Beyond the Traditional Essay: Remembering an Event 38
Guide to Writing 40
The Writing Assignment 40 Starting Points: Remembering an Event 41
Invention and Research 42 Choosing an Event to Write About 42
Ways In: Constructing a Well-Told Story 44
Creating a Dominant Impression Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice Exploring Memorabilia
Ways In: Reflecting on the Event’s Autobiographical Significance 46
Defining Your Purpose and Audience Considering Your Thesis
Planning and Drafting 47 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
Critical Reading Guide 52
Revising 53 Troubleshooting Your Draft 54
Thinking about Document Design: Integrating Visuals 55
Editing and Proofreading 56 Missing Commas after Introductory Elements Using the Past Perfect Fused Sentences
A Writer at Work 57
Jean Brandt’s Essay from Invention to Revision 57 Invention The First Draft Critical Reading and Revision
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Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 62
Reflecting on Your Writing 62
Considering the Social Dimensions: Autobiography and Self-Discovery 63
3 WRITING PROFILES 64 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Conducting an Interview 66
Reading Profiles 67
Basic Features 67
Purpose and Audience 68
Readings 69
Brian Cable, “The Last Stop” 69 John T. Edge, “I’m Not Leaving Until I Eat This Thing” 74 Susan Orlean, “Show Dog” 81 Amanda Coyne, “The Long Good-Bye: Mother’s Day in
Federal Prison” 90
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Writing Profiles 97
Guide to Writing 99
The Writing Assignment 99 Starting Points: Writing a Profile 100
Invention and Research 101 Choosing a Subject to Profile
Ways In: Finalizing Your Choice 103
Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice Setting Up a Tentative Schedule
Ways In: Collecting Information from Field Research 106
Ways In: Reflecting on Your Purpose and the Profile’s Perspective 108
Considering Your Thesis Designing Your Document
CONTENTS xxxix
Planning and Drafting 109 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Integrating Quotations from Your Interviews
Critical Reading Guide 114
Revising 115 Troubleshooting Your Draft 116
Thinking about Document Design: Creating Web-Based Essays 118
Editing and Proofreading 118 Checking the Punctuation of Quotations A Common ESL Problem: Adjective Order
A Writer at Work 120
Brian Cable’s Interview Notes and Write-Up 120 The Interview Notes The Interview Write-Up
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 124
Reflecting on Your Writing 124
Considering the Social Dimensions: Entertaining Readers, or Showing the Whole Picture? 125
4 EXPLAINING A CONCEPT 126 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Explaining a Concept 129
Reading Concept Explanations 129
Basic Features 129
Purpose and Audience 131
Readings 131
Linh Kieu Ngo, “Cannibalism: It Still Exists” (annotated student essay) 131
Anastasia Toufexis, “Love: The Right Chemistry” 136 Richard A. Friedman, “Born to Be Happy, Through a Twist
of Human Hard Wire” 143 Jeffrey Kluger, “What Makes Us Moral” 148
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Explaining a Concept 159
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CONTENTS xli
Guide to Writing 160
The Writing Assignment 160 Starting Points: Explaining a Concept 161
Invention and Research 162 Choosing a Concept to Write About
Ways In: Gaining an Overview of a Concept 164
Ways In: Focusing the Concept 165
Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice Designing Your Document Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement
Planning and Drafting 168 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Using Descriptive Verbs to Introduce Information
Critical Reading Guide 173
Revising 174 Troubleshooting Your Draft 175
Thinking about Document Design: Designing Surveys and Presenting Results 178
Editing and Proofreading 180 Using Punctuation with Adjective Clauses Using Commas with Interrupting Phrases
A Writer at Work 181
Linh Kieu Ngo’s Use of Sources 181
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 182
Reflecting on Your Writing 182
Considering the Social Dimensions: Concept Explanations and the Nature of Knowledge 183
