Subject and Strategy A Writer's Reader

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No other rhetorical reader offers this much accessible writing instruction at such an affordable price. With engaging readings, innovative classroom exercises, and effective writing assignments, Subject & Strategy guides students in selecting, practicing, and mastering writing strategies that suit their subject and purpose. More than 90 readings usefully model how the rhetorical patterns work alone and together in successful writing. The praised “Writers on Writing” chapter motivates students to see themselves as writers, and thorough coverage of reading and writing, research, documentation, and grammar provides a foundation for success in the course. Now with multimodal e-Page readings that take advantage of what the Web can do, the book does more than ever to help your students read and write effectively.

Paul Eschholz and Alfred Rosa are professors emeriti of English at the University of Vermont. They have directed statewide writing programs and conducted numerous workshops throughout the country on writing and the teaching of writing.  Eschholz and Rosa have collaborated on a number of best-selling texts for Bedford/St. Martin's, including Subject & Strategy, Eleventh Edition (2008); Outlooks and Insights: A Reader for College Writers, Fourth Edition (1995); with Virginia Clark, Language Awareness, Tenth Edition (2009); and, with Virginia Clark and Beth Simon, Language: Readings in Language and Culture, Seventh Edition (2007).

*New to this edition

1 Reading

Developing an Effective Reading Process

     Step 1: Prepare Yourself to Read the Selection

     Step 2: Read the Selection

     Step 3: Reread the Selection

     Step 4: Annotate the Selection

          An Example: Annotating Cherokee Paul McDonald’s "A View from the Bridge"

          *Cherokee Paul McDonald, A View from the Bridge

     Step 5: Analyze and Evaluate the Selection

The Reading Process in Action: Thomas L. Friedman's "My Favorite Teacher"

About the Photographs and Visual Texts in This Book

The Reading-Writing Connection

     Reading as a Writer

2 Writing

Developing an Effective Writing Process

     Step 1: Understand Your Assignment

          Finding a Subject Area and Focusing on a Topic

          Determine Your Purpose

          Know Your Audience

     Step 2: Gather Ideas and Formulate a Thesis

          Brainstorming

          Clustering

          Researching

          Rehearsing Ideas

          Formulating a Thesis

     Step 3: Organize and Write Your First Draft

          Determining a Strategy for Developing Your Essay

          Choosing Strategies across the Disciplines

          Writing Your First Draft

          Academic Writing

     Step 4: Revise Your Essay

          Taking Advantage of Peer Critiques

          Revising the Larger Elements of Your Essay

          Writing Beginnings and Endings

          Revising the Smaller Elements of Your Essay

     Step 5: Edit and Proofread Your Essay

A Student Essay in Progress

     Step 1: Keith's Assignment

     Step 2: Keith's Ideas

     Step 3: Keith's First Draft

     Step 4: Keith's Revised Essay

     Step 5: Keith's Edited Essay

          Keith Eldred, Secular Mantras (student essay)

3 Writers on Writing

     Russell Baker, Discovering the Power of My Words

     Anne Lamott, Shitty First Drafts

     Linda Flower, Writing for an Audience

     William Zinsser, Simplicity

     *Susan Orlean, On Voice

     Stephen King, Reading to Write

     e-Pages *Jonathan Beer, Writing Process Animation

4 Narration

What is Narration?

Narration in Written Texts

Using Narration as a Writing Strategy

Using Narration across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Narration as a Writing Strategy

     Laura LaPierre, Why Are You Here? (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Narration as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Narration Essay

          Select a Topic That Has Meaning for You

          Determine Your Point and Purpose

          Establish a Context

          Choose the Most Appropriate Point of View

          Gather Details That "Show, Don't Tell"

     Organizing Your Narration Essay

          Identify the Sequence of Events in Your Narrative

     Writing Your Narration Essay

          Keep Your Verb Tense Consistent

          Use Narrative Time for Emphasis

          Use Transitional Words to Clarify Narrative Sequence

          Use Dialogue to Bring Your Narrative to Life

     Revising and Editing Your Narration Essay

          Share Your Draft with Others

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

Malcolm X, Coming to an Awareness of Language

*Elisa Mala, Crime Family

David P. Bardeen, Not Close Enough for Comfort

Barry Winston, Stranger Than True

*Jennifer 8. Lee, For Immigrant Family, No Easy Journey

e-Pages *Lt. Dan Choi, Don't Tell, Martha!

