Synopses & Reviews
This best-selling sentence-level worktext by John Langan continues to help students master the essential grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and usage skills needed for clear, thoughtful writing. The eighth edition of Sentence Skills, Form A features new exercises and activities, a new visual program, and much more!
About the Author
John Langan has taught reading and writing at Atlantic Community College near Atlantic City, New Jersey, for over twenty years. The author of a popular series of college textbooks on both subjects, he enjoys the challenge of developing materials that teach skills in an especially clear and lively way. Before teaching, he earned advanced degrees in writing at Rutgers University and in reading at Glassboro State College. He also spent a year writing fiction.
Table of Contents
PART ONE: EFFECTIVE WRITINGCHAPTER ONE: Learning Sentence SkillsWhy Learn Sentence Skills?Your Attitude about WritingHow This Book is OrganizedHow to Use This BookCHAPTER TWO: A Brief Guide to Effective WritingWhat Is a Paragraph?The Goals of Effective WritingActivities in the Goals of Effective WritingCHAPTER THREE: The Writing ProcessSteps in the Writing ProcessActivities in the Writing ProcessTen Writing Assignments
PART TWO: SENTENCE SKILLSSection 1: GrammarCHAPTER FOUR: Subjects and VerbsCHAPTER FIVE: FragmentsCHAPTER SIX: Run-OnsCHAPTER SEVEN: Sentence Variety I Section 2: Verbs, Pronouns, and AgreementCHAPTER 8: Standard English VerbsCHAPTER 9: Irregular VerbsCHAPTER 10: Subject-Verb AgreementCHAPTER 11: Consistent Verb TenseCHAPTER 12: Additional Information about VerbsCHAPTER 13: Pronoun Reference, Agreement, and Point of ViewCHAPTER 14: Pronoun TypesSection 3: Modifiers and ParallelismCHAPTER 15: Adjectives and AdverbsCHAPTER 16: Misplaced ModifierCHAPTER 17: Dangling ModifiersCHAPTER 18: Faulty ParallelismSection 4: Punctuation and MechanicsCHAPTER 20: Paper FormatCHAPTER 21: Capital LettersCHAPTER 22: Numbers and AbbreviationsCHAPTER 23: End MarksCHAPTER 24: ApostropheCHAPTER 25: Quotation MarksCHAPTER 26: CommaCHAPTER 27: Other Punctuation MarksSection 5: Word UseCHAPTER 28: Dictionary UseCHAPTER 29: Spelling ImprovementCHAPTER 30: Omitted Words and LettersCHAPTER 31: Commonly Confused WordsCHAPTER 32: Effective Word ChoicePART THREE: REINFORCEMENT OF SENTENCE SKILLSCombined Mastery TestsFragments and Run-Ons VerbsPronounsFaulty Modifiers and ParallelismCapital Letters and PunctuationWord UseEditing and Proofreading TestsTest 1: FragmentsTest 2: FragmentsTest 3: Run-Ons (Fused Sentences)Test 4: Run-Ons (Comma Splices)Test 5: Standard English VerbsTest 6: Irregular VerbsTest 7: Faulty ParallelismTest 8: Capital LettersTest 9: ApostrophesTest 10: Quotation MarksTest 11: CommasTest 12: Commonly Confused WordsCombined Editing TestsAppendixesAppendix A: How a Computer Can HelpAppendix B: Parts of SpeechAppendix C: ESL PointersAppendix D: Sentence-Skills Diagnostic TestAppendix E: Sentence-Skills Achievement TestAppendix F: Ansswers to Introductory Activities and Practice Exercises in Part TwoIndexCorrections Symbols