- ISBN: 9780134586403 | 0134586409
- Cover: Paperback
- Copyright: 7/29/2016
For courses in English Composition.
This brief version of Writing Today has been updated to reflect the 8th Edition of the MLA Handbook (April 2016)*
This brief version of Writing Today has been updated to reflect the 8th Edition of the MLA Handbook (April 2016)*
Organized by genre--practical for college and career
Writing Today, Brief , 3rd Edition introduces indivudals to the conventions of writing memoirs, profiles, literary analyses, arguments, research papers, and more. Each chapter features a step-by-step process for composing within a given genre, as well as exemplary professional readings to promote rhetorical knowledge and critical analysis. The short chapters, the chunked writing style, and visual instruction work to ensure that individuals will transfer the skills and strategies practiced to their lives and careers. From its graphic “Quick Start Guides” to its “Write This” prompts, Writing Today, Brief challenges individuals to extend the boundaries of their writing abilities as they practice composing for the real world.
* The 8th Edition introduces sweeping changes to the philosophy and details of MLA works cited entries. Responding to the “increasing mobility of texts,” MLA now encourages writers to focus on the process of crafting the citation, beginning with the same questions for any source. These changes, then, align with current best practices in the teaching of writing which privilege inquiry and critical thinking over rote recall and rule-following.
Richard Johnson-Sheehan is a Professor of Rhetoric and Composition at Purdue University, where he is the Director of the Purdue Writing Lab. He has also directed the Introductory Composition program (ICaP) and mentored new teachers of composition for many years. He teaches a variety of courses in composition, professional writing, and writing program administration, as well as classical rhetoric and the rhetoric of science. He has published widely in these areas. His books on writing include Writing Today, now in its third edition and co-authored with Charles Paine; Technical Communication Today, now in its fifth edition; and Technical Communication Strategies for Today and Writing Proposals, now in their second editions. Professor Johnson-Sheehan was awarded 2008 Fellow of the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing and has been an officer in the Council for Writing Program Administrators.
Charles Paine is a Professor of English at the University of New Mexico, where he teaches undergraduate courses in first-year, intermediate, and professional writing as well as graduate courses in writing pedagogy, the history of rhetoric and composition, and other areas. At UNM, he directed the Rhetoric and Writing Program and the First-Year Writing Program. He is an active member of the Council of Writing Program Administrators and currently serves on its Executive Board. He co-founded and coordinates the Consortium for the Study of Writing in College, a joint effort of the National Survey of Student Engagement and the Council of Writing Program Administrators. The Consortium conducts general research into the ways that undergraduate writing can lead to enhanced learning, engagement, and other gains related to student success. He is a co-author with Richard Johnson-Sheehan of Argument Today.
Charles Paine is a Professor of English at the University of New Mexico, where he teaches undergraduate courses in first-year, intermediate, and professional writing as well as graduate courses in writing pedagogy, the history of rhetoric and composition, and other areas. At UNM, he directed the Rhetoric and Writing Program and the First-Year Writing Program. He is an active member of the Council of Writing Program Administrators and currently serves on its Executive Board. He co-founded and coordinates the Consortium for the Study of Writing in College, a joint effort of the National Survey of Student Engagement and the Council of Writing Program Administrators. The Consortium conducts general research into the ways that undergraduate writing can lead to enhanced learning, engagement, and other gains related to student success. He is a co-author with Richard Johnson-Sheehan of Argument Today.
NOTE: Both Brief and Comprehensive Tables of Contents follow.
