Table of Contents
To the Instructor
To the Student
Introduction
Visualizing the Paragraph in Context
Paragraphs as Building Blocks of Essays
STEP ONE Writing Effective Paragraphs
CHAPTER 1 The Writing Process
Overview of the Writing Process
Freewriting
Focused Writing
Exploring Ideas: Brainstorming and Making Lists
Clustering and Grouping
Organizing and Composing
Editing and Proofreading
WRITING TIP #1
Writing Assignments and Activities to Get Started
Keeping a Journal
Using the Computer Along With This Book
CHAPTER 2 Paragraph Basics
Writing Activity: Creating Paragraphs
Model Paragraphs
Paragraph Unity
Test Yourself: Paragraph Unity
Basic Exercise: Paragraph Unity
Intermediate Exercise: Paragraph Unity
Challenge Exercise: Paragraph Unity
Using Topic Sentences to Guide Your Reader
Test Yourself: Topic Sentences
Basic Exercise: Topic Sentences
Intermediate Exercise: Topic Sentences
Challenge Exercise: Topic Sentences
Basic Exercise II: Topic Sentences
Intermediate Exercise II: Topic Sentences
Challenge Exercise II: Topic Sentences
Basic Exercise III: Topic Sentences
Intermediate Exercise III: Topic Sentences
Challenge Exercise III: Topic Sentences
WRITING TIP #2
Using Key Words in Topic Sentences
Test Yourself: Key Words
Basic Exercise: Key Words
Intermediate Exercise: Key Words
Challenge Exercise: Key Words
Basic Writing Assignment: Key Words
Intermediate Writing Assignment: Key Words
Challenge Writing Assignment: Key Words
CHAPTER 3 Qualities of Effective Paragraphs
Paragraph Development
Basic Exercise: Paragraph Development
Intermediate Exercise: Paragraph Development
Challenge Exercise: Paragraph Development
WRITING TIP # 3
Basic Writing Assignment: Paragraph Development
Intermediate Writing Assignment: Paragraph
Development
Challenge Writing Assignment: Paragraph
Development
Coherence
Transitions
Transitional Words and Phrases
Exercises Using Transitional Expressions
Sequence
Chronological Sequence
Spatial Sequence
Climactic Sequence
CHAPTER 4 Creating Varied Paragraphs
Types of Paragraphs
Narration: Telling About an Event
Basic Writing Assignment: Narrative Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Assignment: Narrative Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Assignment: Narrative Paragraphs
Description: Visualizing Persons, Places, and Objects
Basic Exercise: Descriptive Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise: Descriptive Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise: Descriptive Paragraphs
Basic Writing Assignment: Details in Descriptive
Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Assignment: Spatial Sequence in
Descriptive
Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Assignment: Descriptive Paragraphs
Comparison: Exploring Similarities and Differences
Three Kinds of Comparison
Attention to Detail
Basic Exercise: Comparative Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise: Comparative Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise: Comparative Paragraphs
Basic Writing Activity: Comparative Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Activity: Comparative
Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Activity: Comparative Paragraphs
Exposition: “How-To” Paragraphs
Basic Exercise: How-To Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise: How-To Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise: Process Paragraphs
Basic Writing Activity: How-To Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Activity: How-To Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Activity: Process Paragraphs
WRITING TIP #4
Definition Paragraphs: Explaining a Term
Basic Exercise: Definition Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise: Definition Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise: Definition Paragraphs
Classification: Dividing Into Categories
Guidelines for Classification
