The College Writer: A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching, 4th ed.

753 Pages·2011·28.23 MB·English

A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching
Fourth Edition
Australia • Brazil • Japan • Korea • Mexico • Singapore • Spain • United Kingdom • United States
Randall VanderMey
Westmont College
Verne Meyer
Dordt College
John Van Rys
Redeemer University College
Pat Sebranek
This is an electronic version of the print textbook. Due to electronic rights restrictions,
some third party content may be suppressed. Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed
content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. The publisher reserves the right
to remove content from this title at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. For
valuable information on pricing, previous editions, changes to current editions, and alternate
formats, please visit www.cengage.com/highered to search by ISBN#, author, title, or keyword for
materials in your areas of interest.
The College Writer: A Guide to © 2012, 2009, 2006 Wadsworth, Cengage Learning
Thinking, Writing, and Researching,
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright
Fourth Edition
herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored, or used in any form
Randall VanderMey, Verne Meyer, John
or by any means graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including but not
Van Rys, and Pat Sebranek
limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web
distribution, information networks, or information storage and retrieval
Publisher: Lyn Uhl
systems, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976
Executive Editor: Monica Eckman
United States Copyright Act, without the prior written permission of
Acquisitions Editor: Margaret Leslie the publisher.
Development Editor: Judy Fifer
For product information and technology assistance, contact us at
Assistant Editor: Amy Haines
Cengage Learning Customer & Sales Support, 1-800-354-9706.
Editorial Assistant: Elizabeth Ramsey
For permission to use material from this text or product,
Media Editor: Janine Tangney submit all requests online at cengage.com/permissions.
Further permissions questions can be emailed to
Marketing Manager: Jason Sakos
[email protected].
Marketing Coordinator: Ryan Ahern
Marketing Communications Manager:
Library of Congress Control Number: 2010935800
Stacey Purviance
Casebound Edition: Paperbound Edition:
Content Project Manager: Rosemary
Winfield ISBN-13: 978-0-495-91585-0 ISBN-13: 978-0-495-91583-6
Art Director: Jill Ort ISBN-10: 0-495-91585-8 ISBN-10: 0-495-91583-1
Print Buyer: Betsy Donaghey
Rights Acquisition Specialist, Images: Wadsworth
Mandy Groszko 20 Channel Center Street
Rights Acquisition Specialist, Text: Katie Boston, MA 02210
Huha USA
Production Service: Sebranek, Inc.
Text Designer: Sebranek, Inc. Cengage Learning is a leading provider of customized learning solutions
with office locations around the globe, including Singapore, the United
Cover Designer: Sebranek, Inc.
Kingdom, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and Japan. Locate your local office at
Cover Image: vanya 2010/used under
international.cengage.com/region.
license from www.shutterstock.com;
Tischenko Irina 2010/used under
license from www.shutterstock.com Cengage Learning products are represented in Canada by
Compositor: Sebranek, Inc. Nelson Education, Ltd.
Sebranek, Inc.: Steve Augustyn,
April Barrons, Colleen Belmont, For your course and learning solutions, visit www.cengage.com.
Chris Erickson, Mariellen Hanrahan,
Purchase any of our products at your local college store or at our
Rob King, Chris Krenzke, Lois Krenzke,
preferred online store www.cengagebrain.com.
Mark Lalumondier, Janae Sebranek,
Lester Smith, Jean Varley
Credits begin on page 706, which constitutes an extension of this
copyright page.
