I. A RHETORIC FOR COLLEGE WRITERS.
1. Posing Problems: The Demands of College Writing.
Why Take a Writing Course?
Subject-Matter Problems: The Starting Point of Writing.
Shared Problems Unite Writers and Readers.
The Writer as Problematizer.
Posing a Problem: A Case Study of a Beginning.
College Writer.
Posing Your Own Subject-Matter Questions.
Characteristics of Good Subject-Matter Questions.
Rhetorical Problems: Reaching Readers Effectively.
An Example of a Rhetorical Problem: When to Choose Closed Versus.
Open Forms.
Readings:
David Rockwood, A Letter to the Editor
Thomas Merton, A Festival of Rain
Distinctions between Closed and Open Forms of Writing.
Where to Place Your Writing along the Continuum.
Chapter Summary.
Brief Writing Project.
Readings:
Noel Gaudette (student), Questions about Genetically Modified Foods?
Brittany Tinker (student), Will the Development of Third World Countries Destroy Our Environment?
Showing Why Your Question Is Problematic and Significant (for Option 2).
Showing Why Your Question Is Significant.
Planning Your Essay.
2. Exploring Problems, Making Claims.
What Does a Professor Want?
Learning to Wallow in Complexity.
Seeing Each Academic Discipline as a Field of Inquiry and Argument.
Posing an Engaging Question.
How a Prototypical Introduction Poses a Question and Proposes an Answer.
Seeking a Surprising Thesis.
Try to Change Your Reader's Views of Your Subject.
Give Your Thesis Tension.
Supporting Your Thesis with Points and Particulars.
How Points Convert Information to Meaning.
How Removing Particulars Creates a Summary.
How to Use Points and Particulars When You Revise.
Chapter Summary.
Brief Writing Project.
Playing the Believing and Doubting Game.
Reading.
Anonymous (student), Believing and Doubting Paul Theroux's Negative View of Sports.
3. Thinking Rhetorically about Purpose, Audience, and Genre.
How Writers Think about Purpose.
Purpose as Rhetorical Aim .
Purpose as a Response to a Motivating Occasion.
Purpose as a Desire to Change Your Readers' View.
How Writers Think about Audience.
Assessing Your Audience.
How Writers Think about Genre.
Rhetorical Context and Your Choices about Structure.
Rhetorical Context and Your Choices about Style.
Factors That Affect Style.
Recognizing Different Styles and Voices.
Rhetorical Context and Your Choices along the Scale of Abstraction.
Rhetorical Context and Your Choices about Document Design.
Key Components of Document Design .
Examples of Different Document Designs.
A Generic Rhetorical Context for College Writing.
What Do We Mean by a Default or Generic Rhetorical Context?
Assignments That Specify Different Rhetorical Contexts.
Chapter Summary.
Brief Writing Project.
4. Thinking Rhetorically about How Messages Persuade.
A Brief Introduction to Rhetorical Theory.
Rhetoric and Symbolic Action.
Inducing Cooperation: Rhetoric as Inquiry and Persuasion.
Persuasion and Power.
The Appeals to Logos, Ethos, and Pathos.
Angle of Vision.
Recognizing the Angle of Vision in a Text.
Analyzing Angle of Vision.
Thinking Rhetorically about Any Cultural Text
Visual Rhetoric.
The Rhetoric of Clothing, Cars, and Other Cultural Texts.
Chapter Summary.
BRIEF WRITING PROJECT.
II. WRITING PROJECTS.
WRITING TO LEARN.
5. Seeing Rhetorically: The Writer as Observer.
About Seeing Rhetorically.
Exploring Rhetorical Observation.
Exhibit 1: Photograph from a Pro-Environment Newspaper Editorial.
Exhibit 2: Web Page of the Arctic Power Advocacy Group.
Exhibit 3: Photograph Juxtaposing Alaskan Wildlife and Industry.
Exhibit 4: Excerpt from a Newspaper Feature Article.
Exhibit 5: Photograph and Description of the Arctic Power Web Site.
Exhibit 6: Jimmy Carter's Description of the ANWR.
Exhibit 7: Governor of Alaska's Description of the ANWR.
Analyzing the Exhibits.
WRITING PROJECT.
Understanding Observational Writing.
Considering the Factors That Shape Perception.
Conducting a Simple Rhetorical Analysis.
READINGS.
Clash on the Congo: Two Eyewitness Accounts.