Basic Exercise: Classification Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise: Classification Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise: Classification Paragraphs
Cause and Effect Paragraphs: Telling Why
Guidelines for Cause and Effect Analysis
Basic Writing Assignment: Cause and Effect Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Assignment: Cause and Effect
Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Assignment: Cause and Effect Paragraphs
Persuasion: Writing to Convince
Guidelines for Persuasive Writing
Basic Exercise: Persuasive Writing
Intermediate Exercise: Persuasive Writing
Challenge Exercise: Persuasive Writing
Basic Exercise II: Persuasive Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise II: Persuasive Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise II: Persuasive Paragraphs
Basic Writing Activity: Persuasive Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Activity: Persuasive Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Activity: Persuasive Paragraphs
CHAPTER 5 Some Added Features of Paragraph
Writing
Critical Thinking in Paragraphs
Basic Writing Activity: Critical Thinking in Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Activity: Critical Thinking in
Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Activity: Critical Thinking in Paragraphs
WRITING TIP #5
Creative Thinking in Paragraphs
Basic Writing Activity: Creative Thinking in Paragraphs
Intermediate Writing Activity: Creative Thinking in Paragraphs
Challenge Writing Activity: Creative Thinking in Paragraphs
Including Quoted Text in Paragraphs
Test Yourself: Including Quoted Text in Paragraphs
Basic Exercise: Including Quoted Text in Paragraphs
Intermediate Exercise: Including Quoted Text in Paragraphs
Challenge Exercise: Including Quoted Text in Paragraphs
STEP TWO Revising and Correcting Your Paragraphs
CHAPTER 6 Revising Your Paragraphs
Revising vs. Proofreading
A Student Writer at Work
Peer Review Questions
WRITING TIP #6
Altering Your Design
Enriching Your Content
Improving Your Style
Basic Exercise: Improving Your Style
Intermediate Exercise: Improving Your Style
Challenge Exercise: Improving Your Style
CHAPTER 7 Writing and Correcting Sentences
Writing Activities: Noticing Your Sentences
Correcting Fragments
Test Yourself: Correcting Fragments
Basic Exercise: Correcting Fragments
Intermediate Exercise: Correcting Fragments
Challenge Exercise: Correcting Fragments
Overcoming ESL Problems: Using Subjects Correctly
Test Yourself: Using Subjects Correctly
Basic Exercise: Using Subjects Correctly
Intermediate Exercise: Using Subjects Correctly
Challenge Exercise: Using Subjects Correctly
WRITING TIP #7
Run-On Sentences
Test Yourself: Correcting Run-On Sentences
Basic Exercise: Run-On Sentences
Intermediate Exercise: Run-On Sentences
Challenge Exercise: Run-On Sentences
Comma Splices
Test Yourself: Comma Splices
Basic Exercise: Comma Splices
Intermediate Exercise: Comma Splices
Challenge Exercise: Comma Splices
Subordinating
Test Yourself: Subordinating
Basic Exercise: Subordinating
Intermediate Exercise: Subordinating
Challenge Exercise: Subordinating
CHAPTER 8 Matching Sentence Parts
Writing Activities: Noticing Your Sentences
Model Paragraphs: Noticing Sentences in Context
Matching Subjects and Verbs
Test Yourself: Correcting Basic Errors in Agreement
Basic Exercise: Correcting Errors in Agreement
Intermediate Exercise: Correcting Errors in Agreement
Challenge Exercise: Correcting Errors in Agreement
WRITING TIP #8
Matching Pronouns and Antecedents
Test Yourself: Matching Pronouns and Antecedents
Basic Exercise: Matching Pronouns and Antecedents
Intermediate Exercise: Matching Pronouns and Antecedents
Challenge Exercise: Matching Pronouns and Antecedents
Matching Parallel Parts
Test Yourself: Parallel Parts
Basic Exercise: Parallelism
Intermediate Exercise: Parallelism
