Writing with Confidence

"Writing with Confidence "incorporates high-interest themes in its exercises and discourse while fully developing the writing process and fundamental writing skills.

List of contents

Rhetorical Contents
 
The Writing Process
 
Hints and Help for Writers
 
UNIT I. BUILDING YOUR WRITING SKILLS
 
1. Why Write?
Speaking and Writing
Writing with Confidence
Finding the Right Way to Write
Writing for Every Reason
        Writing to Work
        Writing to Learn
        Writing to Communicate
        Writing for Yourself
Getting a Head Start
 
2. The Writing Process: Laying the Foundation
Writing with Confidence in Six Steps
Step 1: Exploring Ideas
        Your Subject
        Your Purpose
        Your Audience
Step 2: Prewriting
        Brainstorming
        Clustering
        Freewriting
Step 3: Organizing
        Selecting
        Outlining
Step 4: Writing a First Draft
Step 5: Revising the Draft
        Reviewing
        Reading Aloud
        Predicting
        Making a Clean Copy
Step 6: Producing the Final Copy
        Editing
        Proofreading
 
3. Writing a Powerful Paragraph: Building the Foundation
What Is a Paragraph?
Exploring and Planning
Writing the Topic Sentence
        General and Specific Statements
        Making a Claim
        Expressing an Attitude or Opinion
Writing the Body and Conclusion
        Generating Ideas
        Selecting and Organizing Ideas
        Developing Ideas
        Looking at Paragraph Development
        Writing a First Draft
        Writing a Conclusion
Revising the Paragraph
        Unity
        Coherence
        Refining the Topic Sentence and Conclusion
        Using Peer Review
Revision Guidelines: Writing a Powerful Paragraph
 
4. Writing an Effective Essay: Building a Larger Structure
What Is an Essay?
Composing an Essay
        Getting Started
        Developing the Thesis Statement
        Writing the First Draft
        Revising
Revision Guidelines: Writing an Effective Essay
        Editing and Proofreading
 
Unit I Blueprint for Success
 
UNIT II. BUILDING AND REPAIRING SENTENCES
 
5. Recognizing Sentences and Fixing Fragments
What Is a Sentence?
        Identifying Subjects
        Identifying Verbs
What Is a Fragment?
Fixing Simple Fragments
        Missing Subjects
        Missing or Incomplete Verbs
        Infinitives and -ing Words
        Hanging Details or Examples
Fixing Complex Fragments
        Although and Because Types
        Who, That, and Which Types
Editing for Mastery
 
6. Joining Sentences through Coordination
Connecting Words
        The Coordinating Conjunctions
Joining Sentences with Coordination
Punctuating Compound Sentences
Joining Sentences with Semicolons
        The Semicolon
        Transitional Words after the Semicolon
Editing for Mastery
 
7. Joining Sentences through Subordination
What Is Subordination?
Subordinating with Clauses
        Common Subordinating Conjunctions
        Punctuating Dependent Clauses
Subordinating with Phrases
Editing for Mastery
 
8. Joining Sentences with Pronouns
Relative Clauses
        Placement of Relative Clauses
        Commas with Relative Clauses
        Relative Pronouns as Subjects
        Relative Pronouns as Objects
        Relative Clauses with Whose   
Noun Clauses
Phrases
Editing for Mastery
 
9. Repairing Run-ons and Correcting Comma Splices
Run-on Sentences
Comma-Spliced Sentences
Editing for Mastery
 
Unit II Blueprint for Success
 
III. REVISING WITH CARE: BUILDING ON THE FRAMEWORK
 
10. Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subjects
        Nouns as Subjects (and Objects)
        Irregular Plurals
        Pronouns as Subjects
        Subjects Joined by and
Special Present Tense Verbs
        To Be
        To Do
        To Have
Special Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement
        Questions
        Sentences That Begin with There
        Collective Nouns
        Indefinite Pronouns
        Phrases Between the Subject and Verb
        Relative Clauses
Editing for Mastery
 
11. Using the Past Tense and the Past Participle
The Past Tense in Its Usual Forms
        Regular Verbs
        To Be
        Could and Would
The Present-Perfect Tense
        Forming the Present-Perfect Tense
        Using the Present-Perfect Tense
The Past-Perfect Tense
        Forming the Past-Perfect Tense
        Using the Past-Perfect Tense
Irregular Verbs
        Category 1: -d to -y
        Category 2: -d and Possible Vowel Change
        Category 3: -t and Possible Vowel Change
        Category 4: Single Vowel Change
        Category 5: Double Vowel Change
        Category 6: No Change
        Category 7 -n or -en and Possible Vowel Change
Other Uses of the Past Participle
        In Three-Word Verb Phrases
        In the Passive Voice
        As an Adjective
Editing for Mastery
 
