Synopses & Reviews
WRITING: TEN CORE CONCEPTS is designed to help you acquire the fundamental understanding that you need to become an effective writer-and to give you practice in applying Ten Core Concepts across different writing tasks. Handy ten-step writing guides help you focus on the important questions for each of the Core Concepts in particular types of writing. Emphasizing writing as an interaction between a writer and a reader, this book offers you guidance in three main aims of writing and a way to participate in the conversations that shape our lives.
Review
"The book is based on a solid framework of composition theory...with emphasis on the need for awareness of the rhetorical situation. It hits all of the learning outcomes [for our courses] and acknowledges the very weaknesses we've identified in our students through assessment."
Review
"This chapter reinforces what I tell them about how they already use writing in their lives, and the ways writing can be important to their future lives."
Review
"Some students come in and are fantastic writers-some have not had too much exposure to formal writing. I believe this text would speak to them both."
Review
"[This book has] incredibly clear explanations of concepts about how writing works; very engaging readings based on current, high-interest topics; and examples and scenarios that students will often relate to."
About the Author
Robert P. Yagelski is Associate Vice Provost and Director of the Program in Writing and Critical Inquiry at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, where he also teaches courses in writing, composition theory and pedagogy, critical pedagogy, and qualitative research methods and helps prepare secondary school teachers. Considered a leading voice in composition theory, Professor Yagelski is widely published in the major journals in the field. He is also director of the Capital District Writing Project, a site of the National Writing Project, and former director of the SUNY-Albany Writing Center. He earned his Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from The Ohio State University.
Table of Contents
Part I: A GUIDE TO WRITING EFFECTIVELY. 1. Why We Write. Understanding Writing. Writing in College. Writing in the Workplace. Writing as a Citizen. Writing to Understand Ourselves. 2. Ten Core Concepts for Effective Writing. Core Concept 1: Writing Is a Process of Discovery and Learning. Core Concept 2: Good Writing Fits the Context. Core Concept 3: The Medium is Part of the Message. Core Concept 4: A Writer Must Have Something to Say. Core Concept 5: A Writer Must Support Claims and Assertions. Core Concept 6: Purpose Determines Form, Style, and Organization in Writing. Core Concept 7: Writing Is a Social Activity. Core Concept 8: Revision Is an Essential Part of Writing. Core Concept 9: There Is Always a Voice in Writing, Even When There Isn't an I. Core Concept 10: Good Writing Means More Than Good Grammar. 3. The Core Concepts in Action. Step 1: Discover and Explore a Topic. Step 2: Examine the Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select an Appropriate Medium. Step 4: Have Something to Say. Step 5: Back Up What You Say. Step 6: Establish a Form and Structure for Your Project. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Strengthen Your Voice. Step 10: Make It Correct. 4. A Student Writer Applies the Core Concepts. Step 1: Discover and Explore a Topic. Step 2: Examine the Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select an Appropriate Medium. Step 4: Have Something to Say. Step 5: Back Up What You Say. Step 6: Establish a Form and Structure for Your Project. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Strengthen Your Voice. Step 10: Make It Correct. Part II: WRITING TO ANALYZE. 5. Understanding Analytical Writing. Occasions for Analytical Writing. Understanding Analytical Writing in College. Doing Analysis. Features of Analytical Writing. "The Joy of Boredom," by Carolyn Johnson. 6. Examining Causes and Effects. Occasions for Causal Analysis. Understanding Causal Analysis. Reading Causal Analysis. "The United States of Inequality," by Timothy Noah. "Everyone's Gone Nuts: The Exaggerated Threat of Food Allergies," by Meredith Broussard. "A Blog Is a Little First Amendment Machine," by Jay Rosen. Writing Effective Causal Analysis. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Causal Analysis. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify Your Main Claim. Step 5: Support Your Claim(s). Step 6: Organize Your Causal Analysis. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects That Call for Causal Analysis. 7. Comparing and Synthesizing. Occasions for Comparing and Synthesizing. Understanding Comparison and Synthesis. Reading Comparative Analysis. "War and Football," by Frank Deford. "The Whole Truth," by Julian Baggini. "Taking Science on Faith," by Paul Davies. Writing Effective Analysis Involving Comparison and Synthesis. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Comparative Analysis. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify Your Main Claim. Step 5: Support Your Claim(s). Step 6: Organize Your Comparative Analysis. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects That Call for Comparison and Synthesis. 8. Rhetorical Analysis. Occasions for Rhetorical Analysis. Understanding Rhetorical Analysis. Analyzing Images. Reading Rhetorical Analysis. "A Rhetorical Analysis of The Declaration of Independence: Persuasive Appeals and Language," by Jim Stover. "Rhetorical Analysis of National Poetry Month Poster," by Julie Platt. Writing Effective Rhetorical Analysis. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Rhetorical Analysis. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify Your Main Claim. Step 5: Support Your Claim(s). Step 6: Organize Your Rhetorical Analysis. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Rhetorical Analysis. 9. Analyzing Texts. Occasions for Literary Analysis. Understanding Textual Analysis. Reading Textual Analysis. "Literary Analysis of 'Hills Like White Elephants,'" by Diane Andrews Henningfeld. "Tolkien: A Marxist Analysis," by John Molyneux. "Watchmen and the Birth of Respect for Graphic Novels," by Karl Allen. Writing Effective Textual Analysis. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Textual Analysis. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Develop Your Interpretation and Identify Your Main Claim. Step 5: Support Your Interpretation. Step 6: Organize Your Textual Analysis. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects That Call for Textual Analysis. 10. Evaluating and Reviewing. Occasions for Evaluating and Reviewing. Understanding Reviews and Evaluation. Reading Reviews. "The Imperial Whitney Houston," by Jonathan Bogart. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II," by Gazelle Emami. "Review of 'Thirteen Reasons Why' by Jay Asher," by Bryan Gillis. Writing Effective Reviews. Step 1: Identify a Topic. Step 2: Place Your Review in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Develop Your Main Point. Step 5: Support Your Claim through Your Evaluation of Your Subject. Step 6: Organize Your Review. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects That Call for Review and Evaluation. Part III: WRITING TO TAKE A STAND. 11. Understanding Argument. Occasions for Argument. Understanding Argument in College. Making Effective Arguments. Features of Argument. "Ahh, Free at La-Oops! Time's Up," by Joe Robinson. 12. Making Academic Arguments. Occasions for Academic Argumentation. Understanding Academic Argument: A Case Study. Reading Academic Arguments. "Crime and Punishment," by Bruce Western. "Unpaid Internships Worth More Than Cash," by Jasmine Ako. "More Argument, Fewer Standards," by Mike Schmoker and Gerald Graff. Writing Effective Academic Arguments. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Argument. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify Your Main Argument. Step 5: Support Your Main Argument. Step 6: Organize Your Argument. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Academic Argument. 13. Arguments in Popular Discourse. Occasions for Popular Argument. Understanding Argument in Popular Discourse. Reading Popular Arguments. "A Judge's Plea for Pot," by Gustin L. Reichbach. "Senate Wars Episode II: Attack of the Drones," by Victor Lana. "American Wind Power," by American Wind Energy Association. Writing Effective Arguments in Popular Contexts. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Argument. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify Your Main Argument. Step 5: Support Your Main Argument. Step 6: Organize Your Argument. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Popular Argument. 