THEMATIC CONTENTS XXIII

PREFACE XXVII

SECTION ONE

THE PROCESS—DECISIONS IN PLANNING, DRAFTING, AND REVISING 1

INTRODUCTION 2

Writing as Decision Making 2How Writing Looks 3How Writing Makes a Difference 3Decisions in Collaborative Writing 5Decisions about Writing with Computers 5Applications 6

C H A P T E R 1

DECISIONS IN THE WRITING PROCESS 8Decision Making and the Writing Process 9

Case Study One Writer’s Decision-Making Process 10

“Life in Full Color” Shirley Haley (Student) 12The Looping Structure of the Writing Process 14“Confessions of a Food Addict” Wendy Gianacoples (Student) 16Options for Essay Writing 19Applications 15, 18

C H A P T E R 2

DECISIONS IN PLANNING 21Deciding on a Topic, Purpose, Thesis, and Audience 22

Decide on Your Topic 22

DETA I L ED CONTENTS

Decide on Your Purpose 22Decide on Your Thesis 23

Guide l ines for Developing a Thesis 27

Decide on Your Audience 28

Case Study Analyzing Your Writing Situation 29

Discovering, Selecting, and Organizing Your Material 30Discover Useful Material 31

Guide l ines for Brainstorming 32

Select Your Best Material 33Organize for Readers 33

Case Study Exploring and Arranging Assets 33

Finding Your Voice 36Find a Voice that Connects with Readers 37Avoid an Overly Informal Tone 37

The Writer’s Planning Guide 38Planning for Group Work 40

Guide l ines for Writing Collaboratively 40

Applications 43

C H A P T E R 3

DECISIONS IN DRAFTING 48Drafting the Title and Introduction 49

The Introductory Paragraph 50Placing the Thesis 51Selecting an Opening Strategy 51

Drafting the Body Section 54Drafting the Conclusion 55

Selecting a Closing Strategy 55

Case Study Drafting the Essay 56

“Cars R Us” Maureen Malloy (Student) 56Drafting on the Computer 58

Guide l ines for Drafting on the Computer 58

Applications 59

C H A P T E R 4

DECISIONS IN REVISING 61The Meaning of Revision 62Revision Checklist 63Using the Checklist 64

Case Study Revising the Draft 64

Guide l ines for Reviewing and Editing the Writing of Peers 66

Revising with Peers 67Proofreading Your Final Draft 76

Guide l ines for Proofreading 76

Applications 77

SECTION TWO

SPECIFIC REVISION STRATEGIES 79

INTRODUCTION 80

How Good Is “Good Enough”? 80Revising from the Top Down 80Beefing Up the Content 81Harnessing Paragraph Power 81Honing the Sentences 81Finding the Perfect Wording 82

C H A P T E R 5

REVISING THE CONTENT: WRITING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE 83

Make It Credible 84Make It Informative 86“Walk But Don’t Run” Jeff Leonard (Student) 87Make It Complete 89Credit Your Information Sources 90Applications 91

C H A P T E R 6

REVISING THE PARAGRAPHS: SHAPING FOR READERS’ ACCESS 96

Support Paragraphs as Mini-Essays 97Paragraph Function 98Paragraph Length 98The Topic Statement 99

The Topic Statement as Readers’ Framework 99The Topic Statement as Writers’ Framework 99How Audience and Purpose Determine a Topic Statement’s Focus 100

Structural Variations in Support Paragraphs 101

Paragraph Unity 102Paragraph Coherence 103

Ordering Ideas for Coherence 104Parallelism 108Repetition, Restatement, and Variation 109Pronouns for Coherence 110Consistency for Coherence 110Transitions 110

Applications 112

C H A P T E R 7

REVISING THE SENTENCES: WRITING WITH STYLE 117Aim for Clarity 118

Keep Your Pronoun References Clear 118Avoid Ambiguous Modifiers 118Avoid Cramming 119Keep Equal Items Parallel 120Arrange Word Order for Coherence and Emphasis 120Use Active Voice Often 121Use Passive Voice Selectively 122

