Focus on Reading and Writing
EssaysFirst Edition ©2015New Edition Available
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Focus on Reading and Writing is a new book by veteran author team Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell and in collaboration with t...
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Also Available: Updated 2nd Edition
Focus on Reading and Writing is a new book by veteran author team Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell and in collaboration with two reading specialists. It provides thorough, integrated instruction on reading and writing essays and includes several effective features to help students make the connection between the reading and writing processes, including TEST—Kirszner and Mandell’s simple and effective reading and writing tool designed to help students gauge their progress. Kirszner and Mandell believe that students learn best when they try their hand at a new concept first with their own work. That’s why they designed the Focus on Reading and Writing strand throughout each chapter. This strand first prompts students to read and write, then learn essential concepts, and ultimately apply those concepts while re-reading and revising. With a complete grammar guide, supplementary online grammar practice, and 23 professional reading selections, this comprehensive text gets students reading, writing, and thinking critically in preparation for academic, career, and life success.
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Table of Contents
Introduction: Using TEST When You Read and WriteTESTing EssaysTESTing Body ParagraphsUNIT 1 READING TO WRITE1 Understanding the Active Reading Process Before You ReadAs You ReadAfter You ReadWriting a Response ParagraphChapter Review2 Building Vocabulary for Reading and WritingUnderstanding Your Vocabularies"Knowing" WordsAcquiring New WordsUsing New Words in Your Writing
UNIT 4 BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE14 Understanding Verbs Regular VerbsIrregular VerbsProblem Verbs: BeProblem Verbs: Can/Could and Will/WouldRegular Past ParticiplesIrregular Past ParticiplesThe Present Perfect TenseThe Past Perfect Tense15 Understanding Nouns and Pronouns Identifying NounsForming Plural NounsIdentifying PronounsPronoun-Antecedent AgreementSpecial Problems with AgreementVague and Unnecessary PronounsPronoun CaseSpecial Problems with Pronoun CaseReflexive and Intensive Pronouns16 Understanding Adjectives and AdverbsIdentifying Adjectives and AdverbsComparatives and Superlatives 17 Writing Simple, Compound, and Complex SentencesSIMPLE SENTENCESIdentifying SubjectsIdentifying Prepositional PhrasesIdentifying VerbsCOMPOUND SENTENCESUsing Coordinating ConjunctionsUsing SemicolonsUsing Transitional Words and PhrasesCOMPLEX SENTENCESUsing Subordinating ConjunctionsUsing Relative Pronouns18 Writing Varied SentencesVarying Sentence TypesVarying Sentence OpeningsCombining SentencesMixing Long and Short Sentences19 Using ParallelismRecognizing Parallel StructureUsing Parallel Structure20 Using Words Effectively Using Specific WordsUsing Concise LanguageUsing Similes and MetaphorsAvoiding SlangAvoiding ClichésAvoiding Sexist LanguageCommonly Confused Words21 Run-Ons and Comma SplicesRecognizing Run-Ons Correcting Run-Ons22 FragmentsRecognizing FragmentsMissing-Subject FragmentsPhrase FragmentsIncomplete-Verb Fragments Dependent Clause Fragments 23 Subject-Verb AgreementUnderstanding Subject-Verb AgreementCompound SubjectsBe, Have, and DoWords between Subject and Verb Collective Noun SubjectsIndefinite Pronoun SubjectsVerbs before Subjects24 Illogical ShiftsShifts in TenseShifts in PersonShifts in Voice25 Misplaced and Dangling ModifiersCorrecting Misplaced ModifiersCorrecting Dangling Modifiers 26 Using CommasCommas in a SeriesCommas with Introductory Phrases and Transitional Words and PhrasesCommas with AppositivesCommas with Nonrestrictive ClausesCommas in Dates and AddressesUnnecessary Commas27 Using ApostrophesApostrophes in