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART 1: GETTING STARTED
1. Writing and Genres
2. Topic, Angle, Purpose
3. Readers, Contexts, and Rhetorical Situations
4. Reading Critically
PART 2: USING GENRES TO EXPRESS IDEAS
5. Memoirs
6. Profiles
7. Reviews
8. Literary Analyses
9. Rhetorical Analyses
10. Commentaries
11. Arguments
12. Proposals
13. Analytical Reports
14. Research Papers
PART 3: DEVELOPING A WRITING PROCESS
15. Inventing Ideas and Prewriting
16. Organizing and Drafting
17. Choosing A Style
18. Designing
19. Revising and Editing
PART 4: STRATEGIES FOR SHAPING IDEAS
20. Developing Paragraphs and Sections
21. Using Basic Rhetorical Patterns
22. Using Argumentative Strategies
23. Collaborating and Peer Response
PART 5: DOING RESEARCH
24. Starting Research
25. Finding Sources and Collecting Evidence
26. Citing, Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Sources
27. Using MLA Style
28. Using APA Style
PART 6: GETTING YOUR IDEAS OUT THERE
29. Writing with Social Networking
30. Creating a Portfolio
31. Succeeding on Written Exams and Assessment
32. Presenting Your Work
PART 7: HANDBOOK
1. Sentences
2. Verbs
3. Pronouns
4. Style
5. Punctuation, Mechanics, and Spelling
Appendix: Readings Arranged by Theme
Credits
Index
PART 1: GETTING STARTED
1. Writing and Genres
What Are Genres?
Using Genres to Write Successfully
Writing with Genres
Genres Are Flexible
Genres Are Adaptable to Various Situations
Genres Evolve to Suit Various Fields
Genres Shape Situations and Readers
Genres Can Be Played With
Genres in Movies
Genres and the Writing Process
Using a Writing Process
Using Genres as a Guiding Concept
Transfer: Using Genres in College and in Your Career
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
2. Topic, Angle, Purpose
Topic: What Am I Writing About?
Angle: What Is New About the Topic?
What Has Changed to Make This Topic Interesting Right Now?
What Unique Experiences, Expertise, or Knowledge Do I Have About This Topic?
Purpose: What Should I Accomplish?
Thesis Statement (Main Claim)
Informative Thesis
Argumentative Thesis
Question or Open-Ended Thesis
Implied Thesis
Choosing the Appropriate Genre
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
3. Readers, Contexts, and Rhetorical Situations
Profiling Readers
A Brief Reader Profile
Who Are My Readers?
What Are Their Expectations?
Where Will They Be Reading?
When Will They Be Reading?
Why Will They Be Reading?
How Will They Be Reading?
An Extended Reader Profile
What Are Their Needs?
What Are Their Values?
Personal Values
Customs of Their Society
Cultural Values
What Is Their Attitude Toward You and the Issue?
Analyzing the Context
Medium
Paper Documents
Electronic Documents
Public Presentations
Podcasts or Videos
Social and Political Influences
Social Trends
Economic Trends
Political Trends
Genres and the Rhetorical Situation
Angles
Purpose
Readers
Contexts
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
4. Reading Critically
Looking Through and Looking At a Text
Reading Critically: Seven Strategies
Strategy 1: Preview the Text
Strategy 2: Play the Believing and Doubting Game
Strategy 3: Annotate the Text
Strategy 4: Analyze the Proofs in the Text
Strategy 5: Contextualize the Text
Strategy 6: Analyze Your Own Assumptions and Beliefs
Strategy 7: Respond to the Text
Using Critical Reading to Strengthen Your Writing
Responding to a Text: Evaluating What Others Have Written
Responding with a Text’s Positions, Terms, and Ideas: Using What Others Have Written
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
PART 2: USING GENRES TO EXPRESS IDEAS
5. Memoirs
At-A-Glance: Memoirs
One Student’s Work: Helen Sanderson, “Diving In”
Inventing Your Memoir’s Content
Inquiring: Finding an Interesting Topic
Inquiring: Finding Out What You Already Know
Make a Map of the Scene
Record Your Story as a Podcast or Video
Storyboard the Event
Do Some Role Playing
Researching: Finding Out What Others Know
Online Sources