Thinking Critically about the Two Accounts.
Composing Your Essay.
Exploring Rationales and Details for Your Two Descriptions.
Generating Details
Shaping and Drafting Your Two Descriptions.
Using Show Words Rather Than Tell Words.
Revising Your Two Descriptions.
Generating and Exploring Ideas for Your Rhetorical Analysis and Reflection.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
6. Reading Rhetorically: The Writer as Strong Reader.
About Reading Rhetorically.
Exploring Rhetorical Reading.
READING.
Andres Martin, M.D., On Teenagers and Tattoos
WRITING PROJECT.
Understanding Rhetorical Reading.
What Makes College-Level Reading Difficult?
Using the Reading Strategies of Experts.
Reading with the Grain and against the Grain.
Understanding Summary Writing.
Reading for Structure and Content.
Understanding Strong Response Writing.
Kinds of Strong Responses.
Student Example of a Summary/Strong Response Essay: Sean Barry, Why Do Teenagers Get Tattoos? A Response to Andres Martin
Questions for Analyzing and Critiquing a Text.
Questions for Analyzing and Critiquing a Visual-Verbal Text.
Questions for Developing Your Own Views about the Text's Subject Matter.
Rereading Strategies to Stimulate Thinking for a Strong Response.
READINGS.
Florence King, I'd Rather Smoke than Kiss
Lyndon Haviland, A Silence that Kills
Gasp Consultancy, Steps to Stopping Smoking
Adbusters.org, Welcome to Malboro Country
Edward Abbey, The Damnation of a Canyon
Friends of Lake Powell, Home Page and Mission Statement.
Composing Your Summary/Strong Response Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas for Your Summary.
Shaping, Drafting, and Revising Your Summary.
Generating and Exploring Ideas for Your Strong Response.
Writing a Thesis for a Strong Response Essay.
Revising Your Strong Response.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
WRITING TO EXPRESS.
7. Writing an Autobiographical Narrative.
About Autobiographical Narrative.
Exploring Autobiographical Narrative.
Writing Project.
Understanding Autobiographical Writing.
Autobiographical Tension: The Opposition of Contraries.
Using the Elements of Literary Narrative to Generate Ideas.
Readings.
Kris Saknussemm, Phantom Limb Pain
Patrick Jose (student), No Cats in America?
Anonymous (student), Masks
Sheila Madden, Letting Go of Bart
Composing Your Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
WRITING TO EXPLORE.
8. Writing an Exploratory Essay.
About Exploratory Writing.
Exploring Exploratory Writing.
Writing Project.
Understanding Exploratory Writing.
The Essence of Exploratory Prose: Considering Multiple Solutions.
Readings.
Christopher Leigh (student), An Exploration of How to Prevent.
Violence in Schools
Dylan Fujitani (student), Hired Guns: Uncovering the Nature of Private Militaries in the Iraq War
Composing Your Exploratory Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas
Continuing with Research and Dialectic Thinking.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
WRITING TO INFORM.
9. Writing an Informative (and Surprising) Essay.
About Informative (and Surprising) Writing.
Informative Writing and the Audience's Reasons for Reading.
The Rhetorical Power of Suprising Reversal
Exploring Informative (and Surprising) Writing.
Readings.
EnchantedLearning.com, Tarantulas
Rod Crawford, Myths about `Dangerous' Spiders
Writing Project.
Understanding Informative (and Surprising) Writing.
Need-to-Know Informative Prose.
Informative Reports.
Thesis-Based Informative Writing Using Surprising Reversal.
Readings.
Kerry Norton, Winery Yeast Preparation Instructions
Kerri Ann Matsumoto (student), How Much Does It Cost to Go Organic?
Cheryl Carp (student), Behind Stone Walls
Shannon King (student), Will the Hydrygen Economy Solve the Energy Crisis and Protect Our Environment?
Jonathan Rauch, Coming to America
Composing Your Essay-Option A, Informative Report.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Composing Your Essay-Option B, Thesis-Based Informative Writing Using Surprising Reversal.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
WRITING TO ANALYZE AND SYNTHESIZE.
10. Analyzing Field Research Data from Questionnaires, Interviews, or Observations.
About Analyzing Field Research Data.
Exploring the Analysis of Field Research Data.
WRITING PROJECT.
Understanding the Analysis of Field Research Data.
The Structure of an Empirical Research Report.
