College Writing SkillsCollege Writing Skills uses explanation, demonstration, and practice to teach skills essential to success in college writing. For this course Peder Jones and Jay Farness have constructed a framework of rhetoric--work in composing paragraphs and essays--around disciplined study of sentences and words. The authors have sought in each section of the book to combine the most useful features of contemporary and traditional approaches to college English. Their overall aim is to enable the beginning college writer to compose clear and effective sentences, paragraphs, and compositions. This new edition of College Writing Skills is a refinement of the four previous editions; it has been shaped by helpful comments from students and instructors who have used the course. Exercises have been updated, and many minor changes for clarity have been made. Basic features of this text have not changed, however. As a hybrid of textbook and workbook, it continues to stress focused practice leading to directed independent composing activities; it emphasizes student writing rather than students reading about writing. This emphasis translates into more than 500 sets of exercises, more than 100 optional workshop activities, and an Appendix covering special problems in the acquisition of English. The exercises in this textbook embody our belief that practice is crucial to improving one's writing skills. Accordingly, this text provides practice in forming ideas, in getting ideas our one's head and onto paper, in experimenting with various sentence structures in order to achieve clarity, in following models of correct grammar and effective style, and in making the writing process pay off through effective revision and editing. A Collegiate Press book |
Contents
Putting Your Thoughts to Work A THINKING POSITIVELY TO WRITE PRODUCTIVELY | 2 |
B PLAYING GAMES TO MAKE WORDS FLOW | 3 |
FROM INSULTS TO INSIGHTS | 5 |
D FINDING SOMETHING TO ARGUE ABOUT | 7 |
E RETHINKING AND REWRITING | 8 |
F WRITING WITH A PURPOSE IN MIND | 11 |
G USING FACTS TO ACHIEVE A PURPOSE | 14 |
H SEPARATING FACTS FROM FALSEHOODS AND OPINIONS | 15 |
Working with Pronouns A IDENTIFYING PRONOUNS | 232 |
B IDENTIFYING PERSONAL PRONOUNS | 234 |
C WRITING POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS | 244 |
D USING COMPOUND PERSONAL PRONOUNS | 249 |
E WORKING WITH DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS | 250 |
F WRITING INTERROGATIVE AND RELATIVE PRONOUNS | 251 |
G USING INDEFINITE PRONOUNS | 257 |
H PRACTICING CORRECT USAGE OF PROBLEM PRONOUNS | 258 |
I USING THE FIVE Ws AND H AS GUIDES | 16 |
WORKSHOP | 19 |
Building Paragraphs Key Concepts and Skills A KEEPING YOUR BALANCE WHILE WRITING B DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH FROM AN IDEA | 21 |
C WORKING WITH TOPIC SENTENCES | 24 |
D DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH FROM A TOPIC SENTENCE | 26 |
E SUPPORTING A TOPIC SENTENCE WITH SPECIFICS | 28 |
F WRITING EFFECTIVE GENERAL STATEMENTS | 29 |
G KEEPING THE PARAGRAPH FOCUSED | 31 |
H MAKING SENTENCES AND PARAGRAPHS FLOW | 32 |
I USING TRANSITIONS TO ORDER EVENTS | 36 |
WORKSHOP | 37 |
Choosing Methods of Paragraph Development Part One A CONSIDERING STRATEGIES B DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH BY LISTING SPECIFI... | 39 |
D WRITING A PARAGRAPH OF DEFINITION | 42 |
E RECOGNIZING DENOTATION AND CONNOTATION | 46 |
F WRITING A PARAGRAPH OF DESCRIPTION | 48 |
G WRITING A PARAGRAPH OF CLASSIFICATION OR DIVISION | 49 |
WORKSHOP | 52 |
Choosing Methods of Paragraph Development Part Two A DEVELOPING A NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH | 54 |
B MAKING A POINT THROUGH NARRATION | 55 |
C DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH THAT EXPLAINS A PROCESS | 57 |
D DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH THROUGH COMPARISON AND CONTRAST | 59 |
E EMPHASIZING POINTS OF DIFFERENCE | 61 |
F DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH BY ANALOGY | 63 |
G PRESENTING AN INTERPRETATION BASED ON CAUSE AND EFFECT | 64 |
H PRESENTING INTERPRETATIONS OF TEXTS AND QUOTATIONS | 66 |
WORKSHOP | 67 |
Composing Simple and Compound Sentences A RECOGNIZING SENTENCES AND FRAGMENTS | 70 |
