vi The Writing Process Why Write?............................................ 1 USING THE WRITING PROCESS Understanding the Writing Process....................... 7 Building Good Writing Habits 8 The Process in Action 10 One Writer s Process.................................. 13 STUDENT MODEL The Sky s Not the Limit Prewriting: Selecting a Topic, Gathering Details, and Forming a Thesis Statement 15 Writing: Developing Your First Draft 18 Revising: Improving the Writing, Using a Peer Response Sheet, and Focusing on Style 20 Editing: Checking for Conventions 26 Publishing: Sharing Your Writing 28 Assessing the Final Copy 31 Reflecting on Your Writing 32 Writing with a Computer............................... 33 Understanding the Basics 34 Understanding the Traits of Writing...................... 39 Introducing the Traits 40 Ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions 42 Guide for Effective Writing 54 Peer Responding...................................... 55 Peer-Responding Guidelines 56 Using the Traits to Respond 58 Using a Rubric........................................ 61 Understanding Rubrics 62 Assessing with a Rubric 68 Assessing an Expository Essay 72 Publishing Your Writing................................ 73 Designing Your Writing 76 Creating a Portfolio.................................... 83 Understanding Portfolios 84 Completing an Evaluation Checklist 87
Contents vii The Forms of Writing NARRATIVE WRITING Writing a Personal Narrative............................ 89 Narrative Writing Warm-Up and Paragraph 90 STUDENT MODEL A Gorgeous Dare 91 Understanding Your Goal 92 STUDENT MODEL Walking for Life 93 Prewriting 95 Writing 101 Revising 107 Ideas: Show, don t tell, and include enough details. 108 Organization: Test beginnings and endings. 110 Voice: Use realistic dialogue and a consistent voice. 112 Word Choice: Use specific verbs and the right connotation. 114 Sentence Fluency: Use long and short sentences. 116 Editing 119 Conventions: Punctuate dialogue and use pronouns correctly. 120 Publishing: Sharing Your Essay 123 Rubric for Narrative Writing 124 Evaluating a Personal Narrative 126 STUDENT MODEL Musical Chairs 126 Reflecting on Your Writing 128 Biographical Narrative............................... 129 STUDENT MODEL Henry s Big Break 130 Writing Guidelines 132 Writing for Assessment...............................137 Responding to Narrative Prompts 137 STUDENT MODEL Beyond Quitting 140 Narrative Writing on Tests 143
viii EXPOSITORY WRITING Writing a Comparison Essay.......................... 145 Expository Writing Warm-Up and Paragraph 146 STUDENT MODEL Doing Their Part 147 Understanding Your Goal 148 STUDENT MODEL Women in the Wild 149 Prewriting 151 Writing 157 Revising 163 Ideas: Focus on similarities and contrasts. 164 Organization: Develop effective beginnings and endings and organize the middle part. 166 Voice: Use a knowledgeable, engaging voice. 168 Word Choice: Eliminate unnecessary modifiers and repetition. 170 Sentence Fluency: Use compound and complex sentences. 172 Editing 175 Conventions: Fix comma splices and run-ons and cite your sources. 176 Publishing: Sharing Your Essay 179 Rubric for Expository Writing 180 Evaluating a Comparison Essay 182 STUDENT MODEL Men of Letters 182 Reflecting on Your Writing 184 Explaining a Process................................ 185 STUDENT MODEL Making Jiaozi 186 Writing Guidelines 188 Writing for Assessment.............................. 193 Responding to Expository Prompts 193 STUDENT MODEL Make Way for Walking and Biking 196 Expository Writing on Tests 199
Contents ix PERSUASIVE WRITING Writing a Position Essay............................. 201 Persuasive Writing Warm-Up and Paragraph 202 STUDENT MODEL Ban Liquid Candy in Our School 203 Understanding Your Goal 204 STUDENT MODEL Save Hillhouse 205 Prewriting 207 Writing 211 Revising 217 Ideas: Avoid errors in logic and use adequate support. 218 Organization: Create unity and order reasons. 220 Voice: Use a knowledgeable-sounding voice and connect with the audience. 222 Word Choice: Avoid too many qualifiers and inflammatory words. 224 Sentence Fluency: Vary sentence types and beginnings. 226 Editing 229 Conventions: Punctuate long introductory phrases and clauses and use correct adjective forms. 230 Publishing: Sharing Your Essay 233 Rubric for Persuasive Writing 234 Evaluating a Persuasive Essay 236 STUDENT MODEL Open a Teen Center Downtown 236 Reflecting on Your Writing 238 Pet-Peeve Essay.................................... 239 STUDENT MODEL A Little Respect, Please! 240 Writing Guidelines 242 Writing for Assessment.............................. 247 Responding to Persuasive Prompts 247 STUDENT MODEL Dear School Board Members 250 Persuasive Writing on Tests 253
