Table of contents for The brief English handbook : a guide to writing, thinking, grammar, and research / Edward A. Dornan, with Robert Dees.

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Contents
Preface xix
To the Student xxv
Part I Effective Thinking, Writing, and 
Studying 1
	1	Thinking and Writing 2
	a.	Use critical thinking to write a definition of a problem 4
	b.	Use creative thinking to generate information 5
	c.	Use creative thinking to write a list of tentative options 7
	d.	Use critical thinking to test tentative options 7
	e.	Use critical thinking to evaluate reliable options 8
	2	Basics of Critical Thinking 10
	a.	Distinguish facts from opinions 10
	b.	Analyze inferences 11
	c.	Verify interpretations 13
	d.	Identify logical fallacies 15
	e.	Evaluate propaganda 20
	3	Critical Thinking and Reasoning 21
	a.	Use reflective listening 22
	b.	Trace inductive process 23
	c.	Trace deductive process 25
	4	Effective Studying 28
	a.	Make a plan 29
	b.	Use your study time efficiently 29
	c.	Use class time efficiently 30
	d.	Read carefully and critically 31
	e. 	Prepare efficiently for tests 32
Part II The College Essay 35
	5	Write for a reader 36
	a.	Have a dominant purpose 36
	b.	Have a clear structure 37
	c.	Follow clear development patterns 38
		A student essay for study 39
	6	Begin the composing process 46
	a.	Analyze the writing situation 47
	b.	Find a subject in open-ended assignments 50
	c.	Analyze the language of close-ended assignments 50
	d.	Narrow the subject so that it can be covered in a single essay 55
	e.	Use association techniques to gather information 56
	f.	Evaluate prewritten information 58
	7	Write a thesis statement and develop a plan 60
	a.	Clarify a subject by stating a purpose 61
	b.	Sketch an informal plan 61
	c.	Write a clear, limited working thesis statement 63
	d.	Draft a formal outline 68
	8	Write a first draft 71
	a.	Write an introduction 71
	b.	Write a discussion several paragraphs long 74
	c.	Write a conclusion 76
	9	Revise the first draft 78
	a.	Phase 1, improve the major elements 78
	b.	Phase 2, improve the smaller elements 85
	c.	Phase 3, proofread and write a title 89
	10	Standard manuscript form 91
	11	Instructor and peer review 93
Part III Paragraphs 101
	12	Topic sentences 102
	a.	State a paragraph's subject and controlling idea in a brief topic sentence 102
	b.	Develop a paragraph fully 105
	c.	Close a paragraph with a clincher sentence 106
	13	Unified paragraphs 108
	14	Coherent paragraphs 111
	a.	Achieve coherence with transitional words and phrases 111
	b.	Achieve coherence through the repetition of key words 112
	c.	Achieve coherence by using parallel structure 113
	15	Descriptive and narrative paragraphs 114
	a.	Write active description that appeals to the senses 115
	b.	Balance subjective responses with objective description 117
	c.	Select an effective arrangement for descriptive paragraphs 118
	d.	Arrange narrative paragraphs in a clear time sequence 120
	16	Expository paragraphs 124
	a.	Use examples to illustrate a point 124
	b.	Use comparison to explain similarities and differences 129
	c.	Use cause and effect to reveal reasons and results 132
	d.	Use classification to arrange information in categories 136
	e.	Use definition to clarify unusual words 138
	f.	Use process analysis to show how to do something or how something works 140
	17	Argument paragraphs 142
Part IV Sentence Clarity, Variety, 
	 and Word Choice 149
	18	Emphasize equal ideas; deemphasize unequal ideas 150