Trim the Fat 124Avoid Wordy Phrases 124Eliminate Redundancy 124Avoid Needless Repetition 125Avoid There and It Sentence Openers 125Avoid Needless Phrases 125Avoid Weak Verbs 126Avoid Excessive Prepositions 126Avoid Nominalizations 126Make Negatives Positive 127Clear Out Clutter Words 128Delete Needless Prefaces 128Delete Needless Qualifiers 129

Help Sentences Flow 131Combine Related Ideas 131Vary Sentence Construction and Length 132Use Short Sentences for Special Emphasis 133

Applications 123, 129, 133

C H A P T E R 8

REVISING THE WORDS AND PHRASES: FINE-TUNING 137Say Something Genuine 138

Avoid Triteness 138

Avoid Overstatement 138Avoid Misleading Euphemisms 138

Aim for Precision 139Sharpen the Visual Details 143Add Some Personality 145

Establish an Appropriate Distance 146

Guide l ines for Deciding about Tone 147

Guide l ines for Achieving a Conversational Tone 147

Express a Clear and Appropriate Attitude 150Avoid Personal Bias 150

Invite Everyone In 151Avoid Sexist Language 151

Guide l ines for Nonsexist Usage 152

Avoid Offensive Usage of All Types 152Consider the Cultural Context 153

Guide l ines for Inoffensive Usage 154

Legal and Ethical Implications of Word Choice 156Using Automated Tools Effectively 157Applications 139, 143, 145, 155

SECTION THREE

ESSAYS FOR VARIOUS GOALS 160

INTRODUCTION 160

Three Major Goals of Writing 160Major Development Strategies 162Using This Section 162A Word about Structural Variations 162

C H A P T E R 9

DECISIONS ABOUT READING FOR WRITING 164Different Levels of Reading 165Different Readers, Different Meanings 166Reading Strategies for Writers 166

Case Study One Writer’s Response to Reading 167

“Why I Want a Wife” Judy Brady 167“A Long Way to Go” Jacqueline LeBlanc (Student) 171

Case Study A Second Writer’s Response to Reading 172

“Seeing,” Annie Dillard 172

“Sailboats,” Shirley Haley (Student) 174Suggestions for Reading and Writing 175

Guide l ines for Reading to Respond 175

Applications 176

C H A P T E R 1 0

HELPING OTHERS SEE AND SHARE AN EXPERIENCE:DESCRIPTION AND NARRATION 178

Using Objective Description to Inform 179Using Subjective Description to Make a Point 180“Off-Season” Pam Herbert (Student) 180Using Objective Narration to Explain 182

Guide l ines for Description 183

Using Subjective Narration to Make a Point 184

Guide l ines for Narration 084

“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples 186“Back at the Ranch” Jay Allison 190

Case Study Responding to Reading 193

“The Old Guy,” Al Andrade (Student) 193Options For Essay Writing 196Applications 189, 195

C H A P T E R 1 1

PROVIDING EXAMPLES: ILLUSTRATION 197Using Examples to Explain 198Using Examples to Make a Point 199

Guide l ines for Illustrating with Examples 201

“A Case of ‘Severe Bias’” Patricia Raybon 202

Case Study Responding to Reading 204

“My Time Capsule,” Gina Ciolfi (Student) 204Options For Essay Writing 206Applications 200, 206

C H A P T E R 1 2

EXPLAINING PARTS AND CATEGORIES: DIVISION AND CLASSIFICATION 208

Using Division to Explain 210Using Division to Make a Point 210

Using Classification to Explain 211

Guide l ines for Division 212

Using Classification to Make a Point 212

Guide l ines for Classification 213

“Doubts about Doublespeak,” William Lutz 215

Case Study Responding to Reading 217

“We Like It Here” Patrick LaChane (Student) 218Options For Essay Writing 219Applications 213

C H A P T E R 1 3

EXPLAINING STEPS AND STAGES: PROCESS ANALYSIS 220Using Process Analysis to Explain 221

