PART ONE: THINKING OF WRITING AS CONVERSATION 1. MAKING CONNECTIONSWhy think of writing as conversation?
You already know how conversations work-online and off
Conversations help you share information, ideas, and arguments
Conversation allows you to adopt roles
What should I know about writing situations?
Writing has a purpose
Readers have purposes, needs, interests, and backgrounds
Writing builds on the work of others
Writing takes place in context
What should I know about genre and design?
Genres are general categories of documents
Design is a writing tool
Genre and design are related
Genres help writers achieve their goals 2. GETTING STARTED
How can I analyze an assignment?
Assess your writing situation
Note requirements and limitations
Recognize opportunities
How can I find interesting conversations?
Generate ideas
Ask questions
How can I “listen in” on written conversations?
Discuss the topic with others
Observe the topic firsthand
Read what others have written
Focus your attention
How can I prepare for a successful writing project?
Take ownership
Understand that writing is a process
Create a writer's notebook
Manage your time 3. READING TO WRITE
How can I read critically?
Read with an attitude
Be aware of writing situations
What strategies can I use to read actively?
Skim for an overview
Mark and annotate
Pay attention
How can I evaluate sources?
Determine relevance
Consider the use of evidence
Identify the author
Learn about the publisher
Establish timeliness
Assess comprehensiveness
Recognize genre
Examine electronic sources closely
How can I read like a writer?
Read to understand
Read to respond
Read to make connections 4. WORKING TOGETHER
Why should I work with other writers?
Work together to improve your document
Work together to enhance your writing process
Work together to succeed on a major project
How can I work with others on individual projects?
Generate and refine ideas
Collect and work with information
Respond to written work
How can I work with others on collaborative projects?
Understand the purposes of writing collaboratively
Understand potential problems and develop solutions
Establish ground rules
Create a project plan
What resources can I draw on as I work with other writers?
Use technological tools
Consult instructors, classmates, friends, and family
PART TWO: CONTRIBUTING TO A CONVERSATION
5. WRITING TO REFLECT
Genres in Conversation: Reflective Writing
What is writing to reflect?
The Writer's Role: Observer
What kinds of documents are used to share reflections?
Memoirs
Firoozeh Dumas, Waterloo
Photo essays
Kazuyoshi Ehara and Rhiana Ehara, Lost Memories
Short stories
Gish Jen, Who's Irish?
Literacy narratives Tayari Jones, Among the Believers
Reflective essays
Rick Bragg, This Isn't the Last Dance
How can I write a reflective essay?
Find a conversation and listen in
Reflect on your subject
Prepare a draft
Review and improve your draft
Student Essay
Caitlin Guariglia, Mi Famiglia
Project Ideas 6. WRITING TO INFORM
Genres in Conversation: Informative Writing
What is writing to inform?The Writer's Role: Reporter
What kinds of documents are used to inform?
Brochures
California Department of Fish and Game, Keep Me Wild
Web sites
PBS, Becoming American: The Chinese Experience
Newspaper articles
Matt Richtel, Devices Enforce Silence of Cellphones, IllegallyProfiles Chris Nashawaty and Art Streiber, Danger Is Their Middle Name
Essays
George Chauncy, The Legacy of Antigay Discrimination
How can I write an informative essay?
Find a conversation and listen in
Gather information
Prepare a draft
Review and improve your draft
Student Essay
Hannah Steiner, Barriers on the Road to a Hydrogen Economy
Project Ideas 7. WRITING TO ANALYZE
Genres in Conversation: Analytical Writing
What is writing to analyze?
The Writer's Role: Interpreter
What kinds of documents are used to present analysis?
Web-based articles
Rahul K. Parikh, MD, Race and the White Coat
News analyses
Aida Akl, U.S. Population Hits 300 Million
Multimedia presentations
Joanne Fisker, Is Snowboarding Losing Its Edge?
Literary criticism
Stephen King, J.K. Rowling's Ministry of MagicAnalytical essays
Tamara Draut, Generation Debt
How can I write an analytical essay?
Find a conversation and listen in
Conduct your analysis
Prepare a draft
Review and improve your draft
Student Essay
Alison Bizzul, Living (and Dying) Large
Project Ideas 8. WRITING TO EVALUATE
Genres in Conversation: Evaluative Writing
What is writing to evaluate?
The Writer's Role: Evaluator
What kinds of documents are used to share evaluation?
Product reviews
Sam Eifling, Booster Shot: How Well Do These Energy Drinks Work?
Media reviews
Erica Lies, Mary Tyler more
Place evaluations
Paul Goldberger, Bowery Dreams
Progress reports
UNESCO, Education for All Global Monitoring Report
Evaluative essays
Christina Hoff Somers and Sally Satel, Emotional Correctness
How can I write an evaluative essay?
Find a conversation and listen in
Conduct your evaluation
Prepare a draft
Review and improve your draft
Student Essay
Dwight Haynes, Making Better Choices: Two Approaches to Reducing College Drinking
Project Ideas 9. WRITING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
Genres in Conversation: Problem-Solving Writing
What is writing to solve problems?
The Writer's Role: Problem Solver
What kinds of documents are used to solve problems?
Correspondence
John F. Kerry and Frank R. Borchert, RE: Unauthorized Monitoring of Employee Emails by SBA Managers
Professional articles
Jami Jones, Drug Testing Needs Improvement, Not Clearinghouse
Speeches
Wangari Maathai, Trees for Democracy
Proposals
Dan Hughes, Proposal for Skateparks under Bridges
Problem-solving essays
Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein, Easy Does It
How can I write a problem-solving essay?
