Preface for InstructorsA Student's Guide to Using Focus on Writing
Checklists for Writing Paragraphs and Essays
UNIT 1. WRITING PARAGRAPHS
1. Understanding the Writing Process
STEP 1: Planning
A. Understanding Paragraph Structure
B. Focusing on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience
C. Finding Ideas
D. Identifying Your Main Idea and Writing a Topic Sentence
STEP 2: Organizing
E. Choosing Your Supporting Points
F. Arranging Your Supporting Points
STEP 3: Drafting
G. Drafting Your Paragraph
H. TESTing Your Paragraph
STEP 4: Revising and Editing
I. Revising Your Paragraph
J. Editing Your Paragraph
2. TESTing Your Paragraphs
A. Using a Topic Sentence to Unify Your Paragraph
B. Using Evidence to Support Your Paragraph's Main Idea
C. Using a Summary Statement to Reinforce Your Paragraph's Unity
D. Using Transitions to Add Coherence
UNIT 2. USING PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
3. Exemplification
A. What is Exemplification?
B. Writing an Exemplification Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing an Exemplification Paragraph
4. Narration
A. What is Narration?
B. Writing a Narrative Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Narration Paragraph
5. Description
A. What is Description?
B. Writing a Descriptive Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Description Paragraph
6. Using Process
A. What is Process?
B. Writing a Process Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Process Paragraph
7. Cause and Effect
A. What is Cause and Effect?
B. Writing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Cause and Effect Paragraph
8. Comparison and Contrast
A. What is Comparison and Contrast?
B. Writing a Comparison-and-Contrast Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Comparison and Contrast Paragraph
9. Classification
A. What is Classification?
B. Writing a Classification Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Classification Paragraph
10. Definition
A. What is Definition?
B. Writing a Definition Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing a Definition Paragraph
11. Argument
A. What is Argument?
B. Writing an Argument Paragraph
Chapter Review
Checklist: TESTing an Argument Paragraph
UNIT 3. WRITING ESSAYS
12. Writing an Essay
STEP 1: Planning
A. Understand Essay Structure
B. Focus on Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience
C. Find Ideas
D. Identify Your Main Idea and State Your Thesis
STEP 2: Organizing
E. Choose Supporting Points
F. Arrange Your Supporting Points
STEP 3: Drafting
G. Draft Your Essay
H. TEST Your Essay
STEP 4: Revising and Editing
I. Revise Your Essay
Self-Assessment Checklist: Revising Your Essay
J. Edit Your Essay
Self-Assessment Checklist: Editing Your Essay
K. Check Your Essay's Format
Review Checklist: Writing an Essay
13. Introductions and Conclusions
A. Introductions
B. Conclusions
Review Checklist: Introductions and Conclusions
UNIT 4. WRITING SENTENCES
14. Writing Simple Sentences
A. Subjects
B. Prepositional Phrases
C. Verbs
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Simple Sentences
15. Writing Compound Sentences
A. Compound Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions
B. Compound Sentences with Semicolons
C. Compound Sentences with Transitional Words and Phrases
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Compound Sentences
16. Writing Complex Sentences
A. Identifying Complex Sentences
B. Complex Sentences with Subordinating Conjunctions
C. Complex Sentences with Relative Pronouns
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Complex Sentences
17. Writing Varied Sentences
A. Varying Sentence Types
B. Varying Sentence Openings
C. Combining Sentences
D. Varying Sentence Length
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Writing Varied Sentences
18. Using Parallelism
A. Recognizing Parallel Structure
B. Using Parallel Structure
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Parallelism
19. Using Words Effectively
A. Using Specific Words
B. Using Concise Language
C. Avoiding Slang
D. Avoiding ClichŽs
E. Using Similes and Metaphors
F. Avoiding Sexist Language
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Words Effectively
Unit Review
UNIT 5. SOLVING SENTENCE PROBLEMS
20. Run-ons
A. Recognizing Run-ons
B. Correcting Run-ons
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Run-ons
21. Sentence Fragments
A. Recognizing Fragments
B. Missing-Subject Fragments
C. Phrase Fragments
D. Fragments with Incomplete Verbs
E. Dependent Clause Fragments
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Sentence Fragments
22. Subject-Verb Agreement
A. Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
B. Compound Subjects
C. Be, Have, and Do
D. Words between Subject and Verb
E. Collective Noun Subjects
F. Indefinite Pronoun Subjects
G. Verbs before Subjects
