Preface Acknowledgements
Chapter Index
I Essentials of Composition
The Writing Process: Planning, Writing, and Revising the Whole Essay
Finding and Limiting a Subject
Considering Audience and Purpose
Gathering and Organizing Evidence
Crafting a Thesis Statement
Crafting an Outline
Writing a First Draft
Beginnings
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Preparing the Final Draft
Paragraphs
Unity
Organizational Coherence
Structural Coherence
Emphasis and Variety
II Essentials of Grammar and Style: Sentences
Sentence Elements and Patterns
Subject and Predicate, Noun and Verb
Articles and Other Modifiers
Structure Words
Phrases
Independent (Main) Clauses
Subordinate (Dependent) Clauses
Kinds of Sentences: Grammatical Types
Working with Sentence Elements to Create Variety and Emphasis
Basic Sentence Elements and Their Modifiers
Variety in Lengths
Variety in Kinds
Variety in Structures
Emphasizing a Whole Sentence
Emphasis by Position and Word Order
Emphasis by Repetition
Emphasis by Contrast
Emphasis by Syntax
Common Sentence Problems
Sentence Fragments
Comma Splices
Run-on (Fused) Sentences
Misplaced Modifiers
Dangling Modifiers
Mixed Constructions
Shifts in Perspective: Inconsistent Point of View
Faulty Parallelism
III Essentials of Grammar and Style: Parts of Speech; Diction
Nouns Inflection of Nouns: Number; Possessive Case
Grammatical Functions of Nouns
Nouns and Articles: a, an, and the
Pronouns
Pronoun Types
Case
Agreement of Pronouns with Their Antecedents
Pronoun Reference
Pronouns and Inclusive Language
Verbs
Transitive, Intransitive, and Linking Verbs
Inflection of Verbs: Principal Parts
Irregular Verbs
Auxiliary Verbs
Verb Tenses and Their Functions
Tense Sequence
Mood
Voice
Agreement Between Subject and Verb
Words Intervening Between Subject and Verb
Compound Subjects
Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns
Subject Following Verb
Agreement with Relative Pronouns
Adjectives
Kinds of Adjectives
Comparison of Descriptive Adjectives
Placement and Ordering of Adjectives
Adverbs
Kinds and Functions of Adverbs
Comparison of Adverbs
Placements of Adverbs
Verbals
Infinitives
Participles
Gerunds
Connecting Words; Interjections
Prepositions
Conjunctions: Coordinate, Correlative, Subordinate
Interjections
Diction
Level
Concrete and Abstract Diction
Euphemisms
Wrong Words
Idiom
Wordiness, Cliches, Jargon, and Associated Problems
A Checklist of Troublesome Words and Phrases
IV Essentials of Punctuation
The Comma
The Comma with Coordinating Conjunctions
The Comma with Items in a Series
The Comma with an Introductory Word, Phrase, or Subordinate Clause
The Comma with Nonrestrictive Elements
The Comma with Sentence Interrupters
Comma Splices
The Semicolon
The Semicolon with Independent Clauses
The Semicolon with Conjunctive Adverbs and Transitions
The Semicolon with Items in a Series
The Colon
The Colon with Items in a Series
The Colon Between a Title and Subtitle
The Colon in the Salutation of a Business Letter
The Colon Introducing a Block Quotation
The Dash
The Dash with Items in a Series
The Dash with Sentence Interrupters
Parentheses
Quotation Marks
Quotation Marks with Direct Speech
Quotation Marks with Direct Quotation from a Source
Single Quotation Marks for a Quotation Within a Quotation
Quotation Marks Around Words Used in a Special Sense
Other Marks with Quotation Marks
Ellipses for Omissions
Brackets
The Period
The Question Mark
The Exclamation Point
Avoiding Common Errors in Punctuation
Unwanted Comma Splice
Unwanted Comma Between Subject and Verb
Unwanted Comma Between Verb and Object or Complement
Unwanted Comma after Last Adjective of a Series
Unwanted Comma Between Coordinated Words and Phrases
Commas with Emphatic Repetition
Unwanted Comma with Short Introductory or Parenthetical Element
Unwanted Comma with Restrictive Appositive
Unwanted Comma with Indirect Quotation
Unwanted Question Mark after Indirect Question
Unwanted Semicolon with Subordinate Element
Unwanted Colon after Incomplete Construction
Unwanted Double Punctuation: Comma or Semicolon with a Dash Run-on (Fused) Sentences
V Essentials of Mechanics and Spelling
Formatting an Essay
Format
Syllabication and Word Division
Abbreviations
Titles Before Proper Names
Titles and Degrees After Proper Names
Standard Words Used with Dates and Numerals
Agencies and Organizations Known by Their Initials
Scientific and Technical Terms Known by Their Initials
Latin Expressions Commonly Used in English
Terms in Official Titles
Capitalization
Names and Nicknames
Professional and Honorific Titles
Place Names
Months, Days, and Holidays
Religious Names
Names of Nationalities and Organizations
Names of Institutions and Sections of Government, Historical Events, and Buildings
Academic Courses and Languages
Derivatives of Proper Nouns
Abbreviations of Proper Nouns
Titles of Written and Other Works
First Words
Personification or Emphasis
Titles
Quotation Marks for Short Works and Parts of Longer Works
Italics for Whole or Major Works
Titles Within Titles
Italics
Names of Ships and Planes
Non-English Words and Phrases
Words Referred to as Words
For Emphasis
Numerals
Time of Day
Dates
Addresses
Technical and Mathematical Numbers
Pages and Chapters
Parts of a Play
Fractions
Numbers of More Than Two Words
Commas with Numerals
Spelling Rules and Common Causes of Error
ie or ei
Final e Before a Suffix
Final y After a Consonant and Before a Suffix
Doubling of a Final Consonant Before a Suffix
The Suffix ly
Troublesome Word Endings
Changes in Spelling of Roots
Faulty Pronunciation
Confusion with Other Words
Homophones and Other Words Sometimes Confused
Hyphenation
Plurals
Apostrophes
Possessives
VI Essentials of Research: Planning, Writing, and Documenting Sources
The Research Plan
Formulating Research Questions
Designing a Timeline
Identifying and Evaluating Sources
Producing a Preliminary Bibliography
Note-taking
Writing the Essay
Acknowledging Sources
Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary, and Academic Integrity
Legitimate Paraphrase
Illegitimate Paraphrase
Paraphrase and Quotation Mixed
Summary
Maintaining Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism
Integrating and Contextualizing Quotations
Documenting Sources
The Name-Page Method (MLA Style)
The Name-Date Method (APA Style)
The Note Method (Chicago Style)
Appendix: Checklist for use in Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
Index