Four in One Rhetoric, Reader, Research Guide, and Handbook SECOND EDITION Edward A. Dornan Orange Coast College Robert Dees Orange Coast College New York San Francisco Boston London Toronto Sydney Tokyo Singapore Madrid Mexico City Munich Paris Cape Town Hong Kong Montreal
Preface xiii PART I Getting Started 1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction: Thinking, Reading, and Writing 3 Critical Thinking and Writing 3 Critical Reading and Writing 4 Critical Reading Phases 6 PART II Writing College Essays 17 CHAPTER 2 Preparing to Write an Essay 19 Writing and Thinking 19 Writing Sharpens Critical Thinking 19 Writing Provides a Record of Thinking 20 Levels of Thinking 20 Assess the Writing Situation 21 Determine an Assignment s Length and Time Limit 21 Clarify the Purpose of the Assignment 21 Use Common Information Sources 24 Picture a Reader 24 Employ Common Essay Conventions 26 Have a Dominant Purpose 26 Use a Consistent Essay Strategy 27 Use Consistent Paragraph Strategies 28 Activities 28 CHAPTER 3 The Composing Process: Prewriting and Informal Planning 32 A Student s Composing Process 33 Assessment of the Writing Situation 36 Use Prewriting Techniques to Explore an Assignment 38 Listing 38 Freewriting 39 Clustering 39 Asking Questions 41 Consulting 41 Identify and Limit a Subject 42 Compose a Purpose Statement 43 A Student s Prewriting Activities 44 Prewriting Activities at Work 44 Formulating a Purpose Statement 48 Developing an Informal Plan 48 Activities 50 CHAPTER 4 Writing a Thesis Statement and a Formal Plan 53 Write an Effective Thesis Statement 53 Make a Promise 54 Use Precise Language 55 iii
iv Imply a Method of Development 56 Forecast a Development Pattern 57 Develop a Formal Plan 58 Plan with a Reader in Mind 58 Formal Outlines 58 A Student s Outlining Process 60 Activities 61 CHAPTER 5 Writing Paragraphs for the Rough Draft 64 Write the Introduction 65 A Student Roughs Out an Introduction 67 Write the Discussion 68 Organize Discussion Paragraphs 68 A Student Roughs Out Discussion Paragraphs 78 Write the Conclusion 81 A Student Roughs Out a Conclusion 82 Create the Title 83 A Student Creates a Title 84 Combine the Sections of the Rough Draft 84 A Student Completes a Rough Draft 85 Activities 87 CHAPTER 6 Responses to a Rough Draft: Instructor and Peer Comments 88 Instructor Comments 88 Peer Comments 89 Peer-Review Responsibilities 89 Activities 92 CHAPTER 7 Revising a Rough Draft: Structure, Paragraphs, and Sentences 93 Approach Revision Systematically 94 Revise the Whole Essay 94 Revise from the Reader s Perspective 94 Revise to Add or Delete Content 95 Revise the Organization for Unity 96 Revise for Point of View 98 Revise the Paragraphs 100 Revise the Sentences 101 Guidelines for Revision 103 1. Cut Unnecessary Words 103 2. Cut Intensifiers 105 3. Select Specific and Concrete Words 107 4. Replace Weak Verbs with Strong Verbs 110 5. Make Passive Sentences Active 112 6. Eliminate Sexist Language 113 7. Consider the Denotations and Connotations of Words 114 8. Use Figurative Language with Care 114 9. Revise Sentences for Proper Coordination 116 10. Revise Sentences for Proper Subordination 118 11. Place Modifiers with Care 119 12. Correct Faulty Pronoun References 120 13. Eliminate Inconsistencies 121 14. Complete Incomplete Sentences 123 15. Maintain Parallelism 123 Activities 124
v CHAPTER 8 Preparing to Submit an Essay 125 Proofread Your Revised Draft 125 Proofread for Consistent Diction 125 Proofread for Sentence Flow and Variety 126 A Student Proofreads Her Revised Draft 127 Prepare the Final Draft Using Standard Manuscript Form 131 Materials 131 Margins 131 Indentation 132 Pagination 132 Identification 132 Title 132 A Student s Final Draft 132 Activities 136 PART III Development Patterns 137 CHAPTER 9 Description: Rendering Experience 139 Thinking by Description 139 Description 140 Writing an Essay Developed by Description 143 Provide Descriptive Detail 144 Distinguish Objective from Subjective Description 146 Create a Dominant Impression 148 Consider Arrangement of Details 149 Use Transitions 150 Revising Descriptive Paragraphs 151 Guidelines for Writing Descriptive Essays 152 Suggestions for Descriptive Essays 152 CHAPTER 10 Narration: Connecting Events 156 Thinking by Narration 156 Narration 158 Writing an Essay Developed by Narration 162 Create a Narrative Effect 162 Follow a Narrative Structure 164 Use Scene and Summary 165 Establish Point of View 167 Follow Chronological or Psychological Time 168 Use Transitions 170 Revising Narrative Paragraphs 170 Guidelines for Writing Narrative Essays 171 Suggestions for Narrative Essays 171 CHAPTER 11 Examples: Illustrating Experience 174 Thinking by Examples 174 A Student Essay Developed by Examples 175 Writing an Essay Developed by Examples 179 Use a Variety of Examples 179 Select Examples with Care 180