How Readers Typically Read a Research Report.
Posing Your Research Question.
Collecting Data through Observation, Interviews, or Questionnaires.
Reporting Your Results Using Tables and Graphs
Analyzing Your Results n.
Following Ethical Standards.
READINGS.
Sharon H. Thompson and Sohailla Digsby, A Preliminary Survey of Dieting, Body Dissatisfaction, and Eating Problems among High School Cheerleaders
Brittany Tinker, Trevor Tsuchikawa, and Tatiana Whizar (students), Energy Literacy: A Comparative Study of Seattle University Students Against a National Sample (APA Style Research Paper).
Composing Your Research Report.
Writing in Teams.
Checklist for Composing and Revising Your Research Report.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
11. Analyzing Images.
About Analyzing Images.
Exploring Image Analysis.
WRITING PROJECT.
Understanding Image Analysis.
How Images Create a Rhetorical Effect.
How to Analyze an Advertisement.
How Advertisers Target Specific Audiences.
Sample Analysis of an Advertisement.
Cultural Perspectives on Advertisements.
READINGS.
Paul Messaris, From Visual Persuasion: The Role of Images in Advertising.
Stephen Bean (student), How Cigarette Advertisers Address the Stigma Against Smoking: A Tale of Two Ads
Composing Your Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
12. Analyzing a Short Story.
About Literary Analysis.
Exploring Literary Analysis.
Reading.
Evelyn Dahl Reed, The Medicine Man
Writing Project.
Essay Assignment.
Reading Log Assignment.
Understanding Literary Analysis.
The Truth of Literary Events.
Reading the Story.
Writing (about) Literature.
Readings 285.
Alice Walker, Everyday Use (for Your Grandmama)
David Updike, Summer
Betsy Weiler (student), Who Do You Want to Be? Finding Heritage in Walker's `Everyday Use'
Composing Your Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
13. Analyzing and Synthesizing Ideas.
About the Analysis and Synthesis of Ideas.
Exploring the Analysis and Synthesis of Ideas.
READINGS.
John Gallagher, Young Entrepreneurs' Disdain for Time Off
Keith Goetzman, The Late, Great Outdoors
WRITING PROJECT.
Essay Assignment.
Learning Log Assignments.
Suggested Ideas for Synthesis Questions and Readings.
An Explanation of the Student Examples in This Chapter.
Understanding Analysis and Synthesis.
The Challenge of Synthesizing Ideas.
Understanding Your Texts Through Summary Writing .
Examining the Rhetorical Strategies Used in Your Texts.
Identifying Main Themes and Examining Similarities and Differences in the Ideas in Your Texts.
Moving Toward Your Own Views.
Taking Your Position in the Conversation: Your Synthesis.
Student Example of a Synthesis Essay: Kate MacAulay, Technology's Peril and Potential
READINGS.
Ellen Goodman, The Big Fat Case Against Big Macs
Dale Buss, Is the Food Industry the Problem or the Solution?
Marilyn Larkin, Can Cities Be Designed to Fight Obesity?
Sharon M. Nickols-Richardson, Family Physical Wellness: The Link to Success
Gail Feenstra, Sustainable Ag
Composing Your Synthesis Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas
Shaping and Drafting
Writing a Thesis for a Synthesis Essay
Possible Organizations for Synthesis Essays.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
WRITING TO PERSUADE.
14. Writing a Classical Argument.
About Classical Argument.
Exploring Classical Argument.
Writing Project.
Understanding Classical Argument.
Stages of Development: Your Growth as an Arguer.
Creating an Argument Frame: A Claim with Reasons.
Articulating Reasons.
Articulating Unstated Assumptions.
Using Evidence Effectively.
Addressing Objections and Counterarguments.
Responding to Objections, Counterarguments, and Alternative Views Through Refutation or Concession.
Appealing to Ethos and Pathos.
Some Advanced Considerations.
Readings 394.
Ross Taylor (student), Paintball: Promoter of Violence of Healthy Fun?
Clay Bennett, Patriots Political Cartoon.
John Ashcroft, Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Ashcroft at the Federalist Society National Convention
James Bovard, Surveillance State
Leonard Pitts, Jr., Spare the Rod, Spoil the Parenting
A. J. Chavez (student), The Case for (Gay) Marriage
Composing Your Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
15. Making an Evaluation.
About Evaluative Writing.
Exploring Evaluative Writing.
Writing Project.
