Real writing with readings paragraphs and essays for college

ix Contents Understand What Dangling Modifiers Are 446 Practice Correcting Dangling Modifiers 446 Edit for Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers 447 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 448 29. Coordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas 451 Understand What Coordination Is 451 Practice Using Coordination 451 Edit for Coordination 457 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 459 30. Subordination: Joining Sentences with Related Ideas 461 Understand What Subordination Is 461 Practice Using Subordination 461 Edit for Subordination 465 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 466 Part 6 Word Use 527 34. Word Choice 529 Understand the Importance of Choosing Words Carefully 529 Practice Avoiding Four Common Word-Choice Problems 530 Edit for Word Choice 536 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 537 35. Commonly Confused Words 539 Understand Why Certain Words Are Commonly Confused 539 Practice Using Commonly Confused Words Correctly 539 Edit for Commonly Confused Words 548 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 549 36. Spelling 550 Finding and Correcting Spelling Mistakes Three Strategies for Becoming a Better Speller 551 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 550 555 31. Parallelism: Balancing Ideas 468 Understand What Parallelism Is 468 Practice Writing Parallel Sentences 469 Edit for Parallelism 473 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 474 Part 7 Punctuation and Capitalization 557 37. Commas ( , ) 559 32. Sentence Variety: Putting Rhythm in Your Writing 476 Understand What Sentence Variety Is 476 Practice Creating Sentence Variety 477 Edit for Sentence Variety 487 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 488 33. Formal English and ESL Concerns: Grammar Trouble Spots for Multilingual Students 491 Basic Sentence Patterns 491 Pronouns 497 Verbs 500 Articles 516 Prepositions 520 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 523 Understand What Commas Do 559 Practice Using Commas Correctly 559 Edit for Commas 570 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 571 38. Apostrophes ( ’ ) 574 Understand What Apostrophes Do 574 Practice Using Apostrophes Correctly 574 Edit for Apostrophes 579 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 579 39. Quotation Marks ( “ ” ) 582 Understand What Quotation Marks Do 582 Practice Using Quotation Marks Correctly 582 Edit for Quotation Marks 587 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 588 x Contents 40. Other Punctuation ( ; : ( ) -- - ) 590 Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie 667 Carolyn Foster Segal, The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe 672 Understand What Punctuation Does 590 Practice Using Punctuation Correctly 590 Edit for Punctuation 593 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 47. Definition 677 594 John Around Him, Free Money 677 Michael Thompson, Passage into Manhood 680 Janice E. Castro with Dan Cook and Cristina Garcia, Spanglish 684 41. Capitalization 596 Understand Three Rules of Capitalization 596 Practice Capitalization 596 CHAPTER REVIEW AND TEST 599 EDITING REVIEW TESTS 1–10 601 48. Comparison and Contrast 689 Jackie Davison, Happy Birthday, Sis! 689 Judith Ortiz Cofer, Don’t Misread My Signals 693 Deborah Tannen, Gender Patterns Begin at the Beginning 697 READINGS Part 8 Readings for Writers 611 49. Cause and Effect 701 Ruth Russell, The Wounds That Can’t Be Stitched Up 701 Pat Wingert, Uniforms Rule 705 John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness 709 42. Narration 613 Monique Rizer, When Students Are Parents 614 Walter Scanlon, It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status 618 Patrick Conroy, Chili Cheese Dogs, My Father, and Me 621 50. Argument 713 Robert Phansalkar, Stop Snitchin’ Won’t Stop Crime 714 Bill Maxwell, Start Snitching 717 Alexandra Natapoff, Bait and Snitch: The High Cost of Snitching for Law Enforcement 720 43. Illustration 626 Rose Martinez, Reality TV 626 Dianne Hales, Why Are We So Angry? 629 James Verini, Supersize It 633 44. Description 638 Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah 638 David M. Dosa, A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat 642 Eric Liu, Po-Po in Chinatown 646 45. Process Analysis 652 Jasen Beverly, My Pilgrimage 652 Tara Parker-Pope, How to Boost Your Willpower 656 Noreen Malone, What Happens If You Fall into a Black Hole? 660 46. Classification 663 Vanessa Radzimski, Vanessa the Vegetarian 663 Appendices* A. Succeeding on Tests B. Solving Problems A-1 A-12 Answers to Odd-Numbered Editing Exercises AK-1 Index I-1 Useful Editing and Proofreading Marks Useful Lists, Checklists, and Charts *For other useful materials, such as vocabulary-building tools and a step-by-step guide to conducting a job search, visit the Real Writing Student Center at bedfordstmartins .com/realwriting. Thematic Table of Contents Education Dale Hill, How Community College Has Changed My Life (narration) 132 Kelli Whitehead, “Oh, You’re a College Student” (definition) 213 Kimberly Sharpe, Graduation Day: A Life-Changing Experience (cause /effect) 249 Monique Rizer, When Students Are Parents (narration) 614 Jasen Beverly, My Pilgrimage (process analysis) 652 Noreen Malone, What Happens If You Fall into a Black Hole? (process analysis) 660 Carolyn Foster Segal, The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe (classification) 672 John Around Him, Free Money (definition) 677 Pat Wingert, Uniforms Rule (cause /effect) 705 Health and Fitness / Food and Diet Kathleen Aharonian, Does Anyone Want Some More Calories with That? (illustration) 148 Michele Wood, My Home Exercise