5 FINDING COMMON GROUND 184 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Finding Common Ground 187
Reading Essays That Seek Common Ground 188
Basic Features 188
Purpose and Audience 190
Readings 191
Jeremy Bernard, “Lost Innocence” (annotated student essay) 191 Melissa Mae, “Laying Claim to a Higher Morality”
(student essay) 195 Athena Alexander, “No Child Left Behind: ‘Historic Initiative’
or ‘Just an Empty Promise’?” (student essay) 201
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Finding Common Ground 210
Guide to Writing 212
The Writing Assignment 212 Starting Points: Finding Common Ground 213
Invention and Research 214 Choosing a Set of Argument Essays to Write About Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice Thinking about Your Readers Researching the Issue Designing Your Document Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement
Planning and Drafting 221 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Weaving Quoted Materials into Your Own Sentences
Critical Reading Guide 227
Revising 228 Thinking about Document Design: Helping Readers Visualize a Solution 228
Troubleshooting Your Draft 230
Editing and Proofreading 231 Using Commas around Interrupting Phrases Correcting Vague Pronoun Reference
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A Writer at Work 232
Melissa Mae’s Analysis 232 Annotating and Charting Annotations 232 Mirko Bagaric and Julie Clarke, “A Case for Torture” 233 Kermit D. Johnson, “Inhuman Behavior: A Chaplain’s View
of Torture” 235
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 241
Reflecting on Your Writing 242
Considering the Social Dimensions: Being Fair and Impartial 242
Appendix: Two Debates 243
Debate 1: Torture 244 Understanding the Torture Debate 244
Ross Douthat, “Thinking about Torture” 245 Glenn Greenwald, “Committing War Crimes for the ‘Right
Reasons’” 248 Maryann Cusimano Love, “An End to Torture” 251
Debate 2: Same-Sex Marriage 255 Understanding the Debate over Same-Sex Marriage 255
La Shawn Barber, “Interracial Marriage: Slippery Slope?” 256 Anna Quindlen, “The Loving Decision” 258 National Review Editorial, “The Future of Marriage” 260 Andrew Sullivan, “The Right’s Contempt for Gay Lives” 261
6 ARGUING A POSITION 264 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Arguing a Position 267
Reading Essays Arguing a Position 267
Basic Features 267
Purpose and Audience 269
Readings 270
Jessica Statsky, “Children Need to Play, Not Compete” (annotated student essay) 270
Richard Estrada, “Sticks and Stones and Sports Team Names” 274
CONTENTS xliii
Amitai Etzioni, “Working at McDonald’s” 280 Amy Goldwasser, “What’s the Matter with Kids Today?” 286
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Arguing a Position 291
Guide to Writing 293
The Writing Assignment 293 Starting Points: Arguing a Position 294
Invention and Research 294 Choosing an Issue to Write About 295
Ways In: Bringing the Issue and Your Audience into Focus 297
Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice
Ways In: Developing Your Argument and Counterargument 299
Researching Your Argument Designing Your Document Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement
Planning and Drafting 302 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Fairly and Accurately Quoting Opposing Positions
Critical Reading Guide 308
Revising 309 Troubleshooting Your Draft 310
Thinking about Document Design: Adding Visuals 311
Editing and Proofreading 312 Using Commas before Coordinating Conjunctions Using Punctuation with Conjunctive Adverbs A Common ESL Problem: Subtle Differences in Meaning
A Writer at Work 315
Jessica Statsky’s Response to Opposing Positions 315 Listing Reasons for the Opposing Position Accommodating a Plausible Reason Refuting an Implausible Reason
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Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 317
Reflecting on Your Writing 317
Considering the Social Dimensions: Suppressing Dissent 318
7 PROPOSING A SOLUTION 320 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Proposing a Solution to a Problem 323
Reading Essays Proposing a Solution 323
Basic Features 323