vi Use Examples with Purpose 180 Use Transitions 185 Revising Examples Paragraphs 185 Guidelines for Writing Examples Essays 187 Suggestions for Examples Essays 187 CHAPTER 12 Comparison: Showing Similarities and Differences 190 Thinking by Comparison 190 Comparison 190 Writing an Essay Developed by Comparison 193 Select Appropriate Subjects for Comparison 194 Establish the Comparison Early 195 Decide on the Appropriate Arrangement 196 Use Transitions 198 Revising Comparison Paragraphs 199 Guidelines for Writing Comparison Essays 200 Suggestions for Comparison Essays 200 CHAPTER 13 Cause and Effect: Exploring Reasons and Results 203 Thinking by Cause and Effect 203 Cause and Effect 204 Writing an Essay Developed by Cause and Effect 207 Avoid Reasoning Errors 209 Distinguish Causes and Effects 210 Use Transitions 215 Revising Cause and Effect Paragraphs 216 Guidelines for Writing Cause and Effect Essays 217 Suggestions for Cause and Effect Essays 217 CHAPTER 14 Process Analysis: Explaining Step by Step 222 Thinking by Process Analysis 222 Process Analysis 223 Writing an Essay Developed by Process Analysis 225 Determine the Appropriate Type of Analysis 226 Consider the Reader s Level of Knowledge 229 Use Transitions 229 Revising Process Analysis Paragraphs 230 Guidelines for Writing Process Analysis Essays 231 Suggestions for Process Analysis Essays 231 CHAPTER 15 Classification and Division: Analyzing and Arranging Experience 235 Thinking by Classification and Division 235 Classification and Division 237
vii Writing an Essay Developed by Classification and Division 240 Create Categories 240 Arrange and Label Categories 241 Use Transitions 243 Revising Classification and Division Paragraphs 243 Guidelines for Writing Classification and Division Essays 245 Suggestions for Classification and Division Essays 245 CHAPTER 16 Definition: Creating Impressions 248 Thinking by Definition 248 Definition 250 Writing an Essay Developed by Definition 253 Determine the Appropriate Type of Definition 253 Use Extended Definition with Other Development Patterns 257 Use Transitions 259 Revising Definition Paragraphs 259 Guidelines for Writing Definition Essays 260 Suggestions for Extended Definition Essays 261 CHAPTER 17 Reading and Writing an Argument 264 Thinking by Argument 264 Reading an Argument 265 Identify the Elements of an Argument 265 Distinguish Fact from Opinion 266 Evaluate Information 267 Examine Language 268 Identify Patterns of Reasoning 269 Inductive Reasoning 269 Deductive Reasoning 271 Identify Logical Fallacies 274 Writing an Essay Developed by Argument 277 Argument 278 Establish an Assertion and Provide Evidence 282 Arrange the Argument Logically 284 Recognize the Reader 284 Examine the Argument 285 Structure Argument Paragraphs 286 Revising Argument Paragraphs 289 Guidelines for Writing Argument Essays 291 Suggestions for Argument Essays 292 PART IV The Research Essay 297 CHAPTER 18 Finding and Researching a Topic 299 What Is a Research Essay? 299 Length 300 Organization 300 Including Your Own Ideas 301 Getting Started: Find and Narrow a Suitable Topic 302 Frame a Research Question 302 Start with a Topic That Interests You 303
viii Select a Topic That Allows for Discussion 304 Use Library Resources to Find and Narrow a Topic 304 Look for a Topic Online 308 Gather Information on the Research Topic 310 Consult Bibliographies 311 Use Book, Magazine, and Journal Indexes 312 Use Newspaper Indexes 313 Prepare a Working Bibliography 315 Take Notes on Your Research 316 Take Notes Strategically 316 Take Notes with a Purpose in Mind 316 Use Effective Notetaking Methods 318 Avoid Plagiarism 322 Work with a Preliminary Thesis 322 Research Exercises 324 CHAPTER 19 Researching on the Internet 326 Accessing the Internet: Online Is Onboard 326 Using Internet Addresses 326 Researching with URLs 328 Overview of Internet Systems 328 The World Wide Web: Worlds within a World 328 Search Engines: Workhorses of the Web 330 A Sample Search: Locating Internet Sources to Narrow a Topic 334 E-Mail: Electronic Letters 339 Listservs and Mailing Lists: Group E-Mail 342 Usenet/Newsgroups: Posting Information 343 Evaluating Internet Resources: Whom Can You Trust? 