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Subject-Verb Agreement
23. Illogical Shifts
A. Shifts in Tense
B. Shifts in Person
C. Shifts in Number
D. Shifts in Voice
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Illogical Shifts
24. Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
A. Identifying -ing Modifiers
B. Identifying -ed Modifiers
C. Correcting Dangling Modifiers
D. Correcting Misplaced Modifiers
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
Unit Review
UNIT 6. UNDERSTANDING BASIC GRAMMAR
25. Verbs: Past Tense
A. Regular Verbs
B. Irregular Verbs
C. Problem Verbs: Be
D. Problem Verbs: Can/Could and Will/Would
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Tense
26. Verbs: Past Participles
A. Regular Past Participles
B. Irregular Past Participles
C. The Present Perfect Tense
D. The Past Perfect Tense
E. Past Participles as Adjectives
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Verbs: Past Participles
27. Nouns and Pronouns
A. Identifying Nouns
B. Forming Plural Nouns
C. Identifying Pronouns
D. Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
E. Special Problems with Agreement
F. Pronoun Case
G. Special Problems with Case
H. Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Nouns and Pronouns
28. Adjectives and Adverbs
A. Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs
B. Comparatives and Superlatives
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Adjectives and Adverbs
29. Grammar and Usage for ESL Writers
A. Subjects in Sentences
B. Special Problems with Subjects
C. Plural Nouns
D. Count and Noncount Nouns
E. Determiners with Count and Noncount Nouns
F. Articles
G. Negative Statements and Questions
H. Verb Tense
I. Stative Verbs
J. Modal Auxiliaries
K. Gerunds
L. Placing Modifiers in Order
M. Choosing Prepositions
N. Prepositions in Familiar Expressions
O. Prepositions in Phrasal Verbs
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Grammar and Usage for ESL Writers
Unit Review
UNIT 7. UNDERSTANDING PUNCTUATION, MECHANICS, AND SPELLING
30. Using Commas
A. Commas in a Series
B. Commas with Introductory Phrases and Transitional Words and Phrases
C. Commas with Appositives
D. Commas with Nonrestrictive Clauses
E. Commas in Dates and Addresses
F. Unnecessary Commas
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Commas
31. Using Apostrophes
A. Apostrophes in Contradictions
B. Apostrophes in Possessives
C. Incorrect Use of Apostrophes
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Apostrophes
32. Using Other Punctuation Marks
A. Semicolons
B. Colons
C. Dashes
D. Parentheses
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Using Other Punctuation Marks
33. Understanding Mechanics
A. Capitalizing Proper Nouns
B. Punctuating Direct Quotations
C. Setting Off Titles
D. Hyphens
E. Abbreviations
F. Numbers
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Understanding Mechanics
34. Understanding Spelling
A. Becoming a Better Speller
B. ie and ei
C. Prefixes
D. Suffixes
E. Commonly Confused Words
Chapter Review
Review Checklist: Understanding Spelling
Unit Review
UNIT 8. READING ESSAYS
35. Reading for College
A. Previewing
B. Highlighting
C. Annotating
D. Outlining
E. Summarizing
F. Writing a Response Paragraph
Review Checklist: Reading for College
36. Readings for Writers
Working and Learning
ÒDon't Hang Up, That's My Mom Calling,Ó Bobbi Buchanan
ÒDelusions of Grandeur,Ó Henry Lewis Gates, Jr.
ÒAt the Heart of a Historic Movement,Ó John Hartmire
ÒThe Little Pretzel Lady,Ó Sara Price (student)
ÒThe Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe,Ó Carolyn Foster Segal
ÒTake-Out Restaurant,Ó Kimsohn Tang (student)
ÒThe Online Alternative,Ó Marc Williams (student)
ÒThe Transaction,Ó William Zinsser
Culture and Custom
ÒTortillas,Ó Jose Antonio Burciaga
ÒEmil's Big Chance Leaves Me Uneasy,Ó Tricia Capistrano
ÒOrange Crush,Ó LiYuan Li
ÒBoris Kosachev, Russian Pianist,Ó Danielle McLarin (student)
Life and Times
ÒAmerica, Stand up for Justice and Decency,Ó Macarena Hernandez
ÒBefore Air Conditioning,Ó Arthur Miller
ÒThe Last Generation to Live on the Edge,Ó Robb Moretti
ÒWhy We Need Animal Experimentation,Ó Thuy Nguyen (student)
ÒHow to Stop a Car with No BrakesÓ Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht
ÒA 'Good' American Citizen,Ó Linda S. Wallace
APPENDIX A. WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER
1. Choosing a Topic
2. Exploring Your Topic
3. Doing Research
4. Taking Notes
5. Watching Out for Plagiarism
6. Drafting a Thesis Statement
7. Making an Outline
8. Writing Your Paper
9. Documenting Your Sources
Sample Research Paper in MLA Style
Appendix B. Taking Standardized Assessment Tests
1. Dealing with Anxiety
2. Preparing for Standardized Tests
3. Answering Multiple-Choice Questions
4. Preparing for Essay Questions
Answers to Odd-Numbered Exercise Items
Index
Correction Symbols