x RESPONSE TO LITERATURE Analyzing a Theme.................................. 255 Response Warm-Up and Paragraph 256 STUDENT MODEL Gift Giving 257 Understanding Your Goal 258 STUDENT MODEL The Price of Envy 259 Prewriting 261 Writing 267 Revising 273 Ideas: Use quotations and paraphrasing effectively. 274 Organization: Connect the thesis statement and final analysis, and connect your ideas. 276 Voice: Use a natural voice and sound interested. 278 Word Choice: Use figures of speech and words that have the right feeling. 280 Sentence Fluency: Shift tenses appropriately and write smooth sentences. 282 Editing 285 Conventions: Cite direct quotations and punctuate compound and complex sentences correctly. 286 Publishing: Sharing Your Essay 289 Rubric for Response to Literature 290 Evaluating a Response to Literature 292 STUDENT MODEL Leaf of Life 292 Reflecting on Your Writing 294 Writing for Assessment.............................. 295 Respond to a Fiction Prompt 298 STUDENT MODEL Sleeping in Church? 300 Respond to a Nonfiction Prompt 304 STUDENT MODEL Instant Replay 306 Responding to Literature on Tests 311
Contents xi CREATIVE WRITING Writing Stories...................................... 313 The Shape of Stories 314 STUDENT MODEL Jack and Jill 316 Prewriting: Planning Your Writing 318 Writing: Creating Your First Draft 319 Revising: Improving Your Story 320 Editing: Checking for Style and Accuracy 320 Story Patterns 321 Elements of Fiction 322 Writing Plays....................................... 323 STUDENT MODEL Friends and More 324 Prewriting: Selecting a Conflict, Choosing a Main Character, Identifying Other Characters, Planning the Starting Point, and Thinking about Stage Directions 327 Writing: Creating Your First Draft and Developing the Three Parts 330 Revising: Improving Your Writing 331 Editing: Checking for Conventions 331 Sample Advertising Script 332 STUDENT MODEL PYRAMIDZ R US 332 Writing Poetry...................................... 333 Sample Free-Verse Poem 334 STUDENT MODEL The Smiling Chef 334 Prewriting: Choosing a Topic, Gathering Details, and Using Poetic Techniques 335 Writing: Developing Your First Draft 336 Revising: Focusing on the Traits 337 Editing: Checking for Errors 337 Publishing: Sharing Your Poem 337 Sample Blues Poem 338 STUDENT MODEL The Saturday Morning Blues 338 Sample Senryu Poems 339 Special Poetry Techniques 340
xii RESEARCH WRITING Research Skills..................................... 343 Primary vs. Secondary Sources 344 Evaluating Sources of Information 345 Using the Internet 346 Using the Library 347 Using Reference Books 350 Research Report.................................... 355 Title Page and Outline 356 STUDENT MODEL A Penny for Your Paper 357 Prewriting: Selecting a Topic, Sizing Up Your Topic, Using a Gathering Grid, Creating Note Cards, Avoiding Plagiarism, Keeping Track of Your Sources, Writing Your Thesis Statement, and Outlining Your Ideas 364 Writing: Starting Your Research Report, Developing the Middle Part, Ending Your Research Report, and Creating Your Works-Cited Page 373 Revising: Improving Your Writing and Using a Traits Checklist 385 Editing: Checking for Conventions and Using a Checklist 389 Publishing: Sharing Your Report 392 Making Oral Presentations............................ 393 Planning Your Presentation 394 Creating Note Cards 396 Considering Visual Aids 398 Practicing Your Speech 399 Delivering Your Presentation 400 Evaluating a Presentation 401 Preparing a Multimedia Report 402
Contents xiii WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM Writing in Science................................... 405 Taking Classroom Notes 406 Taking Reading Notes 407 Keeping a Learning Log 408 Writing Guidelines: Lab Report 410 Writing Guidelines: Cause-Effect Essay 412 Writing Guidelines: Science-Article Summary 414 Other Forms of Writing in Science 416 Writing in Social Studies............................. 417 Taking Notes 418 Keeping a Learning Log 419 Writing Guidelines: Descriptive Report 420 Writing Guidelines: Response to an Editorial Cartoon 422 Writing Guidelines: Document-Based Essay 424 Writing in Math..................................... 431 Taking Notes 432 Keeping a Learning Log 433 Writing Guidelines: Article Summary 434 Writing Guidelines: Problem Analysis 436 Writing Guidelines: Creation of a Chart or Graph 438 Writing Guidelines: Response to a Math Prompt 440 Other Forms of Writing in Math 442 Writing in the Applied Sciences....................... 443 Taking Notes 444 Keeping a Learning Log 445 Writing Guidelines: Process Essay 446 Writing Guidelines: Essay of Identification 448 Writing Guidelines: Persuasive Poster 450 Other Forms of Practical Writing 452 Writing in the Arts................................... 453 Taking Classroom Notes 454 Keeping a Learning Log 455 Writing Guidelines: Response to an Art Prompt 456 Writing Guidelines: Research Report 458 Other Forms of Writing in the Arts 461