344 The Range of Internet Content 345 A Reliability Checklist for Internet Sources 347 Research Activities 348 CHAPTER 20 Writing Your Research Essay: From Planning to Typing the Final Draft 350 Planning Your Essay 350 Use Your Research Notes 350 Review Your Research Question 351 Review Your Preliminary Thesis Statement 351 Devise a Final (Working) Thesis Statement 352 Develop an Outline 352 Use Other Planning Strategies, as Needed 353 Writing Your Essay 353 Write an Effective Introduction 353 Develop a Discussion of the Topic 354 Write a Concluding Paragraph 356 Revise, Edit, and Proofread 357 Revise to Improve Global Qualities 357 Edit for Clarity and Correctness 357 Proofread to Make Minor Corrections 358 Guidelines for Typing Your Research Essay 359 A Student s Research Essay 361 Research Exercises 378
ix CHAPTER 21 Documenting Sources in Your Research Essay 379 MLA-Style Documentation 380 Parenthetical Citation 380 Content Notes 386 Preparing the Works Cited Page 387 Sample Works Cited Page 408 APA-Style Documentation 408 Abstracts and Headings 409 Parenthetical Citation 409 Preparing the References Page 415 Sample References Page 424 Research Exercises 424 PART V Writing for Other Purposes 427 CHAPTER 22 Writing about Literature 429 Read to Respond to the Work 429 Take Notes As You Read 429 List Your Ideas As You Read 430 Formulate a Thesis Statement about the Work 430 Write an Effective Introduction to Your Essay 431 Develop Your Discussion of the Literary Work 432 Write an Effective Conclusion to Your Essay 433 Identify Your Sources 433 Use Parenthetical Citation 434 Follow Other Standard Practices for Writing about Literature 435 Mention Authors Names 435 Write in the Present Tense 436 Avoid Using Excessive Summary 436 Create an Accurate Title 436 A Sample Essay on a Literary Work 437 Glossary of Literary Terms and Concepts 441 Activities 442 CHAPTER 23 Writing for an Essay Exam 443 Preparing for an Essay Exam 443 Review Major Course Concepts 443 Use Direction Words to Write Practice Questions 444 Prepare a List or Outline 445 Write a Practice Response 445 Make a Spelling List 446 Prepare Yourself for the Exam 446 Writing the Essay Exam 446 Read and Understand the Question 446 Plan Your Time 447 Plan Your Answer 447 Write Your Response 447 Revise and Proofread 449 A Sample Essay Exam Response 449 Activities 451 CHAPTER 24 Writing for Business: Letters, Resumes, Memos, FAXes, and E-Mail 452 Writing a Business Letter 452 Formats of Business Letters 452 Elements of Business Letters 454
x Writing a Resume and Cover Letter 457 Creating a Resume 457 Writing a Cover Letter 459 Writing a Memo 459 Memo Form 461 Writing a FAX and an E-Mail 461 Sending a FAX 461 Sending an E-Mail 463 Activities 464 PART VI Readings for Writers 465 Maya Angelou, Finishing School 467 Judy Brady, I Want a Wife 472 William F. Buckley, Jr., Why Don t We Complain? 475 K. C. Cole, Entropy 480 Barbara Ehrenreich, Marginal Men 483 Gretel Ehrlich, About Men 487 Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie 490 Neal Gabler, How Urban Myths Reveal Society s Fears 495 Leonce Gaiter, The Revolt of the Black Bourgeoisie 502 George Gilder, Why Men Marry 506 Ellen Goodman, Becoming Desensitized to Hate Words 509 Pete Hamill, Crack and the Box 512 Stephen King, Why We Crave Horror Movies 517 Michael Levin, The Case for Torture 520 William Lutz, Doublespeak 523 William Ian Miller, Gifts and Honor: An Exchange 528 George Orwell, A Hanging 534 Neil Postman, Future Shlock 539 Francine Prose, Gossip 546 Tom Regan, Animal Rights, Human Wrongs 549 Stephen Rose, Proud To Be a Speciesist 554 George Simpson, The War Room at Bellevue 559 Brent Staples, Black Men and Public Space 564 Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal 568 Amy Tan, Mother Tongue 573 Paul Theroux, Being a Man 580 Lewis Thomas, On Natural Death 583 Mark Twain, The Damned Human Race 586 E. B. White, Once More to the Lake 593 Marie Winn, TV Addiction 599 PART VII Handbook 603 Sentence Errors 605 Sentence Fragments 605 Run-On Sentences 608 Subject/Verb Agreement 610 Verb Tense 615 Pronoun Case 616 Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement 621 Pronoun Reference 623 Gender-Neutral Language 625 Reminders for ESL Writers 627 Punctuation 641 Commas 641 Semicolons 649
xi Colons 650 Dashes 652 Apostrophes 653 Quotation Marks 655 Ellipses 659 Parentheses 660 Brackets 661 Slashes 661 End Punctuation Marks 662 Mechanics 664 Capitalization 664 Underlining 666 Numbers 668 Abbreviations 668 Hyphens 670 Spelling 671 Author Biographies 679 Indexes Rhetorical Index 681 Thematic Index 683 General Index 685 Credits 695