Exploring Writing: Paragraphs and Essays

2 Rev ed
ISBN: 978-0-07-016516-8
Verlag: McGraw-Hill Education - Europe

Buch, Englisch, 736 Seiten, Format (B × H): 217 mm x 273 mm, Gewicht: 1495 g

Exploring Writing: Paragraphs and Essays serves as a guidebook for every step of the writing process. Emphasizing both process and practice, with a focus on revision, the new second edition helps to apply and advance writing skills using John Langan’s proven techniques. Mastering essential sentence skills, learning to write effective paragraphs and essays, and becoming a critical reader are turning points for every writer, and they will prepare the students for writing situations in college and beyond

Autoren/Hrsg.

Langan, John

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Schreiben und Publizieren, Kreatives Schreiben

Inhaltsverzeichnis

EXPLORING WRITING: PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS, 2/eBy John LanganTABLE OF CONTENTSPREFACEPART ONE: WRITING: SKILLS AND PROCESSAn Introduction to Writing Point and SupportAn Important Difference between Writing and TalkingPoint and Support in a ParagraphKnowing Your Purpose and Audience Benefits of Paragraph WritingWriting as a SkillWriting as a Process of DiscoveryKeeping a JournalTips on Using a ComputerWays to Use a Computer at Each Stage of the Writing ProcessReview ActivitiesThe Writing Process PrewritingTechnique 1: FreewritingTechnique 2: QuestioningTechnique 3: Making a ListTechnique 4: ClusteringTechnique 5: Preparing a Scratch OutlineWriting a First DraftWriting a First Draft: A Student ModelRevisingRevising ContentRevising SentencesEditingAn Illustration of the Revising and Editing ProcessesUsing Peer Review IdentificationScratch OutlineCommentsReview ActivitiesTaking a Writing InventoryPrewritingOutliningRevisingPART ONE: A Writer’s Template: Across DisciplinesPART TWO: BASIC PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE WRITINGThe First and Second Steps in Writing Step 1: Begin with a PointIdentifying Common Errors in Topic SentencesUnderstanding the Two Parts of a Topic SentenceSelecting a Topic SentenceWriting a Topic Sentence IWriting a Topic Sentence IIStep 2: Support the Point with Specific EvidenceThe Point as an “Umbrella” IdeaReinforcing Point and SupportThe Importance of Specific DetailsRecognizing Specific Details IRecognizing Specific Details IIProviding Supporting EvidenceThe Importance of Adequate DetailsIdentifying Adequate Supporting EvidenceAdding Details to Complete a ParagraphWriting a Simple ParagraphThe Third Step and Fourth Steps in Writing Step 3: Organize and Connect the Specific Evidence Common Methods of Organization: Time Order and Emphatic OrderTransitionsOther Connecting WordsStep 4: Write Clear, Error-Free Sentences Revising SentencesUse ParallelismUse a Consistent Point of ViewUse Specific WordsUse Concise WordingVary Your SentencesEditing SentencesHints for EditingA Note on ProofreadingFour Bases for Revising Writing Base 1: UnityUnderstanding UnityChecking for UnityBase 2: SupportUnderstanding SupportChecking for SupportBase 3: CoherenceUnderstanding CoherenceChecking for CoherenceBase 4: Sentence SkillsUnderstanding Sentence SkillsChecking for Sentence SkillsEvaluating Paragraphs for All Four Bases: Unity, Support, Coherence, and Sentence SkillsPART TWO: A Writer’s Template: Across DisciplinesPART THREE: PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT Exemplification Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping an Exemplification ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting an Exemplification ParagraphNarration Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Narrative ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Narrative ParagraphDescription Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Descriptive ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Descriptive ParagraphProcess Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Process ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Process ParagraphCause and Effect Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Cause-and-Effect ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Cause-and-Effect ParagraphComparison or Contrast Paragraphs to ConsiderMethods of DevelopmentOne Side at a TimePoint by PointAdditional Paragraph to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Comparison or Contrast ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Comparison or Contrast ParagraphDefinition Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Definition ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Definition ParagraphDivision-Classification Paragraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping a Division-Classification ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting a Division-Classification ParagraphArgument Strategies for ArgumentsParagraphs to ConsiderQuestionsDeveloping an Argument ParagraphDevelopment through PrewritingDevelopment through RevisingWriting an Argument ParagraphPART THREE: A Writer’s Template: Across DisciplinesPART FOUR: ESSAY DEVELOPMENT Introduction to Essay Development What Is an Essay? Differences Between an Essay and Paragraph Structure of the Traditional Essay A Model Essay Parts of an Essay Diagram of an Essay Identifying the Parts of an EssayImportant Considerations in Essay DevelopmentDetermining Your Point of View Doing a Personal ReviewWriting the Essay Step 1: Begin with a Point, or Thesis Understanding Thesis StatementsWriting a Good Thesis IWriting a Good