Understanding Evaluation Arguments.
The Criteria-Match Process of Evaluation Arguments.
The Role of Purpose and Context in Determining Criteria.
Other Considerations in Establishing Criteria.
Using Toulmin's System to Develop Evaluation Arguments.
Conducting an Evaluation Argument: An Extended Example of Evaluating a Museum.
Readings.
Jackie Wyngaard (student), EMP: Music History or Music Trivia?
Diane Helman and Phyllis Bookspan, Sesame Street: Brought to You by the Letters M-A-L-E
Cecily Ballou (student), Shanghai Noon Is Not the Same Old West
Composing Your Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
16. Proposing a Solution.
About Proposal Writing.
Exploring Proposal Writing.
WRITING PROJECT.
Understanding Proposal Writing.
Special Demands of Proposal Arguments.
Developing an Effective Justification Section.
Proposal Arguments as Public Affairs Advocacy Advertisements.
Understanding the Power of Condensed Advocacy Arguments.
Document Design Features of Advocacy Advertisements.
Creating an Advocacy Poster, Flyer, Brochure, One-Page Advertisement, or Web Page.
READINGS.
Rebekah Taylor (student), A Proposal to Provide Cruelty-Free Products on Campus
Dylan Fujitani (student), The Hardest of the Hardcore: Let's Outlaw Hired Guns in Contemporary American Warfare
Jennifer Allen, The Athlete on the Sidelines
Composing Your Essay.
Generating and Exploring Ideas.
Shaping and Drafting.
Revising.
Guidelines for Peer Reviews.
III. A GUIDE TO COMPOSING AND REVISING.
17. Writing as a Problem-Solving Process.
Understanding How Experts Compose and Revise.
A Working Description of the Writing Process.
Improving Your Own Writing Processes.
Explore Ideas through Freewriting, Idea-Mapping, and Good Talking.
Recognize Kinds of Changes Typically Made in Drafts.
Practice the Composing Strategies of Experienced Writers.
Using Peer Reviews to Stimulate Revision.
Becoming a Helpful Reader of Classmates' Drafts.
Conducting a Peer Review Workshop.
Responding to Peer Reviews.
Chapter Summary.
18. Composing and Revising Closed-Form.
Prose.
Lesson 1: Understanding Reader Expectations.
Unity and Coherence n .
Old Before New.
Forecasting and Fulfillment.
Summary.
Lesson 2: Converting Loose Structures into Thesis/Support Structures.
And Then Writing, or Chronological Structure.
All About Writing, or Encyclopedic Structure.
English Writing, or Structure Without.
Surprise.
Summary.
Lesson 3: Planning and Visualizing Your Structure.
Use Scratch Outlines Early in the Writing Process.
Before Making a Detailed Outline, Nutshell Your Argument
Articulate a Working Thesis and Main Points.
Sketch Your Structure Using an Outline,.
Tree Diagram, or Flowchart.
Let the Structure Evolve.
Summary.
Lesson 4: Writing Effective Titles and Introductions.
What Not to Do: The Funnel Introduction
From Old to New: The General Principle of Closed-Form Introductions.
Typical Elements of a Closed-Form Introduction.
Forecasting the Whole with a Thesis Statement, Purpose Statement, or Blueprint Statement.
Writing Effective Titles.
Summary.
Lesson 5: Placing Points Before Particulars.
Place Topic Sentences at the Beginning of Paragraphs.
Revise Paragraphs for Unity.
Add Particulars to Support Points.
Summary.
Lesson 6: Signaling Relationships with Transitions.
Use Common Transition Words to Signal Relationships.
Write Major Transitions Between Parts.
Signal Transitions with Headings and Subheadings.
Summary.
Lesson 7: Binding Sentences Together by Following the Old/New Contract.
An Explanation of the Old/New Contract.
How to Make Links to the Old
Avoid Ambiguous Use of This to Fulfill the Old/New.
Contract.
How the Old/New Contract Modifies the Rule Avoid Weak Repetition
How the Old/New Contract Modifies the Rule Prefer Active Over Passive Voice
Summary.
Lesson 8: Using Document Design Effectively.
Match Your Document Design to the Genre Expectations of Your Audience.
Consider Document Design an Important Part of Your Ethos.
Use Document Design Components for Clarity and Emphasis.
Use Design Elements to Highlight and Reinforce-but not Replace-Transitions, Topic Sentences, and Key Explanations in the Text Itself.