Print Sources
Empirical Sources
Organizing and Drafting Your Memoir
Setting the Scene in Rich Detail
The People
The Scenes
Dialogue
Main Point or Thesis
Describing the Complication
The Event
The Complication
The Immediate Reaction
Evaluating and Resolving the Complication
The Evaluation
The Resolution
Concluding with a Point—An Implied Thesis
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Evoking an Appropriate Tone or Voice
Using Dialogue
Use Dialogue to Move the Story Forward
Write the Way Your Characters Speak
Trim the Extra Words
Identify Who Is Talking
Create Unique Voices for Characters
Designing Your Memoir
Choose the Medium
Add Visuals, Especially Photos
Find a Place to Publish
Revising and Editing Your Memoir
Make Your Title Enticing
Craft the Perfect Lead
Reevaluate the Details and Cut the Fat
Microgenre: The Literacy Narrative
Frederick Douglass, “Learning to Read and Write”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Jean Whatley, “My Ex Went to Prison for Sex Crimes”
Thaddeus Gunn, “Slapstick”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
6. Profiles
At-A-Glance: Profiles
One Student’s Work: Katie Koch, “Brother, Life Coach, Friend”
Inventing Your Profile’s Content
Inquiring: Finding Out What You Already Know
Answer the Five-W and How Questions
Use Cubing
Researching: Finding Out What Others Know
Online Sources
Print Sources
Empirical Sources
Interviewing
Shadowing
Organizing and Drafting Your Profile
The Introduction
Identify Your Topic and Purpose
State Your Main Point or Thesis
The Body
Describe Your Subject
Offer Background on the Subject
Use Anecdotes to Tell Stories
Reveal Important Information Through Dialogue or Quotes
The Conclusion
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Change the Pace
Choose Words That Set a Specific Tone
Get Into Character
Designing Your Profile
Use Headings
Add Photographs
Include Pull Quotes or Breakouts
Revising and Editing Your Profile
Trim the Details That Do Not Advance Your Point
Rethink the Organization
Proofread
Microgenre: The Bio
Stephanie Wilson, NASA Astronaut
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Tim Madigan, “The Serial Rapist is Not Who You Think”
Eric Wills, “Hot for Creature”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
7. Reviews
At-A-Glance: Reviews
One Student’s Work: Christina Lieffring, “BBJ Lawnside Blues & BBQ”
Inventing Your Review’s Content
Inquiring: Discovering Common Expectations
Researching: Gathering Background Information
Answer the Five-W and How Questions
Locate Other Reviews of Your Subject
Interview or Survey Others
Prepare to Do Field Observations
Researching: Go Experience It
Organizing and Drafting Your Review
The Introduction
Identify Your Topic and Offer Background Information
State Your Purpose
State Your Main Point or Thesis
Description or Summary of the Subject
Chronological Description or Summary
Feature-by-Feature Description
Discussion of Strengths and Shortcomings
Conclusion
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Use Plenty of Detail
Set the Appropriate Tone
Changing the Pace
Designing Your Review
Choose the Appropriate Medium
Add Photographs, Audio, or Video Clips
Revising and Editing Your Review
Determine Whether Your Opinion Has Evolved
Review Your Expectations
Improve Your Tone
Edit and Proofread
Microgenre: The Rave
Haley Frederick, “Hunger Games: Catching Fire Review”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Christy Lemire, “The Lego Movie”
Andy Greenwald, “Sherlock: Resurrection”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
8. Literary Analyses
At-A-Glance: Literary Analyses
One Student’s Work: STUDENT NAME AND TITLE OF PIECE--TK
Inventing Your Literary Analysis’s Content
Read, Reread, Explore
Inquiring: What’s Interesting Here?
Explore the Genre
Explore the Complication or Conflict
Explore the Plot
Explore the Characters
Explore the Setting
Explore the Language and Tone
Researching: What Background Do You Need?