Program (process analysis) 179 Tara Parker-Pope, How to Boost Your Willpower (process analysis) 656 Vanessa Radzimski, Vanessa the Vegetarian (classification) 663 Language and Communication Rose Martinez, Reality TV (illustration) 626 David M. Dosa, A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat (description) 642 Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie (classification) 667 Janice E. Castro with Dan Cook and Cristina Garcia, Spanglish (definition) 684 Jackie Davison, Happy Birthday, Sis! (comparison /contrast) 689 Deborah Tannen, Gender Patterns Begin at the Beginning (comparison /contrast) 697 Personal Stories Dale Hill, How Community College Has Changed My Life (narration) 132 Cathy Vittoria, The Peach Tree (description) 164 Michele Wood, My Home Exercise Program (process analysis) 179 Kelli Whitehead, “Oh, You’re a College Student” (definition) 213 Kimberly Sharpe, Graduation Day: A Life-Changing Experience (cause /effect) 249 Monique Rizer, When Students Are Parents (narration) 614 Walter Scanlon, It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status (narration) 618 Pat Conroy, Chili Cheese Dogs, My Father, and Me (narration) 621 Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah (description) 638 Eric Liu, Po-Po in Chinatown (description) 646 Jasen Beverly, My Pilgrimage (process analysis) 652 Vanessa Radzimski, Vanessa the Vegetarian (classification) 663 Carolyn Foster Segal, The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe (classification) 672 Jackie Davison, Happy Birthday, Sis! (comparison /contrast) 689 Judith Ortiz Cofer, Don’t Misread My Signals (comparison /contrast) 693 Ruth Russell, The Wounds That Can’t Be Stitched Up (cause /effect) 701 xi xii Thematic Table of Contents Psychology: Behavior and the Mind Rose Martinez, Reality TV (illustration) 626 Dianne Hales, Why Are We So Angry? (illustration) 629 Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah (description) 638 David M. Dosa, A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat (description) 642 Tara Parker-Pope, How to Boost Your Willpower (process analysis) 656 Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie (classification) 667 Michael Thompson, Passage into Manhood (definition) 680 Jackie Davison, Happy Birthday, Sis! (comparison /contrast) 689 Ruth Russell, The Wounds That Can’t Be Stitched Up (cause /effect) 701 John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness (cause /effect) 709 Social Issues and Challenges Kathleen Aharonian, Does Anyone Want Some More Calories with That? (illustration) 148 Lou Enrico, Target and Wal-Mart: Not as Different as You Think (comparison /contrast) 231 Rollina Lowe, The Gas Tax Is Fair (argument) 269 Jim Green, Unequal Taxation (argument) 269 Monique Rizer, When Students Are Parents (narration) 614 Walter Scanlon, It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status (narration) 618 James Verini, Supersize It (illustration) 633 Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah (description) 638 Stephanie Ericsson, The Ways We Lie (classification) 667 Michael Thompson, Passage into Manhood (definition) 680 Ruth Russell, The Wounds That Can’t Be Stitched Up (cause /effect) 701 Robert Phansalkar, Stop Snitchin’ Won’t Stop Crime (argument) 714 Bill Maxwell, Start Snitching (argument) 717 Alexandra Natapoff, Bait and Snitch: The High Cost of Snitching for Law Enforcement (argument) 720 Stereotypes Kelli Whitehead, “Oh, You’re a College Student” (definition) 213 Monique Rizer, When Students Are Parents (narration) 614 Walter Scanlon, It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status (narration) 618 Judith Ortiz Cofer, Don’t Misread My Signals (comparison /contrast) 693 Trends Kathleen Aharonian, Does Anyone Want Some More Calories with That? (illustration) 148 Lou Enrico, Target and Wal-Mart: Not as Different as You Think (comparison /contrast) 231 Rollina Lowe, The Gas Tax Is Fair (argument) 269 Jim Green, Unequal Taxation (argument) 269 Monique Rizer, When Students Are Parents (narration) 614 Dianne Hales, Why Are We So Angry? (illustration) 629 James Verini, Supersize It (illustration) 633 Janice E. Castro with Dan Cook and Cristina Garcia, Spanglish (definition) 684 John Tierney, Yes, Money Can Buy Happiness (cause /effect) 709 Work Lou Enrico, Target and Wal-Mart: Not as Different as You Think (comparison /contrast) 231 Kimberly Sharpe, Graduation Day: A Life-Changing Experience (cause /effect) 249 Walter Scanlon, It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status (narration) 618 Brian Healy, First Day in Fallujah (description) 638 David M. Dosa, A Day in the Life of Oscar the Cat (description) 642 Carolyn Foster Segal, The Dog Ate My Disk, and Other Tales of Woe (classification) 672 Preface Since the first edition of Real Writing, the basic goal of this book has been twofold: to show students how writing is essential to success in the real world, and then to help them develop the writing skills they need to succeed in their college, work, and everyday lives. Real Writing shares this goal with the other Real books: Real Skills and Real Essays. As always, our first job as educators is to meet students where they are — to understand who they are and what they bring to the college writing class. Only then can we make a connection with them and guide them along the path to success. Because this book is grounded in the real world, the content of each edition must reflect changes in that world and its requirements for success. Honestly, that is what I love about having the chance to revise every few years. What happens in classrooms, boardrooms, and living rooms is not static, and as an author I have the opportunity to incorporate what is needed to help students become successful