Summary.
Lesson 9: Learning Four Expert Moves for Organizing and Developing Ideas.
The For Example Move.
The Summary/However Move.
The Division-into-Parallel-Parts Move.
The Comparison/Contrast Move 539 n .
Summary.
Lesson 10: Writing Effective Conclusions.
The Simple Summary Conclusion.
The Larger Significance.
Conclusion.
The Proposal Conclusion.
The Scenic or.
Anecdotal Conclusion.
The Hook and Return Conclusion.
The Delayed-Thesis Conclusion.
Summary.
19. Composing and Revising Open-Form.
Prose.
Lesson 1: Make Your Narrative a Story, Not an And Then Chronology.
READINGS.
Patrick Klein (student), Berkeley Blues
Anonymous (student), The Stolen Watch
Depiction of Events Through Time.
Connectedness.
Tension or Conflict.
Resolution, Recognition, or Retrospective Interpretation.
Summary .
Lesson 2: Write Low on the Ladder of Abstraction.
Concrete Words Evoke Images and Sensations.
Using Revelatory.
Words.
Using Memory-Soaked Words.
Summary .
Lesson 3: Disrupt Your Reader's Desire for Direction and Clarity.
Disrupting Predictions and Making Odd Juxtapositions.
Leaving Gaps.
Employing Unstable or Ironic Points of View.
Summary .
Lesson 4: Tap the Power of Figurative Language.
Summary.
Lesson 5: Expand Your Repertoire of Styles.
Summary .
Lesson 6: Use Open-Form Elements to Create Voice in Closed-Form Prose.
Introducing Some Humor.
Using Techniques from Popular.
Magazines.
Summary.
Chapter Summary.
READING.
Annie Dillard, Living Like Weasels.
IV. A RHETORICAL GUIDE TO RESEARCH.
20. An Introduction to Research.
An Overview of Part Four, A Rhetorical Guide to Research
Introduction to Research Writing.
Why Research Writing Poses Difficulties for Novice Writers.
Learning How to Ask Research Questions.
Learning How to Find Sources.
Learning Why to Find Sources.
Learning How to Read Sources Rhetorically.
Learning How to Work Sources into Your Own Writing.
Learning How to Cite and Document Sources.
Seven Essential Skills for Novice Researchers.
21. Finding and Evaluating Sources.
Skill 1: Argue Your Own Thesis.
Formulating a Research Question.
Establishing Your Role as a.
Researcher.
Seeing Your Research Process as Purposeful.
A Case Study: Christopher Leigh's Research on School Violence.
Skill 2: Understand the Different Kinds of Sources.
Looking at Sources Rhetorically.
Skill 3: Use Purposeful Strategies for Searching Libraries, Databases, and.
Web Sites.
Finding Books: Searching Your Library's Online Catalog.
Finding Print Articles: Searching a Licensed Database.
Finding Cyberspace Sources: Searching the World Wide Web.
Skill 4: Use Rhetorical Knowledge to Read and Evaluate Sources.
Reading Your Sources Rhetorically.
Taking Effective Notes 602 n .
Evaluating Sources.
Skill 5: Understand the Rhetoric of Web Sites.
The Web as a Unique Rhetorical Environment.
Analyzing the Purpose of a Site and Your Own Research Purpose.
An Illustration: Examining the Rhetoric of Women and Gun Control Web Sites.
Evaluating a Web Source.
An Example: Applying Evaluation Criteria.
22. Using, Citing, and Documenting Sources.
Skill 6: Use Sources Purposefully Through Clearly Attributed Summary, Paraphrase, or Quotation.
Using Sources for Your Own Purposes.
READING.
Roger D. McGrath, The Myth of Violence in the Old West
Writer 1: Summary for an Analytical Paper on Causes of Violence.
Writer 2: Partial Summary for a Persuasive Paper in Support of Gun Control.
Writer 3: Partial Summary for an Analytical Paper on Shifting Definitions of Crime.
Working Sources into Your Own Prose.
Creating Rhetorically Effective Attributive Tags.
Avoiding.
Plagiarism.
Summary.
Skill 7: Cite and Document Sources Effectively According to Appropriate Conventions.
Understanding the Logic of Parenthetical Citation Systems.
Understanding the MLA Method of In-Text Citation.
Documenting Sources in a Works Cited List (MLA).
MLA Citation Models.