Explaining How to Do Something 221

Guide l ines for Giving Instructions 222

Explaining How Something Happens 223Using Process Analysis to Make a Point 223“How to Deal with Snakebites” Frank White 224

Case Study Responding to Reading 227

“A First-Week Survival Guide for Commuters” Catherine Nichols (Student) 227

“How Acid Rain Develops, Spreads, and Destroys” Bill Kelly (Student) 229“Dumpster Diving” Lars Eighner 231Applications 223, 229, 231

C H A P T E R 1 4

EXPLAINING WHY IT HAPPENED OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN:CAUSE-AND-EFFECT ANALYSIS 234

Using Causal Analysis to Explain: Definite Causes 236Using Causal Analysis to Make a Point: Possible or Probable Causes 237Reasoning from Effect to Cause 238

Guide l ines for Effect-to-Cause Analysis 238

Reasoning from Cause to Effect 239

Guide l ines for Cause-to-Effect Analysis 239

“I Don’t Like What You’re Wearing” David Updike 241“Should Schools Try to Boost Self-Esteem?—Beware the Dark Side”

Roy F. Baumeister 244

Case Study Responding to Reading 247

“School Uniforms: A Recipe for School Reform,” John Saurette (Student) 248

Options for Essay Writing 250Applications 240

C H A P T E R 1 5

EXPLAINING SIMILARITIES OR DIFFERENCES: COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 251

Developing a Comparison 252Developing a Contrast 252Developing a Combined Comparison and Contrast 253Using Comparison and Contrast to Explain 254Using Comparison and Contrast to Make a Point 254A Special Kind of Comparison: Analogy 255

Guide l ines for Comparison and Contrast 257

“Abortion Is Too Complex to Feel All One Way About” Anna Quindlen 259

Case Study Responding to Reading 262

“Is Online Education Taking Us Anywhere?” John Manning (Student) 262Options for Essay Writing 264Applications 255, 258

C H A P T E R 1 6

EXPLAINING THE EXACT MEANING: DEFINITION 265Using Denotative Definitions to Explain 266Using Connotative Definitions to Make a Point 267Choosing the Level of Detail in a Definition 268

Guide l ines for Definition 270

“Gossip” Francine Prose 275

Case Study Responding to Reading 277

“Community Service Serves Everyone,” Kerry Donahue (Student) 278Options for Essay Writing 279Applications 272

C H A P T E R 1 7

USING MULTIPLE STRATEGIES IN A PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT 281

Anticipating Audience Resistance 282Having a Debatable Point 283

Supporting Your Claim 284Offer Convincing Reasons 284Provide Objective Evidence 285Appeal to Shared Goals and Values 286

Shaping a Clear Line of Thought 287Connecting with Your Audience 288

Guide l ines for Persuasion 288

Considering the Ethical Dimension 289Various Arguments For Various Goals 290

Arguing to Influence Readers’ Opinions 291Arguing to Enlist Readers’ Support 291Making a Proposal 291Arguing to Change Readers’ Behavior 291

“On Reading Trash” Bob Swift 292

Case Stud ies Responding to Reading 294

“Credit Cards: Leave Home Without Them” Julia Schoonover (Student) 294“Standards You Meet and Don’t Duck” William Raspberry 297“Save Liberal Arts” Suzanne Gilbertson (Student) 299“A Proposal for Better Use of the Television Set in the Campus Center”

Patricia Haith (Student) 302“Letter to the Boss” Marcia White (Student) 304Options for Essay Writing 296, 301, 304, 306Applications 292, 297, 302, 304, 306

C H A P T E R 1 8

SPECIAL ISSUES IN PERSUASION 310Appealing to Reason 310

Using Induction 312Using Deduction 314

Recognizing Invalid or Deceptive Reasoning 317Fallacies That Break the Chain of Logic 317Fallacies That Evade the Issue 320

