Synopses & Reviews
Easy Access is the only handbook organized by the types of help student writers need. Part One (red tabs) provides a guide to writing processes and products. Solutions to common writing problems and ESL troublespots are found in Part Two (blue tab). Part Three (yellow tab) offers alphabetically organized definitions and examples of grammar, mechanics, and punctuation terms.
Synopsis
In the fourth edition, Easy Access has a new value price, making it more affordable then ever before. And with new integrated references to Catalyst 2.0--the premier online resource for writing and research--it is the only value-priced handbook available to feature an easy-to-use tabbed format and access to premium online content.
Table of Contents
TAB ONE: WRITING PROCESSES AND PRODUCTS Part One: The Writing Process Chapter 1. Choosing a Topic: Five Key Questions QUICK VIEW: The Writing Process 1a. Question One: What is the assignment? 1b. Question Two: What should I write about? 1c. Question Three: How can I limit my topic? 1d. Question Four: What is my purpose? 1e. Question Five: Who are my readers? QUICK VIEW: Writing for an Academic Audience or for the Teacher as Audience Chapter 2. Prewriting: Developing Your Ideas 2a. Listing 2b. Freewriting 2c. Looping 2d. Reporters' Questions 2e. Paragraph Development Patterns 2f. Observation 2g. Interviews 2h. Brainstorming and Peer Review Chapter 3. Critical Reading in Prewriting and Beyond 3a. Before You Read: Previewing 3b. As You Read: Annotating 3c. After You Read: Summarizing and Analyzing Chapter 4. Planning: Thesis Statements and Outlines 4a. Choosing a Main Idea or Thesis QUICK VIEW: Revising Your Thesis Statement 4b. Choosing an Organizational Pattern 4c. Creating a Plan for the Paper QUICK VIEW: Guidelines for Constructing Formal Outlines Chapter 5. Drafting 5a. Finding the Best Time and Place 5b. Starting Your First Draft 5c. Writing Quickly QUICK VIEW: Overcoming Writer's Block 5d. Getting Unstuck and Restarted 5e. Before Leaving the Desk Chapter 6. Creating Effective Paragraphs 6a. Introductions QUICK VIEW: Introductions to Avoid 6b. Conclusions QUICK VIEW: Conclusions to Avoid 6c. Body Paragraphs Chapter 7. Revising 7a. Evaluating Your Thesis and Supporting Information 7b. Evaluating Your Organizational Pattern and Outline Chapter 8. Proofreading and Preparing the Final Manuscript 8a. Proofreading QUICK VIEW: Software Tools 8b. Preparing the Final Manuscript STUDENT SAMPLE: A First Draft and Completed Essay Part Two: Writing Assignments Chapter 9. Writing an Argument QUICK VIEW: Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation 9a. Choose a Thesis and Plan Key Assertions QUICK VIEW: Four Criteria for a Good Argument Thesis 9b. Create a Preliminary Outline 9c. Analyze the Audience 9d. Define Key Terms 9e. Assemble Evidence QUICK VIEW: Conducting Research for Argument Papers 9f. Evaluate the Reliability of Your Evidence 9g. Include Appeals to Emotion 9h. Acknowledge Opposing Views (Refutation) QUICK VIEW: Building Consensus Rather Than Barriers 9i. Check for Logical Fallacies STUDENT SAMPLE: An Argument Paper Chapter 10. Writing about Literature 10a. Prepare by Reading the Text Carefully 10b. Prepare by Reading about the Text QUICK VIEW: Tips for Reading about Literature 10c. Choose a Focus 10d. Formulate a Thesis QUICK VIEW: Tips for Writing about Literature Chapter 11. Writing the Essay Exam 11a. Prewriting QUICK VIEW: Question Starters and their Meanings 11b. Planning and Writing 11c. Revising and Proofreading QUICK VIEW: Essay Exam Checklist Chapter 12. Preparing an Oral Presentation 12a. From Writing to Speaking 12b. Planning Your Presentation 12c. Preparing a Text for Presentation 12d. Choosing Visuals to Accompany Your Talk QUICK VIEW: Guidelines for Visuals in Short Presentations QUICK VIEW: Seven Guidelines for Powerpoint Presentations 12e: Practicing Your Talk QUICK VIEW: Dealing with Stage Fright 12f: Delivering Your Talk 12g. Answering Questions QUICK VIEW: Checklist for Oral Presentations Part Three: Document and Web Design Chapter 13. Document Design 13a. Formatting Basics 13b. Document Design Principles QUICK VIEW: Key Design Principles 13c. Guidelines for Visuals QUICK VIEW: Guidelines for Visuals 13d. Types of Visuals Chapter 14. Web Design QUICK VIEW: Web Glossary 14a. Designing Web Pages QUICK VIEW: Types of Web Pages QUICK VIEW: Options for Site Design QUICK VIEW: Options for Navigation Aids QUICK VIEW: Some Options for Page Design 14b. Writing for the Web QUICK VIEW: Key Principles in Writing for the Web Chapter 15. Professional Correspondence 15a. Form for