Formatting an Academic Paper in MLA Style.
Student Example of an MLA-Style Research Paper .
READING.
Christopher Leigh (student), The Case Against Metal Detectors in Public Schools (MLA-Style Research Paper).
Understanding APA Style and Formatting.
APA Formatting for In-Text Citations.
Documenting Sources in a References List (APA).
APA Citation Models.
Student Example of an APA Paper.
V. A GUIDE TO SPECIAL WRITING AND SPEAKING OCCASIONS.
23. Oral Communication: Working in Groups and Giving Speeches.
About Working in Groups.
Basic Principles of Successful Group Interaction.
Avoid Clone-Think and Ego-Think.
Listen Empathically.
Play Assigned Roles.
Be Sensitive to Body Language.
Invest Time in Group Maintenance.
Recognize How Personality and Culture Affect Group Participation.
Manage Conflict by Dealing with an Impossible Group Member
Thinking in Groups.
Seeking Consensus.
Brainstorming.
Oral Rehearsal of Drafts.
About Oral Presentations.
Preparing Formal Speeches.
Speech Outlines as Multipurpose Tools.
Contents and Arrangement.
Using Visual Aids to Support Your Presentation.
Delivering a Formal Speech.
Preparing and Delivering Impromptu Speeches.
Handling Speech Anxiety.
Chapter Summary.
24. Essay Examinations: Writing Well Under Pressure.
How Exams Written Under Pressure Differ from Other Essays.
Preparing for an Exam: Learning and Remembering Subject Matter.
Identifying and Learning Main Ideas.
Applying Your Knowledge.
Making a Study Plan.
Analyzing Exam Questions.
Dealing with Constraints: Taking an Essay Exam.
Guidelines for Producing Successful Responses.
Chapter Summary.
25. Assembling a Portfolio and Writing a Reflective Self-Evaluation.
Understanding Reflective Writing.
What Is Reflective Writing?
Reflective Writing in the Writing Classroom.
Why Is Reflective Writing Important?
Reflective Writing Assignments.
Single Reflection Assignments.
Guidelines for Single Reflection Assignments.
READING.
Jaime Finger (student), A Single Reflection on an Exploratory Essay
Comprehensive Reflection Assignments.
Guidelines for Comprehensive Reflection Assignments.
The Writing Portfolio as an Opportunity for Reflective Self-Evaluation.
Keeping Track of Your Work.
Selecting Work for Your Portfolio.
Writing a Comprehensive Reflective Letter.
READING.
Bruce Urbanik (student), A Comprehensive Reflective Letter
Chapter Summary.
VI. A GUIDE TO EDITING.
Handbook 1. Improving Your Editing Skills.
Why Editing Is Important.
Overview of This Guide to Editing.
Improving Your Editing and Proofreading Processes.
Keep a List of Your Own Characteristic Errors.
Do a Self-Assessment of Your Editing Knowledge.
Read Your Draft Aloud.
Read Your Draft Backward.
Use a Spell Checker and (Perhaps) Other Editing Programs.
Summary.
Microtheme Projects on Editing.
Microtheme 1: Apostrophe Madness.
Microtheme 2: Stumped by However
Microtheme 3: The Comic Dangler.
Microtheme 4: How's That Again?
Microtheme 5: The Intentional Fragment Microtheme 6: Create Your Own.
Handbook 2. Understanding Sentence Structure.
What You Already Know about Grammar.
The Concept of the Sentence.
Basic Sentence Patterns.
Pattern One: Subject + Verb (+ Optional Adverb Modifiers).
Pattern Two: Subject + Verb + Direct Object (DO).
Pattern Three: Subject + Verb + Subject Complement (SC).
Pattern Four: Subject + Verb + Direct Object + Object Complement (OC).
Pattern Five: Subject + Verb + Indirect Object (IDO) + Direct Object.
Parts of Speech.
Nouns.
Pronouns.
Verbs.
Adjectives and Adverbs.
Conjunctions.
Prepositions.
Interjections.
Types of Phrases.
Prepositional Phrases.
Appositive Phrases.
Verbal Phrases.
Absolute Phrases.
Types of Clauses.
Noun Clauses.
Adjective Clauses.
Adverb Clauses.
Types of Sentences.
Simple Sentences.
Compound Sentences.
Complex.
Sentences.
Compound-Complex Sentences.
Handbook 3. Punctuating Boundaries of Sentences, Clauses, and Phrases.