college students and citizens. So, in this fifth edition, Real Writing has the same basic goals and some of the same core content that has worked for so many instructors and students. It also reflects important new research into what helps students connect to college life and their communities, and thereby succeed academically and identify and achieve their own goals. Core Features The core features of Real Writing that have made it successful are here again, with changes based on the thoughtful suggestions of reviewers, both users and non-users of the book, and longtime writing teacher friends. Motivates Students as No Other Text Does College can be intimidating, so Real Writing is designed to get students off to a good start and remind them that they can survive and thrive in college. ■ “Profiles of Success” show that writing skills are important to workplace success. ᮣ Inspiring case studies of former students who have overcome PROFILE OF SUCCESS Argument in the Real World The following profile shows how Reggie uses writing and includes an example of how he uses argument in his work. Background I grew up in a family of six brothers and sisters, raised by a single mother. I was an athlete and in high school was voted Most Valuable Player in both football and baseball. When I arrived at Hinds Community College, I realized that my reading skills were weak, so I took developmental reading with a teacher, Vashti Muse, who became my mentor. In the supportive environment of Hinds, I thrived. I was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, a group that meets to share ideals and find ways to help the campus and other communities. I became a big brother to a local high-school student and have been rewarded by helping others. After getting a B.A. from Delta State, I returned to be a college recruiter for Hinds, where I now oversee recruitment, supervising three other recruiters and enrollment specialists. I visit local high schools to give presentations and talk about the many advantages Hinds offers students. I encourage students who are not confident in their academic skills to try Hinds, and I tell them that if I could do it, they can too. Degrees / College(s) Reggie Harris District Recruiting Coordinator B.A., Delta State University; M.Ed., Jackson State xiii xiv Preface challenges to succeed in college and in life, “Profiles of Success” include photos, short autobiographies, and authentic workplace writing samples. The people profiled work in a wide range of careers, including nursing, law enforcement, teaching, business, non-profit community development, entertainment, and academia. As part of each chapter in Part 2, “Writing Different Kinds of Paragraphs and Essays,” these popular profiles now function integrally as readings, accompanied by questions that encourage careful reading and analysis. Students can now relate these real-life examples of each mode of development more easily to the two other brief illustrative readings that follow: a paragraph model and an essay model, both by student writers. ■ Chapter 1, “Course and College Basics,” begins with practical, candid advice about how to be a successful student, offered by students (with photos and quotations) who, perhaps like your students, did not know at first how to navigate within their college environment. This chapter’s can-do, practical attitude sets the tone for the rest of the book. Shows Students That Good Writing Is an Achievable Goal Real Writing’s message to students is clear: Good writing is not magic, nor is it something that only “born writers” can do. Good writing has certain p g p p basic features, and by focusing on and mastering Description translates your experience of a person, place, or thing into these, any student can become a better writer. words, often by appealing to the physical senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Four Basics of Good Description ᮤ Helps students focus on the most important elements first. Each chapter in Part 2 opens with a list of four basic features of the type of writing, followed by meaty annotated models that are color-coded to show the four basics at work. ■ Step-by-step checklists give specific guidance. Students can use these detailed checklists to write and revise their papers, following the steps listed and doing the concrete activities that will lead to effective writing. 1 It creates a main impression — an overall effect, feeling, or image — about the topic. 2 It uses specific examples to support the main impression. 3 It supports those examples with details that appeal to the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. 4 It brings a person, place, or physical object to life for the reader. In the following paragraph, each number and color corresponds to one of the Four Basics of Good Description. A student sent this paragraph to helium.com, a Web site for writing, sharing information, contributing to organizations, writing contests, and much more. Scars are stories written on a person’s skin and sometimes on his heart. 1 My scar is not very big or very visible. 2 It is only about three inches long and an inch wide. It is on my knee, so it is usually covered, unseen. 3 It puckers the skin around it, and the texture of the scar itself Makes Grammar Less Overwhelming Real Writing helps students gain confidence and see grammar in a new light, as useful in achieving their own goals. It does not need to be an inscrutable set of rules known only to instructors. Instead, like other skills or bodies of knowledge, it can be learned and bring satisfaction. ■ Focuses first on the four most serious errors. The Part 4 chapters on fragments, run-ons, subject-verb agreement problems, and verb problems help students find and fix many of the mistakes that mar