Synopses & Reviews
Read, Reason, Write presents clear instruction in critical reading and analysis, argument, and research techniques, and features a collection of current and incisive readings appropriate for practicing these techniques.
About the Author
Dorothy U. Seyler is professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the College of William and Mary, Dr. Seyler holds advanced degrees from Columbia University and the State University of New York at Albany. She taught at Ohio State University, the University of Kentucky, and Nassau Community College before moving with her family to Northern Virginia.She has coauthored Introduction to Literature and Language Power, both in second editions, and is the author of The Writer's Stance, Patterns of Reflection, in its third edition, The Reading Context, Steps to College Reading, Understanding Argument, and Read, Reason, Write, currently in its fifth edition and Doing Research, currently in its second edition. In addition, Professor Seyler has published articles in professional journals and popular magazines. She enjoys tennis, golf, and traveling, as well as writing about all three.
Table of Contents
SECTION I: CRITICAL READING AND ANALYSIS CHAPTER 1. Writers and Their Sources Reading, Writing, and the Contexts of Argument Responses to SourcesAbraham Lincoln, "The Gettysburg Address" The Personal Response The Response to Content (Summary) The Analytic Response The Judgment or Evaluation Response The Research ResponseMark Steinberg, "Numbed Down in America" Active Reading: Use Your Mind! Guidelines for Active ReadingExercise: Active Reading: Richard Morin, "Political Ads and the Voters They Attract" Understanding Your Sources Writing Summaries Guidelines for Writing Summaries Exercise: SummarySample Longer Summary: Aaron Dalton, "The Ties That Unbind" Writing ParaphrasesSample Paraphrase: from Bertrand Russells "A Free Mans Worship" Acknowledging Sources Informally Referring to People and SourcesWilliam Raspberry, "The Real Pregnancy Problem" Presenting Direct Quotations: A Guide to Form and Style Reasons for Using Quotation Marks Guidelines for QuotingFor Debate:Robert J. Samuelson, "A Century of Freedom" Joshua Mitchell, "American Foreign Policy and the King George Syndrome" Suggestions for Discussion and WritingCHAPTER 2. Responding Critically to Sources Traits of the Critical Reader/Thinker Examining the Context Who Is the Author? What Kind of Audience Is Addressed? What Is the Authors Purpose in Writing? What Are the Writers Sources of Information?Understanding Attitude Denotative and Connotative Word Choice Recognizing ToneAnalyzing Style Word Choice Sentence Structure Metaphors Organization and Examples Repetition Hyperbole, Understatement, and Irony Quotation Marks, Italics, and Capital LettersDave Barry, "Remote Control" Writing about Style Understanding Purpose and Audience Planning the Essay Developing Paragraphs Revising and Editing Manuscript Form Checklist for RevisionEllen Goodman, "Choosing Families" Combining Summary, Analysis, and Evaluation: The ReviewAnnotated Review: Lynda Ransdell, "More Than a Game: One Womans Fight For Gender Equity in Sport" Student Review: "Winchesters Alchemy: Two Men and a Book" by Ian Habel Analyzing Two or More SourcesGuidelines for Preparing a Contrast EssayBill Sammon, "Bush Pushes for UN in Iraq"Michael Tackett, "President Sidesteps Exit Strategy Issue"Guidelines for Preparing a Contrast EssayFor Analysis:Ellen Goodman, "Fat Environment" Ronald R. Fraser, "Let the Going Get Tough--We Have Our SUVs" Suggestions for Discussion and WritingSECTION II: THE WORLD OF ARGUMENT CHAPTER 3. Understanding the Basics of Argument Characteristics of Argument Argument Is Conversation with a Goal Argument Takes a Stand on an Arguable Issue Argument Uses Reasons and Evidence Argument Incorporates Values Argument Recognizes the Topics ComplexityThe Shape of Argument: The Aristotelian Model The Shape of Argument: The Toulmin Model The Language of Claims and Support Facts False Facts Inferences JudgmentsExercise on the Language of Argument: Richard Morin, "Paradise Lost" Learning More about the Toulmin Model of Argument Claims Grounds (or Data or Evidence) Warrants Backing Qualifiers RebuttalsUsing Toulmins Terms to Analyze ArgumentAnnotated Essay: Steven Rattner, "Inured to Inequality" Using Toulmins Terms as a Guide to Structuring Arguments Exercises: Using Toulmins Terms to Plan ArgumentsFor Debate:T. R. Reid, "Let My Teenager Drink" Joseph A. Califano, Jr., "Dont Make Teen Drinking Easier" Suggestions for Discussion and WritingCHAPTER 4. Writing Effective Arguments Know Your Audience Understand Your Writing Purpose Find a Topic Move from Topic to Claim to Possible Support Selecting a Topic Drafting a Claim Listing Possible Grounds Listing Grounds for the Other Side or Another Perspective Planning Your ApproachDraft Your Argument Revise Your Draft