Why Readers Need Punctuation.
Rules for Punctuating Clauses and Phrases Within a Sentence.
Identifying and Correcting Sentence Fragments.
Types of Fragments.
Methods for Correcting Sentence Fragments.
Identifying and Correcting Run-Ons and Comma Splices.
Methods for Correcting Run-Ons and Comma Splices.
Overview of Methods for Joining Clauses.
Handbook 4. Editing for Standard English Usage.
Fixing Grammatical Tangles.
Mixed Constructions.
Faulty Predication.
Maintaining Consistency.
Shifts in Tense.
Shifts in the Person and Number of Pronouns.
Maintaining Agreement.
Subject-Verb Agreement.
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
Maintaining Parallel Structure.
Placement of Correlative Conjunctions.
Use of and which/that or and who/whom.
Avoiding Dangling or Misplaced Modifiers.
Dangling Modifiers.
Misplaced Modifiers.
Choosing Correct Pronoun Cases.
Cases of Relative Pronouns.
Intervening Parenthetical Clauses.
Pronouns as Parts of Compound Constructions.
Pronouns in Appositive Constructions.
Pronouns as Parts of Implied Clauses.
Pronouns Preceding Gerunds or Participles.
Choosing Correct Verb Forms.
Choosing Correct Adjective and Adverb Forms.
Confusion of Adjective and Adverb Forms.
Problems with Comparative and Superlative Forms.
Ambiguous Adverbs.
Handbook 5. Editing for Style.
Pruning Your Prose.
Cutting Out Deadwood.
Combining Sentences.
Enlivening Your Prose.
Avoiding Nominalizations.
Avoiding Noun Pileups.
Avoiding Pretentious Language.
Avoiding Cliches, Jargon, and Slang.
Creating Sentence Variety.
Using Specific Details.
Avoiding Broad or Unclear Pronoun Reference.
Avoiding Broad Reference.
Avoiding Unclear Antecedents.
Putting Old Information Before New Information.
Deciding Between Active and Passive Voice.
Strength of the Active Voice.
When to Use the Passive Voice.
Using Inclusive Language.
Avoiding Sexist Labels and Stereotypes.
Avoiding Use of Masculine Pronouns to Refer to Both Sexes.
Avoiding Inappropriate Use of the Suffix -man.
Avoiding Language Biased Against Ethnic or Other Minorities.
Handbook 6. Editing for Punctuation and Mechanics.
Periods, Question Marks, and Exclamation Points.
Courtesy Questions.
Indirect Questions.
Placement of Question Marks with Quotations.
Exclamation Points.
Commas.
Using Commas.
Omitting Commas.
Semicolons.
Semicolon to Join Main Clauses.
Semicolon in a Series Containing Commas, Colons, Dashes, and Parentheses.
Colons.
Dashes.
Parentheses.
Apostrophes.
Apostrophe to Show Possession.
Forming the Possessive.
Apostrophes with Contractions.
Apostrophes to Form Plurals.
Quotation Marks.
Punctuating the Start of a Quotation.
Placement of Attributive.
Tags.
Punctuating the End of a Quotation.
Indirect.
Quotations.
Indented Block Method for Long Quotations.
Single Quotation Marks.
Quotation Marks for Titles of Short Works.
Quotation Marks for Words Used in a Special Sense.
Underlining (Italics).
Underlines or Italics for Titles of Long Complete Works.
Underlines or Italics for Foreign Words and Phrases.
Underlines or Italics for Letters, Numbers, and Words Used as Words.
Brackets, Ellipses, and Slashes.
Brackets.
Ellipses.
Slashes.
Capital Letters.
Capitals for First Letters of Sentences and Intentional Fragments.
Capitals for Proper Nouns.
Capitals for Important Words in Titles.
Capitals in Quotations and Spoken Dialogue.
Consistency in Use of Capitals.
Numbers.
Numbers in Scientific and Technical Writing.
Numbers in Formal Writing for Nontechnical Fields.
Numbers at the Beginning of a Sentence.
Plurals of Numbers.
Numbers in a Series for Comparison.
Abbreviations.
Abbreviations for Academic Degrees and Titles.
Abbreviations for Agencies, Institutions, and Other Entities.
Abbreviations for Terms Used with Numbers.
Abbreviations for Common Latin Terms.
Plurals of Abbreviations.
Manuscript Form.