Purpose and Audience 325
Readings 326
Patrick O’Malley, “More Testing, More Learning” (annotated student essay) 326
Karen Kornbluh, “Win-Win Flexibility” 331 Matt Miller, “A New Deal for Teachers” 338 Robert Kuttner, “Good Jobs for Americans Who
Help Americans” 346
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Proposing a Solution 355
Guide to Writing 356
The Writing Assignment 356 Starting Points: Proposing a Solution 357
Invention and Research 358 Choosing a Problem to Write About 358
Ways In: Bringing the Problem and Your Audience into Focus 361
Ways In: Exploring Your Tentative Solution 362
Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice
CONTENTS xlv
Ways In: Counterarguing Alternative Solutions 364
Researching Your Proposal Designing Your Document Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement
Planning and Drafting 366 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting A Sentence Strategy: Rhetorical Questions Working with Sources: Establishing the Problem’s Existence and Seriousness
Critical Reading Guide 373
Revising 374 Troubleshooting Your Draft 375
Thinking about Document Design: Following Formatting Conventions 376
Editing and Proofreading 377 Avoiding Ambiguous Use of This and That Revising Sentences That Lack an Agent
A Writer at Work 379
Patrick O’Malley’s Revision Process 379
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 381
Reflecting on Your Writing 381
Considering the Social Dimensions: The Frustrations of Effecting Real Change 382
8 JUSTIFYING AN EVALUATION 384 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Evaluating a Subject 386
Reading Essays Justifying Evaluations 387
Basic Features 387
Purpose and Audience 388
Readings 389
Wendy Kim, “Grading Professors” (annotated student essay) 389 Ann Hulbert, “Juno and the Culture Wars” 395
xlvi CONTENTS
Christine Romano, “‘Children Need to Play, Not Compete,’ by Jessica Statsky: An Evaluation” (student essay) 402
Christine Rosen, “The Myth of Multitasking” 409
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Justifying an Evaluation 417
Guide to Writing 419
The Writing Assignment 419 Starting Points: Justifying an Evaluation 420
Invention and Research 421 Choosing a Subject to Write About
Ways In: Bringing the Subject and Your Audience into Focus 423
Making a Tentative Judgment Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice
Ways In: Developing Your Argument and Counterargument 426
Researching Your Argument Designing Your Document Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement
Planning and Drafting 429 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Using Summary to Support Your Evaluative Argument
Critical Reading Guide 436
Revising 437 Troubleshooting Your Draft 438
Thinking about Document Design: Using Images to Support an Argument 439
Editing and Proofreading 441 Complete, Correct Comparisons Combining Sentences
A Writer at Work 443
Christine Romano’s Counterargument of Objections 443
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 444
Reflecting on Your Writing 444
CONTENTS xlvii
Considering the Social Dimensions: Evaluators’ Hidden Assumptions 445
9 SPECULATING ABOUT CAUSES 446 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Speculating about Causes 449
Reading Essays That Speculate about Causes 449
Basic Features 449
Purpose and Audience 451
Readings 451
Sheila McClain, “Fitness Culture: A Growing Trend in America” (annotated student essay) 451
Stephen King, “Why We Crave Horror Movies” 456 Erica Goode, “The Gorge-Yourself Environment” 461 Jeremy Hsu, “The Secrets of Storytelling: Why We Love a
Good Yarn” 471
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Speculating about Causes 477
Guide to Writing 479
The Writing Assignment 479 Starting Points: Speculating about Causes 480
Invention and Research 481 Considering Subjects and Their Possible Causes Exploring What You Know and Need to Find Out about Your Subject Analyzing Your Readers Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice
Ways In: Developing Your Argument and Counterargument 485
Designing Your Document Defining Your Purpose for Your Readers Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement
Planning and Drafting 487 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Citing a Variety of Sources to Support Your Causal Speculations
Critical Reading Guide 493
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Revising 494 Troubleshooting Your Draft 495
Thinking about Document Design: Adding Graphs and Photos 496
Editing and Proofreading 498 Checking Your Use of Numbers Checking for Reason Is Because Constructions
A Writer at Work 500
Sheila McClain’s Analysis of Possible Causes 500
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 501
Reflecting on Your Writing 502
Considering the Social Dimensions: Causal Speculation and the Power of Authority and Ideology 502
10 ANALYZING STORIES 504 A Collaborative Activity: Practice Analyzing a Story 505
Reading Essays That Analyze Stories 506
Basic Features 506
Purpose and Audience 507
Readings 508
Sally Crane, “Gazing into the Darkness” (annotated student essay) 508
David Ratinov, “From Innocence to Insight: ‘Araby’ as an Initiation Story” (student essay) 511
Beyond the Traditional Essay: Analyzing Stories 516
Guide to Writing 517
The Writing Assignment 517 Starting Points: Analyzing Stories 518
Invention and Research 519 Finding a Story to Write About Analyzing the Story Annotating with the Suggestions for Analysis in Mind
CONTENTS xlix
Ways In: Developing Your Analysis 524
Testing Your Choice A Collaborative Activity: Testing Your Choice Formulating a Tentative Thesis Statement Researching Your Story Designing Your Document
Planning and Drafting 528 Refining Your Purpose and Setting Goals Outlining Your Draft Drafting Working with Sources: Quoting from the Story to Support Your Analysis
Critical Reading Guide 536
Revising 537 Troubleshooting Your Draft 538
Editing and Proofreading 539 Using Parallel Structure Using Ellipsis Marks Correctly
A Writer at Work 541
David Ratinov’s Invention Work 541 Annotating Examining Patterns in the Story Listing Ideas
Thinking Critically about What You Have Learned 545
Reflecting on Your Writing 545
Considering the Social Dimensions: Writing for a Specialized Audience 545
An Anthology of Short Stories 546
Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour” 547 James Joyce, “Araby” 549 William Carlos Williams, “The Use of Force” 554 Sherman Alexie, “A Good Story” 557
PART 2 Critical Thinking Strategies
11 A CATALOG OF INVENTION STRATEGIES 562 Mapping 562 Clustering Listing Outlining
Writing 568 Cubing Dialoguing Dramatizing Keeping a Journal Looping Questioning Quick Drafting
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12 A CATALOG OF READING STRATEGIES 575 Annotating 576 Martin Luther King Jr., An Annotated Sample from “Letter from
Birmingham Jail” 576
Taking Inventory 583
Outlining 583
Paraphrasing 586
Summarizing 587
Synthesizing 588
Contextualizing 589
Exploring the Significance of Figurative Language 590
Looking for Patterns of Opposition 592
Reflecting on Challenges to Your Beliefs and Values 593
Evaluating the Logic of an Argument 594 Testing for Appropriateness Testing for Believability Testing for Consistency and Completeness
Recognizing Emotional Manipulation 596
Judging the Writer’s Credibility 597 Testing for Knowledge Testing for Common Ground Testing for Fairness
PART 3 Writing Strategies
13 CUEING THE READER 600 Orienting Statements 600 Thesis Statements Forecasting Statements
Paragraphing 602 Paragraph Cues Topic Sentence Strategies
Cohesive Devices 606 Pronoun Reference Word Repetition Synonyms Sentence Structure Repetition Collocation
CONTENTS li
Transitions 610 Logical Relationships Temporal Relationships Spatial Relationships
Headings and Subheadings 613 Heading Systems and Levels Headings and Genres Frequency and Placement of Headings
14 NARRATING 615 Narrating Strategies 615 Calendar and Clock Time Temporal Transitions Verb Tense Specific Narrative Action Dialogue
Narrating a Process 623 Explanatory Process Narratives Instructional Process Narratives
15 DESCRIBING 628 Naming 628
Detailing 629
Comparing 631
Using Sensory Description 632 The Sense of Sight The Sense of Hearing The Sense of Smell The Sense of Touch The Sense of Taste
Creating a Dominant Impression 637
16 DEFINING 639 Sentence Definitions 640
Extended Definitions 641