	a.	Combine choppy sentences 152
	b.	Avoid faulty or excessive coordination and subordination 152
	19	Use parallel structure for emphasis 155
	a.	Coordinating elements 155
	b.	Comparing ideas 156
	c.	Correlative constructions 156
	20	Create sentence variety 157
	a.	Sentence beginnings 158
	b.	Sentence structures 159
	c.	Sentence forms 160
	21	Rewrite misplaced modifiers 162
	a.	Modified words 162
	b.	Squinting modifiers 163
	c.	Limiting modifiers 163
	d.	Awkwardly placed modifiers 164
	e.	Split infinitives 165
	f.	Dangling modifiers 165
	22	Revise for consistency 167
	a.	Person and number 168
	b.	Tense 168
	c.	Mood 169
	d.	Subject and voice 169
	e.	Direct and indirect discourse 170
	f.	Grammatical plans 171
	g.	Faulty predication 172
	23	Add omitted words 173
	a.	Comparisons 173
	b.	Missing words in compound word groups 174
	c.	The word that to prevent misreadings 175
	d.	Articles a, an, and the 175
	24	Use appropriate language 176
	a.	Slang, regional expressions, neologisms, obsolete words 177
	b.	Jargon 178
	c.	Pretentious language 179
	d.	Sexist language 180
	25	Revise wordy sentences 182
	a.	Empty phrases 182
	b.	 Careless repetition 183
	c.	Redundancy 184
	d.	Euphemism 185
	26	Choose exact words 186
	a.	Denotation and connotation 186
	b.	Abstract and general words 188
	c.	Idioms 190
	d.	Figurative language 191
	e.	Trite expressions 193
Part V Sentence Errors 195
	27	Rewrite sentence fragments 196
	a.	Subordinate clauses 196
	b.	Phrases 196
	c.	Compound predicates and word groups 197
	d.	Special situations 198
	28	Revise run-on sentences 200
	29	Examine subject-verb agreement 203
	a.	Intervening words 204
	b.	Compound subjects 204
	c.	Singular verbs with indefinite pronouns 205
	d.	Collective nouns and nouns ending in -s 206
	e.	Miscellaneous subject-verb agreement problems 207
	30	Examine pronoun-antecedent agreement 209
	a.	Compound antecedents 209
	b.	Indefinite pronouns as antecedents 210
	c.	Collective nouns 210
	d.	Generic nouns 211
	e.	Who, whom, which, and that 211
	31	Check pronoun reference 214
	a.	Broad references 214
	b.	It, they, and you 214
	c.	One antecedent 215
	d.	 -self and -selves 216
	32	Use appropriate pronoun case 217
	a.	Subjective case 218
	b.	Objective case 219
	c.	We or us before a noun 219
	d.	Appositives 219
	e.	Elliptical comparisons 220
	f.	Subjects and objects of infinitives 220
	g.	Possessive case before a gerund 221
	h.	Who and whom 222
	33	Select accurate verb forms and tense 223
	a.	Present tense 226
	b.	Past tense 227
	c.	Future tense 227
	d.	Present perfect tense 228
	e.	Past perfect tense 228
	f.	Future perfect tense 228
	g.	Sequence of tenses 228
	34	Use the appropriate mood 232
	a.	Subjunctive form were 233
	b.	Subjunctive form in that clauses 233
	c.	Standard phrases and idioms 233
	35	Write in active rather than passive voice 234
	36	Select adjectives and adverbs with care 237
	a.	In modification 238
	b.	With linking verbs 238
	c.	After direct objects 238
	d.	Bad, badly, good, and well 239
	e.	Comparisons 240
	f.	Comparatives and superlatives 241
	g.	Illogical comparisons 241
Part VI Punctuation 243
	37	Comma 244
	a.	Main clauses joined with and, but, or 244
	b.	Introductory phrases and clauses 247
	c.	Nonrestrictive and restrictive elements 249
	d.	Items in a series 254
	e.	Coordinate and cumulative adjectives 255
	f.	Phrases like for example, she said 257
	g.	Mild interjections like yes, no 258
	h.	Absolute phrases 259
	i.	Contrasting expressions 259