ContractionsApostrophes in PossessivesIncorrect Use of Apostrophes 28 Understanding MechanicsCapitalizing Proper NounsPunctuating Direct QuotationsSetting Off Titles Using HyphensUsing AbbreviationsUsing NumbersUsing Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and ParenthesesUNIT 5 READING ESSAYS 29 Readings for Writers Reading and Writing Amy Tan, "Mother Tongue" Richard Lederer, "The Case for Short Words" Richard Wright, "The Library Card" Teaching and Learning Joshuah Bearman, "My Half-Baked Bubble" Adam Goodheart, "How to Mummify a Pharaoh" Carolyn Foster Segal, "The Dog Ate My Flashdrive, and Other Tales of Woe" Gender John Gray, "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" Judy Brady, "I Want a Wife" D. B. Grady, "Why Women Soldiers Don’t Belong on the Front Lines"Current Issues John Edgar Wideman, "The Seat Not Taken" Bob Herbert, "Tweet Less, Kiss More" Adam Winkler, "The Guns of Academe"
Chapter Review
3 Understanding the Writing Process STEP 1: PLANNINGUnderstanding Essay StructureMoving from Assignment to TopicFinding Ideas to Write AboutStating Your ThesisSTEP 2: ORGANIZINGChoosing Supporting PointsMaking an OutlineSTEP 3: DRAFTINGDrafting Your EssaySTEP 4: TESTING AND REVISINGTESTing Your EssayRevising Your EssaySTEP 5: EDITING AND PROOFREADINGEditing Your EssayProofreading Your EssayChapter Review4 Understanding Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and ConclusionsIntroductionsBody ParagraphsConclusionsChapter Review 5 Thinking, Reading, and Writing Critically Identifying Audience, Purpose, and ToneIdentifying Connotations and Figurative LanguageIdentifying the Main IdeaIdentifying Major and Minor PointsEvaluating the Writer’s Ideas Reading and Writing CriticallyChapter Review6 Reading and Writing about Different Kinds of TextsReading Written TextsReading VisualsResponding to VisualsChapter ReviewUNIT 2 READING AND WRITING ESSAYS7 Reading and Writing Exemplification EssaysReading Exemplification Essays Writing Exemplification Essays Integrating Reading and Writing Richard Rodriguez, "Around the World, Women Are on the Move" Chapter Review8 Reading and Writing Narrative Essays Reading Narrative Essays Writing Narrative Essays Integrating Reading and Writing Lynda Barry, "The Sanctuary of School" Chapter Review9 Reading and Writing Cause-and-Effect Essays Reading Cause-and-Effect Essays Writing Cause-and-Effect Essays Integrating Reading and Writing Julia Angwin, "How Facebook is Making Friending Obsolete" Chapter Review10 Reading and Writing Comparison-and-Contrast Essays Reading Comparison-and-Contrast Essays Writing Comparison-and-Contrast Essays Integrating Reading and Writing Steven Conn, "The Twin Revolutions of Lincoln and Darwin" Chapter Review11 Reading and Writing Argument Essays Reading Argument Essays Writing Argument Essays Integrating Reading and Writing Mary Sherry, "In Praise of the F Word" Chapter Review12 Additional Options for Organizing EssaysDescription Rachel Carson, "A Fable for Tomorrow"Process Amy Ma, "My Grandmother’s Dumpling"Classification Scott Russell Sanders, "The Men We Carry in Our Minds"Definition Julia Alvarez, "Quinceañera"UNIT 3 RESEARCH13 Working with SourcesFinding and Evaluating SourcesUsing Sources in Your WritingAvoiding PlagiarismDocumenting Sources [MLA and APA]Chapter ReviewUNIT 4 BASIC GRAMMAR GUIDE14 Understanding Verbs Regular VerbsIrregular VerbsProblem Verbs: BeProblem Verbs: Can/Could and Will/WouldRegular Past ParticiplesIrregular Past ParticiplesThe Present Perfect TenseThe Past Perfect Tense15 Understanding Nouns and Pronouns Identifying NounsForming Plural NounsIdentifying PronounsPronoun-Antecedent AgreementSpecial Problems with AgreementVague and Unnecessary PronounsPronoun CaseSpecial Problems with Pronoun CaseReflexive and Intensive Pronouns16 Understanding Adjectives and AdverbsIdentifying Adjectives and AdverbsComparatives and Superlatives 17 Writing Simple, Compound, and Complex SentencesSIMPLE SENTENCESIdentifying SubjectsIdentifying Prepositional PhrasesIdentifying