on through to the Other Side” by Gina Rizzo
Key Elements in Comparison and Contrast Essays
Questions for Essay Analysis
Writing an Essay
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Alternate Writing Assignments
15. Defining Terms, Clarifying Ideas
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Definition Essays
Defining with Synonyms
Defining by Negation
Defining with Comparisons
Defining Formally
Creating Extended Definitions
Definition Essays: Analyzing Student Models
“Finding Home” by April Griffin
“Deaf, Not Dumb” by Bruce Hayworth
Questions for Essay Analysis
Writing a Definition Essay
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Get Wet” by Kyle Jennings
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
16. Writing Persuasively
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Persuasive Essays
Defining the Issue
Presenting Reasons and Providing Support
Connecting with the Audience
Avoiding Errors in Logic
Countering Opposition
Persuasive Essays: Looking Closely at Student Models
“Just Say No& by Marisa Youmbi
“Something for Nothing?” by Matt Smith
Questions for Essay Analysis
Writing a Persuasive Essay
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting Suggestions
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
“Should Our Grandparents Be Driving?” by Erica Hood
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
17. Taking Essay Exams
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Developing Skills, Exploring Ideas in Writing for Essay Exams
Analyzing the Question
Writing Relevant, Specific Responses
Writing Essay-Exam Introductory Paragraphs
Writing Essay-Exam Concluding Paragraphs
Writing a Complete Essay-Exam Response
Essay-Exam Responses: Analyzing Student Models
“Clinging by Their Fingers” by Adam Fletcher
“Natural Selection” by Emma Perez
Questions for Essay Analysis
Writing an Essay-Exam Response
The Assignment
Establishing Your Audience and Purpose
Working through the Writing Assignment
Discovering Ideas
Prewriting out of Class
Prewriting in Class
Organizing Ideas
Drafting
Revising Drafts
Annotated Student Model
Chapter Summary
Alternate Writing Assignments
Unit IV: Polishing Style
18. Creating Sentence Variety
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Varying the Length of Sentences
Varying the Types of Sentences
Coordinating Words in Sentences
Subordinating Words in Sentences
Adjective Clauses—Nonessential
Adjective Clauses—Essential
Adverb Clauses
Varying Sentences with Questions, Commands, and Exclamations
Questions
Commands and Exclamations
Varying the Beginnings of Sentences
Varying Sentence Beginnings with Adverbs
Varying Sentence Beginnings with Phrases
Prepositional Phrases
Participial Phrase—Present Tense
Participial Phrase—Past Tense
Absolute Phrase
Infinitive Phrase
Appositive Phrase
Inverted Sentences
Chapter Summary
19. Choosing the Most Effective Word
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Specific and Concrete Language
Choosing Specific Words
Choosing Concrete Words
Writing Concisely
Revising to Eliminate Redundant Expressions
Revising to Reduce Empty and Padded Phrases
Removing Excessive Qualifiers and Emphasizers
Removing Unnecessary Examples, Details, and Explanations
Reducing Inflated Clauses and Phrases
Choosing Language for Tone
Revising Unneeded Big Words
Avoiding Slang and Colloquial Expressions
Controlling Denotation and Connotation
Eliminating Biased Language
Using Contractions Carefully
Using Figures of Speech
Metaphor, Simile, and Personification
Overstatement, Understatement, and Irony
Emphatic Repetition
Chapter Summary
Unit V: Practicing Sentence Sense
20. Working with Sentence Parts
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Parts of Speech
Verbs
Nouns
Pronouns
Adjectives
Adverbs
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Interjections
Word Shifts
Verbs, Subjects, and Simple Sentences
Recognizing Verbs
Recognizing Subjects
Phrases
Prepositional Phrases
Infinitive Phrases
Participial Phrases
Gerund Phrases
Absolute Phrases
Appositive Phrases
Clauses
Noun Clauses
Adjective Clauses
Adverb Clauses
Sentence Types
Simple Sentences
Compound Sentences
Complex Sentences
Compound–Complex Sentences