Appealing to Emotion 321

Guide l ines for Making Emotional Appeals 322

Showing Empathy 322Acknowledging Opposing Views 323Maintaining a Moderate Tone 323Using Satire in Appropriate Circumstances 325

“Bonfire” Adam Symkowicz (Student) 325Adding Humor Where Appropriate 326

Applications 326

SECTION FOUR

THE RESEARCH PROCESS 331

INTRODUCTION—THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROCESS 332

Asking the Right Questions 334Exploring a Balance of Views 334Achieving Adequate Depth in Your Search 336Evaluating Your Findings 337

Guide l ines for Evaluating Expert Information 338

Interpreting Your Findings 338

C H A P T E R 1 9

ASKING QUESTIONS AND FINDING ANSWERS 342Deciding on a Research Topic 343

Guide l ines for Choosing a Research Topic 343

Primary versus Secondary Sources 344Hard Copy versus Electronic Sources 344Exploring Internet Sources 345

Usenet 345Listservs 346Library Chatrooms 347Electronic Magazines (Zines) 347Email Inquiries 347World Wide Web 347

Guide l ines for Researching on the Internet 348

Exploring Other Electronic Sources 350Compact Disks 350Online Retrieval Services 350Electronic Reference Books, Indexes, and Journals 351

Key Word Searches Using Boolean Operators 351Using Electronic Mail 352

Guide l ines for Using Email 353

Exploring Hard Copy Sources 354Reference Works 354Card Catalog 355Guides to Literature 356Indexes 356Abstracts 357Access Tools for U.S. Government Publications 357Microforms 358

Informative Interviews 359Surveys and Questionnaires 359

Inquiry Letters, Phone Calls, and Email Inquiries 359Public Records and Organizational Publications 359

Guide l ines for Informative Interviews 360

Personal Observation 362

Guide l ines for Developing a Questionnaire 364

Applications 362

C H A P T E R 2 0

RECORDING, EVALUATING, AND INTERPRETING YOUR FINDINGS 368

Taking Notes 369

Guide l ines for Recording Research Findings 369

Quoting the Work of Others 370Paraphrasing the Work of Others 372

Guide l ines for Quoting the Work of Others 373

Preparing Summaries and Abstracts 373

Guide l ines for Paraphrasing the Work of Others 373

What Readers Expect from a Summary or Abstract 374

Guide l ines for Summarizing Information and Preparing an Abstract 374

Ethical Considerations in Summarizing Information 375Evaluating the Sources 376

Guide l ines for Evaluating Sources on the Web 378

Evaluating the Evidence 379Interpreting Your Findings 380

Identify Your Level of Certainty 380Be Alert for Personal Bias 381Examine the Underlying Assumptions 382

Avoiding Statistical Fallacies 382Common Statistical Fallacies 383

Guide l ines for Critically Analyzing Information 386

Assessing Your Inquiry 387Applications 388

C H A P T E R 2 1

DOCUMENTING YOUR SOURCES 392Why You Should Document 392What You Should Document 393

How You Should Document 393MLA Documentation Style 394

MLA Parenthetical References 394MLA Works-Cited Entries 395MLA Sample List of Works Cited 406

APA Documentation Style 406APA Parenthetical References 406APA Reference-List Entries 407APA Sample List of References 416

Application 416

C H A P T E R 2 2

COMPOSING THE RESEARCH REPORT 417Developing a Working Thesis and Outline 417Drafting Your Report 418Revising Your Report 419A Sample Report in APA Style 420“Campus Crime: A Hidden Issue” Julia Schoonover (Student) 421

C H A P T E R 2 3

CASE STUDY: A SAMPLE RESEARCH PROJECT 438Discovering a Worthwhile Topic 438Focusing the Inquiry 439Searching the Literature 440Recording and Reviewing Findings 440Settling on a Thesis 441Writing and Documenting the Report in MLA Style 442“Students Under Stress: College Can Make You Sick” Shirley Haley