Writing Suggestions for Narration

5 Description

What is Description?

Description in Written Texts

Using Description as a Writing Strategy

Using Description across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Description as a Writing Strategy

     James C. Tassé, Trailcheck (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Description as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Description Essay

          Determine a Purpose

          Use Description in the Service of an Idea

     Organizing Your Description Essay

          Create a Dominant Impression

          Organize Your Details to Create a Vivid Picture

     Revising and Editing Your Description Essay

          Show, Don't Tell: Use Specific Nouns and Action Verbs

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Description

*Jeannette Walls, A Woman on the Street

Pat Mora, Remembering Lobo

Robert Ramirez, The Barrio

*E. B. White, Once More to the Lake

Maya Angelou, Sister Flowers

e-Pages *Vocativ, Tower of David

Writing Suggestions for Description

6 Illustration

What is Illustration?

Illustration in Written Texts

Using Illustration as a Writing Strategy

Using Illustration across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Illustration as a Writing Strategy

     Paula Kersch, Weight Management: More than a Matter of Good Looks (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Illustration as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Illustration Essay

          Focus on Your Thesis or Main Idea

          Gather More Examples Than You Can Use

          Choose Relevant Examples

          Be Sure Your Examples Are Representative

     Organizing Your Illustration Essay

          Sequence Your Examples Logically

          Use Transitions

     Revising and Editing Your Illustration Essay

          Share Your Work with Others

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Illustration

Natalie Goldberg, Be Specific

*Kal Raustiala and Chris Sprigman, In Praise of Copycats

Mitch Albom, If You Had One Day with Someone Who's Gone

*Firoozeh Dumas, Hot Dogs & Wild Geese

Deborah Tannen, How to Give Orders Like a Man

e-Pages *XPLANE, Did You Know?

Writing Suggestions for Illustration

7 Process Analysis

What is Process Analysis?

Process Analysis in Written Texts

Using Process Analysis as a Writing Strategy

     Directional Process Analysis

     Informational Process Analysis

     Evaluative Process Analysis

Using Process Analysis across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Process Analysis as a Writing Strategy

     Shoshanna Lew, How (Not) to Be Selected for Jury Duty (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Process Analysis as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Process Analysis Essay

          Know the Process You Are Writing About

          Have a Clear Purpose

     Organizing Your Process Analysis Essay

          Organize the Process into Steps

          Use Transitions to Link the Steps

     Revising and Editing Your Process Analysis Essay

          Energize Your Writing: Use the Active Voice and Strong Action Verbs

          Use Consistent Verb Tense

          Share Your Drafts with Others

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Process Analysis

Mortimer Adler, How to Mark a Book

Tiffany O'Callaghan, Young Love

Michael Pollan, Eating Industrial Meat

*Robert Krulwich, Are Butterflies Two Different Animals in One? The Death and Resurrection Theory

Nikki Giovanni, Campus Racism 101

e-Pages *Sustainable America, How to Compost in Your Apartment

Writing Suggestions for Process Analysis

8 Comparison and Contrast

What are Comparison and Contrast?

Comparison and Contrast in Written Texts

Using Comparison and Contrast as a Writing Strategy

Using Comparison and Contrast across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Comparison and Contrast as a Writing Strategy

     Barbara Bowman, Guns and Cameras (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Comparison and Contrast as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Comparison and Contrast Essay

          Compare Subjects from the Same Class

          Determine Your Purpose, and Focus on it

          Formulate a Thesis Statement

          Choose the Points of Comparison

     Organizing and Writing Your Comparison and Contrast Essay

          Choose an Organizational Pattern That Fits Your Material

          Use Parallel Constructions for Emphasis

     Revising and Editing Your Comparison and Contrast Essay

          Share Your Drafts with Others

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Comparison and Contrast

Suzanne Britt, Neat People vs. Sloppy People

*Mark Bittman, Which Diet Works?

Bharati Mukherjee, Two Ways to Belong in America

*Andrew Vachss, Difference Between ‘Sick’ and ‘Evil’

Bruce Catton, Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts

e-Pages *Devin Hahn, One Small Step for Man

Writing Suggestions for Comparison and Contrast

9 Division and Classification

What are Division and Classification?