14. Presenting a Proposal. Occasions for Writing Proposals. Understanding Proposals. Reading Proposals. "University of California Student Investment Proposal," by Fix UC. "Puppies Behind Bars," by Anne Teillon. "Seattle Citywide Skatepark Plan." Writing Effective Proposals. Step 1: Identify a Project for Your Proposal. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify Your Main Points. Step 5: Support Your Main Points. Step 6: Organize Your Proposal. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Proposals. Part IV: WRITING TO NARRATE. 15. Understanding Narrative Writing. Occasions for Narrative Writing. Understanding Narrative Writing in College. "Teaching in the Time of Dogs," by Todd Goodson. Telling Stories Effectively. Features of Narrative. "Keeping Close to Home: Class and Education," by bell hooks. 16. Personal Narrative. Occasions for Personal Narrative. "Rodney King: His Race, His Plea, His Death," by Cathy Scot. "Immigration and the New Old Me," by Gregory Rodriguez. Features of Personal Narrative. "Red Boat, Blue Sky," by Edmund Jones. Reading Personal Narrative. "Hot Mint Tea in July," by Marissa Dearing. "Hunting Deer With My Flintlock," by Seamus McGraw. "My Turn on the 'You're Not Special' Speech," by David McCullough. Writing Effective Personal Narratives. Step 1: Identify a Topic for Your Personal Narrative. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify the Main Point of Your Narrative. Step 5: Support Your Main Point. Step 6: Organize Your Narrative. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Personal Narrative. 17. Informative Essays. Occasions for Informative Writing. Features of Informative Writing. Reading Informative Writing. "Chevre," by Brad Kessler. "Gamification: How Competition Is Reinventing Business, Marketing, and Everyday Life," by Jennifer Van Grove. "What Honeybees Can Teach Us About Gang-Related Violence," by Emily Badger. Writing Effective Informative Essays. Step 1: Identify a Topic. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify the Main Point of Your Informative Project. Step 5: Support Your Main Point. Step 6: Organize Your Informative Project. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Informative Writing. 18. Digital Stories. Occasions for Digital Storytelling. Features of Digital Stories. "Good Will," by Christi Clancy. Managing the Technical Components of a Digital Story. Reading Digital Stories. "Mountain of Stories," by Mazbah Tom. "Mother to Son, Father to Daughter," by Molly Fanning. "Common Ground," by Scott Strazzante. Composing Effective Digital Stories. Step 1: Identify a Topic. Step 2: Place Your Topic in Rhetorical Context. Step 3: Select a Medium. Step 4: Identify the Main Point of Your Digital Story. Step 5: Support Your Main Point. Step 6: Organize Your Digital Story. Step 7: Get Feedback. Step 8: Revise. Step 9: Refine Your Voice. Step 10: Edit. Writing Projects that Call for Digital Stories. Part V: ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR CONTEMPORARY WRITERS. 19. Working with Ideas and Information. Developing an Academic Writing Style. Writing Effective Paragraphs. Summarizing and Paraphrasing. Synthesizing. Framing. Introductions. Making Transitions. 20. Designing Documents. Understanding Document Design as a Rhetorical Tool. Principles of Document Design. Working with Visual Elements. Designing Effective Documents: Three Sample Projects. 21. Finding Source Material. Understanding Research. Determining What You Need. Understanding Sources. Developing a Search Strategy. Finding Appropriate Sources. 22. Evaluating Sources. Determining Whether a Source Is Trustworthy. Evaluating Source Material for Your Rhetorical Purposes. 23. Using Source Material. Quoting from Sources. Additional Guidelines. Avoiding Plagiarism. 24. Citing Sources Using MLA Style. Two Main Components in MLA Style. Creating In-Text Citations in MLA Style. Creating a Works Cited Page in MLA Style. Sample MLA-Style Research Paper. 25. Citing Sources Using APA Style. Two Main Components in APA Style. Creating In-Text Citations in APA Style. Creating a Bibliography in APA Style. Sample APA-Style Research Paper. 26. Avoiding Common Problems in Style, Grammar, and Usage. Strategies for Avoiding Errors. Coordination, Subordination, and Parallelism. Common Sentence-Level Problems. Common Pronoun Errors. Word Choice and Style. Common Punctuation Errors.