Real Writing with Readings Paragraphs and Essays for College, Work, and Everyday Life

Good writing is essential and attainable through the clear presentation of the writing process and engaging readings connected to everyday life found in Real Writing with Readings.

A Note to Students from the Authors
Thematic Table of Contents 
Preface 

Part 1
How To Write Paragraphs and Essays 

1. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: Making Connections
     Reading Roadmap
     Understanding College Success
          Becoming a Prepared and Active Student
          Setting Goals
          Becoming a Critical Thinker
     What Is Critical Thinking?
          FOUR BASICS OF CRITICAL THINKING
     What Is Critical Reading?
          2PR Preview the Reading
          2PR Read the Piece: Find the Main Idea and Support
          2PR Pause to Think
          2PR Review and Respond
          A Critical Reader at Work
               Amanda Jacobowitz, A Ban on Water Bottles: A Way to Bolster the University’s Image
          Read Real World Documents Critically
     What Is Writing Critically About Readings?
          Summary
          Analysis
          Synthesis
          Evaluation
     What Is Writing Critically About Visuals?
          Summary
          Analysis
          Synthesis
          Evaluation
     What Is Problem Solving?
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey

2. Writing Basics: Audience, Purpose, and Process
     Reading Roadmap
     FOUR BASICS OF GOOD WRITING
     Understand Audience and Purpose
          Understand Paragraph and Essay Form
          Relationship Between Paragraphs and Essays 
     Understand the Writing Process
     Understand Grading Criteria
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey

3. Finding Your Topic and Writing Your Thesis Statement: Making a Point
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What a Topic Is
     Practice Narrowing a Topic
     Practice Exploring Your Topic
          Freewriting
          Listing/Brainstorming
          Discussing
          Clustering/Mapping
          Using the Internet
          Keeping a Journal
     Write Your Own Topic and Ideas
     Understand What a Topic Sentence and Thesis Statement Are
     Practice Developing a Good Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement
          It Fits the Size of the Assignment
          Relationship Between Paragraphs and Essays
          It Contains a Single Main Idea
          It Is Specific
          It Is An Idea You Can Show, Explain, or Prove
          It Is Forceful
     Write Your Own Topic Sentence or Thesis Statement
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey

4. Supporting Your Point: Finding Details, Examples, and Facts
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Support Is
          Key Features of Good Support
          Support in Paragraphs vs. Essays
     Practice Supporting a Main Idea
          Select the Best Primary Support
          Add Secondary Support
     Write Your Own Support 
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey

5. Drafting and Revising: The Writing Process 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What A Draft Is
     Arrange Your Ideas
          Use Time Order to Write about Events
          Use Space Order to Describe Objects, Places, or People
          Use Order of Importance to Emphasize a Particular Point
     Make a Plan
          Outlining Paragraphs
          Outlining Essays
     Practice Writing a Draft Paragraph
          Write a Draft Using Complete Sentences
          Write a Concluding Sentence
     Practice Writing a Draft Essay
          Write Topic Sentences and Draft the Body of the Essay
          Write an Introduction
          Write a Conclusion
          Title Your Essay
     Write Your Own Draft Paragraph or Essay
     Understand What Revision Is
     Practice Revising for Unity, Detail, and Coherence
           Revise for Unity
           Revise for Detail and Support
           Revise for Coherence
     Revise Your Own Paragraph
     Revise Your Own Essay
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey


Part 2
How To Write Different Kinds of Paragraphs and Essays

6. Narration: Writing That Tells Important Stories  
     Reading Roadmap 
     Understand What Narration Is
     FOUR BASICS OF GOOD NARRATION 
          Main Idea in Narration 
          Support in Narration 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Narration 
          Organization in Narration 
     Evaluate Narration
     Read and Analyze Narration 
          Student Paragraph: Jelani Lynch: My Turnaround 
          Student Essay: Arianna Morgan, The Time I Almost Lost My Baby Brother
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Narration: Alice Adoga, Department of Social Services 
          Professional Essay: Amy Tan, Fish Cheeks 
     Write Your Own Narration (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings 
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem 
          Checklist: How to Write Narration
          Chapter Review
          Reflecting on the Journey