Challenge Exercise: Parallelism
CHAPTER 9 Using Words Correctly
Writing Activities: Noticing Your Use of Words
Model Paragraphs: Seeing Words in Context
Parts of Speech: Seeing How Words Work
Test Yourself: Identifying Parts of Speech
Basic Exercise: Parts of Speech
Intermediate Exercise: Parts of Speech
Challenge Exercise: Parts of Speech
Verb and Noun Endings
Adding S Endings to Words
Test Yourself: -S Endings
Basic Exercise: Identifying -S Endings
Intermediate Exercise: Identifying -S Endings
Challenge Exercise: Identifying -S Endings
Basic Exercise: Adding -S Endings
Intermediate Exercise: Adding -S Endings
Challenge Exercise: Adding -S Endings
WRITING TIP #9
Possessives: A Quick Review
Test Yourself: Possessives
Basic Exercise: Possessives
Intermediate Exercise: Possessives
Challenge Exercise: Possessives
Review Exercises: -S Endings
Recognizing Tenses
Present Tense
Past Tense
Future Tense
Basic Exercise: Recognizing Tenses
Intermediate Exercise: Recognizing Tenses
Challenge Exercise: Recognizing Tenses
Verb Tenses and -D Endings
Test Yourself: -D Endings in the Past Tense
Basic Exercise: -D Endings
Intermediate Exercise: -D Endings
Challenge Exercise: -D Endings
STEP THREE From Paragraph to Essay
CHAPTER 10 Building Essays out of Paragraphs
Starting with a Thesis
WRITING TIP #10
Introductory Paragraphs
Body Paragraphs
Student Essay
Transitions between Paragraphs
Concluding Paragraphs
Some Essay Topics
CHAPTER 11 Revising and Correcting Your Essays
Revising for Unity and Coherence
Peer Review Questions
Proofreading Practice: Applying What You’ve
Learned
WRITING TIP #11
Test Yourself: Editing for Sentence Errors in Context
Basic Exercise: Editing for Sentence Errors in Context
Intermediate Exercise: Editing for Sentence Errors in Context
Challenge Exercise: Editing for Sentence Errors in Context
Test Yourself: Editing for Phrasing Errors in Context
Basic Exercise: Editing for Phrasing Errors in Context
Intermediate Exercise: Editing for Phrasing Errors in Context
Challenge Exercise: Editing for Phrasing Errors in Context
Test Yourself: Editing for Word Errors in Context
Basic Exercise: Editing for Word Errors in Context
Intermediate Exercise: Editing for Word Errors in Context
Challenge Exercise: Editing for Word Errors in Context
CHAPTER 12 Some Fine Points
Spelling
Test Yourself: Spelling
Basic Exercise: Spelling
Intermediate Exercise: Spelling
Challenge Exercise: Spelling
Capitalization
Test Yourself: Capitalization
Basic Exercise: Capitalization
Intermediate Exercise: Capitalization
Challenge Exercise: Capitalization
Look-Alikes
Basic Look-Alikes
Test Yourself: Basic Look-Alikes
Intermediate Look-Alikes
Test Yourself: Intermediate Look-Alikes
Challenge Look-Alikes
Test Yourself: Challenge Look-Alikes
Basic Exercise: Look-Alikes
Intermediate Exercise: Look-Alikes
Challenge Exercise: Look-Alikes
WRITING TIP #12
Modifiers
Avoiding Double Comparatives
Test Yourself: Avoiding Double Comparatives
Basic Exercise: Avoiding Double Comparatives
Intermediate Exercise: Avoiding Double Comparatives
Challenge Exercise: Avoiding Double Comparatives
Avoiding Double Negatives
Test Yourself: Avoiding Double Negatives
Basic Exercise: Avoiding Double Negatives
Intermediate Exercise: Avoiding Double Negatives
Challenge Exercise: Avoiding Double Negatives
Some Problems with Adverbs
Test Yourself: Problems with Adverbs
Basic Exercise: Problems with Adverbs
Intermediate Exercise: Problems with Adverbs
Challenge Exercise: Problems with Adverbs
Articles in ESL Writing
Test Yourself: Using A, An, and The
Basic Exercise: Using A, An, and The
Intermediate Exercise: Using A, An, and The
Challenge Exercise: Using A, An, and The
Word Choice
Some Often Misused Words
Test Yourself: Misused Words
Basic Exercise: Misused Words
Intermediate Exercise: Misused Words
Challenge Exercise: Misused Words
Index of Grammar Topics
Index