(Student) 443

SECTION FIVE

ADDITIONAL READINGS AND MODELS FOR WRITING 471

Description and Narration 472“On the Ball” Roger Angell 472“Grandmother’s Sunday Dinner” Patricia Hampl 473

Illustration 475“No Zeal for New Zealand” Jaclyn Thomas 475“All You Can Eat” Michelle Stacey 477

Division and Classification 478“All Junk, All the Time” Richard Brookhiser 478“The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe” Carolyn Foster Segal 480

Process Analysis 482“How to Write a Personal Letter” Garrison Keillor 482“How Boys Become Men” Jon Katz 484

Cause-and-Effect Analysis 486“Why We Crave Horror Movies” Stephen King 486“I Just Wanna Be Average” Mike Rose 488

Comparison and Contrast 490“Parallel Worlds: The Surprising Similarities (and Differences) of

Country-and-Western and Rap” Denise Noe 490“Neat People vs. Sloppy People” Suzanne Britt 493

Definition 495“The Company Man” Ellen Goodman 495“What’s a Hillbilly?” Rebecca Thomas Kirkendall 496

Argument 498“Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” Leon Botstein 498“In Defense of Elitism” William A. Henry III 500

A P P E N D I X A

EDITING FOR GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, AND MECHANICS 505Common Sentence Errors 505

Sentence Fragment 505Acceptable Fragment 507Faulty Coordination 508Faulty Subordination 509Comma Splice 510Run-On Sentence 512Faulty Agreement—Subject and Verb 513Faulty Agreement—Pronoun and Referent 514Faulty Modification 514Faulty Pronoun Case 516Sentence Shifts 518

Effective Punctuation 519End Punctuation 520Semicolon 521Colon 522Comma 523Apostrophe 527Quotation Marks 529

Ellipses 530Italics 530Parentheses 531Brackets 531Dashes 532

Effective Mechanics 532Abbreviations 532Hyphen 533Capitalization 534Use of Numbers 534Spelling 535

Applications 508, 510, 512, 516, 518, 522, 526, 530, 532, 535

A P P E N D I X B

FORMAT GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING YOUR MANUSCRIPT 536

Format Guidelines for Submitting Your Manuscript 537Format Checklist 538

A P P E N D I X C

USEFUL WEB SITES AND ELECTRONIC LIBRARY RESOURCES 539

Useful Web Sites 539Search Engines 539Subject Directories (or Catalogs) 540Almanacs 540Associations and Organizations 540Business Directories 541Dictionaries 541Encyclopedias 541Journal Articles 541News Organizations 541U.S. Government Information 542Writing and Research Guides 542

Electronic Library Resources 542

CREDITS 543

INDEX 547

Last A-head xxiiiLast A-head xxiiiTHEMAT IC CONTENTS

BIOGRAPHY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY“Life in Full Color” Shirley Haley 12“Confessions of a Food Addict” Wendy Gianacoples 16“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples 186“Back at the Ranch” Jay Allison 190“The Old Guy” Al Andrade 193“Dumpster Diving” Lars Eighner 231“Grandmother’s Sunday Dinner” Patricia Hampl 423“No Zeal for New Zealand” Jaclyn Thomas 475“I Just Wanna Be Average” Mike Rose 488

EDUCATION“A First-Week Survival Guide for Commuters” Catherine

Nichols 227“Should Schools Try to Boost Self-Esteem?” Roy Baumeister 244“School Uniforms: A Recipe for School Reform” John Saurette 248“Is Online Education Taking Us Anywhere?” John Manning 262“Community Service Serves Everyone” Kerry Donahue 278“Credit Cards: Leave Home without Them” Julia Schoonover 294“Standards You Meet and Don’t Duck” William Raspberry 297“Save Liberal Arts” Suzanne Gilbertson 299“A Proposal for Better Use of the TV Set in the Campus Center” Patricia

Haith 302“Campus Crime: A Hidden Issue” Julia Schoonover 421“Students Under Stress: College Can Make You Sick” Shirley