Letters, E-mail, Faxes, and Memos 15b. A Writing Process for Professional Correspondence 15c. Types of Professional Correspondence QUICK VIEW: Checklist for Professional Correspondence Part Four: Research Writing Chapter 16. Analyze the Assignment 16a. Writing a Research Paper QUICK VIEW: The Research Writing Process 16b. Deciding What the Assignment Requires from You 16c. Making a Preliminary Choice of Topic 16d. Making Your Topic Concrete 16e. Formulating a Working Thesis Chapter 17. Plan Your Research Strategy 17a. List the Resources You Want to Use QUICK VIEW: Research Resources 17b. Decide on a Tentative Order for Your Search Chapter 18. Do Your Research Systematically 18a. Start with General and then Specialized Reference Tools 18b. Move On to Books 18c. Look for Periodical Articles 18d. Move On to Search Engines 18e. Investigate Additional Kinds of Web Resources QUICK VIEW: Tips for Internet Searches Box: Web Glossary Chapter 19. Evaluate Your Sources Carefully 19a. Gather Your Sources 19b. Use Critical Reading to Evaluate Your Sources 19c. Be Especially Careful about the Reliability of Web Sources QUICK VIEW: Questioning Your Web Sources Chapter 20. Do Research in the Field 20a. Observing the Subject for Yourself 20b. Doing an Interview 20c. Doing a Survey Chapter 21. Take Good Notes and Keep Good Records 21a. Save all the Bibliographic Information You Might Possible Need 21b. Pay Attention to the Kind of Notes You are Taking Chapter 22. Refine Your Working Thesis and Create an Outline 22a. Narrow Your Thesis 22b. Decide on an Outline Chapter 23. Write the First Draft QUICK VIEW: How to Draft Effectively Chapter 24. Use Your Sources Effectively and Avoid Plagiarism 24a. Using Direct Quotations QUICK VIEW: When to Use Direct Quotations 24b. Paraphrasing Your Sources 24c. Understanding the Difference between Summary and Paraphrase 24d. Recognizing Common Plagiarism Situations QUICK VIEW: Causes of Plagiarism 24e. Avoiding Plagiarism: Four Things to Do Chapter 25. Revising and Editing 25a. Revisit Your Research as Necessary. 25b. Revise and Edit Systematically Chapter 26. Document Your Sources Correctly QUICK VIEW: When and What to Document 26a. Citing Electronic Sources 26b. Different Styles for Different Fields Box: Style Manuals: A Partial List TAB TWO: DOCUMENTATION (MLA, APA, Chicago) Part Five: Documentation: MLA, APA, Chicago Styles Chapter 27. MLA Documentation Style 27a. MLA Citations in the Text QUICK VIEW: MLA Style 27b. MLA List of Works Cited 27c. Typing or Word Processing Instructions for MLA STUDENT SAMPLE: Paper in MLA Format Chapter 28. APA Documentation Style 28a. APA Citations in the Text 28b. APA Reference List 28c. Typing or Word Processing Instructions for APA STUDENT SAMPLE: Paper in APA Format Chapter 29. Chicago Manual of Style Documentation Style 29a. CMS Citations in the Text 29b. CMS Notes List 29c. CMS Bibliography 29d. Differences between Bibliography Entries and (First) Note Entries 29e. Preparing Papers in CMS Format STUDENT SAMPLE: Paper in CMS Format TAB THREE: COMMON WRITING PROBLEMS Part Six: Common Writing Problems Chapter 30. Sentence Fragments QUICK VIEW 30a. Testing for Fragments--In Detail 30b. Revising Fragments 30c. When to Use Fragments Chapter 31. Comma Splices QUICK VIEW 31a. Revising Comma Splices 31b. Use a Period and Create Two Sentences 31c. Create a Compound Sentence 31d. Another Way to Create a Compound Sentence 31e. Create a Complex Sentence Chapter 32. Run-On Sentences QUICK VIEW 32a. Revising Run-On Sentences 32b. Use a Period to Create Two Sentences 32c. Use a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction to Create a Compound Sentence 32d. Use a Semicolon or a Colon to Create a Compound Sentence 32e. Use a Subordinating Conjunction or a Relative Pronoun to Create a Complex Sentence Chapter 33. Verb Errors QUICK VIEW 33a. Subject and Verb Agreement Errors 33b. Form Errors 33c. Inappropriate Shifts in Tense 33d. Inappropriate Shifts in Mood Chapter 34. Using Commas QUICK VIEW 34a. Correct Uses of Commas 34b. Incorrect Uses of Commas Chapter 35. Pronoun Errors QUICK VIEW 35a. Vague or Ambiguous Pronoun Reference 35b. Lack of Agreement with Antecedent 35c. Inappropriate Shifts in Person 35d. Biased Uses of Pronouns Chapter 36. Using Apostrophes QUICK VIEW 36a. Apostrophes in the Possessive Case 36b. Apostrophes in Contractions 36c. Apostrophes to Form Plurals of Letters and Numerals 36d. Its versus Its and Other Pronoun Homonyms Chapter 37. Problems with Modifiers QUICK VIEW 37a. Misplaced Modifiers 37b. Dangling Modifiers 37c. Squinting Modifiers 37d. Overstocked Modifiers