Find a conversation and listen in
Develop a solution
Prepare a draft
Review and improve your draft
Student Essay
Jennie Tillson, Death, Taxes, and College Tuition
Project Ideas 10. WRITING TO CONVINCE OR PERSUADE
Genres in Conversation: Argumentative Writing
What is writing to convince or persuade?
The Writer's Role: Advocate
What kinds of documents are used to convince or persuade?
Advertisements
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Above the Influence
Opinion columns
Cyrus Habib, Show Us the Money
Letters to the editor
Bob Dineen, Response to “The Ethanol Scam”
Blogs
Barbara Ehrenreich, What America Owes Its “Illegals”
Argumentative essays
Virginia Postrel, In Praise of Chain Stores
How can I write an argumentative essay?
Find a conversation and listen in
Build your argument
Prepare a draft
Review and improve your draft
Student Essay
Donovan Mikrot, Download This: Why Digital Rights Management Is a Bad Idea for Hollywood
Project Ideas
PART THREE: WORKING WITH SOURCES
11. PREPARING TO USE SOURCES IN AN ACADEMIC ESSAY
How should I focus my search for sources?
Generate potential research questions
Select and refine your question
How can I develop a search plan?
Identify relevant types of sources
Identify appropriate search tools and research methods
Review your plan
How can I keep track of my sources?
Manage print materials
Manage digital materials
Create a working or annotated bibliography 12. LOCATING SOURCES
How can I locate sources using electronic resources?
Generate search terms and strategies
Search library catalogs
Search databases
Search the Web
Search media sites
Keep track of your searches
How can I locate sources using print resources?
Discuss your search plan with a librarian
Visit the library stacks
Browse periodicals
Check reference works
How can I gather information using field research?
Choose your methods
Enlist help
Assess your information 13. TAKING NOTES
How can I record my notes?
What methods can I use to take notes?
Quote directly
Paraphrase
Summarize
Compare sources and start planning your document 14. AVOIDING PLAGIARISM
What is plagiarism?
Unintentional plagiarism
Intentional plagiarism
Plagiarism in group projects
What are research ethics?
Asking permission to use a source
How can I avoid plagiarism?
Conduct a knowledge inventory
Take notes carefully
Attribute ideas appropriately
Identify your sources
Understand why writers plagiarize
What should I do if I'm accused of plagiarism? PART FOUR: CRAFTING AND POLISHING YOUR CONTRIBUTION 15. DEVELOPING A THESIS STATEMENT
How can I choose a main point?
Review your notes
Consider your writing situation
How can I draft my thesis statement?
Consider the type of document you will write
Identify important information, ideas, and arguments related to your main point
Draft alternatives
Focus your thesis statement
How can I support my thesis?
Choose supporting points
Select evidence
Review and arrange your supporting points and evidence 16. ORGANIZING AND DRAFTING
How can I organize my document?
Choose an appropriate organizational pattern
Create an outline
Use your outline to begin drafting
How can I draft effective paragraphs?Focus on a central idea
Follow an organizational pattern
Use details to capture your readers' attention
Create transitions within and between paragraphs
How can I draft my introduction?
Frame your introduction
Select an introductory strategy
How can I draft my conclusion?
Reinforce your points
Select a concluding strategy 17. USING SOURCES EFFECTIVELY
How can I use sources to accomplish my purposes as a writer?
Introduce a point
Contrast ideas
Provide evidence
Align yourself with an authority
Define a concept, illustrate a process, or clarify a statement
Seta a mood
Provide an example
Amplify or qualify a point
How can I integrate sources into my draft?
Identify your sources
Quote strategically
Paraphrase information, ideas, and arguments
Summarize sources
Present numerical information
Use images, audio, and video
How can I ensure I've avoided plagiarism?
Quote, paraphrase, and summarize accurately and appropriately
Distinguish between your ideas and ideas in your sources
Check for unattributed sources in your document
How should I document my sources?
Choose a documentation system
Provide in-text references and publication information 18. DESIGNING YOUR DOCUMENT
How can I use design effectively?
Understand design principles
Design for a purpose
Design for your readers
What design elements can I use?
Use fonts, line spacing, and alignment
Use page layout elements
Use color, shading, borders, and rules
Use illustrations
What design conventions should I follow?
Academic essays
Multimodal essays
Articles
Web sites 19. WRITING WITH STYLE
How can I begin to write with style?
Write concisely
Use active and passive voice effectively
Adopt a consistent point of view
Choose your words carefully
How can I polish my style?
Vary your sentence structure
Create effective transitions
Introduce the work of other authors effectively
Avoid sexist language
Consult a good handbook
Read widely 20. REVISING AND EDITING
What should I focus on when I revise?
Consider your writing situation
Consider your presentation of ideas
Consider your use and integration of sources
Consider the structure and organization of your document
Consider genre and design
What strategies can I use to revise?
Save multiple drafts
Highlight your main point, supporting points, and evidence
Challenge your assumptions
Scan, outline, and map your document
Ask for feedback
What should I focus on when I edit?
Focus on accuracy
Focus on economy
Focus on consistency
Focus on style
Focus on spelling, grammar, and punctuation
What strategies can I use to edit?
Read carefully
Mark and search your document
Use spelling, grammar, and style tools with caution
Ask for feedback
PART FIVE: DOCUMENTING SOURCES 21. USING MLA STYLE
How do I cite sources within the text of my document?
How do I prepare the list of works cited?
Books
Sources in journals, magazines, and newspapers
Print reference works
Field sources
Media sources
Electronic sources 22. USING APA STYLE
How do I cite sources within the text of my document?
How do I prepare the reference list?
Books
Sources in journals, magazines, and newspapers
Print reference works
Field sources
Media sources
Electronic sources
Other sources