	j.	Direct quotations 259
	k.	Established conventions 260
	l.	Misunderstandings and omissions 262
	38	Unnecessary commas 263
	a.	Between subject and verb 263
	b.	Between verb and object 263
	c.	Between preposition and object 263
	d.	Between modified words 263
	e.	Compound elements 264
	f.	Restrictive elements 264
	g.	After like and such as 264
	h.	Items in a series 264
	i.	Indirect discourse 265
	j.	Before than 265
	k.	Other punctuation marks 265
	39	Semicolon 267
	a.	Between main clauses 267
	b.	With conjunctive adverbs 268
	c.	Long main clauses 268
	d.	Long phrases or clauses with commas 268
	e.	Misuses 269
	40	Quotation marks 271
	a.	Direct quotations 271
	b. 	Titles 273
	c.	Words used in a special sense 273
	d.	With other punctuation marks 274
	e.	Single quotation marks 275
	41	Colon 277
	a.	To introduce a series 277
	b.	With the following or as follows 277
	c.	Second main clause that explains the first 277
	d.	Final appositive 278
	e.	Long quotations 278
	f.	Subtitles 278
	g.	Formal salutation 278
	h.	Misuses 278
	42	Dash 280
	a.	Appositives and parenthetical expressions 280
	b.	To separate a series 280
	c.	Special emphasis 280
	d.	Break in tone 281
	e.	Before a name 281
	43	Ellipsis mark 281
	a.	Omission in quotation 281
	b.	Omitted paragraph or line of poetry 282
	c.	Unfinished statement 282
	44	Parentheses 283
	a.	Description and explanation 283
	b.	With letters or figures 284
	45	Brackets 284
	46	Slash 285
	47	End punctuation 286
	a.	End statements 286
	b.	Abbreviations 286
	c.	Direct questions 287
	d.	Indicate doubt 287
	e.	Interjections, commands, emphatic statements 287
Part VII Mechanics 289
	48	Capitals 290
	a.	First word in sentences 290
	b.	O, I, I've, I'm 290
	c.	Titles 291
	d.	Direct quotations 291
	e.	Lines of poetry 292
	f.	Names 292
	g.	Academic titles 294
	h.	Abbreviations 294
	i.	Common mistakes 294
	49	Apostrophe 296
	a.	Possessive case of nouns and indefinite pronouns 296
	b.	Possessive pronouns 298
	c.	Omissions 298
	d.	Plurals of letters and words 298
	50	Abbreviations 299
	a.	Titles before a name 299
	b.	Titles after a name 299
	c.	Corporations, organizations, countries 300
	d.	Common abbreviations 300
	e.	English and Latin abbreviations 300
	f.	Common mistakes 300
	51	Italics (underlining) 302
	a.	Titles 302
	b.	Names of spacecraft, aircraft, ships, trains 303
	c.	Uncommon expressions 303
	d.	Words, letters, numbers, phrases, symbols 303
	e.	Emphasis 304
	f.	College papers 304
	52	Hyphen 304
	a.	Broken words 304
	b.	Compound words 305
	c.	Descriptive words 305
	d.	Numbers 305
	e.	Prefixes, suffixes, and letters with words 305
	f.	Hyphenated words in a series 306
	g.	Avoid confusion 306
	53	Numbers 306
	a.	Numbers of one or two words 307
	b.	Numbers of three or more words 307
	c.	Combination of numbers 307
	d.	Dates, time, etc. 307
	e.	Numbers beginning sentences 308
	54	Spelling 309
	a.	i before e 309
	b.	Final e 309
	c.	Final y 310
	d.	Final consonant 310
	e.	Plurals 310
Part VIII Special College Essays 317
	55	The argument essay 318
	a.	Draft a purpose statement 318
	b.	Evaluate evidence 319
	c.	Confront the opposition 321
	d.	Write a thesis statement 323
	e.	Arrange an argument 324
	f.	Write for a reader 325
	g.	Use the Toulmin model 325
A student argument essay 327
	56	The essay about literature 331
	a.	Formulate a thesis 332
	b.	Write an introduction 333
	c.	Write a discussion 335
	d.	Write a conclusion 337
	e.	Write a precise title 337
	f.	Identify quotations 337