Division and Classification in Written Texts

Using Division and Classification as a Writing Strategy

Using Division and Classification across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Division and Classification as a Writing Strategy

     *Gerald Dromos, NYM’s Talk (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Division and Classification as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Division and Classification Essay

          Determine Your Purpose, and Focus on It

          Formulate a Thesis Statement

     Organizing and Writing Your Division and Classification Essay

          Establish Valid Categories

          State Your Conclusion

     Revising and Editing Your Division and Classification Essay

          Listen to What Your Classmates Have to Say

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Division and Classification

Rosalind Wiseman, The Queen Bee and Her Court

*Dahlia Lithwick, Chaos Theory: A Unified Theory of Muppet Types

Judith Viorst, The Truth about Lying

Martin Luther King Jr., The Ways of Meeting Oppression

*Maria Konnikova, 'Beam Us Up, Mr. Scott!': Why Misquotations Catch On

e-Pages *Flowtown, Social Media Demographics: Who's Using Which Sites?

Writing Suggestions for Division and Classification

10 Definition

What is Definition?

Definition in Written Texts

Using Definition as a Writing Strategy

Using Definition across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Definition as a Writing Strategy

     Howard Solomon, Jr., Best Friends (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Definition as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Definition Essay

          Determine Your Purpose

          Formulate a Thesis Statement

          Consider Your Audience

          Choose a Type of Definition That Fits Your Subject

     Organizing and Writing Your Definition Essay

          Develop an Organizational Plan

          Use Other Rhetorical Strategies to Support Your Definition

     Revising and Editing Your Definition Essay

          Share Your Drafts with Others

          Select Words That Accurately Denote and Connote What You Want to Say

          Use Specific and Concrete Words

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Definition

Jo Goodwin Parker, What Is Poverty?

G. Anthony Gorry, Steal This MP3 File: What Is Theft?

Deborah M. Roffman, What Does 'Boys Will Be Boys' Really Mean?

Sojourner Truth, Ain't I a Woman?

*Walter Isaacson, The Genius of Jobs

e-Pages *GOOD, Not Your Parents' American Dream

Writing Suggestions for Definition

11 Cause and Effect Analysis

What is Cause and Effect Analysis?

Cause and Effect Analysis in Written Texts

Using Cause and Effect Analysis as a Writing Strategy

Using Cause and Effect Analysis across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Cause and Effect Analysis as a Writing Strategy

     Kevin Cunningham, Gentrification (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Cause and Effect Analysis as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Cause and Effect Analysis

          Establish Your Focus

          Determine Your Purpose

          Formulate a Thesis Statement

     Organizing and Writing Your Cause and Effect Analysis

          Avoid Oversimplification and Errors of Logic

          Use Other Rhetorical Strategies

     Revising and Editing Your Cause and Effect Analysis

          Select Words That Strike a Balanced Tone

          Share Your Draft with Others

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Cause and Effect Analysis

Jon Katz, How Boys Become Men

*Carrie Arnold, Is Anorexia a Cultural Disease?

Andrew Sullivan, iPod World: The End of Society?

Carl M. Cannon, The Real Computer Virus

Michael Jonas, The Downside of Diversity

e-Pages *Casey Neistat, Texting While Walking

Writing Suggestions for Cause and Effect Analysis

12 Argumentation

What is Argumentation?

Argument in Written Texts

Using Argumentation as a Writing Strategy

Using Argumentation across the Disciplines

Sample Student Essay Using Argumentation as a Writing Strategy

     *Kate Suarez, Celebrity Obsession: Healthy Behavior? (student essay)

Suggestions for Using Argumentation as a Writing Strategy

     Planning Your Argumentation Essay

          Determine Your Thesis or Proposition

          Consider Your Audience

          Gather Supporting Evidence

     Organizing and Writing Your Argumentation Essay

          Choose an Organizational Pattern

          Consider Refutations to Your Argument

          Use Other Rhetorical Strategies

          Conclude Forcefully

     Revising and Editing Your Argumentation Essay

          Avoid Faulty Reasoning

          Share Your Draft with Others

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Argumentation

Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence

Richard Lederer, The Case for Short Words

Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream

Steven Pinker, In Defense of Dangerous Ideas

*Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Two Cheers for Sweatshops

e-Pages *Slavery Footprint, How Many Slaves Work For You?