7. Illustration: Writing That Gives Examples 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Illustration Is 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ILLUSTRATION 
          Main Idea in Illustration 
          Support in Illustration 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Illustration 
          Organization in Illustration 
     Evaluate Illustration
     Read and Analyze Illustration 
          Student Paragraph: Casandra Palmer, Gifts from the Heart
          Student Essay: Sarah Bigler, High School is Not Preparing Us for College
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Illustration: John D’Urso, Auto Fleet Technician 
          Professional Essay: Andrea Whitmer, When Poor People Have Nice Things
     Write Your Own Illustration (Assignments)
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings 
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem
          Checklist: How to Write Illustration
          Chapter Review 
          Reflecting on the Journey

8. Description: Writing That Creates Pictures in Words 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Description Is 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DESCRIPTION 
          Main Idea in Description 
          Support in Description 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Description 
          Organization in Description 
     Evaluate Description
     Read and Analyze Description 
          Student Paragraph: Alessandra Cepeda, Bird Rescue 
          Student Essay: Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Description: Celia Hyde, Chief of Police 
          Professional Essay: Oscar Hijuelos, Memories of New York City Snow 
     Write Your Own Description (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
          Reading and Writing Critically 
              Writing Critically about Readings 
              Writing about Images 
              Writing to Solve a Problem 
     Checklist: How to Write Description
     Chapter Review 
     Reflecting on the Journeyz

9. Process Analysis: Writing That Explains How Things Happen
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Process Analysis Is 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD PROCESS ANALYSIS 
          Main Idea in Process Analysis 
          Support in Process Analysis 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Process Analysis 
          Organization in Process Analysis 
     Evaluate Process Analysis
     Read and Analyze Process Analysis 
          Student Paragraph: Charlton Brown, Buying a Car at an Auction 
          Student Essay: Daniel Bird, What’s Appropriate: How to Talk to Children about Disasters
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Process Analysis: Monique Rizer, Chief of Staff
          Professional Essay: Kathy Stevens, Ten Tips to Ease Into Plant-Based Eating 
     Write Your Own Process Analysis (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings 
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem 
     Checklist: How to Write Process Analysis
     Chapter Review 
     Reflecting on the Journey

10. Classification: Writing That Sorts Things into Groups 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Classification Is 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CLASSIFICATION 
          Main Idea in Classification 
          Support in Classification 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Classification 
          Organization in Classification 
     Evaluate Classification
     Read and Analyze Classification 
          Student Paragraph: Lorenza Mattazi, All My Music 
          Student Essay: Kelly Hultgren, Pick Up the Phone to Call, Not Text
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Classification: Grant Grebold, Professor
          Professional Essay: Stephanie Ericcson, The Ways We Lie
     Write Your Own Classification (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem 
     Checklist: How to Write Classification
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey 

11. Definition: Writing That Tells What Something Means 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Definition Is 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD DEFINITION 
          Main Idea in Definition 
          Support in Definition 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Definition 
          Organization in Definition 
     Evaluate Definition
     Read and Analyze Definition 
          Student Paragraph: Corin Costas, What Community Involvement Means to Me 
          Student Essay: Vidette Editorial Board, ISU Restroom Change Shows Commitment to Diversity
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Definition: Moses Maddox, Fellowship Program Specialist
          Professional Essay: Elizabeth Renter, Napping Can Dramatically Increase Memory, Learning, Awareness, and More
      Write Your Own Definition (Assignments) 
           Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
           Reading and Writing Critically 
                Writing Critically about Readings 
                Writing about Images 
                Writing to Solve a Problem 
           Checklist: How to Write Definition
           Chapter Review 
           Reflecting on the Journey

12. Comparison and Contrast: Writing That Shows Similarities and Differences 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Comparison and Contrast Are 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD COMPARISON AND CONTRAST 
          Main Idea in Comparison and Contrast 
          Support in Comparison and Contrast 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Comparison and Contrast 
          Organization in Comparison and Contrast 
     Evaluate Comparison and Contrast
     Read and Analyze Comparison and Contrast 
          Student Paragraph: Said Ibrahim, Eyeglasses vs. Laser Surgery: Benefits and Drawbacks
          Student Essay: Armand Powell, Pirate vs. Poet
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Comparison and Contrast: Darin Adams, Claims Representative
          Professional Essay: John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness 
     Write Your Own Comparison and Contrast (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings 
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem 
     Checklist: How to Write Comparison and Contrast
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey

13. Cause and Effect: Writing That Explains Reasons or Results 
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Cause and Effect Are 
           FOUR BASICS OF GOOD CAUSE AND EFFECT 
           Main Idea in Cause and Effect 
           Support in Cause and Effect
                DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Cause and Effect 
           Organization in Cause and Effect 
     Evaluate Cause and Effect
     Read and Analyze Cause and Effect 
          Student Paragraph: Caitlin Prokop, A Difficult Decision with a Positive Outcome 
          Student Essay: Stephanie Alaimo and Mark Koester, The Backdraft of Technology
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Cause and Effect: Joshua Boyce, Blogger
          Professional Essay: Liz Riggs, What It’s Like to Be the First Person in Your Family to go to College 
     Write Your Own Cause and Effect (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings 
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem 
     Checklist: How to Write Cause and Effect
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey

14. Argument: Writing That Persuades
     Reading Roadmap
     Understand What Argument Is 
          FOUR BASICS OF GOOD ARGUMENT 
          Main Idea in Argument 
          Support in Argument 
               DIAGRAM: Paragraphs vs. Essays in Argument 
         Organization in Argument 
     Evaluate Argument
     Read and Analyze Argument 
          Profile Of Success and Workplace Argument: Stacie Brown, Legal Assistant
          Professional Essay #1: John Hawkins, Five Scientific Reasons Climate Change Is Not Happening
          Professional Essay #2: EPA, Climate Change Is Happening
     Write Your Own Argument (Assignments) 
          Writing about College, Work, and Everyday Life 
          Reading and Writing Critically 
               Writing Critically about Readings 
               Writing about Images 
               Writing to Solve a Problem 
     Checklist: How to Write Argument
     Chapter Review
     Reflecting on the Journey


Part 3
The Four Most Serious Errors 

15. The Basic Sentence: An Overview
     The Four Most Serious Errors 
     The Parts of Speech 
     The Basic Sentence 
           Subjects
           Verbs
           Complete Thoughts
           Six Basic English Sentence Patterns
     Chapter Review

16. Fragments: Incomplete Sentences
     Understand What Fragments Are 
          In the Real World, Why Is It Important To Correct Fragments?
     Find and Correct Fragments 
          1. Fragments That Start With Prepositions
          2. Fragments That Start With Dependent Words
          3. Fragments That Start with –ing Verb Forms
          4. Fragments that Start with To and a Verb
          5. Fragments That Are Examples or Explanations
     Edit for Fragments 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Finding and Fixing Fragments

17. Run-Ons: Two Sentences Joined Incorrectly
     Understand What Run-Ons Are
          In the Real World, Why Is It Important To Correct Run-Ons?  
     Find and Correct Run-Ons 
          Add a Period
          Add a Semicolon
          Add a Semicolon, a Conjunctive Adverb, and a Comma
          Add a Comma and a Coordinating Conjunction
         Add a Dependent Word
         A Word That Can Cause Run-Ons: Then
     Edit for Run-Ons
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Finding and Fixing Run-Ons

18. Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement: When Subjects and Verbs Don’t Match
     Understand What Subject-Verb Agreement Is
          In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement?
     Find and Correct Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement 
          1. The Verb is a Form of Be, Have, or Do
          2. Words Come Between the Subject and the Verb
          3. The Sentence Has a Compound Subject
          4. The Subject Is An Indefinite Pronoun
          5. The Verb Comes before the Subject
     Edit for Subject-Verb Agreement 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Finding and Fixing Problems with Subject-Verb Agreement

19. Verb Tense: Using Verbs to Express Different Times
     Understand What Verb Tense Is
          In the Real World, Why Is It Important to Use the Correct Verb Tense?
     Practice Using Correct Verbs 
          Regular Verbs
          Irregular Verbs
          Past Participles
          Consistency of Verb Tense
     Edit for Verb Problems 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Finding and Fixing Verb-Tense Problems


Part 4
Other Grammar Concerns

20. Pronouns: Using Substitutes for Nouns
     Understand What Pronouns Are 
     Practice Using Pronouns Correctly 
          Identify Pronouns
          Check for Pronoun Agreement
          Indefinite Pronouns
          Collective Nouns
          Make Pronoun Reference Clear
          Use the Right Type of Pronoun
          Make Pronouns Consistent in Person
     Edit for Pronoun Problems 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Finding and Fixing Pronoun Problems

21. Adjectives and Adverbs: Using Descriptive Words 
     Understand What Adjectives and Adverbs Are 
     Practice Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly 
          Choosing Between Adjectives and Adverbs
          Using Adjectives and Adverbs in Comparisons
          Using Good, Well, Bad, and Badly
     Edit for Adjective and Adverb Problems 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Editing for Correct Usage of Adjectives and Adverbs

22. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers: Avoiding Confusing Descriptions 
     Understand What Misplaced Modifiers Are 
     Practice Correcting Misplaced Modifiers 
     Understand What Dangling Modifiers Are 
     Practice Correcting Dangling Modifiers 
     Edit for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Editing for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

23. Coordination and Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas 
     Understand What Coordination Is 
     Practice Using Coordination
          Using Coordinating Conjunctions
          Using Semicolons 
     Understand What Subordination Is 
     Practice Using Subordination
     Edit for Coordination and Subordination 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Editing for Coordination and Subordination

24. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas
     Understand What Parallelism Is 
     Practice Writing Parallel Sentences 
          Parallelism in Pairs and Lists
          Parallelism in Comparisons
          Parallelism with Certain Paired Words
     Edit for Parallelism Problems 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Editing for Parallelism

25. Sentence Variety: Putting Rhythm in Your Writing 
     Understand What Sentence Variety Is 
     Practice Creating Sentence Variety 
          Start Some Sentences with Adverbs
          Join Ideas Using an –ing Verb
          Join Ideas Using a Past Participle
          Join Ideas Using an Appositive
          Join Ideas Using an Adjective Clause
     Edit for Sentence Variety 
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Editing for Sentence Variety

26. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students 
     Basic Sentence Patterns 
          Statements
         Negatives
         Questions
         There Is and There Are
     Pronouns
          Confusing Subject and Object Pronouns
          Confusing Gender
          Leaving Out a Pronoun
          Using a Pronoun to Repeat a Subject
          Using Relative Pronouns
     Verbs 
         The Simple Tenses
         The Perfect Tenses
         The Present Progressive Tenses
         Modal (Helping) Verbs
         Gerunds and Infinitives
     Articles 
          Definite and Indefinite Articles
          Count and Noncount Nouns
     Prepositions 
          Prepositions after Adjectives 
          Prepositions after Verbs
     Chapter Review


Part 5
Word Use 

27. Word Choice: Using the Right Words 
    Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully 
          Dictionary
          Thesaurus
     Practice Avoiding Four Common Word-Choice Problems 
          Vague and Abstract Words
          Slang
          Wordy Language
          Clichés
     Edit for Word Choice
     Chapter Review
     Diagram: Editing for Word Choice

28. Commonly Confused Words: Avoiding Mistakes with Soundalike Words 
     Understand Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused 
     Practice Using Commonly Confused Words Correctly
     Edit for Commonly Confused Words 
     Chapter Review

29. Spelling: Using the Right Letters 
     Finding and Correcting Spelling Mistakes 
          Use a Dictionary
          Use a Spell Checker—With Caution
          Use Proofreading Techniques
          Make a Personal Spelling List
     Strategies for Becoming a Better Speller 
          Master Commonly Confused Words
          Learn Six Spelling Rules
          Exceptions When Forming Plurals
          Consult a List of Commonly Misspelled Words
     Chapter Review 


Part 6
Punctuation and Capitalization 

30. Commas ( , )
     Understand What Commas Do 
     Practice Using Commas Correctly
          Commas between Items in a Series
          Commas between Coordinate Adjectives
          Commas in Compound Sentences
          Commas after Introductory Words
          Commas around Appositives and Interrupters
          Commas around Adjective Clauses
          Other Uses for Commas  
     Edit for Commas
     Chapter Review

31. Apostrophes ( ’ )
     Understand What Apostrophes Do 
     Practice Using Apostrophes Correctly 
          Apostrophes to Show Ownership
          Apostrophes in Contractions
          Apostrophes with Letters, Numbers, and Time
     Edit for Apostrophes 
     Chapter Review

32. Quotation Marks ( “ ” )
     Understand What Quotation Marks Do
     Practice Using Quotation Marks Correctly 
         Quotation Marks for Direct Quotations
         No Quotation Marks for Indirect Quotations
         Quotation Marks for Certain Titles
     Edit for Quotation Marks 
     Chapter Review

33. Other Punctuation ( ; : ( ) -- - ) 
     Understand What Punctuation Does
     Practice Using Punctuation Correctly 
          Semicolon ;
          Colon :
          Parentheses ( )
          Dash –
          Hyphen -
     Edit for Other Punctuation Marks 
     Chapter Review

34. Capitalization: Using Capital Letters
     Understand Three Rules of Capitalization 
     Practice Capitalization 
          Capitalization of Sentences
          Capitalization of Names of Specific People, Places, Dates, and Things
          Capitalization of Titles
     Chapter Review
     EDITING REVIEW TESTS 1–10 

Index 
Real Take-Away Points
Editing and Proofreading Marks

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