The college writer : a guide to thinking, writing, and researching / [edited by] Randall VanderMey, Westmont College, Verne Meyer, Dordt College, John Van Rys, Redeemer University College, Pat Sebranek. [print]

I. Rhetoric : A College Student's Guide to Writing: 1. Critical Thinking Through Reading, Viewing, and Writing. Critical Thinking Through Reading. Read Actively ; Sample: Why Change Is So Hard Dan Heath ; Map the text ; Outline the text ; Evaluate the text Responding to a Text. Follow these guidelines for response writing. Summarizing a Text. Follow these guidelines for summary writing Critical Thinking Through Viewing. Actively view images ; View an image Interpreting an Image. Interpret an image Evaluating an Image. Consider the purpose ; Evaluate the quality ; Determine the value ; Evaluate an image Critical Thinking Through Writing. Develop sound critical-thinking habits ; Ask probing questions ; Practice inductive and deductive logic Practice Modes of Thinking in Your Writing. Think by using analysis ; Think by using synthesis ; Think by using evaluation ; Think by using application Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 2. Beginning the Writing Process. The Writing Process : From Start to Finish. Consider the writing process ; Adapt the process to your project Understanding the Rhetorical Situation. Think of your role as the writer ; Understand your subject ; Understand your purpose ; Understand your audience ; Understand the medium (form) ; Think about the context Aiming for Writing Excellence. Common Traits of College Writing ; Common Traits in Action ; Sample: The Gullible Family Mary Bruins Understanding the Assignment. Read the assignment . Relate the assignment . Reflect on the assignment Developing a Topic. Limit the subject area ; Conduct your search ; Explore for possible topics ; Freewrite to discover and develop a topic ; Freewriting Collecting Information. Find out what you already know ; Ask questions ; Identify possible sources ; Track sources Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 3. Planning. Revisit the Rhetorical Situation. Rhetorical Checklist Forming Your Thesis Statement. Find a focus ; State your thesis Using a Thesis to Pattern Your Writing. Let your thesis guide you Developing a Plan or an Outline. Quick Lists ; Topic Outline ; Sentence Outline ; Writing Blueprints ; Graphic Organizers Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist ; Cross-Curricular Connections -- 4. Drafting. Reconsider the Rhetorical Situation. Think about your role ; Focus on your subject ; Reconsider your purpose ; Reconsider your audience ; Review the form and context Basic Essay Structure : Major Moves Opening Your Draft. Engage your reader ; Establish your direction ; Get to the point Developing the Middle. Advance your thesis ; Test your ideas ; Build a coherent structure ; Sample: Seeing the Light ; Arrange supporting details Ending Your Draft. Reassert the main point ; Urge the reader ; Complete and unify your message Working with Sources Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist ; Cross-Curricular Connections.

5. Revising. Consider Whole-Paper Issues. Revisit the rhetorical situation ; Consider your overall approach Revising Your First Draft. Prepare to revise ; Think globally Revising for Ideas and Organization. Examine your ideas ; Examine your organization Revising for Voice and Style. Check the level of commitment ; Check the intensity of your writing ; Develop an academic style ; Know when to use the passive voice Addressing Paragraph Issues. Remember the basics ; Keep the purpose in mind ; Check for unity ; Check for coherence ; Check for completeness ; Working with Sources Revising Collaboratively. Know your role ; Provide appropriate feedback ; Respond according to a plan Using the Writing Center Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist ; Cross-Curricular Connections -- 6. Editing and Proofreading. Editing Your Revised Draft. Review the overall style of your writing ; Consider word choice Combining Sentences Edit short, simplistic sentences Expanding Sentences. Use cumulative sentences ; Expand with details Checking for Sentence Style; Avoid these sentence problems ; Review your writing for sentence variety ; Vary sentence structures ; Use parallel structure ; Avoid weak constructions Avoiding Imprecise, Misleading, and Biased Words. Substitute specific words ; Replace jargon and cliches ; Change biased words Proofreading Your Writing. Review punctuation and mechanics ; Look for usage and grammar errors ; Check for spelling errors ; Check the writing for form and presentation Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 7. Submitting Writing and Creating Portfolios. Formatting Your Writing. Strive for clarity in page design Submitting Writing and Creating Portfolios. Consider potential audiences; Select appropriate submission methods ; Use a writing portfolio Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist ; Cross-Curricular Connections -- 8. One Writer's Process. Angela's Assignment and Response. Angela examined the assignment ; Angela explored and narrowed her assignment Angela's Planning. Angela focused her topic ; Angela researched the topic ; Angela decided how to organize her writing Angela's First Draft. Angela kept a working bibliography Angela's First Revision Angela's Second Revision Angela's Edited Draft Angela's Proofread Draft Angela's Finished Essay Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist ; Cross-Curricular Connections Traits of College Writing : A Checklist.