Research the Author
Research the Historical Setting
Research the Science
Organizing and Drafting Your Literary Analysis
The Introduction: Establish Your Interpretive Question
Include Background Information That Leads To Your Interpretive Question
State Your Interpretative Question Prominently and Clearly
Place Your Thesis at or Near the End of the Introduction
The Body: Summarize, Interpret, Support
Summarize and Describe Key Aspects of the Work
Build Your Case, Step by Step
Cite and Quote the Text to Back Up and Illustrate Your Points
Include Outside Support, Where Appropriate
The Conclusion: Restate Your Thesis
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Use the “Literary Present” Tense
Integrate Quoted Text
When You Quote, Tell Readers What You Want Them to Notice
Move Beyond Personal Response
Cast Interpretations as Speculative
Designing Your Literary Analysis
Revising and Editing Your Literary Analysis
Make Sure the Interpretative Question and Its Importance Are Clearly Stated
Check Your Main Claim, or What Your Interpretation Reveals About the Work
Check Whether Your Analysis Remains Focused on Your Interpretative Question and Main Claim
Make Sure You Cite, Quote, and Explain Specific Parts of the Literary Text
Verify That You Have Cited the Text Appropriately
Microgenre: The Reading Response
A Student’s Reading Response to Paul Laurence Dunbar’s, “We Wear the Mask”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour”
Daniel P. Deneau, “An Enigma in Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour’”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
9. Rhetorical Analyses
At-A-Glance: Rhetorical Analyses
One Student’s Work: Claire XXX, “Rhetorical Analysis of Match.com”
Inventing Your Rhetorical Analysis’s Content
Inquiring: Highlight Uses of Proofs
Logos: Highlighting Uses of Reason
Ethos: Highlighting Uses of Credibility
Pathos: Highlighting Uses of Emotion
Researching: Finding Background Information
Online Sources
Print Sources
Empirical Sources
Organizing and Drafting Your Rhetorical Analysis
The Introduction
Identify the Subject of Your Analysis and Offer Background Information
State the Purpose of Your Analysis
State Your Main Point or Thesis Statement
Stress the Importance of the Topic
Explanation of Rhetorical Concepts
Provide Historical Context and Summary
Historical Context
Summary
Analysis of the Text
The Conclusion
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Use Lots of Detail to Describe the Text
Minimize the Jargon and Difficult Words
Improve the Flow of Your Sentences
Pay Attention to Sentence Length
Designing Your Rhetorical Analysis
Download Images from the Internet
Add a Screen Shot
Include a Link to a Podcast
Make a Web Site
Revising and Editing Your Rhetorical Analysis
Recheck Definitions of the Rhetorical Concepts
Expand Your Analysis
Copyedit for Clarity
Read Your Work Out Loud
Microgenre: The Ad Critique
Paloma Aleman, “The Axe Effect”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Edward Hoagland, “The Courage of Turtles”
Adam Regn Arvidson, “Nature Writing in America: Criticism Through Imagery”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
10. Commentaries
At-A-Glance: Commentaries
One Student’s Work: David Meany,“Why My Generation Doesn’t Care About Performance
Enhancement”
Inventing You Commentary’s Content
Inquiring: Finding Out What You Already Know
Researching: Finding Out What Others Know
Organizing and Drafting Your Commentary
The Introduction
Explain the Current Event or Issue
Support Your Position
Clarify Your Position
The Conclusion
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Get into Character
Imitate a Well-Known Writer
Match Your Tone to Your Readers’ Expectations
Use Analogies, Similes, and Metaphors
Designing Your Commentary
Revising and Editing Your Commentary
Microgenre: Letter to the Editor
Caroline Klinker, “ Letter to the Editor: Modern-Day Religious Climate on Campus is Detrimental”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Greg Hampikian, “When May I Shoot a Student?”
Jim Valvano, “Don’t Ever Give Up”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
11. Arguments
At-A-Glance: Arguments
One Student’s Work: “Allowing Guns on Campus will Prevent Shootings, Rape” by Tyler Ohmann
Inventing Your Argument’s Content
Inquiring: Identifying Your Topic
Inquiring: Identifying Points of Contention
Researching: Finding Out What Others Believe and Why
Organizing and Drafting Your Argument
The Introduction
Summary and Limitations of Opposing Positions
Your Understanding of the Issue
Reasons Why Your Understanding is Stronger
Conclusion
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Use Plain Style to Describe the Opposing Position
Use Similes, Metaphors, and Analogies When Describing Your Position
Use Top-Down Paragraphs
Define Unfamiliar Terms
Designing Your Argument
Revising and Editing Your Argument
Microgenre: The Rebuttal
Marshall Connolly, “Global Warming Most Definitely Not a Hoax--A Scientist's Rebuttal”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Ted Miller, “Should College Football Be Banned?”
