The College Writer: A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching, MLA Update - Softcover

VanderMey, Randall; Meyer, Verne; Van Rys, John; Kemper, Dave; Sebranek, Patrick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0618405410 ISBN 13: 9780618405411

Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing, 2003

Synopsis

Combining streamlined, nuts-and-bolts writing instruction with outstanding accessibility and visual appeal, The College Writer breaks new ground in brief rhetorics. The authors have made both content and presentation optimally exciting and useful for the student. This book targets the needs of less-prepared students, with four-color line drawings, color-coded headings, easy-to-grasp graphic organizers, and other guiding design elements on nearly every two-page spread.

About this title

About the Author:

Randall VanderMey (Ph.D. University of Iowa, M.F.A. Iowa Writers¿ Workshop, M.A. University of Pennsylvania) is an associate professor in the Department of English at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. He also has taught composition, literature, and technical writing at Iowa State University, Dordt College, and the University of Iowa. He is a contributing editor and creative consultant for Write Source. VanderMey has received numerous fellowships, grants, and awards for his teaching and poetry. He has published two books of poems, GROWING SOUL: A SONG CYCLE, GOD TALK, and CHARM SCHOOL: FIVE WOMEN OF THE ODYSSEY, as well as a commissioned biography, MERIZON: THE GREAT JOURNEY.

Verne Meyer (Ph.D. University of Minnesota) has spent twenty-five years in the English classroom, first at the high school level and more recently at the college level. He has taught composition and theater at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. Meyer has received several awards recognizing his excellence as both a classroom teacher and a director of dramatic arts. He is considered an authority on writing across the curriculum and workplace writing, and often gives presentations as a featured speaker at educational conferences.

John Van Rys (Ph.D. Dalhousie University, M.A./B.A. University of Western Ontario) has taught composition, business writing, and literature courses to college students for more than fifteen years, primarily at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa. In the fall of 2005, Van Rys began teaching in the English Department at Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario, where he also is pursuing scholarly work in Canadian literature. For over a decade, he has worked on writing-across-the-curriculum theory and practice, on connections between workplace and academic writing, and on strategies for strengthening varied literacies in students (from reading to information to visual literacy). With Write Source Educational Publishing and Cengage Learning, he has coauthored writing handbooks for students from middle school to college. Van Rys also has coauthored an award-winning business-writing handbook for workplace professionals, WRITE FOR BUSINESS, with UpWrite Press.

Dave Kemper has been a contributing partner with Write Source since 1986. He has co-authored FUSION 1, FUSION 2, WRITE 1 SENTENCES TO PARAGRAPHS, WRITE 2 PARAGRAPHS TO ESSAYS, and the complete line of Write Source handbooks and writing texts. In addition to his editorial work, Kemper has presented at national writing conventions and conducted writing workshops across the country. Prior to his work with Write Source, Kemper taught literature and writing for 11 years.

Patrick Sebranek (M.A. University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse) taught English, speech, and multimedia classes for sixteen years at Union Grove High School in Wisconsin. During that time, he served as the English department chair and worked on several district-wide projects, including a writing-across-the-curriculum program and a K-12 writing sequence. He has studied the works of James Moffett, Ken Macrorie, Linda Reif, Nancie Atwell, and many other contemporary educators dealing with writing and learning. Sebranek is an author and editorial director for the Write Source Educational Publishing House and works closely with teachers and educators on all new and revised handbooks and sourcebooks.

Review:

I. A Rhetoric: College Student's Guide to Writing Reading, Thinking, and Writing 1. Critical Thinking and Reading Overview: Thinking Critically, Writing Well Using Logical Reasoning Guidelines: Thinking and Writing Thinking by Analysis Thinking by Synthesis Thinking by Evaluation Thinking by Application Reading and Thinking Critically Reading Actively Critical Thinking and Reading Checklist Writing Activities The Writing Process The Writing Process From Assignment to Final Draft 2. Getting Started Understanding the Assignment Selecting a Topic Collecting Information Getting Started Checklist Writing Activities 3. Planning Taking Inventory of Your Thoughts Forming a Thesis Statement Using Methods of Development Developing a Plan or an Outline Types of Graphic Organizers Planning Checklist Writing Activities 4. Drafting Writing the First Draft Basic Essay Structure: Major Moves Opening Your Draft Developing the Middle Ending Your Draft Drafting Checklist Writing Activities 5. Revising Revising Your First Draft Addressing Whole-Paper Issues Revising Your Ideas Revising for Organization Addressing Paragraph Issues Checking for Unity Checking for Coherence Checking for Completeness Revising Collaboratively Revising Checklist Writing Activities 6. Editing and Proofreading Editing Your Revised Draft Checking for Sentence Style Combining Sentences Expanding Sentences Editing for Word Choice Proofreading Your Writing Editing and Proofreading Checklist Writing Activities 7. Submitting Formatting Your Writing Sharing Your Final Copy Effective Writing Checklist The College Essay 8. One Writer's Process Getting Started: Understanding the Assignment Exploring Possible Topics Collecting Information Planning: Forming a Thesis Statement Using Methods of Development Developing a Plan or an Outline Drafting: Opening the Draft Developing the Middle Ending the Draft Revising: Improving Ideas, Organization, and Voice Revising Collaboratively Editing and Proofreading: Editing the Revised Draft Proofreading for Correctness Submitting: Checking the Page Design, Documentation, and Appearance Essay Checklist II. A Reader: Strategies and Models Narrative and Descriptive Writing 9. Personal Narrative Overview: Writing a Personal Narrative Student Models: Anecdotes; "Dad," Miguel Surieno; "Mzee Owitti," Jacqui Nyangi Owitti Professional Model: "One Remembers What One Loves," Asiya S. Tschannerl Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 10. Personal Reflection Overview: Writing a Personal Reflection Student Models: "School Style," Jessie Cooper; "Like a Girl," Rebecca Babagian Professional Model: "None of This Is Fair," Richard Rodriguez Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 11. Personal Description Overview: Writing a Personal Description Student Models: "He Knew," Rosie Reid; "The Stream in the Ravine," Nicole Suurdt; "Beyond the End of the Road," David Bani Professional Models: "That Morning on the Prairie," James C. Schaap; "Northing," Annie Dillard Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities Analytical Writing 12. Cause and Effect Overview: Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay Student Models: "Adrenaline Junkies," Sarah Hanley; "Life-Threatening Stress," Tiffany Boyett Professional Model: "A New Vision for America," Carl Rowan Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 13. Comparison and Contrast Overview: Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Essay Student Models: "Seeing the Light," David Zupp; "Beyond Control," Janae Sebranek; "A Fear Born of Sorrow," Anita Brinkman Professional Model: "Like Mexicans," Gary Soto Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 14. Classification Overview: Writing a Classification Essay Student Models: "Why We Lift," Caitlin Eisenhart; "Three Family Cancers," Kim Brouwer Professional Model: "Four Ways to Talk About Literature," John Van Rys Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 15. Process Writing Overview: Writing About a Process Student Models: "Wayward Cells," Kerri Mertz; "Entering the 'Green Room,'" Luke Sunukjian Professional Models: "Instructions for Opening the CCL," Sheryl Sheeres Taylor; "Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow," Verne Meyer Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 16. Definition Overview: Writing a Definition Essay Student Models: "The Gullible Family," Mary Beth Bruins; "A Few of My Favorite Things," Kirsten Zinser; "Understanding Dementia," Sarah Anne Morelos Professional Models: "Deft or Daft," David Schelhaas; "Code Blue: The Story," Abraham Verghese Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities Persuasive Writing 17. Strategies for Argumentation and Persuasion Building Persuasive Arguments Preparing Your Argument Making and Qualifying Claims Supporting Your Claims Identifying Logical Fallacies Engaging the Opposition Using Appropriate Appeals Writing Activities 18. Taking a Position Overview: Taking a Position Student Models: "Education Through Application," Jeff Bulthuis; "Tanning Beds in Health Clubs: Marriage or Mismatch?" Tanya Laarman; "Evening the Odds," David DeHaan Professional Model: "In Defense of the Animals," Meg Greenfield Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 19. Persuading Readers to Act Overview: Persuading Readers to Act Student Models: "Let's Kill Cute," Sarah Den Boer; "If We Are What We Wear, What Are We?" Allison Young Professional Models: "Soul of a Citizen," Paul Rogat Loeb; "I Have a Dream," Martin Luther King, Jr. Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 20. Arguing Against a Claim Overview: Arguing Against a Claim Student Models: "Too Much of a Good Thing," Stephanie Lems; "An Apology for the Life of Ms. Barbie D. Doll" Rita Isakson; "To Drill or Not to Drill," Rebecca Pasok Professional Model: "Demystifying Multiculturalism," Linda Chavez Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 21. Proposing a Solution Overview: Proposing a Solution Student Models: "Practical Wildlife Management," Gilbert Angelino; "Preparing for Agroterror," Brian Ley Professional Models: "Reducing Levels of Carbon Monoxide in the Factory" Nick Jeffries; "The Media and the Ethics of Cloning," Leigh Turner Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities Report Writing 22. Observation Report Overview: Writing an Observation Report Student Models: "The Beach," Laura Apol; "Revelation in Santo Domingo," Joel Sorensen Professional Model: "Scab!" Randall VanderMey Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 23. Interview Report Overview: Writing an Interview Report Student Models: "Dramatic Learning," Marsha Lee; "The Dead Business," Benjamin Meyer Professional Model: "Lambie's Limousines," David Thome Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities 24. Experiment, Lab, and Field Reports Overview: Writing an Experiment, Lab, or Field Report Student Models: "Working with Hydrochloric Acid," Coby Williams; "The Effects of Temperature and Inhibitors on the Fermentation Process for Ethanol," Andrea Pizano Professional Model: "Investigation of Cockroach Infestation at 5690 Cherryhill," Hue Nguyen Guidelines Writing Checklist and Activities Special Forms of Writing 25. Writing About Literature and the Arts Overview: Writing About Literature and the Arts Student Models: "The Truth in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried," (novel) Jacqueline Williams; "Brooding on 'The Darkling Thrush,'" (poem) David Koza; "Sigur Ros, Agaetis Byrjun," (album) Annie Moore; "Wonder of Wonders: The Lord of the Rings," (film) Jennifer Berkompas Guidelines Literary Terms Writing Checklist and Activities 26. Writing Across the Curriculum Three Curricular Divisions Types of Writing in Each Division Preparing to Write Well Writing Activities 27. Taking Essay Tests Reviewing for Tests Forming a Study Group Mnemonics and Other Memory Guides Taking the Essay Test Taking an Objective Test Tips for Coping with Test Anxiety 28. Writing for the Workplace Writing the Business Letter Writing Memos and E-Mail Applying for a Job Preparing a Resume 29. Writing for the Web Writing for E-Mail, List Servers, and Message Boards Creating Web Pages and Web Sites Other Writing Environments on the Net 30. Preparing Oral Presentations Planning Your Presentation Writing Your Presentation Preparing Your Presentation Script Rehearsing and Presenting Presentation Checklist III. Research Guide Research and Writing 31. Writing the Research Paper The Research Paper: Quick Guide Overview: The Research and Writing Process The Research Process: A Flowchart Getting Started Planning Your Research Conducting Research Taking Notes Organizing Your Research Drafting Your Paper Using Sources Avoiding Plagiarism Revising Editing and Proofreading Activities and Assignments 32. Primary, Library and Internet Research The Research Process: A Flowchart Conducting Primary Research Using the Library Using Books in Research Using Periodical Articles Researching on the Internet Locating Information on the Internet Observing Netiquette Recommended Research Strategies Activities and Assignments Documentation and Format Styles 33. MLA Documentation Form MLA Research Paper Guidelines MLA Parenthetical References Works-Cited Entries: Books Works-Cited Entries: Periodicals Works-Cited Entries: Electronic Sources Works-Cited Entries: Other Print and Nonprint Sources Sample MLA Research Paper Activities Checklist 34. APA Documentation Form APA Research Paper Guidelines APA Paper Format APA Parenthetical References Reference Entries: Books Reference Entries: Periodicals Reference Entries: Electronic Sources Reference Entries: Other Print and Nonprint Sources Sample APA Research Paper Activities Research Paper Abbreviations IV. Handbook Punctuation, Mechanics, Usage, and Grammar 35. Marking Punctuation Period Ellipsis Comma Semicolon Colon Hyphen Dash Question Mark Quotation Marks Italics (Underlining) Parentheses Diagonal Brackets Exclamation Point Apostrophe 36. Checking Mechanics Capitalization Plurals Numbers Abbreviations Acronyms and Initialisms Spelling Commonly Misspelled Words Steps to Becoming a Better Speller 37. Using the Right Word 38. Understanding Grammar Noun Pronoun Verb Adjective Adverb Preposition Conjunction Interjection A Closer Look at the Parts of Speech Sentence Issues 39. Constructing Sentences Using Subjects and Predicates Using Phrases Using Clauses Using Sentence Variety 40. Avoiding Sentence Errors Subject-Verb Agreement Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Shifts in Sentence Construction Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-Ons Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Ambiguous Wording Nonstandard Language Avoiding Sentence Problems: Quick Guide Addressing Multilingual/ESL Issues 41. Multilingual and ESL Guidelines The Parts of Speech Understanding Sentence Basics Sentence Problems Numbers, Word Parts, and Idioms

About this edition

• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0618405410
• ISBN 13: 9780618405411
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 720