B RECOGNIZING COMPLETE SUBJECTS AND PREDICATES | 73 |
C IDENTIFYING SIMPLE SUBJECTS AND PREDICATES | 76 |
D WRITING COMPOUND SUBJECTS | 78 |
E WRITING COMPOUND PREDICATES | 81 |
F WRITING COMPOUND SENTENCES | 83 |
G CORRECTING RUNONS | 86 |
H IDENTIFYING KINDS OF SENTENCES | 89 |
I REVIEWING SKILLS AND CONCEPTS | 92 |
WORKSHOP | 95 |
Working with Sentence Patterns A IDENTIFYING SENTENCE PATTERNS | 97 |
B FINDING DIRECT OBJECTS | 99 |
C FINDING INDIRECT OBJECTS | 101 |
D WORKING WITH LINKING VERBS AND SUBJECTIVE COMPLEMENTS | 102 |
E REVIEWING SIMPLE SENTENCE PATTERNS | 104 |
F WORKING WITH INVERTED SENTENCES | 105 |
G WORKING WITH COMPOUND DIRECT OBJECTS INDIRECT OBJECTS AND SUBJECTIVE COMPLEMENTS | 107 |
H WORKING WITH VERBS IN ACTIVE VOICE AND PASSIVE VOICE | 112 |
I REVIEWING SKILLS AND CONCEPTS | 114 |
WORKSHOP | 116 |
Using Phrases to Expand Sentences A WRITING NOUN PHRASES | 118 |
B WRITING APPOSITIVES | 120 |
C IDENTIFYING VERB PHRASES | 122 |
D WRITING PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES | 124 |
E WRITING INFINITIVE PHRASES | 130 |
F WRITING PARTICIPIAL PHRASES | 133 |
G IDENTIFYING GERUNDS | 139 |
H WRITING SENTENCES WITH PARALLEL PHRASES | 141 |
I REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 143 |
WORKSHOP | 146 |
Using Clauses to Expand Sentences A RECOGNIZING INDEPENDENT AND DEPENDENT CLAUSES | 148 |
B IDENTIFYING COMPLEX SENTENCES | 151 |
C WRITING ADJECTIVE CLAUSES | 153 |
D WRITING ADVERBIAL CLAUSES | 160 |
E WRITING NOUN CLAUSES | 164 |
F WRITING CLAUSES THAT STATE COMPARISONS | 166 |
G REVISING SENTENCES THAT HAVE UNNECESSARY CLAUSES | 168 |
H SELECTING APPROPRIATE STRUCTURES FOR EXPRESSING IDEAS | 169 |
I REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 172 |
WORKSHOP | 175 |
Punctuating Sentences A PUNCTUATING THE END OF A SENTENCE PUNCTUATING ABBREVIATIONS | 177 |
B PUNCTUATING WITH COMMAS | 178 |
C USING THE SEMICOLON | 188 |
D USING THE DASH | 190 |
E USING THE COLON | 193 |
F PUNCTUATING WITH QUOTATION MARKS | 194 |
G USING MISCELLANEOUS PUNCTUATION | 196 |
H REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 199 |
WORKSHOP | 200 |
Working with Nouns A CHOOSING WORDS | 204 |
B IDENTIFYING NOUNS | 205 |
C WRITING PROPER AND COMMON NOUNS | 207 |
D WRITING PLURAL FORMS OF NOUNS | 210 |
E WRITING POSSESSIVE FORMS OF NOUNS | 213 |
F WORKING WITH GENERAL AND SPECIFIC NOUNS | 218 |
G RECOGNIZING CONCRETE AND ABSTRACT NOUNS | 221 |
H EXAMINING WORD ORIGINS | 222 |
J REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 226 |
WORKSHOP | 230 |
I REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 260 |
WORKSHOP | 264 |
Working with Verbs A IDENTIFYING VERBS | 265 |
B STUDYING PRINCIPAL PARTS OF VERBS | 271 |
C WORKING WITH VERB TENSES | 275 |
D RECOGNIZING MOOD OF VERBS | 281 |
E MAKING VERBS AGREE WITH SUBJECTS | 282 |
F WRITING CONTRACTIONS | 287 |
H PRACTICING CORRECT USAGE OF PROBLEM VERBS | 293 |
I REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 296 |
WORKSHOP | 301 |
Working with Modifiers and Connecting Words A SELECTING ADJECTIVES | 303 |
B WRITING COMPARISONS USING ADJECTIVES | 310 |
C SELECTING ADVERBS | 312 |
D WRITING COMPARISONS USING ADVERBS | 315 |
E WRITING NEGATIVE COMPARISONS | 317 |
G USING PREPOSITIONS | 321 |
H CHOOSING CONJUNCTIONS AND INTERJECTIONS | 326 |
I REVIEWING CHAPTER CONCEPTS | 328 |
WORKSHOP | 331 |
Developing and Composing the Essay A FINDING A SUBJECT | 334 |
B NARROWING THE SUBJECT | 336 |
C FINDING THE QUESTION | 337 |
D EXPLORING THE TOPIC | 338 |
E OUTLING WITH TOPIC SENTENCES | 340 |
F DRAFTING THE BODY OF THE COMPOSITION | 342 |
G EXPANDING A PARAGRAPH INTO A COMPOSITION | 343 |
I WRITING THE THESIS STATEMENT | 346 |
J INTRODUCING THE THESIS | 349 |
K CONCLUDING A COMPOSITION | 351 |
L ARRANGING PARAGRAPHS | 352 |
M WRITING TRANSITIONS BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS | 354 |
N TITLING YOUR ESSAY | 356 |
O DEVELOPING ANSWERS TO COMPOUND ESSAY QUESTIONS | 357 |
P REVIEWING THE STEPS IN WRITING A COMPOSITION | 361 |
WORKSHOP | 362 |
Revising Your Writing A SIZING UP REVISION B SETTING PRIORITIES | 364 |
C CONSIDERING MAJOR CHANGES IN STANCE | 366 |