Kate Dailey, "Friends with Benefits: Do Facebook Friends Provide the Same Support As Those In Real
Life?"
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
12. Proposals
At-A-Glance: Proposals
One Student Group’s Work: “SCC Café Proposal”
Inventing Your Proposal’s Content
Inquiring: Defining the Problem
Inquiring: Analyzing the Problem
Researching: Gathering Information and Sources
Inquiring: Planning to Solve the Problem
Researching: Finding Similar Projects
Organizing and Drafting Your Proposal
The Introduction
Description of the Problem, Its Causes, and Its Effects
Description of Your Plan
Discussing the Costs and Benefits of Your Plan
The Conclusion
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Designing Your Proposal
Revising and Editing Your Proposal
Microgenre: The Pitch
Hans Fex, “Mini Museum”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Samuel Goldman, “How to Fix Grade Inflation at Harvard”
Jim Rough, “A Rebirth of ‘We the People’”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
13. Analytical Reports
At-A-Glance: Reports
One Student Group’s Work: Kaisa Lee and Jamie Koss, “College Students’ Attitudes on the Causes of
Infidelity”
Inventing Your Analytical Report’s Content
Inquiring: Finding Out What You Already Know
Researching: Creating a Research Plan
Researching: Gathering Sources and Revisiting Your Hypothesis
Organizing and Drafting Your Analytical Report
Executive Summary of Abstract
Introduction
Methods Section
Findings or Results Section
Discussion Section
Conclusion/Recommendations
References or Works Cited
Appendices
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Designing Your Report
Revising and Editing Your Report
Microgenre: The Explainer
World Freerunning Parkour Federation, “What is Parkour?”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Andrew Gelman and George A. Romero, “How Many Zombies Do You Know? Using Indirect
Survey Methods to Measure Alien Attacks and Outbreaks of the Undead”
Pew Research Center, “The Rising Cost of Not Going to College”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
14. Research Papers
At-A-Glance: Research Papers
One Student’s Work: “Cheating in College: Where it Happens, Why Students Do It and How to Stop It”
by Bryce Buchmann
Inventing Your Research Paper’s Content
Inquiring: Defining Your Topic, Angle, Purpose
Researching: Finding Out What Others Know
Organizing and Drafting Your Research Paper
The Introduction
The Body
The Conclusion
Works Cited or References
Choosing an Appropriate Style
Designing Your Research Paper
Revising and Editing Your Research Paper
Microgenre: The Annotated Bibliography
Sara Rodriguez, “Annotated Bibliography: The Fog of Revolution”
Quick Start Guide
Readings
Paul Rosenzweig et al, “Drone in U.S. Airspace: Principles for Governance”
James Knoll, “Serial Murder: A Forensic Psychiatric Perspective”
Talk About This
Try This Out
Explore This
Write This
PART 3: DEVELOPING A WRITING PROCESS
15. Inventing Ideas and Prewriting
Prewriting
Concept Mapping
Freewriting
Brainstorming or Listing
Storyboarding
Using Heuristics
Asking the Journalist’s Questions
Using the Five Senses
Investigating Logos, Ethos, Pathos
Cubing
Exploratory Writing
Journaling, Blogging, or Microblogging
Writing an Exploratory Draft
Exploring with Presentation Software
Taking Time to Invent and Prewrite
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
16. Organizing and Drafting
Sketching Out Your Paper’s Organization
Using the Genre to Create a Basic Outline
Filling Out Your Outline
Drafting Your Introduction
Five Introductory Moves
Using a Grabber to Start Your Introduction
Using a Lead to Draw in the Readers
Drafting the Body of Your Paper
Overcoming Writer’s Block
Drafting Your Conclusion
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
17. Choosing A Style
Writing in Plain Style
Guideline 1: Clarify Who or What the Sentence is About
Guideline 2: Make the “Doer” the Subject of the Sentence
Guideline 3: Put the Subject Early in the Sentence
Guideline 4: State the Action in the Verb
Guideline 5: Eliminate Nominalizations
Guideline 6: Boil Down the Prepositional Phrases
Guideline 7: Eliminate Redundancies
Guideline 8: Use Sentences That Are Breathing Length