Printed in the U.S.A.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 14 13 12 11 10
iii
Brief Contents
Preface, xviii Report Writing
20 Interview Report 325
I. Rhetoric: A College Student’s
Guide to Writing 1 21 Lab, Experiment, and Field Report 333
Reading, Thinking, Viewing, Special Forms of Writing
and Writing 22 Writing About Literature
1 Critical Thinking Through Reading, and the Arts 349
Viewing, and Writing 3 23 Taking Essay Tests 365
24 Writing for the Workplace 377
The Writing Process
25 Writing for the Web 389
2 Beginning the Writing Process 27
26 Preparing Oral Presentations 401
2 Planning 43
4 Drafting 55 III. Research and Writing 411
5 Revising 71
Research and Writing
6 Editing and Proofreading 93
27 Getting Started: From Planning Research
7 Submitting Writing and Creating
to Evaluating Sources 413
Portfolios 109
28 Conducting Primary and Library
The College Essay Research 441
8 One Writer’s Process 113 29 Conducting Research on the
Internet 459
II. Reader: Strategies and Models 131 30 Drafting a Paper with
Documented Research 473
Writing Across the Curriculum
9 Forms of College Writing 133 Documentation and Format Styles
31 MLA Documentation Format 491
Narrative, Descriptive, and Reflective
Writing 32 APA Documentation Format 529
10 Narration, Description, and Reflection
IV. Handbook 559
141
Punctuation, Mechanics, Usage,
Analytical Writing
and Grammar
11 Cause and Effect 163
33 Marking Punctuation 561
12 Comparison and Contrast 181
34 Checking Mechanics 585
13 Classification 201
35 Using the Right Word 607
14 Process 215
36 Understanding Grammar 623
15 Definition 231
Sentence Issues
Persuasive Writing
37 Constructing Sentences 645
16 Strategies for Argumentation
38 Avoiding Sentence Errors 655
and Persuasion 249
17 Taking a Position 265 Multilingual/ESL Issues
18 Persuading Readers to Act 287 39 Multilingual and ESL Guidelines 671
19 Proposing a Solution 305 Credits 706
Index 707
iv
Contents
Contents Critical-Thinking and Writing
Activities 26
Preface xviii Learning-Outcomes Checklist 26
The Writing Process
I. Rhetoric: A College Student’s
Guide to Writing 2 Beginning the Writing Process 27
The Writing Process: From Start to
Reading, Thinking, Viewing,
Finish 28
and Writing Consider the writing process 28
1 Critical Thinking Through Reading, Adapt the process to your project 29
Understanding the Rhetorical Situation 30
Viewing, and Writing 3
Think of your role as the writer 30
Using the SQ3R Reading Strategy 4 Understand your subject 30
Survey 4 Understand your purpose 30
Question 4 Understand your audience 31
Read 5 Understand the medium (form) 31
Recite 5 Think about the context 31
Review 5 Understanding the Assignment 32
Reading Actively 6 Read the assignment 32
Read, annotate, and respond to a text 6 Relate the assignment 33
Model: “Why Change Is So Hard,” Dan Reflect on the assignment 33
Heath 6 Selecting a Subject 34
Map the text 8 Limit the subject area 34
Outline the text 8 Conduct your search 34
Evaluate the text 9 Explore for possible topics 35
Responding to a Text 10 Freewriting Quick Guide 36
Follow these guidelines for response Collecting Information 38
writing 10 Find out what you already know 38
Summarizing a Text 11 Ask questions 39
Use these guidelines for summary Identify possible sources 40
writing 11 Track sources 41
Critical Thinki ng Through Viewing 12
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Actively view images 12 Activities 42
View an image 13 Learning-Outcomes Checklist 42
Interpreting an Image 14 Cross-Curricular Connections 42
Interpret an image 15
Evaluating an Image 16 3 Planning 43
Consider the purpose 16 Revisit the Rhetorical Situation 44
Evaluate the quality 16 Forming Your Thesis Statement 45
Determine the value 16 Find a focus 45
Evaluate an image 17 State your thesis 45
Critical Thinking Through Writing 18 Using a Thesis to Pattern Your Writing 46
Develop sound critical-thinking habits 18 Let your thesis guide you 46
Ask probing questions 19 Developing a Plan or an Outline 48
Practice inductive and deductive logic 20 Quick Lists 48
Practicing Modes of Thinking in Your Topic Outline 49
Writing 21 Sentence Outline 50
Think by using analysis 22 Writing Blueprints 51
Think by using synthesis 23 Graphic Organizers 52
Think by using evaluation 24
Think by using application 25
v
Contents
Critical-Thinking and Writing Check for coherence 85
Activities 54 Check for completeness 87
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 54 Working with Sources 88
Cross-Curricular Connections 54 Revising Collaboratively 89
4 Drafting 55 Know your role 89
Provide appropriate feedback 89
Reconsider the Rhetorical Situation 56
Respond according to a plan 90
Think about your role 56
Using the Writing Center 91
Focus on your subject 56
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Reconsider your purpose 56
Activities 92
Reconsider your audience 56
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 92
Review the form and context 56
Cross-Curricular Connections 92
Basic Essay Structure: Major Moves 57
Opening Your Draft 58 6 Editing and Proofreading 93
Engage your reader 58 Editing Your Revised Draft 94
Establish your direction 58 Review the overall style of your writing 94
Get to the point 59 Consider word choice 94
Developing the Middle 60 Combining Sentences 95
Advance your thesis 60 Edit short, simplistic sentences 95
Test your ideas 60 Expanding Sentences 96
Build a coherent structure 61 Use cumulative sentences 96
Arrange supporting details 62 Expand with details 96
Ending Your Draft 67 Checking for Sentence Style 97
Reassert the main point 67 Avoid these sentence problems 97
Urge the reader 67 Review your writing for sentence
Complete and unify your message 68 variety 97
Working with Sources 69 Vary sentence structures 98
Critical-Thinking and Writing Use parallel structure 100
Activities 70 Avoid weak constructions 101