	g.	Use the present tense 338
	h.	Avoid common mistakes 338
A student essay about literature 339
	57	The essay exam 342
	a.	Writing an essay exam 345
	b.	Understanding the question 345
	c.	Planning your time 345
	d.	Planning your answer 345
	e.	Writing your response 346
	f.	Revising and proofreading 347
Part IX The Research Paper 349
	58	Researching a paper 350
	a.	Find and limit a topic 350
	b.	Use research resources 352
	c.	Prepare a bibliography 360
	d.	Develop a tentative thesis and outline 361
	e.	Take notes 363
	f.	Twenty student questions and answers 371
	59	Writing a research paper 376
	a.	Revise the thesis and outline 376
	b. 	Write a first draft 377
	c.	Acknowledge sources 378
	d.	Complete the final draft 385
	e.	A sample paper 386
A student research paper 387
	60	A documentation guide 406
	a.	MLA style 406
	b.	APA style 415
	c.	CSE style 419
Part X Communicating in the Workplace 425
	61	Business letters 426
	62	Memorandum form 430
	63	R¿sum¿ and cover letter 431
	64	Fax and e-mail 434
	65	Creating a web site 436
	a.	Organization 436
	b.	Home page 437
	c.	Design 437
	d. 	Links 437
	e. 	Proofreading 437
	66	Oral presentations 438
	a.	Organization 439
	b.	Rehearsal 442
	c.	Delivery 443
Part XI Background in the Basics 447
	67	Parts of speech 448
	a.	Nouns 448
	b.	Pronouns 448
	c.	Verbs 450
	d.	Adjectives 452
	e.	Adverbs 453
	f. 	Prepositions 453
	g. 	Conjunctions 454
	h.	Interjections 455
	68	Parts of sentences 456
	a.	Simple and complete subject 456
	b.	Simple and complete predicate 456
	c.	Compound subject 457
	d.	Compound predicate 457
	e.	Direct and indirect objects 457
	f.	Predicate adjectives and nominatives 458
	69	Phrases 459
	a.	Prepositional phrases 459
	b.	Appositive phrases 459
	c.	Infinitives and infinitive phrases 460
	d.	Participles and participial phrases 460
	e.	Gerunds and gerund phrases 461
	f.	Absolute phrases 462
	70	Clauses 463
	a.	Main clauses 463
	b.	Subordinate clauses 464
	71	Sentence patterns 465
Part XII Reminders for ESL Writers 469
	72	Omitted words 470
	73	Noun markers 471
	74	Verb combinations 474
	75	Faulty repetitions 480
	76	Present and past participles 481
Glossaries 483
		Glossary of Usage 484
		Glossary of Grammatical Terms 493
Index	000
Features TOC
Writer's Toolbox
Generating Ideas for Essays
The Pop Quiz
Secrets of Self-Motivation
Read with a Critical Eye
Write Now, Plan Later
Forecast an Essay's Subpoints
Writing Your First Draft on a Computer
Insert Key Words in Topic Sentences
Developing a Refutation Paragraph
Avoiding IM Jargon
Using a Software Thesaurus
Placing Commas
Setting Off Nonrestrictive Elements
Knowing the Difference Between Coordinate and Cumulative Adjectives
Using That in Paraphrasing and Quoting
Capitalizing Titles
Using Apostrophes Correctly to Show Possession
Conversations and Arguments
Finding Online Government Sources
Avoiding Plagiarism
Using Ellipses in a Direct Quotation
Using PowerPoint
Editor's Toolbox
Making Phase 1 Revisions
Making Phase 2 Revisions
Making Phase 3 Revisions
Making a Frequent Error List
Effective Peer Review
Watch Your Tone
Analyzing Paragraphs for Coherence
Thinking Critically About Description
Grammar Checkers and Sentence Errors
Grammar Checkers and Punctuation
Spell Checkers

Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication:

English language -- Grammar -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
English language -- Rhetoric -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.