Establishing Your Voice
Get Into Character
Imitate Others
Writing Descriptively with Figures and Tropes
Use Similes and Analogies
Use Metaphors
Use Personification
Use Onomatopoeia
Use Alliteration and Assonance
Improving Your Writing Style
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
18. Designing
Before You Begin Designing
Five Basic Principles of Design
Design Principle 1: Balance
Balancing a Page
Design Principle 2: Alignment
Design Principle 3: Grouping
Design Principle 4: Consistency
Choosing Typefaces
Using Headings Consistently
Design Principle 5: Contrast
Using Photography and Images
Downloading Photographs and Images from the Internet
Labeling a Photograph or Image
Using Graphs and Charts
Creating a Graph or Chart
Choosing the Appropriate Graph or Chart
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
19. Revising and Editing
Level 1: Global Revision
Challenge Your Draft’s Topic, Angle, and Purpose
Think About Your Readers (Again) and the Context
Level 2: Substantive Editing
Determine Whether You Have Enough Information (or Too Much)
Reorganize Your Work to Better Use the Genre
Look for Ways to Improve the Design
Ask Someone Else to Read Your Work
Level 3: Copyediting
Review Your Title and Headings
Edit Paragraphs to Make Them Concise and Consistent
Revise Sentences to Make Them Clearer
Revise Sentences to Make Them More Descriptive
Level 4: Proofreading
Read Your Writing Aloud
Read Your Draft Backwards
Read a Hard Copy of Your Work
Know Your Grammatical Weaknesses
Use Your Spell Checker and Grammar Checker
Peer Review: Asking for Advice
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
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PART 4: STRATEGIES FOR SHAPING IDEAS
20. Developing Paragraphs and Sections
Creating a Basic Paragraph
Transition or Transitional Sentence (Optional)
Topic Sentence (Needed)
Support Sentences (Needed)
Point Sentence (Optional)
Getting Paragraphs to Flow (Cohesion)
Subject Alignment in Paragraphs
Given-New in Paragraphs
Organizing a Section
Opening, Body, Closing
Organizational Patterns for Sections
Using Headings in Sections
Using Sections and Paragraphs Together
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
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21. Using Basic Rhetorical Patterns
Narrative
Description
Describing with the Senses
Describing with Similes, Metaphors, and Onomatopoeia
Describing with a Mixture of the Senses and Tropes
Definition
Classification
Step One: List Everything That Fits into the Whole Class
Step Two: Decide on a Principle of Classification
Step Three: Sort into Major and Minor Groups
Cause and Effect
Comparison and Contrast
Combining Rhetorical Patterns
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
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22. Using Argumentative Strategies
What is Arguable?
Arguable Claims
Four Sources of Arguable Claims
Using Reason, Authority, and Emotion
Reason (Logos)
Authority (Ethos)
Emotion (Pathos)
Avoiding Logical Fallacies
Rebuttals and Refutations
Summarize Your Opponents’ Position Objectively
Recognize When the Opposing Position May Be Valid
Concede Some of the Opposing Points
Refute or Absorb Your Opponents’ Major Points
Qualify Your Claims
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
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23. Collaborating and Peer Response
Working Successfully in Groups
Working Successfully in Teams
Planning the Project
Forming: Planning a Project
Storming: Managing Conflict
Norming: Getting Down to Work
Performing: Working as a Team
Using Peer Response to Improve Your Writing
Types of Peer Response and Document Cycling
Responding Helpfully During Peer Response
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
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PART 5: DOING RESEARCH
24. Starting Research
Starting Your Research Process
Step One: Define Your Research Question
Step Two: Develop a Working Thesis
Step Three: Devise a Research Plan
Doing Start-Up Research
Assessing a Source’s Reliability
Is the Source Credible?
Is the Source Up to Date?
How Biased Are the Author and the Publisher?
How Biased Are You?
Can You Verify the Evidence in the Source?