D CONSIDERING MAJOR CHANGES IN PLAN SEQUENCE OR CONTENT | 368 |
E USING SOME REVISION STRATEGIES | 370 |
F EDITING THE DRAFT | 375 |
G PROOFREADING | 378 |
A CHECKLIST | 379 |
WORKSHOP | 380 |
Getting More from Your Composing Skills A CARRYING OUT RESEARCH | 381 |
B NOTING QUOTING SUMMARIZING AND PARAPHRASING SOURCES | 383 |
AVOIDING PLAGIARISM | 386 |
CITING AUTHORITIES | 388 |
PREPARING A BIBLIOGRAPHY | 391 |
F READING AND WRITING FOR LOGICAL CONSISTENCY | 392 |
G WRITING ESSAY TESTS | 395 |
WRITING A BUSINESS LETTER | 397 |
PREPARING A RESUME | 399 |
WRITING MEMOS AND REPORTS | 401 |
WORKSHOP | 402 |
Producing an Essay A UNDERSTANDING THE ASSIGNMENT | 403 |
C NARROWING A TOPIC | 404 |
D CRITIQUING THE PLAN AND FINDING THE QUESTION | 405 |
E EXPLORING THE TOPIC IN THE LIBRARY | 408 |
F READING SOURCES TAKING NOTES REVISING THE THESIS | 409 |
G REWRITING THE DRAFT | 413 |
H EDITING AND POLISHING THE PAPER | 417 |
I PROOFREADING THE FINISHED COPY | 421 |
J EVALUATING THE RESULTS AND TALKING WITH THE INSTRUCTOR | 422 |
WORKSHOP | 423 |
Extra Practice for Students Acquiring English EXTRA PRACTICE 1 USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS | 425 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 3USING VERBS IN PAST TENSE AND IN PRESENT PERFECT TENSE | 427 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 4ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH VERBS IN PAST TENSE AND IN PRESENT PERFECT TENSE | 429 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 6USING VERBS IN PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE AND IN PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE | 430 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 7MAKING VERBS AGREE IN NUMBER WITH NOUN SUBJECTS | 431 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 8 MAKING VERBS AGREE WITH PRONOUN SUBJECTS | 432 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 9 MAKING FORMS OF THE VERB BE AGREE WITH SUBJECTS | 433 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 10MAKING FORMS OF THE VERB HAVE AGREE WITH SUBJECTS | 434 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 11USING ARTICLES | 435 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 12BEGINNING SENTENCES WITH IT IS OR THERE IS | 437 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 14USING PROPER WORD ORDER IN QUESTIONS | 438 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 15USING PHRASAL VERBS | 439 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 17USING NOUNS AND THEIR RELATED VERB FORMS | 440 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 18USING NOUNS AND THEIR RELATED ADJECTIVE FORMS | 441 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 20WRITING NOUNPREPOSITION COMBINATIONS EXTRA PRACTICE 21WORKING WITH ADJECTIVEPREPOSITION ... | 443 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 23 WORKING WITH VERBPREPOSITION COMBINATIONS | 444 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 25WORKING WITH PREPOSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS | 445 |
EXTRA PRACTICE 26WRITING PREPOSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS | 446 |
447 | |
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Common terms and phrases
acid rain adjective clause adverb adverbial clause Anne answer audience auxiliary verb ball lightning begin better blank Bob and Ray called Chapter Chiyonofuji choose commas Community College complete compound subject dependent clause describe develop dictionary direct object discussion draft effective essay Example EXTRA PRACTICE following sentences freewriting gerund horror films ideas infinitive phrase instructor italicized Look modifies NAPAP nonrestrictive Note noun pair parentheses participial phrase past personal pronoun plural possessive form predicate prepositional phrase present problem progressive tense progressive tense verb punctuation purpose question quotation marks reader reference relative pronoun revision Rewrite the following Rewrite the paragraph sheet of paper simple subject singular skills specific story subjective complement tell thesis statement things topic sentence topic-sentence outline Underline the correct verb phrase voice words Write a paragraph written