xiv The Tools of Learning Listening and Speaking.............................. 463 Listening in Class 464 Speaking in Class 465 A Closer Look at Listening and Speaking 466 Taking Notes....................................... 467 Taking Classroom Notes 468 Taking Reading Notes 471 Taking Minutes for a Meeting 472 Critical Reading..................................... 473 Critical Reading: SQ3R 474 Before You Read 475 As You Read 477 After You Read 478 Reading Fiction 479 Reading Poetry 481 Summarizing and Paraphrasing....................... 483 Sample Article and Summary 484 STUDENT MODEL The Mandan Tribe 485 Guidelines for Summarizing 486 Summarizing an Article 487 Strategies for Paraphrasing 488 Sample Paragraphs and Paraphrases 489 Understanding Writing Assignments................... 491 Types of Assignments 492 Levels of Thinking 493 Recalling 494 Understanding 495 Applying 496 Analyzing 497 Synthesizing 498 Evaluating 499 Planning Your Writing Time 500
Contents xv Improving Your Vocabulary........................... 501 Understanding Word Parts 502 Prefixes 503 Suffixes 505 Roots 506 Writing Business Letters............................. 513 Writing a Business Letter 514 Writing Tips for Letters of Request 515 Parts of a Business Letter 516 Creating an E-Mail Message 518 Tips for Writing E-Mail Messages 519 Sending a Letter 520 Taking Tests........................................ 521 Preparing for a Test 522 Test-Taking Tips 523 Taking Objective Tests 524 Taking Essay Tests 526 STUDENT MODEL Effectiveness of the United Nations 529 Taking Standardized Tests 530 Tips for Standardized Tests 531
xvi Basic Grammar and Writing Using Words Effectively.............................. 533 Nouns: Using Specific Nouns and Creating Appositives 534 Pronouns: Establishing Voice and Creating Suspense 536 Verbs: Using Verbs to Show Instead of Tell, and Using Onomatopoeia 538 Adjectives: Using Objective and Subjective Adjectives and Emphasizing with Adjectives 540 Adverbs: Answering Questions and Avoiding Overuse 542 Prepositions: Accelerating Verbs and Creating Emphasis 544 Conjunctions: Creating Rhythm with and and using Subordinating Conjunctions 546 Checking Your Word Choice 548 Understanding Sentence Style........................ 549 Sentence Balance 550 Sentence Length 551 Sentence Variety 553 Sentence Combining 555 Sentence Problems 557 Sentence Modeling 560 Writing Effective Paragraphs.......................... 561 The Parts of a Paragraph 562 Types of Paragraphs 564 Narrative 564 Descriptive 565 Expository 566 Persuasive 567 Writing Guidelines 568 Types of Details 569 Patterns of Organization 571 Chronological Order 571 Order of Location 572 Classification 573 Comparison and Contrast 574 Modeling Paragraphs 575 Connecting Paragraphs in Essays 577 Paragraph Traits Checklist 579
Contents xvii A Writer s Resource A Writer s Resource................................. 581 Getting Started Finding a Topic 582 Writing Prompts 584 Sample Topics 585 Finding the Right Form Knowing the Different Forms 586 Using Graphic Organizers Collecting and Organizing Details 588 Creating an Outline 590 Connecting Sentences Using Transitions 592 Strengthening Your Essay Writing Thesis Statements 594 Writing Great Beginnings 595 Developing Great Endings 596 Integrating Quotations 597 Learning the Vocabulary of Writing Learning Key Writing Terms 598 Using Writing Techniques 600 Using Graphics Adding Graphics to Your Writing 602 Marking Corrections to Writing Using Editing and Proofreading Marks 603
xviii Proofreader s Guide Marking Punctuation................................. 605 Period 605 Question Mark 606 Comma 608 Semicolon 618 Colon 620 Hyphen 624 Apostrophe 628 Quotation Marks 632 Italics (Underlining) 636 Parentheses and Diagonal 638 Dash 640 Ellipsis 642 Brackets 644 Checking Mechanics................................. 648 Capitalization 648 Plurals 654 Numbers 658 Abbreviations 660 Spelling 664 Understanding Idioms................................ 672 Using the Right Word................................ 678 Parts of Speech..................................... 700 Noun 701 Pronoun 704 Test Prep! Verb 714 The Proofreader s Guide Adjective includes test-prep pages to help 728 Adverb you study for tests on punctuation, 730 Preposition mechanics, usage, sentences, and 732 Conjunction the parts of speech. 734 Interjection 734 Understanding Sentences............................ 738 Constructing Sentences 738 Using Sentence Variety 746 Getting Sentence Parts to Agree 752 Diagramming Sentences 760