II. Reader : Strategies and Samples: 9. Forms of College Writing. Three Curricular Divisions Writing in the Humanities. The Purpose of Inquiry ; Forms of Humanities Writing ; Humanities Research Methods Writing in the Social Sciences. The Purpose of Inquiry ; Forms of Social-Science Writing ; Social-Science Research Methods Writing in the Natural Sciences. The Purpose of Inquiry ; Forms of Natural-Science Writing ; Natural-Science Research Methods Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 10. Narration, Description, and Reflection. Strategies for Personal Essays. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Narration ; Principles of Description ; Principles of Reflection ; Principles of Organization ; Reading Personal Writing Brief Narratives : Anecdotes. Anecdote Introducing a Topic ; Anecdote Illustrating a Point ; Anecdote Illustrating a Trait Sample Personal Essays. Exploring a Community. Sample: The Entomology of Village Life Robert Minto Narrating an Encounter. Sample: Spare Change Teresa Zsuffa Narrating a Comic Episode. Sample: When Dreams Take Flight Elizabeth Fuller Reflecting on an Illness. Sample: Call Me Crazy, But I Have to Be Myself Mary Seymour Reflecting on a Cultural Trend. Sample: The Muscle Mystique Barbara Kingsolver Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist Analytical Writing. 11. Cause and Effect. Strategies for Cause-Effect Essays. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Cause-Effect Writing ; Reading Cause-Effect Writing Sample Cause-Effect Essays. Analyzing an Eating Disorder Sample: The Slender Trap Trina Rys Analyzing a Culture Clash. Sample: Dutch Discord Brittany Korver Analyzing the Effects of Sports Participation. Sample: If You Let Me Play ... Mary Brophy Marcus Analyzing the Effects of Technology. Sample: Mind Over Mass Media Steven Pinker Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 12. Comparison and Contrast. Strategies for Comparison-Contrast Essays. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Comparison-Contrast Writing ; Reading Comparison-Contrast Writing Sample Comparison-Contrast Essays. Analyzing Two Literary Characters. Sample: Sethe in Beloved and Orleanna in Poisonwood Bible Rachel De Smith Analyzing an Islamic Cultural Practice. Sample: Shrouded in Contradiction Gelareh Asayesh Analyzing the Nature of Prejudice. Sample: Shades of Prejudice Shankar Vedantam Analyzing American and European Cultures. Sample: The Likeness Across the Atlantic Peter Baldwin Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist.