A Writer's Basic Sentence Grammar
21. Coordination, Subordination, and Parallelism
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Using Coordination
Excessive Coordination
Subordination
Adverb Clauses
Adjective Clauses
Excessive Subordination
Parallelism
Series
Lists and Outlines
Pairs
22. Run-Ons, Comma Splices, and Sentence Fragments
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices
Fixing Run-Ons and Comma Splices with End Punctuation
Fixing Run-Ons and Comma Splices with Coordination
Fixing Run-Ons and Comma Splices with Semicolons
Fixing Run-Ons and Comma Splices with Subordination
Sentence Fragments
Phrase Fragments
Subordinate Clause Fragments
23. Verbs: Form and Agreement
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
The Principal Parts of Verbs and Verb Tenses
Three Primary Verb Tenses
Helping Verbs
Perfect Tenses
Progressive Tenses
Irregular Verbs
Problem Verbs
Verb Tense Sequences and Unneeded Tense Shifts
Subject/Verb Agreement
Intervening Words
Compound Subjects
Indefinite Pronouns
Or, Either/Or, Neither/Nor
Relative Pronouns as Subjects
Linking Verbs
Changing the Order of Subjects and Verbs
Collective Nouns
Plural Nouns/Plural Verbs
“False” Plural Nouns
24. Pronouns: Reference, Agreement, and Form
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Referring Clearly to a Specific Antecedent
Agreeing in Number with the Antecedent
Indefinite Pronouns
Collective Nouns
Compound Antecedents
Choosing Proper Pronoun Case
Subjective Case
Objective Case
Possessive Case
Solving Common Problems
Compounds
Comparisons
Who/Whom
Remaining Consistent in Person
25. Adjectives and Adverbs: Words that Describe
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Adjectives and Related Word Groups
Adverbs and Related Word Groups
Comparative and Superlative Forms
Avoiding Overuse of Modifiers
Avoiding Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
26. Commas, Other Punctuation, and Mechanics
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Commas
The Big Three Comma Categories
Commas That Separate Introductory Words and Word Groups
Commas That Set Off Nonessential Words and Word Groups
Commas That Separate Main Clauses
Secondary Comma Categories
Items in a Series
Coordinate Adjectives
Contrasting Expressions
Misleading Expressions
Numbers, Addresses, Place Names, Dates, Direct Address
Avoiding Incorrect Commas
Other Punctuation and Mechanics
Semicolon
Colon
Dash
Parentheses
Quotation Marks
Apostrophe
Hyphen
Capitalization
Numbers
Underlining and Italicizing
27. Spelling and Sound-Alike Words
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Some Suggestions for Help with Spelling
Reviewing Vowels and Consonants
Some Useful Spelling Patterns
Doubling the Final Consonant
Dropping or Keeping the Final e
Changing or Not Changing the Final y to i
Forming Plurals: -s or -es
Using ie or ei
List of Frequently Misspelled Words
Sound-Alike Words
28. ESL Concerns
What Are We Trying to Achieve and Why?
Count and Noncount Nouns
Articles
Verbs
Word Order
Three Irregular Verbs— to Do, to Have, to Be
Modals
Stative Verbs
Two-Word (Phrasal) Verbs
Prepositions
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of Time
Idiomatic Phrases
Ordering Adjectives
Unit VI: Additional Readings
Description
The Great Tide Pool, John Steinbeck
Narration
The Dare, Roger Hoffmann
Illustration
Rambos of the Road, Martin Gottfried
Classification
The Ways of Meeting Oppression, Martin Luther King, Jr.
*Friends, Good Friends, and Such Good Friends, Judith Viorst
Cause and Effect
Two by Two, We'll Fill the Planet, Benjamin Zuckerman
Black Men and Public Space, Brent Staples
Process Analysis
*The Fine Art of Complaining, Caroline Rego
Comparison and Contrast
Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts, Bruce Catton
A Nice Place to Visit, Russell Baker
Definition
*They've Gotta Keep It: People Who Save Everything, Lynda W. Warren and Jonnae C. Ostrom
What Is a Dad?, Bob Brannan
Persuasion
Abortion, Right and Wrong, Rachel Richardson Smith
What Is Biodiversity and Why Should We Care About It?, Donella Meadows
Appendixes
Appendix 1
*Writing a Research Essay
Appendix 2
Improvement Chart
Credits
Index
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