Haley 443“The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe” Carolyn Foster Segal 480“I Just Wanna Be Average” Mike Rose 488“Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” Leon Botstein 498“In Defense of Elitism” William A. Henry III 500

FAMILY“Life in Full Color” Shirley Haley 12“Why I Want a Wife” Judy Brady 167

“A Long Way to Go” Jacqueline LeBlanc 171“The Old Guy” Al Andrade 193“I Don’t Like What You’re Wearing” David Updike 241“Grandmother’s Sunday Dinner” Patricia Hampl 473

HUMAN BEHAVIOR“Confessions of a Food Addict” Wendy Gianacoples 16“Cars R Us” Maureen Malloy 56“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples 186“Back at the Ranch” Jay Allison 190“A Case of Severe Bias” Patricia Raybon 202“My Time Capsule” Gina Ciolfi 204“I Don’t Like What You’re Wearing” David Updike 241“Should Schools Try to Boost Self-Esteem?” Roy Baumeister 244“Gossip” Francine Prose 275“All You Can Eat” Michelle Stacey 477“How Boys Become Men” Jon Katz 484“Neat People vs. Sloppy People” Suzanne Britt 493

HUMOR“Cars R Us” Maureen Malloy 56“My Time Capsule” Gina Ciolfi 204“Bonfire” Adam Symkowicz 325“The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe” Carolyn Foster

Segal 480“Neat People vs. Sloppy People” Suzanne Britt 493

MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT, COMPUTERS“A Case of Severe Bias” Patricia Raybon 202“Is Online Education Taking Us Anywhere?” John Manning 262“All Junk, All the Time” Richard Brookhiser 478“Why We Crave Horror Movies” Stephen King 486“Parallel Worlds: The Surprising Similarities (and Differences) of Country-

and-Western and Rap” Denise Noe 490

NATURE“Seeing” Annie Dillard 172“Off-Season” Pam Herbert 180“How Acid Rain Develops, Spreads, and Destroys” Bill Kelly 229

PLACES“Sailboats” Shirley Haley 174“Off-Season” Pam Herbert 180“Back at the Ranch” Jay Allison 190“We Like It Here” Patrick LaChane 218“No Zeal for New Zealand” Jaclyn Thomas 475

RACE, CLASS, AND CULTURE“In Defense of Elitism” William A. Henry III 50“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples 186“Back at the Ranch” Jay Allison 190“A Case of Severe Bias” Patricia Raybon 202“Dumpster Diving” Lars Eighner 231“No Zeal for New Zealand” Jaclyn Thomas 475“I Just Wanna Be Average” Mike Rose 488“Parallel Worlds: The Surprising Similarities (and Differences) of Country-

and-Western and Rap” Denise Noe 490“What’s a Hillbilly?” Rebecca Thomas Kirkendall 496

SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples 186“A Case of Severe Bias” Patricia Raybon 202“Dumpster Diving” Lars Eighner 231“Abortion Is Too Complex to Feel All One Way About” Anna

Quindlen 259“Community Service Serves Everyone” Kerry Donahue 278“Campus Crime: A Hidden Issue” Julia Schoonover 421

HEALTH, MEDICINE, SPORTS, AND FITNESS“Walk but Don’t Run” Jeff Leonard 87“How to Deal with Snakebites” Frank White 224“On the Ball” Roger Angell 472“Students Under Stress: College Can Make You Sick” Shirley

Haley 443“All You Can Eat” Michelle Stacey 477

THE WORKPLACE“How Acid Rain Develops, Spreads, and Destroys” Bill Kelly 229“Letter to the Boss” Marcia White 304“The Company Man” Ellen Goodman 495

WOMEN AND MEN“Why I Want a Wife” Judy Brady 167“A Long Way to Go” Jacqueline LeBlanc 171“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples 186“How Boys Become Men” Jon Katz 484

LANGUAGE, READING, AND WRITING“Doubts about Doublespeak” William Lutz 215“On Reading Trash” Bob Swift 292“How to Write a Personal Letter” Garrison Keillor 482