          *Argument Cluster: Sports and Doping

          *Ian Steadman, How Sports Would Be Better with Doping

          *Reid Forgrave, No Easy Answer for PEDs, Youth

          *Jonathan Vaughters, How to Get Doping Out of Sports

          e-Pages *Peter Singer, Is Doping Wrong?

Writing Suggestions for Argumentation

          *Argument Cluster: Technology and Privacy

          *Joel Stein, Data Mining: How Companies Now Know Everything About You

          *Massimo Calabresi, The Phone Knows All

          *Rafi Ron, Man Versus Machine

          e-Pages *Jim Harper, It’s Modern Trade: Web Users Get as Much as They Give

Writing Suggestions for Argumentation

          *Argument Cluster: College: Is It Worth the Cost?

          *Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney, Where Is the Best Place to Invest $102,000—In Stocks, Bonds, or a College Degree?

          *Maureen Tkacik, The Student Loan Crisis that Can’t Be Gotten Rid Of

          *Teresa Sullivan, Four Kinds of Value in Higher Education

          e-Pages *Lamar Alexander, The Three-Year Solution

13 Combining Strategies

What Does it Mean to Combine Strategies?

Combining Strategies in Written Texts

Sample Student Essay Using a Combination of Strategies

     Tara E. Ketch, Kids, You Can't Read That Book! (student essay)

Suggestions for Using a Combination of Strategies in an Essay

     Planning Your Combined Strategies Essay

          Determine Your Purpose

          Formulate a Thesis Statement

     Organizing Your Combined Strategies Essay

          Determine Your Dominant Strategy

          Determine Your Supporting Strategies 

     Revising and Editing Your Combined Strategies Essay

          Listen to What Your Classmates Have to Say

          Question Your Own Work While Revising and Editing

     Questions for Revising and Editing: Combining Strategies

Lars Eighner, On Dumpster Diving

*Perri Klass, How Babies Sort Out Language

George Orwell, Shooting an Elephant

Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

e-Pages *Halftone, Why is the Sky Blue? 

Writing Suggestions for Combining Strategies

14 Writing with Sources

What Does It Mean to Write with Sources?

Writing with Sources

     Summarizing

     Paraphrasing

     Using Direct Quotation

     Integrating Borrowed Material into Your Text

Avoiding Plagiarism

     Using Quotation Marks for Language Borrowed Directly

     Using Your Own Words and Word Order When Summarizing and Paraphrasing

Sample Student Essay Using Library and Internet Sources

     *Courtney Sypher, From Computer Cruelty to Campus Crime: Cyberbullying at College (student essay)

     Lily Huang, The Case of the Disappearing Rabbit

     *Jane S. Shaw, Nature in the Suburbs

     Jake Jamieson, The English-Only Movement: Can America Proscribe Language With a Clear Conscience? (student essay)

e-Pages *Megan Garber, The Curator's Guide to the Galaxy

15 A Brief Guide to Researching and Documenting Essays

Establishing a Realistic Schedule

Finding and Using Sources

     Conducting Keyword Searches　　

     Using Subject Directories to Define and Develop Your Research Topic

Evaluating Your Sources

Analyzing Your Sources

Developing a Working Bibliography

Taking Notes

Documenting Sources

     In-Text Citations

          Periodical Print Publications: Journals, Magazines, and　Newspapers

          Nonperiodical Print Publications: Books, Brochures, and Pamphlets

     Web Publications

          Online Scholarly Journals

          Periodical Publications in an Online Database

          Nonperiodical Web Publications

     Additional Common Sources

16 Editing for Grammar, Punctuation, and Sentence Style

Run-Ons: Fused Sentences and Comma Splices

Sentence Fragments

Comma Faults

Subject-Verb Agreement

Unclear Pronoun References

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

Faulty Parallelism

Weak Nouns and Verbs

Shifts in Verb Tense, Mood, and Voice

Wordiness

Sentence Variety

*Appendix: Thematic Writing Assignments

Glossary of Rhetorical Terms