13. Classification. Strategies for Classification Essays. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Classification Writing ; Reading Classification Writing Sample Classification Essays. Analyzing Forms of Music. Sample: Latin American Music Kathleen Kropp Analyzing Rhetorical Positions on Climate Change. Sample: Four Sides to Every Story Stewart Brand Analyzing How Readers Read. Sample: The Lion, the Witch and the Metaphor Jessica Seigel Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 14. Process. Strategies for Process Essays. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Process Writing ; Reading Process Writing Sample Process Essays. Analyzing an Illness. Sample: Wayward Cells Kerri Mertz Analyzing a Policy. The Emancipation of Abe Lincoln Eric Foner Analyzing a Career. Saint Cesar of Delano Richard Rodriguez Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning Objectives Checklist -- 15. Definition. Strategies for Definition Essays. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Definition Writing ; Reading Definition Writing Sample Definition Essays. Defining Key Terms Within an Essay. Sample: Economic Disparities Fuel Human Trafficking Shon Bogar Distinguishing Related Terms. Sample: Deft or Daft David Schelhaas Defining a Personal Trait. Sample: On Excellence Cynthia Ozick Analyzing the Meaning of Truth. Sample: Wikipedia and the Meaning of Truth Simson L. Garfinkle Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 16. Reading Literature : A Case Study in Analysis. Strategies for Analyzing Literature and the Arts. The Rhetorical Situation ; Principles of Literary-Analysis Writing ; Reading Literary-Analysis Writing Approaches to Literary Analysis. Sample: Four Ways to Talk About Literature John Van Rys Analyzing a Poem. Sample: Let Evening Come Jane Kenyon Analysis of Kenyon's Poem. Sample: 'Let Evening Come' : An Invitation to the Inevitable Sherry Van Egdom A Poem to Analyze. Sample: My Last Duchess Robert Browning Analyzing a Short Story. Sample: Good Country People Flannery O'Connor Analysis of O'Connor's Short Story. Sample: 'Good Country People' : Broken Body, Broken Soul Anya Terenkina Analyzing a Novel. Sample: Ah, the Power of Women : Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine Aleah Stenberg Literary Terms Poetry Terms Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist Persuasive Writing.

17. Strategies for Argumentation and Persuasion. Building Persuasive Arguments Preparing Your Argument. Consider the situation ; Develop a line of reasoning Making and Qualifying Claims. Distinguish claims from facts and opinions ; Distinguish three types of claims ; Develop a supportable claim Supporting Your Claims. Gather evidence ; Use evidence Identifying Logical Fallacies. Distorting the Issue ; Sabotaging the Argument ; Drawing Faulty Conclusions from Evidence ; Misusing Evidence ; Misusing Language Engaging the Opposition. Make concessions ; Develop rebuttals ; Consolidate your claim Using Appropriate Appeals. Build credibility ; Make logical appeals ; Focus on readers' needs Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 18. Taking a Position. Reading Position Writing. Consider the rhetorical situation ; Consider qualities of strong arguments ; Reading Position Papers ; Sample Position Paper. Sample: Nuclear Is Not the Answer Alyssa Woudstra Essays Taking Contrary Positions. Sample: Animal, Vegetable, Miserable Gary Steiner -- Sample: Sorry, Vegans Natalie Angier Sample Position Essay. Sample: Fatherless America David Blankenhorn Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 19. Persuading Readers to Act. Reading Persuasive Writing. Consider the rhetorical situation ; Look for convincing qualities ; Reading call-to-action writing ; Sample Persuasive Essay. Sample: Our Wealth, Where Is It Taking Us? Henry Veldboom Sample Persuasive Speech. Sample: I Have a Dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sample Persuasive Essay. Sample: In Africa, AIDS Has a Woman's Face Kofi Annan Sample Persuasive Essay. Sample: Is It Now a Crime to Be Poor? Barbara Ehrenreich Writing Guidelines. Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities ; Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 20. Proposing a Solution. Reading Problem-Solution Writing. Consider the rhetorical situation ; Consider the reasoning ; Reading Problem-Solution Writing Sample Problem-Solution Essay. Sample: Dream Act May Help Local Student Fight for Residency Renee Wielenga. Sample Problem-Solution Essay. Sample: Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha Anna Quindlen Sample Problem-Solution Essay. Sample: No Mercy Malcolm Gladwell Writing Guidelines Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 21. Taking Essay Tests. Reviewing for Tests. Perform daily reviews ; Perform weekly reviews Forming a Study Group Consider the Testing Situation Taking the Essay Test. Look for key words ; Plan and write the essay-test answer Writing Under Pressure : The Essay Test Quick Guide Taking an Objective Test Tips for Coping with Test Anxiety -- 22. Writing for the Workplace. Writing the Business Letter. Parts of the Business Letter ; Sample Letter Writing Memos and Email. Sending Email Applying for a Job. Sample Letter of Application ; Sample Recommendation Request Letter ; The Application Essay ; Model Application Essay ; Preparing a Resume ; Sample Resume ; Sample Electronic Resume -- 23. Preparing Oral Presentations. Organizing Your Presentation. Prepare an introduction ; Develop the body ; Come to a conclusion ; Hold a Q and A session Writing Your Presentation. Sample: Save Now or Pay Later Burnette Sawyer ; Use visual aids Developing Computer Presentations Overcoming Stage Fright Checklist.

