New Century Handbook, The (with MyCompLab NEW with Pearson eText Student Access Code Card), 4th Edition

I. WRITING.

1. Writing to Learn

a. Why do we write?

b. How important is writing to success?

c. How do we communicate effectively?

d. Has technology changed how we write?

e. How can this handbook help?

 

2. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Viewing.

a. Think critically

b. Read actively and critically

c. View actively and critically

 

3. Preparing.

a. Overview of the writing process.

b. Experiment and explore

c. Invent and prewrite.

d. Gather information

e. Plan and organize.

 

4. Composing.

a. Review

b. Draft

c. Collaborate

d. STUDENT SAMPLE: Draft

 

5. Rewriting.

a. Shift from writer to reader

b. Revise

c. Edit

d. Proofread

e. Give and receive feedback

f. STUDENT SAMPLE: Final paper.

 

6. Structuring Paragraphs

a. Unified paragraphs

b. Organizational patterns

c. Sentence-linking techniques

d. Verb tense, person, and number.

e. Parallelism and coherence

f. Appropriate length.

g. Link with key words

h. Effective introductions and conclusions

 

7. Formulating Arguments.

a. Arguable thesis

b. Purpose and audience.

c. Supporting evidence

STUDENT SAMPLE: Argument paper

d. Understand alternative views.

e. Test your main points

f. Build a compelling case

g. Avoid fallacies

h. Structure your argument

i. Electronic argument.

j. Visual argument.

II. RESEARCH.

8. The Research Project

a. Become a researcher.

b. Scheduling

c. Research notebook

d. Working bibliography

e. Background information

f. Focused research

           

9. Using the Internet for research

a. Use Internet sources

b. Know the Internet and Web

c. Search the Internet and Web

STUDENT SAMPLES:  Database and Internet searches 

           

10. Evaluating Electronic and Print Sources.

a. Legitimate sources.

STUDENT SAMPLE: Web links evaluation

 

11. Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism.

a. Use sources responsibly.

b. Avoid plagiarism in using sources

c.  Paraphrase accurately.

d.  Avoid plagiarism in paraphrasing

e.  Summarize briefly

f.  Avoid plagiarism in summarizing

g.  Quote sparingly

h.  Avoid plagiarism in quoting

 

12. Writing the Research Paper.

a. Rhetorical stance and thesis.

b. Plan your structure.

c. Write a draft.

d. Review and revise your draft.

e. Follow formatting conventions.

STUDENT SAMPLE: Annotated research paper.

 

13. MLA Documentation Format.

A DIRECTORY TO MLA STYLE

14. APA Documentation Format.

A DIRECTORY TO APA STYLE

.

15. CMS and CSE Formats.

A DIRECTORY TO Chicago Manual STYLE

A DIRECTORY TO CSE STYLE

III. WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINES

16. Writing in the Disciplines

a. Disciplinary research

b. Disciplinary discourse

 

17. Writing in the Humanities.

a. Types of writing

b. Literary interpretation and analysis

STUDENT SAMPLE (MLA):Literary interpretation

STUDENT SAMPLE (MLA): Literary analysis

d. Internet and library resources.

A DIRECTORY FOR THE HUMANITIES

 

18. Writing in the Natural Sciences.

a. Types of writing

b. Write objectively

STUDENT SAMPLE (CSE): Research report.

d. Internet and library resources.

A DIRECTORY FOR THE SCIENCES AND TECHNOLGY

 

19. Writing in the Social Sciences

a. Types of writing

b. Write persuasively

STUDENT SAMPLE (APA): Research report

d. Internet and library resources

A DIRECTORY FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES.

IV. DESIGN IN PRINT AND ON THE WEB.

20. Design Principles

a. Three design principles

b. Formatting tools

c. Graphics

d. Downloading images

e. Different norms and preferences.

 

21. Designing Print Documents.

a. A simple brochure

b. A simple newsletter

 

22. Designing Web Documents.

a. Basic design

b. Planning

c. Writing

 

V. WRITING FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

23. Electronic Communication

a. The rhetoric of etools

b. Email

c. Online networks

d. Instant communication (IMs, TMs)

e. Web course tools     

 

24. Business Writing  

a. Business letters.

b. Letters of application.

c. Résumés

d. Reports

b. Memos.

 

25. Oral Presentations  

a. Preparing

b. Select visual aids .

c. Practice, practice, practice.

d. Speak with enthusiasm and focus.

e. Design overhead transparencies.

c. Use PowerPoint^TM effectively.

 

26. Essay Exams.

a. Preparing

b. The essay writing process

STUDENT SAMPLES: Essay exam responses

 

27. Writing Portfolios.

a. Learn about portfolios

b. Develop a writing portfolio

c. Prepare the final document.

STUDENT SAMPLE: Cover letter

VI. SENTENCE GRAMMAR.

28. Sentence Structure.

a. Parts of speech.

b. Basic sentence patterns.

c. Expanding sentences.

d. Classifying sentences.

           

29. Pronoun Case.

a. Subjects and complements

b. Objects

c. Compound constructions

d. Who or whom

e. Possessive adjectives and pronouns.

f. Comparisons

 

30. Verbs.

a. Regular verb forms.

b. Common irregular verb forms.

c. Auxiliary verbs.

d. Tenses.

e. Sequence of tenses.

f. Transitive and intransitive verbs

g. Active and passive voice.

h. Mood.