Rewriting Editing A Few Words about Words and Tone ProofreadingA Checklist for Revision For Debate and Analysis:Sidney Hook, "In Defense of Voluntary Euthanasia" Peter A. Singer and Mark Siegler, "Euthanasia: A Critique" Suggestions for Discussion and WritingCHAPTER 5. Learning More about Argument: Logical Fallacies, Induction, and DeductionInductionExample of Induction: * David Norman, "Hadrosaur Nests" DeductionExample of Deduction: "The Declaration of Independence" AnalogyExample of Analogy: Zbigniew Brzezinski, "War and Football" Arguments That Do Not Work: Logical Fallacies Causes of Illogic Fallacies Resulting from Oversimplifying Fallacies Resulting from Ignoring the IssueEvaluating the Arguments of Others: The Refutation EssaySample Refutation Annotated: David Sadker, "Gender Games" Exercise on Refutation: Robert H. Bork, "Addicted to Health" For Debate:Michael Grebb, "Feds v. First Amendment"Richard Rodriguez, "Mongrel America" Suggestions for Class Discussion and WritingCHAPTER 6. Reading, Analyzing, and Writing Definition Arguments and Position PapersThe Definition Argument: Debating the Meanings of Words When to Use Definition Analyzing Definition Arguments Preparing a Definition ArgumentAnnotated Student Essay: Laura Mullins, "Paragon or Parasite?" The Position Paper: Examining Claims of Value Characteristics of the Position Paper Analyzing a Position Paper Supporting a Claim of Value Using the Rogerian or Conciliatory ApproachAnnotated Student Essay: Chris Brown, "Examining the Issue of Gun Control" For Debate:Richard A. Epstein, "The Next Rights Revolution?" Joseph Bernstein, "Animal Rights v. Animal Research: A Modest Proposal" Timothy Sprigge, "A Reply to Joseph Bernstein" Suggestions for Class Discussion and WritingCHAPTER 7. Reading, Analyzing, and Using Visuals and Statistics in ArgumentReading Graphics Exercises: Reading and Analyzing GraphicsThe Uses of Authority and Statistics Judging Authorities Understanding and Analyzing StatisticsResponding to Visual ArgumentsHerblock, "Keep an Eye on the Families and Schools and Movies" (cartoon) Dana Summers, "Thats It Then. The Bill of Rights Is Finished" (cartoon) "Stop for a Moment and Smell the Technology" (Advertisement) "Theyd Rather Be in Colorado" (Advertisement) "Visionary" (Advertisement) "Search for:" (Advertisement)"Pierce Brosnan's Choice (Advertisement)Writing the Investigative Argument Gathering and Analyzing Evidence Planning and Drafting the Essay Guidelines for Writing an Investigative Argument Preparing Graphics Analyzing Evidence: The Key to an Effective Argument A Checklist for RevisionStudent Essay: Monica Becker, "Magazine Advertising for Computer Products" For Reading and Analysis:Charles Krauthammer, "The Greatness Gap" Annette Fuentes, "Wont You Be My Neighbor?" Suggestions for Discussion and WritingCHAPTER 8. Reading, Analyzing, and Writing Causal and Problem/Solution Arguments Arguments about Cause Characteristics of Causal Arguments Mill's Methods for Investigating CausesEvaluating Causal Arguments Preparing Causal ArgumentsAnnotated Causal Argument: Pietro Nivola, "Pumps and Pocketbooks" The Problem-Solution Argument: Exploring Public-Policy Issues Characteristics of Problem-Solution Arguments Analyzing Problem-Solution Arguments Preparing a Problem-Solution ArgumentAnnotated Problem-Solution Essay: James Q. Wilson, "A New Strategy for the War on Drugs" For Analysis and Debate:Beth Shulman, "Four Myths, 30 Million Potential Votes" Lester Thurow, "Why Women Are Paid Less Than Men"Suggestions for Discussion and ReflectionSECTION III: THE RESEARCHED AND FORMALLY DOCUMENTED ARGUMENTCHAPTER 9. Getting Started and Locating Sources (in the Library, Online, in the Field) Types of Research Projects Stages in the Research Process Finding a Workable Topic What Type of Paper Am I Preparing? Who Is My Audience? What Are the Assignments Time and Length Constraints? What Kinds of Topics Should I Avoid? How Can I Select a Good Topic? What Is the "Right" Size for a Topic?Writing a Tentative Thesis (Claim) or Research Proposal Preparing a Working Bibliography Basic Form for Books Basic Form for ArticlesKnowing Your Library Locating Books Classification of BooksUsing the Reference Collection Basic Reference ToolsUsing Indexes to Periodicals: In Print and Online The Readers Guide to Periodical Literature The New York Times Index Online Databases Indexes to Academic Journals: In Print and OnlineSearching the Internet Basic Services and Functions of the InternetDoing Field Research Federal, State, and Local Government Documents Correspondence Interviews Lectures Films, Tapes, Television Surveys, Questionnaires, and Original ResearchCHAPTER 10. Exploring Sources, Selecting Support, and Documenting (Using MLA) Using Sources Effectively Evaluating Sources, Maintaining Credibility Documenting Sources to Avoid Plagiarism Taking Notes on Sources Guidelines for Taking Notes