Thesis IIStep 2: Support the Thesis with Specific Evidence The Importance of Specific DetailsThe Importance of Adequate DetailsAdding Details to Complete an EssayStep 3: Organize and Connect the Specific EvidenceCommon Methods of Organization Transitions Other Connecting WordsIdentifying Transitions and Other Connecting WordsStep 4: Write Clear, Error-Free SentencesUse Active VerbsPractice in Revising SentencesRevising Essays for All Four Bases: Unity, Support, Coherence, and Sentence SkillsIntroductions, Conclusions, and Titles Introductory Paragraph Functions of the IntroductionCommon Methods of IntroductionConcluding Paragraph Common Methods of ConclusionIdentifying Introductions and ConclusionsTitles Essay Writing AssignmentsPatterns of Essay Development Developing an Exemplification Essay Developing a Process Essay Developing a Cause-and-Effect Essay Developing a Comparison or Contrast Essay Developing a Definition Essay Developing a Division-Classification Essay Developing a Descriptive Essay Developing a Narrative Essay Developing an Argument Essay Special College Skills Taking Essay Exams Step 1: Anticipate Ten Probable QuestionsStep 2: Prepare and Memorize an Informal Outline Answer for Each QuestionStep 3: Look at the Exam Carefully and Do Several ThingsStep 4: Prepare a Brief, Informal Outline before Writing Your Essay AnswerStep 5: Write a Clear, Well-Organized EssayWriting a Summary How to Summarize an ArticleHow to Summarize a BookWriting a Report Part 1 of a Report: A Summary of the WorkPart 2 of a Report: Your Reaction to the WorkPoints to Keep in Mind When Writing a ReportA Model ReportWriting a Research Paper Step 1: Select a Topic That You Can Readily ResearchResearching at a Local LibraryResearching on the InternetStep 2: Limit Your Topic and Make the Purpose of Your Paper ClearStep 3: Gather Information on Your Limited TopicStep 4: Plan Your Paper and Take Notes on Your Limited TopicPreparing a Scratch OutlineNote-TakingA Caution about PlagiarismStep 5: Write the PaperStep 6: Use an Acceptable Format and Method of DocumentationModel PaperPART FOUR: A Writer’s Template: Across DisciplinesPART FIVE: HANDBOOK OF SENTENCE SKILLS GRAMMAR21.Subjects and Verbs 22.Sentence Sense 23.Fragments24.Run-Ons 25.Regular and Irregular Verbs 26.Subject-Verb Agreement 27.Additional Information about Verbs 28.Pronoun Agreement and Reference 29.Pronoun Types 30.Adjectives and Adverbs 31.Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers GRAMMAR EDITING TESTS MECHANICS32.Manuscript Form 33.Capital Letters 34.Numbers and Abbreviations MECHANICS EDITING TESTSPUNCTUATION35.Apostrophe 36.Quotation Marks 37.Comma 38.Other Punctuation Marks PUNCTUATION EDITING TESTSWORD USE39.Spelling Improvement 40.Commonly Confused Words 41.Effective Word Choice 42.Combined Editing Tests 43.ESL Pointers PART FIVE: READINGS FOR WRITINGIntroduction to the ReadingsLooking InwardThank You, Alex HaleyShame, Dick GregoryThe Professor is a Dropout, Beth JohnsonI Became Her Target, Roger WilkinsPrison Studies, Malcom X (personal essay) *NEW*When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge, Chanrithy Him (personal essay) *NEW*Address by Cesar Chavez, President United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO Before Building Industry *NEW*Association of Northern California, 11/21/91, San Jose (historical doc) *NEW*Observing OthersPropaganda Techniques in Today’s AdvertisingAnn McClintockThis is How We Live, Ellen DeGeneres (book excerpt) *NEW*Kanye West World, Lola Ogunnaike (magazine article) *NEW*Start By Sitting Together, Randy Pausch (book excerpt) *NEW*Inaugural Address of John F. Kennedy (historical doc) *NEW*Neat People vs. Sloppy People, Suzanne Brit (book excerpt) *NEW*Petophila, Jon Katz (Web article) *NEW*Confronting ProblemsHow to Make It in College, Now That You’re Here, Brian O’KeeneyIn Praise of the F Word, Mary SherryIs Sex All That Matters?, Joyce GarityCyberbullying, Thomas J. Billitteri (information/reports) *NEW*Why Profiling Won’t Work, William Raspberry (newspaper article) *NEW*9/11 Commission Report, “Heroism and Horror: Prepared
ness as of September 11” (information/reports) *NEW*APPENDIX: Writing a Resume and Cover Letter INDEX

Über Autor(innen)

Langan, John
John Langan has taught reading and writing at Atlantic Cape Community College for more than 25 years. The author of a popular series of college textbooks on both writing and reading, John enjoys the challenge of developing instructive materials that are clear and lively. Before teaching, he earned advanced degrees in writing at Rutgers University and in reading at Rowan University. He also spent a year writing fiction that is now at the back of a drawer waiting to be discovered and acclaimed posthumously. While in school, he supported himself by working as a truck driver, a machinist, a battery assembler, a hospital attendant, and an apple packer. In addition to his wife and Philly sports teams, his passions include reading and conveying to nonreaders the pleasure and power of books. Through Townsend Press, his educational publishing company, he has developed the nonprofit Townsend Librarya collection of more than 100 new and classic stories that appeal to readers of any age.

John Langan has taught reading and writing at Atlantic Community College near Atlantic City, New Jersey, for over twenty years. The author of a popular series of college textbooks on both subjects, he enjoys the challenge of developing materials that teach skills in an especially clear and lively way.