Managing Your Research Process
Creating a Research Schedule
Starting Your Bibliography File
Following and Modifying Your Research Plan
When Things Don’t Go As Expected
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
25. Finding Sources and Collecting Evidence
Evaluating Sources with Triangulation
Using Primary and Secondary Sources
Finding Electronic and Online Sources
Using Internet Search Engines
Using the Internet Cautiously
Using Documentaries and Television/Radio Broadcasts
Using Wikis, Blogs, and Podcasts
Finding Print Sources
Locating Books At Your Library
Finding Articles At Your Library
Using Empirical Sources
Interviewing People
Using an Informal Survey
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
26. Citing, Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Sources
Citing
Quoting
Brief Quotations
Long Quotations
Paraphrasing and Summarizing
Paraphrasing
Summarizing
Framing Quotes, Paraphrases, and Summaries
Avoiding Plagiarism
Academic Dishonesty
Patchwriting
Ideas and Words Taken Without Attribution
The Real Problem with Plagiarism
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
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27. Using MLA Style
Parenthetical Citations
When the Author’s Name Appears in the Sentence
Citing More Than One Source in the Same Sentence
Citing a Source Multiple Times
Other Parenthetical References
Preparing the List of Works Cited
Including More Than One Source from an Author
Formatting a List of Works Cited
Citing Sources in the List of Works Cited
Citing Books and Other Nonperiodical Publications
Citing Journals, Magazines, and Other Periodicals
Citing Web Publications
Citing Other Kinds of Sources
A Student’s MLA-Style Research Paper
Brian Naidus, “A Whole New World: A Background on the Life of the Freshwater Shark”
28. Using APA Style
Parenthetical Citations
When the Author’s Name Appears in the Sentence
Citing More Than One Source in the Same Sentence
Citing a Source Multiple Times
Other Parenthetical References
Preparing the List of References
Formatting a List of References in APA Style
Citing Sources in the List of References
Citing Books and Other Nonperiodical Publications
Citing Journals, Magazines, and Other Periodicals
Citing Web Publications
Citing Other Kinds of Sources
A Student’s APA-Style Research Paper
Austin Duus, “Assortive Mating and Income Inequality”
PART 6: GETTING YOUR IDEAS OUT THERE
29. Writing with Social Networking
Is This Writing?
Creating a Social Networking Site
Choose the Best Site for You
Be Selective About Your “Friends”
Add Regularly to Your Profile
Starting Your Own Blog
Choose a Host Site for Your Blog
Writing and Updating Your Blog
Writing Articles for Wikis
Write the Article
Add Your Article to the Wiki
Putting Videos and Podcasts on the Internet
Create Your Own Video or Record Your Podcast
Edit Your Work
Upload Your Video or Podcast
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
30. Creating a Portfolio
Two Basic Kinds of Portfolios
Getting Started on Your Portfolio
Step One: Collecting Your Work
Archiving for a Specific Course
Archiving for Your College Career
Archiving for Your Professional Career
Step Two: Selecting the Best Artifacts
Step Three: Reflecting on Your Work
Your Reflection as an Argument
Step Four: Presenting Your Materials
Creating an E-Portfolio
Keeping Your Portfolio Up to Date
Creating a Starter Résumé
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
31. Succeeding on Written Exams and Assessment
Step One: Prepare for the Exam
Work in Study Groups
Ask Your Professor About the Exam
Pay Attention to Themes and Key Concepts
Study the Assessment Rubric or Scoring Guidelines
Create Your Own Questions and Rehearse Possible Answers
Step Two: Start Your Written Exam
Review the Exam Quickly to Gain an Overall Picture
Budget Your Time
Step Three: Answer the Questions
Organize Your Answer
Step Four: Complete the Written Exam
One Student’s Written Exam
Quick Start Guide
Talk About This
Try This Out
Write This
32. Presenting Your Work
Step One: Plan Your Presentation
Ask a Few Key Questions to Get Started
Choose the Appropriate Presentation Technology
Allot Your Time
Step Two: Organize Your Ideas
Introduction: Tell Them What You’re Going to Tell Them
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