12. Using Pronouns
Selecting the Right Pronoun
        Personal Pronouns as Subjects and Objects
        Personal Pronouns in Comparisons
Avoiding Pronoun Confusion and Bias
        Agreement in Number
        Pronouns without Antecedents
        Pronouns Referring to Pronouns
        Pronouns Referring to Collective Nouns
Special Pronouns
        Reflexive Pronouns
        Demonstrative Pronouns
        Relative Pronouns
Editing for Mastery
 
13. Using Modifiers
What Are Modifiers?
Placing Modifiers Correctly
        Misplaced Modifiers
        Dangling Modifiers
Editing for Mastery
 
14. Making Comparisons
Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs
Adjective Forms
        The Simple Form
        The Comparative Forms
        The Superlative Forms
Adverb Forms
Irregular Adjectives and Adverbs
        Adjectives and Adverbs That Are the Same
        Good and Well, Bad and Badly
Lively Comparisons
Editing for Mastery
 
15. Being Consistent
Keeping Pronouns Straight
Keeping Tense Consistent
Keeping Structures Parallel
Editing for Mastery
 
16. Writing Concretely and Concisely
Choosing Words That Work
        Strong Verbs
        Vivid Adjectives and Details
Discarding Words That Don't Contribute
        Empty Sentence Starters
        Vague Expressions
        Repetition
        Wordiness
        Tired Expressions
Editing for Mastery
 
Unit III Blueprint for Success
 
IV. WRITING TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS: SHAPING THE STRUCTURE
 
17.   Describing a Scene
A Model Paragraph: Describing a Scene
Writing Assignment for Describing a Scene
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Description
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Description
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Paragraph
Final Writing Assignment
 
18. Developing Through Exemplification
Models of Exemplification
            The Short Example
            The Sentence Example
            The Long-or Extended-Example
Writing Assignment for Developing Through Exemplification
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Exemplification
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Exemplification
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Longer Model of Exemplification
Final Writing Assignment
 
19. Writing Narration
A Model of Narration
Writing Assignment for Narration
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph or Essay
Templates for Narration
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Narration
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Essay
Final Writing Assignment
 
20. Writing a Report
A Model Paragraph: A Report
Writing Assignment for a Report
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Report
Templates for a Report
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for a Report
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Report
Final Writing Assignment
 
21. Describing a Process
A Model Paragraph: Process Analysis
Writing Assignment for Describing a Process
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Process Analysis
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Process Analysis
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Essay
Final Writing Assignment
 
22. Writing about Causes and Effects
A Model Paragraph: Causal Analysis
Writing Assignment for Causal Analysis
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Causes and Effects
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Causes and Effects
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Paragraph
Final Writing Assignment
 
23. Classifying Information
A Model Paragraph: Classification
Writing Assignment for Classification
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Classification
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Classification
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Essay
Final Writing Assignment
 
24. Writing Comparisons and Contrasts
A Model Paragraph: Comparison-Contrast
Writing Assignment for Comparison-Contrast
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Comparisons and Contrasts
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Comparisons and Contrasts
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Essay
Final Writing Assignment
 
25. Defining Terms
A Model of Definition
Writing Assignment for a Definition
       Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
       Composing the Paragraph
Templates for Definitions
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for Definitions
        Further Revising and Editing
Additional Writing Assignment
A Student Model Essay
Final Writing Assignment
 
26. Summarizing and Responding
A Student Model: A Summary
Writing Assignment for a Summary
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Summary
Templates for a Summary
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for a Summary
        Further Revising and Editing
Writing Assignment for a Response, with a Student Model
        Gathering, Generating, and Arranging the Materials
        Composing the Response
Templates for a Response
        Revising Your First Draft
Revision Checklist for a Response
        Further Revising and Editing
Final Writing Assignment
 
Unit IV Blueprint for Success
 
V. EDITING FOR GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS: FINISHING THE JOB
 
27. Punctuating Sentences
The Comma [,]
        Items in a Series
        Independent Clauses
        Interrupters
        Introductory or Concluding Expressions
        Two or More Adjectives
        Dates, Places, and Addresses
The Period [.]
        Statements
        Abbreviations
The Question Mark [?]
The Exclamation Point [!]
The Semicolon [;]
        Independent Clauses
        Items in a Series
The Colon [:]
The Dash [-]
Parentheses [()]
Quotation Marks [“”]
        Titles
        Definitions
        Words Used in a Special Way
        Speech
Editing for Mastery
 
28. Checking Spelling, Apostrophes, Hyphens, and Capitals
Spelling
        The Long and Short Vowel Sounds
        Plurals of Nouns and Singulars of Verbs
        Suffixes
        Prefixes
The Apostrophe [']
        Possessives
        Contractions
        Plurals of Letters
Hyphens [-]
        Hyphens to Join Words
        Syllables
Capitalization
Editing for Mastery
 
