Writing Skills for Technical Students

Designed for the adult learner who needs a review of grammar and writing skills, WRITING SKILLS FOR TECHNICAL STUDENTS provides diagnosis, instruction, and practice in 15 self-paced modules that can be adapted to both individualized and classroom methods. There are 12 grammar modules, followed by modules on paragraph writing, report writing, and business letter writing. Each module consists of a statement of objectives followed by instruction and practice in small segments with immediate feedback. The examples used throughout are geared to be meaningful and relevant, particularly for technical students. The fundamental principles applied are as follows:

1. Test-find out what the students already know.
2. Teach-explain to them the concepts they need to know.
3. Retest-check to see that they have mastered the objectives. (If not, repeat the procedure.)

The organization and modular format of this text will provide instructors with a flexible and effective approach to teaching students how to write well.
Improvements to the Fifth Edition include:

• Addition of editing paragraphs at the end of the modules so students can practice grammar skills in context.
• Addition of a module on nouns providing additional practice on this important topic.
• Revised instructions for each activity make the Fifth Edition even more self-paced, providing students with clear directions for independent study.
• Addition of boxed tips throughout gives students easier access to key grammar rules.

NEW! New to this edition is the free Companion Website™ at www.prenhall.com/delaware. This dynamic Website includes:

• Additional Grammar Exercises
• Create a Document Exercises
• Photo Analysis Exercises
• Technical Writing Samples

List of contents

(NOTE: All modules end with a section entitled “Feedback.”) SECTION I.
1. Module 1-Verbs.

Action Verbs. Linking Verbs. Helping Verbs. Irregular Verbs. Verb Tense.
2. Module 2-Adjectives and Adverbs.

Adjectives. Adverbs. “Good” and “Well”. Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs.
3. Module 3-Phrases.

Prepositional Phrases. Verbal Phrases.
4. Module 4-Nouns/Possessive Nouns.

Nouns. Functions of Nouns. Plural Nouns and Possessives. Possessive Nouns.
5. Module 5-Subject-Verb Agreement.

Recognizing Subjects and Verbs. Subject-Verb Agreement. Interfering Words. Indefinite Pronoun Subjects. Compound Subjects and Verbs. Special Pronouns in Agreement.
6. Module 6-Pronouns.

Pronouns as Subjects. Pronouns as Subject Complements. Pronouns as Direct Objects. Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions. Possessive Pronouns. Pronoun Rules. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.
7. Module 7-Sentence Patterns.

Independent Clauses. Dependent Clauses. Appropriate Clause Connectors.
8. Module 8-Punctuation.

Basic Sentence Punctuation Patterns. Basic Comma Rules. The Apostrophe (Possession).
9. Module 9-Fragments and Run-Ons.

Fragments. Run-Ons.
10. Module 10-Paragraph Writing.

Introduction. The Paragraph. Constructing the Topic Sentence. Choosing a Subject. Choosing a Controlling Idea. Writing the Concluding Sentence. Developing Unity. Developing Coherence. Organizing and Writing a Paragraph. The Reasons Paragraph. The Reasons and Examples Paragraph. The Pro and Con Paragraph. The Process Paragraph.
SECTION II.
11. Module 11-Shifts.

Shifts in Voice. Shifts in Tense. Shifts in Person. Shifts in Numbers.
12. Module 12-Clarity.

Pronoun Reference. Misplaced and Unclear Modifiers. Word Usage. Parallel Construction.
13. Module 13-Accelerating Techniques.

Eliminating Unnecessary Words. Avoiding Clichés and Slang. Combining Like Subjects and Verbs. Subordinating Ideas. Reducing Dependent Clauses.
14. Module 14-Report Writing.

Review of Paragraph Writing. Outlining. Report Introductions. The Persuasive Report. Format Tips. Technical Procedure Report. Interview Report. Recommendation Report. Summary Report.
15. Module 15-Business Letter Writing.

Psychology of Business Writing. Planning. Format. Request Letter. Letter That Says “No”. Resumé and Letter of Application. The Memo. Transmittal Letter and Transmittal Memo.
Glossary.
Index.

Summary

For courses in Basic Writing, Communication Skills, Business English, or Technical English.
This self-paced text/workbook is designed for the student who needs a review of grammar and writing skills in order to write clearly and concisely on the job. It provides diagnosis, instruction, and practice in 15 individualized instructional modules on grammar, paragraph writing, report writing, and business letter writing; each module includes a statement of objectives followed by instruction and practice in small segments with immediate feedback.

Product details

• Authors: Delaware Technical and Community College, Yvonne Johnson
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2003
• EAN: 9780130497529
• ISBN: 978-0-13-049752-9
• No. of pages: 360
• Weight: 540 g
• Series: Allyn & Bacon; Allyn & Bacon
• Subject: Education and learning > Adult education/adult education classes > Adult education class / course materials (language)