III. Research and Writing. 24. Getting Started : From Planning Research to Evaluating Sources. Quick Guide : Papers with Documented Research The Research Process : A Flowchart Getting Focused. Establish a narrow, manageable topic ; Brainstorm research questions ; Develop a working thesis Understanding Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources. Primary Sources ; Secondary Sources ; Tertiary Sources Developing a Research Plan. Choose research methods ; Get organized to do research Writing a Research Proposal. Understand the parts of a research proposal -- Sample: Film Studies 201 Proposal : Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as Fiction and Film Gwendolyn Mackenzie Exploring Information Resources and Sites. Consider different information resources ; Consider different information sites Conducting Effective Keyword Searches. Choose keywords carefully ; Use keyword strategies ; Engaging and Evaluating Sources. Engage your sources ; Rate source reliability and depth ; Evaluate print and online sources Creating a Working Bibliography. Choose an orderly method ; Annotate the source Developing a Note-Taking System. Develop note-taking strategies ; Employ note-taking systems Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting Source Material. Summarize useful passages ; Paraphrase key passages ; Quote crucial phrases, sentences, and passages Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism. Practice the principles of ethical research Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 25. Conducting Research : Primary, Library, Web. Planning Primary Research. Methods of Primary Research ; Principles for doing Primary Research Conducting Surveys. Sample Survey Analyzing Texts, Documents, Records, and Artifacts. Choose evidence close to your topic ; Put the document or artifact in context Frame your examination with questions. Draw coherent conclusions about meaning Conducting Interviews. Sample Interview Note-Taking Sheet Making Observations. Prepare to observe ; Conduct your observations ; Make sense of your observations Becoming Familiar with the Library Searching the Catalog. Locating Resources by Call Numbers ; Classification Systems Using Books in Research. Approach the book systematically Using Reference Resources. Check reference works that supply information ; Check reference works that are research tools Finding Articles Via Databases. Search online databases ; Generate citation lists of promising articles ; Study citations and capture identifying information ; Find and retrieve the full text of the article Understanding Internet Basics Using a Subject Guide/Directory Using Search and Metasearch Using Search Engines as Research Tools. Use search engines well Understanding the Uses and Limits of Wikipedia. Know Wikipedia's strengths ; Understand Wikipedia's standards for truth ; Know Wikipedia's weaknesses ; Use Wikipedia cautiously Evaluating Online Sources. Assignment Restrictions ; Author/Organization ; Balance or Bias ; Quality of Information ; Quality of Writing and Design ; Evaluation Checklist Sample Evaluations Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist.

26. Building Credibility : Avoiding Plagiarism. Developing Credibility through Source Use. Writing with Poor Use of Sources ; Writing with Strong Use of Sources Recognizing Plagiarism. What is plagiarism? ; What does plagiarism look like? Understanding Why Plagiarism is Serious. Academic Dishonesty ; Theft from the Academic Community ; Now and in the Future Avoiding Plagiarism Avoiding Other Source Abuses. Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 27. Drafting Papers with Documented Research. Reviewing Your Findings. Conduct Q and A ; Deepen Your Thinking on the Topic ; Imagine Your Paper Sharpening Your Working Thesis. Deepen Your Thesis ; Question Your Thesis Considering Methods of Organization. Organizational Practices That Consider Sources ; Traditional Organizational Patterns Considering Drafting Strategies. Choose a Drafting Method ; Respect Your Sources While Drafting ; Reason with Evidence Using Source Material in Your Writing. Integrate Source Material Carefully ; Effectively Document Your Sources ; Mark Changes to Quotations ; Sample Research Paper: A Humanities Essay. Sample: The Audience-Actor Relationship in Shakespeare's Globe Paige Greco Sample Research Paper: The Science IMRAD Report. Sample: The Effects of the Eastern Red Cedar on Seedlings and Implications for Allelopathy Dana Kleckner, Brittany Korver, Nicolette Storm, and Adam Verhoef Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 28. MLA Style. MLA Documentation : A Quick Guide. In-Text Citation : The Basics ; Works Cited : The Basics MLA Format Guidelines. MLA Format at a Glance ; Whole-Paper Format and Printing Issues ; Typographical Issues ; Page-Layout Issues Guidelines for In-Text Citations. Citations for regular sources ; Citations for sources without traditional authorship and/or pagination Sample In-Text Citations MLA Works Cited Quick Guide Works-Cited Entries : Nonperiodical Print Publications Works-Cited Entries : Print Periodical Articles Works-Cited Entries : Online Sources Works-Cited Entries : Other Sources (Primary, Personal, and Multimedia) Sample MLA Paper. Sample Paper: Why the World Deserves Better than Fair Trade Paige Louter ; Sample Paper: Works-Cited List Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist -- 29. APA Style. APA Documentation : A Quick Guide. In-Text Citation : The Basics ; References : The Basics APA Format Guidelines Guidelines for In-Text Citations. Sample In-Text Citations APA References Quick Guide Reference Entries : Books and Other Documents Reference Entries : Print Periodical Articles Reference Entries : Online Sources Reference Entries : Other Sources (Primary, Personal, and Multimedia) Sample APA Paper. Sample: Teaching K-12 English Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom Amanda Khoe ; Sample Title Page ; Sample Abstract ; APA Research Paper: The Body ; Sample Paper: References List Critical-Thinking and Writing Activities. Learning-Objectives Checklist.