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 70 Avoiding Imprecise, Misleading, and Biased
Cross-Curricular Connections 70 Words 102
5 Revising 71 Substitute specific words 102
Replace jargon and clichés 103
Consider Whole-Paper Issues 72
Change biased words 104
Revisit the rhetorical situation 72
Proofreading Your Writing 107
Consider your overall approach 73
Review punctuation and mechanics 107
Revising Your First Draft 74
Look for usage and grammar errors 107
Prepare to revise 74
Check for spelling errors 107
Think globally 74
Check the writing for form and
Revising for Ideas and Organization 75
presentation 107
Examine your ideas 75
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Examine your organization 76
Activities 108
Revising for Voice and Style 78
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 108
Check the level of commitment 78
Cross-Curricular Connections 108
Check the intensity of your writing 78
7 Submitting Writing and
Develop an academic style 79
Know when to use the passive voice 81 Creating Portfolios 109
Addressing Paragraph Issues 82 Formatting Your Writing 110
Remember the basics 82 Strive for clarity in page design 110
Keep the purpose in mind 82
Check for unity 83
vi
Contents
Submitting Writing and Consider the rhetorical situation 142
Creating Portfolios 111 Consider the writer’s strategies 142
Consider potential audiences 111 Brief Narratives: Anecdotes 143
Select appropriate submission methods 111 Anecdote Introducing a Topic 143
Use a writing portfolio 111 Anecdote Illustrating a Point 143
Critical-Thinking and Writing Anecdote Illustrating a Trait 143
Activities 112 Narration, Description, and Reflection 144
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 112 Model: “The Entymology of Village Life,”
Cross-Curricular Connections 112 Robert Minto 144
Model: “Spare Change,” Teresa Zsuffa 148
The College Essay
Model: “When Dreams Take Flight,”
8 One Writer’s Process 113 Elizabeth Fuller 151
Model: “Call Me Crazy, But I Have to Be
Angela’s Assignment and
Response 114 Myself,” Mary Seymour 153
Angela examined the assignment 114 Model: “The Muscle Mystique,” Barbara
Kingsolver 155
Angela explored and narrowed her
assignment 115 Writing Guidelines 158
Angela’s Planning 116 Critical-Thinking and Writing
Angela focused her topic 116 Activities 160
Angela researched the topic 116 Learning-Outcomes Checklist 160
Angela decided how to organize her Analytical Writing
writing 117
Angela’s First Draft 118 11 Cause and Effect 163
Angela kept a working bibliography 119 Reading Cause-Effect Writing 164
Angela’s First Revision 120 Consider the rhetorical situation 164
Angela’s Second Revision 122 Consider the analytical logic 164
Angela’s Edited Draft 124 Cause and Effect 165
Angela’s Proofread Draft 125 Model: “Dutch Discord,” Brittany
Angela’s Finished Essay 126 Korver 165
Critical-Thinking and Writing Model: “If You Let Me Play . . . ,” Mary
Activities 129 Brophy Marcus 170
Cross-Curricular Connections 129 Model: “The Legacy of Generation Ñ,”
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 130 Christy Haubegger 173
Model: “Mind Over Mass Media,” Steven
II. Reader: Strategies and Models Pinker 175
Writing Guidelines 178
Writing Across the Curriculum
Critical-Thinking and Writing
9 Forms of College Writing 133 Activities 180
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 180
Three Curricular Divisions 134
Types of Writing in Each 12 Comparison and Contrast 181
Division 135 Reading Comparison-Contrast
Traits of Writing Across the Writing 182
Curriculum 136 Consider the rhetorical situation 182
Narrative, Descriptive, and Consider the compare-contrast practices
used 182
Reflective Writing
10 Narration, Description, and
Reflection 141
Reading Personal Essays 142
vii
Contents
Comparison and Contrast 183 15 Definition 231
Model: “Sethe in Beloved and Orleanna in
Reading Definition Writing 232
Poisonwood Bible,” Rachel De Smith 183
Consider the rhetorical situation 232
Model: “Shrouded in Contradiction,”
Consider definition-writing strategies 232
Gelareh Asayesh 186
Definition 233
Model: “Shades of Prejudice,” Shankar
Model: “Economic Disparities Fuel
Vedantam 189
Human Trafficking,” Shon Bogar 233
Model: “The Likeness Across the Atlantic,”
Model: “Deft or Daft,” David
Peter Baldwin 192
Schelhaas 235
Writing Guidelines 198
Model: “On Excellence,” Cynthia
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Ozick 236
Activities 200
Model: “Wikipedia and the Meaning of
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 200
Truth,” Simson L. Garfinkle 239
13 Classification 201 Writing Guidelines 244
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Reading Classification Writing 202
Activities 246
Consider the rhetorical situation 202
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 246
Consider classification principles 202
Classification 203 Persuasive Writing
Model: “Latin American Music,” Kathleen
16 Strategies for Argumentation
Kropp 203
Model: “Four Ways to Talk about and Persuasion 249
Literature,” John Van Rys 206 Building Persuasive Arguments 250
Model: “Four Sides to Every Story,” Follow these steps 250
Stewart Brand 208 Preparing Your Argument 251
Model: “The Lion, the Witch and the Consider the situation 251
Metaphor,” Jessica Seigel 210 Develop a line of reasoning 251
Writing Guidelines 212 Making and Qualifying Claims 252
Critical-Thinking and Writing Distinguish claims from facts and
Activities 214 opinions 252
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 214 Distinguish three types of claims 252
14 Process 215 Develop a supportable claim 253
Supporting Your Claims 254
Reading Process Writing 216
Gather evidence 254
Consider the rhetorical situation 216
Use evidence 255
Note signal terms 216
Identifying Logical Fallacies 257
Process 217
Distorting the Issue 257
Model: “Wayward Cells,” Kerri Mertz 217
Sabotaging the Argument 258
Model: “Love and Race,” Nicholas D.