29. Writing the Right Word
The Most Common Sound-Alikes and Look-Alikes
        Contractions
        Too/Two/To
        The of Error
        Three Words Ending in -d
Commonly Confused Words
        Accept/Except
        Advice/Advise
        Affect/Effect
        An/And
        Breath/Breathe
        Buy/By
        Clothes/Cloths
        Conscience/Conscious
        -ence/-ent; -ance/-ant
        Fine/Find
        Know/No Knew/New
        Led/Lead
        Lie/Lay
        Lose/Loose
        Mine/Mind
        Passed/Past
        Quiet/Quite/Quit
        Rise/Raise
        Sit/Set
        Then/Than
        There is/It is
        Whether/Weather
Editing for Mastery
 
30. Keeping Verbs in Order
The Continuous Tenses
        In the Present
        In the Past
More Verb Phrases
        Two-Word Verb Phrases
        Three-Word Verb Phrases
        Four-Word Verb Phrases
Indirect Questions
Objects after Verbs
        Objects with Phrasal Verbs
        Common Phrasal Verbs
        Direct and Indirect Objects
Adverbs
        Single Adverbs
        Placing Two or More Adverbs
Past Participles and Present Participles
Double Negatives
Editing for Mastery
 
31. Mastering the Little Words: Articles and Prepositions
Articles
        A/An
        Singular Countable Nouns: A/An versus The
        The
        Plural Countable Nouns and Uncountable Nouns: Using The or Nothing
        Additional Advice about A/An and The
Prepositions
        To Indicate Time
        To Indicate Place
        For Vehicles and Chairs
        Other Prepositions
        To Repeat the Meaning of Prefixes
Editing for Mastery
 
Unit V Blueprint for Success
 
Reading Selections
Malcolm X with Alex Haley, “My Prison Studies”
Kurt Vonnegut, “How to Write with Style”
Dawn Turner Trice, “Doing Laundry Comes with a Load of Rules”
Elizabeth Wong, “The Struggle to Be an All-American Girl”
Mark Schlitt, “My Fifteen Minutes of Fame” [Student Essay]
Ehsan Ghoreishi, “Tough Pitches” [Student Essay]
Mark Twain, “Two Views of the Mississippi”
Ellen Goodman, “Divining the Strange Eating Habits of Kids”
Rita Pyrillis, “Sorry for Not Being a Stereotype”
“The Writing on the Wall,” adapted from The People's Almanac
Robert Hughes, “Running with Walker”
Sam Lubell, “Block That Ringtone!”
Anna Quindlen, “Homeless”
Jeffrey D. Sachs, “The Power of One: the $10 Solution”
Gary Soto, “This Man”
Sonia Nazario, “The Boy Left Behind”
 
Appendix A   Preparing Portfolios
The Rationale for the Portfolio
            Section 1: The Self-Assessment Essay
            Section 2: The Revised Papers
Final Essay Progress Log
The Portfolio as a Semester-long Project
 
Appendix B   Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
Possessive Pronouns
Demonstrative Pronouns
Interrogative Pronouns
Relative Pronouns
Indefinite Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns
 
Appendix C   Common Irregular Verbs
 
Appendix D   Commonly Misspelled Words
 
Appendix E    Common Expressions Using Prepositions
 
Answers to Chapter Exercises
 
Glossary
 
Credits
 
Index
 

Summary

Writing with Confidence, a sentence-and-paragraph level worktext, incorporates high-interest themes in its exercises and discourse while fully developing the writing process and fundamental writing skills.
 
The text's five units include chapters on the writing process, paragraph organization and development, the shape of the essay, all the rhetorical modes, and all the sentence skills.  The writing chapters are fully process-oriented, showing the development of a paragraph in six steps, from planning and outlining through drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading.   For all students, but especially for visual learners, the popular “Blueprints for Writing” in the rhetorical chapters offer models and concrete guidance, as do “Templates,” which, new this edition, help students structure sentences and transitions.  This focus on writing is balanced with equal attention to sentence skills, not only for native speakers of English who need help, but for non-English-dominant speakers as well.
 
This edition of Writing with Confidence is available as a Vangobook. The Vangobook edition includes the author's revisions for the ninth edition without the extraneous information or boxes. Created with the philosophy of quality over quantity, Writing with Confidence VangoBook can be read in less time than a traditional text. At approximately half the cost of a traditional book, this Vangobook edition will not break a student's budget.
 

Product details

• Authors: Alan Meyers
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2008
• EAN: 9780205617807
• ISBN: 978-0-205-61780-7
• No. of pages: 496
• Weight: 1000 g
• Series: Longman; Longman
• Subject: Guides > Law, job, finance > Training, job, career