 

31. Agreement.

a. Plural and singular subjects and verbs

b. Modified subjects.

c. Compound subjects

d. Subjects joined by or or nor

e. Indefinite pronouns

f. Collective nouns

g. Plural form but singular meaning

h. Linking verbs

i. With there or here and to be

 

32. Adjectives and Adverbs.

a. Adjectives

b. Overuse of nouns as modifiers.

c. Adverbs .

d. Good and well or bad and badly

e. Comparative and superlative forms

VII. CORRECT SENTENCES.

33. Sentence Fragments.

a. Grammatically complete sentences

b. Connect dependent clauses.

c. Connect phrases.

d. Sentence fragments for special effect.

 

34. Comma Splices and Run-On Sentences.

a. Creating a subordinate clause.

b. Separating clauses (comma, conjunction)

c. Separating clauses (semicolon)

d. Separating clauses (period)

 

35. Pronoun Reference.

a. Noun antecedents.

b. Agreement

c. This, that, which, and it.

d. Mixed uses of it.

e. That, which, and who.

f. Sexist pronouns

 

36. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers.

a. Positioning modifiers.

b. Avoid ambiguity.

c. Lengthy modifiers

d. Disruptive modifiers.

e. Dangling modifiers.

 

37. Faulty Shifts.

a. Person and number.

b. Verb tense, mood, subject, and voice.

c. Tone.

d. Mixed constructions.

e. Subjects and predicates.

f. Direct and indirect discourse.

VIII. EFFECTIVE SENTENCES.

38. Clarity and Conciseness.

a. Length.

b. Repetition and redundancy.

c. Expletives

d. Passive voice .

e. Wordiness

f. Noun-heavy style.

g. Express meaning precisely.

h. That to clarify sentence structure.

i. Comparisons .

j. Multiple negation.

 

39. Coordination and Subordination.

a. Combine closely related sentences.

b. Coordinate related sentences

c. Subordinate less important ideas.

 

40. Parallelism.

a. Parallel content in parallel form.

b. Lists and series.

c. With correlative conjunctions.

d. Comparisons or contrasts.

e. Complete, clear parallel constructions

f. Coherence.

 

41. Emphasis.

a. End-weight.

b. Selective repetition.

c. Contrast.

d. Careful word choice.

 

42. Variety.

a. Length.

b. Structure.

c. Repetition.

d. Different standards and purposes.

IX. EFFECTIVE WORDS.

43. Choosing the Right Words.

a. Denotation.

b. Connotation.

c. Level of formality.

d. Jargon, slang, or dialect.

e. Pretentiousness.

f. Figurative language

 

44. Language And Power.

a. "Correctness."

b. Language and identity.

c. Gender .

d. Race and ethnicity.

e. Age.

f. Other differences.

 

45. Building a Powerful Vocabulary.

a. Roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

b. Denotations and connotations.

c. Related words.

 

46. Using a Thesaurus and a Dictionary.

a. A thesaurus to find the exact word.

b. A dictionary to learn about words.

 

47. Spelling.

a. Spell checker.

b. Homophones.

c. Common spelling errors.

d. General spelling rules and patterns.

X. PUNCTUATION.

48. End Punctuation.

THE PERIOD

THE QUESTION MARK

THE EXCLAMATION POINT.

 

49. The Comma.

a. After an introductory phrase or clause.

b. To separate independent clauses.

c. Between items in a series.

d. To separate coordinate adjectives.

e. To set off nonessential elements.

f. To set off conjunctive adverbs.

g. With dates, places, titles and numbers.

h. With speaker tags.

i. With markers of direct address.

j. Misuse of commas.

 

50. The Semicolon.

a. With independent clauses 

b. With a conjunctive adverb.

c. In a series 

d. Placement

e. Common semicolon errors.

 

51. The Colon.

a.  In lists or appositives

b.  With independent clauses 

c. To introduce quotations.

d. In titles.

e. In business correspondence

f. In numbers and addresses.

 

52 The Apostrophe.

a. Possession.

b. Contractions and omitted letters.

c. Plural forms.

d. Misusing the apostrophe.

 

53 Quotation Marks.

a. For exact direct quotations.

b. To suggest skepticism 

c. To indicate shifts in register.

d. With titles of short works.

e. Standard punctuation practice 

 

54 Other Punctuation Marks.

PARENTHESES

DASHES

BRACKETS

ELLIPSES.

SLASHES

XI. MECHANICS.

55. Capital Letters and Italics

 

56. Abbreviations and Numbers.

 

57. The Hyphen.

a. In compounds.

b. In adjectives before nouns.

c. In spelled-out fractions and numbers 

d. To avoid ambiguity 

e. For end-of-line word division.

XII. ESL ISSUES.

58. Tips on Nouns and Articles.

59. Tips on Verbs.

PHRASAL VERBS

VERB COMPLEMENTS

VERBS OF STATE.

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES.

 

60. Tips on Word Order.

61. Tips on Vocabulary.

 

Glossary of Grammatical and Rhetorical Terms.

Glossary of Usage.

 

CROSS-CURRICULAR RESOURCE ATLAS

 

Index.