Historical Definitions 643
Stipulative Definitions 645
17 CLASSIFYING 647 Organizing Classification 647
Illustrating Classification 649
Maintaining Clarity and Coherence 652
l i i CONTENTS
18 COMPARING AND CONTRASTING 653 Two Ways of Comparing and Contrasting 653
Analogy 657
19 ARGUING 659 Asserting a Thesis 659 Arguable Assertions Clear and Precise Wording Appropriate Qualification
Giving Reasons and Support 662 Examples Statistics Authorities Anecdotes Textual Evidence
Counterarguing 668 Acknowledging Readers’ Concerns Accommodating Readers’ Concerns Refuting Readers’ Objections
Logical Fallacies 671
20 ANALYZING VISUALS 673 Criteria for Analyzing Visuals 675
A Sample Analysis 677
21 DESIGNING DOCUMENTS 688 The Impact of Document Design 688
Considering Context, Audience, and Purpose 689
Elements of Document Design 690 Font Style and Size Headings and Body Text Numbered and Bulleted Lists Colors White Space
Visuals 695 Choose Appropriate Visuals and Design the Visuals with Their Final Use in Mind Number and Title Your Visuals Label the Parts of Your Visuals and Include Descriptive Captions Cite Your Visual Sources Integrate the Visual into the Text Use Common Sense When Creating Visuals on a Computer
CONTENTS liii
Sample Documents 703 Memos Letters E-mail Résumés Job-Application Letters Lab Reports Web Pages
PART 4 Research Strategies
22 FIELD RESEARCH 716 Observations 716 Planning the Visit Observing and Taking Notes Reflecting on Your Observations Writing Up Your Notes Preparing for Follow-Up Visits
Interviews 719 Planning and Setting Up the Interview Taking Notes during the Interview Reflecting on the Interview Writing Up Your Notes
Questionnaires 723 Focusing Your Study Writing Questions Designing the Questionnaire Testing the Questionnaire Administering the Questionnaire Writing Up the Results
23 LIBRARY AND INTERNET RESEARCH 728 Orienting Yourself to the Library 728 Taking a Tour Consulting Librarians
Getting Started 730 Knowing Your Research Task Finding Out What Your Library Offers Consulting Encyclopedias Consulting Bibliographies
Keeping Track of Your Research 733 Keeping a Working Bibliography Taking Notes
Finding Library Sources 735 General Search Strategies Finding Books: Using the Online Library Catalog Finding Articles Finding Government and Statistical Information Finding Other Library Sources
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Determining the Most Promising Sources 746
Using the Web for Research 747 Finding the Best Information Online Using E-mail and Online Communities for Research
Evaluating Sources 752 Selecting Relevant Sources Identifying Bias
24 USING SOURCES 755 Acknowledging Sources 755
Avoiding Plagiarism 756
Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing 756 Deciding Whether to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize Quoting Integrating Quotations Introducing Quotations Punctuating within Quotations Avoiding Grammatical Tangles Paraphrasing and Summarizing
Documenting Sources 764 The MLA System of Documentation The APA System of Documentation
Some Sample Research Papers 785
An Annotated Research Paper 786
25 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND LITERATURE REVIEWS 795
Annotated Bibliographies and Literature Reviews: An Overview 796 Purpose and Audience
Annotated Bibliographies 798 Different Types of Annotation Writing an Annotated Bibliography
Literature Reviews 805 Writing a Literature Review
CONTENTS lv
PART 5 Writing for Assessment
26 ESSAY EXAMINATIONS 814 Preparing for an Exam 814
Reading the Exam Carefully 815
Some Typical Essay Exam Questions 816 Define or Identify Recall Details of a Specific Source Explain the Importance or Significance Apply Concepts Comment on a Quotation Compare and Contrast Synthesize Information from Various Sources Analyze Causes Criticize or Evaluate
Planning Your Answer 824
Writing Your Answer 825
Model Answers to Some Typical Essay Exam Questions 826 Short Answers Paragraph-Length Answers Long Answers
27 WRITING PORTFOLIOS 832 The Purposes of a Writing Portfolio 832
Assembling a Portfolio for Your Composition Course 833 Selecting Work Reflecting on Your Work and Your Learning Organizing the Portfolio
