The familiarity of this handbook makes it one of the easiest for students to use. Why? Students using this text do not need a specialized "code" of organization that requires them to know established categories of writing information and instruction such as usage, grammar, and style. Instead, because the entries in A to Z are familiar and intuitive, students need only turn to a letter of the alphabet to find the appropriate entry that will answer their questions and provide examples. Easy-to-use cross-references also direct students to additional information.
Front Matter
Brief Contents
Contents by Topic Area
To the Instructor
To the Student: How to Use This Book
COMPOSING PROCESSES
Overview of Composing Processes
Assessing the Rhetorical Situation
Elements Of The Rhetorical Situation
Occasion
Audience
Topic
Purpose
Prewriting
Tips for Prewriting on the Computer
Development Strategies
Journalist’s Questions
Burke’s Pentad
Methods of Development
Organization
The Thesis
Drafting
Tips for Drafting on the Computer
Revising
Large-Scale Concerns
Small-Scale Concerns
Tips for Revising on the Computer
Getting Feedback
General Guidelines for Peer Response
Peer Response Guidelines for Specific Kinds of Writing
Editing
Sentence Structure
Word Choice
Clarity and Conciseness
Documentation
Mechanics
Tips for Editing on the Computer
Proofreading
Tips for Proofreading
Checklist for Composing
RESEARCH PROCESSES: FINDING, USING, AND DOCUMENTING SOURCES
Overview of Research Writing
Research and Composing Processes
Checklist for Writing a Research Paper
The Research Writer’s Responsibilities
Use Sources That Strengthen Your Credibility
Use Sources Appropriately and Effectively
Verbs Used in Signal Phrases
Avoid Plagiarism
Tips for Avoiding Plagiarism
Gathering Information from Sources
Libraries and Librarians
The World of Sources
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources
Popular and Scholarly Sources
A Comparison of Scholarly and Popular Sources
Print and Electronic Sources
Reference Works for Background Reading
Specialized Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
Biographical Dictionaries and Indexes
Almanacs and Yearbooks
Atlases
Making a List of Subject Headings or Keywords
Creating a Working Bibliography
What to Include in a Working Bibliography
Figure RP-1. Bibliography for a book
Figure RP-2. Bibliography for a periodical
Figure RP-3. Web page with header and footer
Evaluating Sources
Taking Notes
Summaries
Figure RP-4. Summary note
Paraphrases
Figure RP-5. Paraphrase note
Quotations
Figure RP-6. Quotation note
Periodicals
Figure RP-7. Sample search result from periodical index
Newspaper and Magazine Indexes on the Internet
Specialized Indexes and Databases
The Library Catalog
Figure RP-8. Online library catalog entry
Library Classification Systems
Interlibrary Loans and Publishing Bibliographies
Internet Searches: The Research Writer’s Guide
Finding Good Sources on the Web
How to Evaluate the Reliability of Internet Sources
Experiment with Keywords
Search Engine Strategies
Search Terms
Subject Directories
Electronic Newsgroups and Mailing Lists
Netiquette for Newsgroups and Mailing Lists
Documentation and Manuscript Form
MLA Style
Guide to MLA Style
MLA In-Text Citations
MLA Information Notes
MLA List of Works Cited
Books
Periodicals
Electronic Sources: Directory of MLA Models
Other Sources
MLA Manuscript Form
Sample MLA Research Paper
APA Style
Key Changes in the Fifth Edition of the APA Publication Manual
Guide to APA Style
APA In-Text Citations
APA Reference List
Books
Periodicals
Government and Legal Print Sources
Electronic Sources
Audiovisual Media
APA Manuscript Form
Sample APA Manuscript Pages
CMS Style
Guide to CMS Style
CMS Documentary Notes
CMS Shortened Notes
CMS Bibliography
CMS Manuscript Form
Sample CMS Manuscript Pages
CSE Style
Guide to CSE Style
CSE In-Text Citation Numbers
CSE Numbered List of References
CSE Manuscript Form
Sample CSE Manuscript Pages
WRITING FROM A TO Z: The Alphabetical Entries
Credits
ESL Index
Full Index
Revision Symbols [inside back cover]
Directory of Figures [inside back flap]
Directory of Boxes [outside back flap]