VerbsCOMPOUND SENTENCESUsing Coordinating ConjunctionsUsing SemicolonsUsing Transitional Words and PhrasesCOMPLEX SENTENCESUsing Subordinating ConjunctionsUsing Relative Pronouns18 Writing Varied SentencesVarying Sentence TypesVarying Sentence OpeningsCombining SentencesMixing Long and Short Sentences19 Using ParallelismRecognizing Parallel StructureUsing Parallel Structure20 Using Words Effectively Using Specific WordsUsing Concise LanguageUsing Similes and MetaphorsAvoiding SlangAvoiding ClichésAvoiding Sexist LanguageCommonly Confused Words21 Run-Ons and Comma SplicesRecognizing Run-Ons Correcting Run-Ons22 FragmentsRecognizing FragmentsMissing-Subject FragmentsPhrase FragmentsIncomplete-Verb Fragments Dependent Clause Fragments 23 Subject-Verb AgreementUnderstanding Subject-Verb AgreementCompound SubjectsBe, Have, and DoWords between Subject and Verb Collective Noun SubjectsIndefinite Pronoun SubjectsVerbs before Subjects24 Illogical ShiftsShifts in TenseShifts in PersonShifts in Voice25 Misplaced and Dangling ModifiersCorrecting Misplaced ModifiersCorrecting Dangling Modifiers 26 Using CommasCommas in a SeriesCommas with Introductory Phrases and Transitional Words and PhrasesCommas with AppositivesCommas with Nonrestrictive ClausesCommas in Dates and AddressesUnnecessary Commas27 Using ApostrophesApostrophes in ContractionsApostrophes in PossessivesIncorrect Use of Apostrophes 28 Understanding MechanicsCapitalizing Proper NounsPunctuating Direct QuotationsSetting Off Titles Using HyphensUsing AbbreviationsUsing NumbersUsing Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and ParenthesesUNIT 5 READING ESSAYS 29 Readings for Writers Reading and Writing Amy Tan, "Mother Tongue" Richard Lederer, "The Case for Short Words" Richard Wright, "The Library Card" Teaching and Learning Joshuah Bearman, "My Half-Baked Bubble" Adam Goodheart, "How to Mummify a Pharaoh" Carolyn Foster Segal, "The Dog Ate My Flashdrive, and Other Tales of Woe" Gender John Gray, "Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus" Judy Brady, "I Want a Wife" D. B. Grady, "Why Women Soldiers Don’t Belong on the Front Lines"Current Issues John Edgar Wideman, "The Seat Not Taken" Bob Herbert, "Tweet Less, Kiss More" Adam Winkler, "The Guns of Academe"
Authors
Laurie G. Kirszner
During their long collaboration, Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell have written a number of best-selling college texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Patterns for College Writing, Foundations First, Writing First, Focus on Writing, and, most recently, Practical Argument. Laurie Kirszner is a Professor of English, Emeritus at the University of the Sciences, where she has taught composition, literature, creative writing, and scientific writing, and served as coordinator of the first-year writing program. Stephen Mandell is a Professor of English at Drexel University, where he founded and directed the basic writing program and has taught composition, literature, speech, and technical and business writing.
Stephen R. Mandell
During their long collaboration, Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell have written a number of best-selling college texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Patterns for College Writing, Foundations First, Writing First, Focus on Writing, and, most recently, Practical Argument. Laurie Kirszner is a Professor of English, Emeritus at the University of the Sciences, where she has taught composition, literature, creative writing, and scientific writing, and served as coordinator of the first-year writing program. Stephen Mandell is a Professor of English at Drexel University, where he founded and directed the basic writing program and has taught composition, literature, speech, and technical and business writing.
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Laurie G. Kirszner; Stephen R. Mandell | First Edition | ©2015 | ISBN:9781457686184Related Titles
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