Drawing Faulty Conclusions from
Kristof 219
Evidence 259
Model: “The End of Race as We Know It,”
Misusing Evidence 259
Gerald L. Early 221
Misusing Language 260
Model: “Downloading Photographs from
Engaging the Opposition 261
the MC-150 Digital Camera,” 227
Make concessions 261
Writing Guidelines 228
Develop rebuttals 261
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Consolidate your claim 261
Activities 230
Using Appropriate Appeals 262
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 231
Build credibility 262
Make logical appeals 262
Focus on readers’ needs 263
viii
Contents
Critical-Thinking and Writing Model: “Preparing for Agroterror,” Brian
Activities 264 Ley 309
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 264 Model: “Uncle Sam and Aunt Samantha,”
Anna Quindlen 312
17 Taking a Position 265
Model: “The beckoning silence,” Paul
Reading Position Writing 266
Bignell 315
Consider the rhetorical situation 266
Writing Guidelines 320
Consider qualities of strong arguments 266
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Taking a Position 267
Activities 322
Model: “Ah, the Power of Women,” Aleah
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 322
Stenberg 267
Model: “Nuclear Is Not the Answer,” Report Writing
Alyssa Woudstra 270
20 Interview Report 325
Model: “Animal, Vegetable, Miserable,”
Reading Interview Reports 326
Gary Steiner 273
Consider the rhetorical situation 326
Model: “Sorry, Vegans,” Natalie
Consider the interview process 326
Angier 276
Interview Report 327
Model: “Fatherless America,” David
Model: “The Dead Business,” Benjamin
Blankenhorn 279
Meyer 327
Writing Guidelines 284
Writing Guidelines 330
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Activities 286
Activities 332
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 286
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 332
18 Persuading Readers to Act 287
21 Lab, Experiment, and Field
Reading Persuasive Writing 288
Report 333
Consider the rhetorical situation 288
Look for convincing qualities 288 Reading Science Writing 334
Persuading Readers to Act 289 Consider the rhetorical situation 334
Model: “Our Wealth,” Henry Consider science-writing strategies 334
Veldboom 289 Experiment Report 335
Model: “I Have a Dream,” Dr. Martin Model: “The Effects of the Eastern Red
Luther King, Jr. 292 Cedar on Seedlings and Implications for
Model: “In Africa, AIDS Has a Woman’s Allelopathy,” Dana Kleckner, Brittany
Face,” Kofi Annan 296 Korver, Nicolette Storm, and Adam
Model: “Is It Now a Crime to Be Poor?” Verhoef 335
Barbara Ehrenreich 298 Field Report 341
Writing Guidelines 302 Model: “Investigation of Cockroach
Critical-Thinking and Writing Infestation at 5690 Cherryhill,” Hue
Activities 304 Nguyen, Sandra Kao, Roger Primgarr,
Learning-Outcomes Checklist 304 Juan Alexander 341
Writing Guidelines 344
19 Proposing a Solution 305
Critical-Thinking and Writing
Reading Problem-Solution Writing 306 Activities 346
Consider the rhetorical situation 306 Learning-Outcomes Checklist 346
Consider the reasoning 306
Special Forms of Writing
Proposing a Solution 307
Model: “Dream Act May Help Local 22 Writing About Literature
Student Fight for Residency,” Renee and the Arts 349
Wielenga 307
Reading About Literature and the Arts 350
Consider the rhetorical situation 350