IV. Handbook. 30. Marking Punctuation. Period ; Ellipsis ; Question Mark. Exercises Comma. Exercises Semicolon ; Colon ; Hyphen ; Dash. Exercises Quotation Marks ; Italics (Underlining) ; Parentheses ; Diagonal ; Brackets ; Exclamation Point Apostrophe. Exercises -- 31. Checking Mechanics. Capitalization. Exercises Plurals ; Numbers. Exercises Abbreviations ; Acronyms and Initialisms. Exercises Basic Spelling Rules ; Commonly Misspelled Words ; Steps to Becoming a Better Speller. Exercises. 32. Using the Right Word. Exercises ; Exercises ; Exercises ; Exercises 33. Understanding Grammar. Noun. Classes of Nouns Forms of Nouns. Exercises Pronoun. Classes of Pronouns Forms of Personal Pronouns. Exercises Verb. Classes of Verbs Forms of Verbs Verbals. Irregular Verbs ; Exercises Adjective Adverb Preposition Conjunction Interjection. Exercises 34. Constructing Sentences. Using Subjects and Predicates. The Subject The Predicate (Verb). Exercises Using Phrases. Types of Phrases Using Clauses. Types of Clauses Using Sentence Variety. Kinds of Sentences Structure of Sentences. Exercises 35. Avoiding Sentence Errors. Subject-Verb Agreement Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement. Exercises Shifts in Sentence Construction Fragments, Comma Splices, and Run-Ons. Exercises Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers Ambiguous Wording. Exercises Nonstandard Language. Exercises Avoiding Sentence Problems. Quick Guide -- 36. Multilingual and ESL Guidelines. Five Parts of Speech. Noun Articles and Other Noun Markers. Exercises Verb Objects and Complements of Verbs. Exercises Adjective Adverb Preposition. Exercises Understanding Sentence Basics Sentence Problems. Exercises Numbers, Word Parts, and Idioms. Numbers Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots. Exercises Idioms. Exercises Targeting Trouble Spots. Help for Speakers of Latin Languages ; Help for Speakers of European Languages ; Help for Speakers of African and Caribbean Languages ; Help for Speakers of East Asian Languages ; Help for Speakers of Middle-Eastern Languages. Exercises Credits.

Combining streamlined instruction in the writing process with outstanding accessibility, THE ColoradoLLEGE WRITER is a fully updated four-in-one book-with a rhetoric, a reader, a research guide, and a handbook-for users at any skill level. Throughout the book, numerous student and professional writing samples highlight important features of academic writing-from voice to documentation-and offer models for users' own papers. The fifth edition features a greater focus on writing across the curriculum, further supported within the research chapters by additional coverage of report writing, primary research, and avoiding plagiarism. ; Amazon.com

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