PART 6 Writing and Speaking to Wider Audiences
28 ORAL PRESENTATIONS 838 Be Ready Understand the Kind of Oral Presentation You Have Been Asked to Give Assess Your Audience and Purpose
lvi CONTENTS
Determine How Much Information You Can Present in the Allotted Time Use Cues to Orient Listeners Prepare Effective and Appropriate Visuals Verify That You Will Have the Correct Equipment and Supplies Rehearse Your Presentation Deliver the Oral Presentation Professionally End Your Presentation Graciously
29 WORKING WITH OTHERS 843 Working with Others on Your Individual Writing Projects 843
Working with Others on Joint Writing Projects 845
30 WRITING IN YOUR COMMUNITY 848 Using Your Service Experience as Source Material 848 Finding a Topic Gathering Sources Writing about Your Service Experience Writing for Your Service Organization
HANDBOOK How to Use This Handbook H-1
Keeping a Record of Your Own Errors H-3
S SENTENCE BOUNDARIES H-5 S1 Comma Splices S2 Fused Sentences S3 Sentence Fragments
G GRAMMATICAL SENTENCES H-11 G1 Pronoun Reference G2 Pronoun Agreement G3 Relative Pronouns G4 Pronoun Case G5 Verbs G6 Subject-Verb Agreement G7 Adjectives and Adverbs
CONTENTS lvii
E EFFECTIVE SENTENCES H-30 E1 Missing Words E2 Shifts E3 Noun Agreement E4 Modifiers E5 Mixed Constructions E6 Integrated Quotations, Questions, and Thoughts E7 Parallelism E8 Coordination and Subordination
W WORD CHOICE H-47 W1 Concise Sentences W2 Exact Words W3 Appropriate Words
P PUNCTUATION H-57 P1 Commas P2 Unnecessary Commas P3 Semicolons P4 Colons P5 Dashes P6 Quotation Marks P7 Apostrophes P8 Parentheses P9 Brackets P10 Ellipsis Marks P11 Slashes P12 Periods P13 Question Marks P14 Exclamation Points
M MECHANICS H-85 M1 Hyphens M2 Capitalization M3 Spacing M4 Numbers M5 Underlining (Italics) M6 Abbreviations M7 Titles and Headings M8 Special Design Features M9 Spelling
L ESL TROUBLESPOTS H-104 L1 Articles L2 Verbs L3 Prepositions L4 Omitted or Repeated Words L5 Adjective Order L6 Participles
R REVIEW OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE H-115 R1 Basic Sentence Structure R2 Basic Sentence Elements
lviii CONTENTS
GL GLOSSARY OF FREQUENTLY MISUSED WORDS H-132
Author and Title Index I-1
Subject Index I-4
Index for ESL Writers I-29
CONTENTS lix
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1
1Introduction: Thinking about Writing
Philosopher Edmund Burke once said that “reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” We believe that what Burke said about reading applies to writing as well, and that reflecting on writing is one of the best ways to become a better and more versatile writer. That is why quotes from writers are sprinkled throughout this chapter. That is also why in this chapter and throughout this book, we ask you to write brief reflections, ultimately constructing a literacy narrative, a multifaceted story about yourself as a writer.
Reflection 1. A Literacy Story
Take five to ten minutes to write a story of your experience with writing. Consider the following suggestions, but do not be limited by them:
Recall an early experience of writing: What did you write? Did anyone read it? What kind of feedback did you get? How did you feel about yourself?
Think of a turning point when your attitude toward writing changed or crystallized. What happened? What changed?
Recall a person — a teacher, classmate, family member, published writer, or someone else — who influenced your writing, for good or ill. How was your writing affected?
Cast yourself as the main character of a story about writing. How would you de- scribe yourself — as a “natural” writer; as someone who struggles to write well; or somewhere in between? Consider your trajectory or “narrative arc”: Over the years, would you say you have showed steady improvement; ups and downs; more downs than ups; a decline?
Why Writing Is Important Writing helps you think and learn, enhances your chances of success, contrib- utes to your personal development, and strengthens your relationships with other people.
Writing Influences the Way You Think
The very act of writing encourages you to be creative as well as organized and logical in your thinking. When you write sentences, paragraphs, and whole essays,