Everything You Need to Know about College Writing, 2016 MLA Update

Foreword for Students: Don’t skip this part—it’s important

Preface for Instructors Psst, students! You can read this too!

Part 1: Reading and Writing Basics

Chapter 1. The Writing Process: It’s a Journey and a Destination
   Did You Know That Essay Means To Try?
          Set Your Mind on Grow
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
 Writing Is a Process – But One Size Does Not Fit All
    Variations on the Writing Process
    Stages of the Writing Process
          Reality Check! The Writing Process
          Reality Check! Using this Book

Chapter 2. The Writing Situation: Context is Everything
    The Communication Triangle
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Communication Triangle
    The Rhetorical Situation: Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?
          Let Us Show You: Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation
    Audience Awareness in College Writing
          Apply What You Know…Right Now
          Reality Check! The Rhetorical Situation

Chapter 3. Reading and Writing: Two Sides of the Same Coin
     The Reading-Writing Relationship
     Why Writers Read
     Reading for Context
          Reality Check! Reading for Context
          Let Us Show You: Searching for Context 
          Reality Check! Web Domains and Reliability 
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Searching for Context
          Let Us Show You: Exploring Context
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Exploring Context

Chapter 4. How to Read? Why, Recursively, of Course
    The First Reading: Relax
          Let Us Show You: The First Reading
         Talk Amongst Yourselves…
         Now You Try: The First Reading
    The Second Reading: Engage
         Read Actively
         Reality Check! Active Reading 
         Let Us Show You: The Second Reading
         Talk Amongst Yourselves…
         Now You Try: The Second Reading
   The Third Reading: Achieve Harmony
        Let Us Show You: The Third Reading
        Talk Amongst Yourselves…
        Now You Try: The Third Reading
        Reality Check! Recursive Reading 
    Helpful Hint: Recording Your Results

Part 2: Prewriting

Chapter 5. Prewriting: Where on Earth Do I Begin? 
    The Intellectual Road Trip
    Understanding the Assignment
        Know What You Are Required to Do
         Reality Check! Understanding the Assignment 
         Ask Questions
         When is it Due?
         Let Us Show You: Understanding the Assignment
         Talk Amongst Yourselves…
         Now You Try: Understanding the Assignment 
         Practice! Understanding the Assignment
    Generating Ideas
         Brainstorming
         Let Us Show You: Brainstorming
         Now You Try: Brainstorming
         Reality Check! Where to Begin

Chapter 6. From Brainstorming to Topic: I Have Some Ideas…Now What?
         Reality Check! From Brainstorm to Topic
     Orient Yourself to Your Topic
         Reality Check! Topic Orientation
         Let Us Show You: Topic Orientation
         Talk Amongst Yourselves…
         Now You Try: Topic Orientation
     Focused Freewriting
         Let Us Show You: Focused Freewriting
         Talk Amongst Yourselves…
         Now You Try: Focused Freewriting
         Reality Check! Focused Freewriting 
     Stay on Track with Your Topic
         Reality Check! Stay on Track with Your Topic
     How to Stay on Track
          Let Us Show You: Stay on Track with Your Topic
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
     Stay on Track with Your Information
          Reality Check! Stay on Track with Your Information
          Let Us Show You: Stay on Track with Your Information
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Prewriting— the Whole Shebang
          Reality Check! Focusing Your Ideas

Chapter 7. From Writing Process to Written Product: You Can Get There from Here
     The Products of Writing
     Make Yes, No, and Maybe Piles
     Bring More Order to the Chaos
          Let Us Show You: Organizing Your Ideas
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Organizing Your Ideas
     The Controlling Idea
     What Is a Thesis? And How Does it “Work”?
          The Working Thesis
          Crafting the Working Thesis
          Reality Check! The Working Thesis
          Let Us Show You: The Working Thesis
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Working Thesis
          Reality Check! Are You Ready to Draft?

Part 3: Drafting
Chapter 8. Draft and Draft Again: Give Your Ideas Room to Breathe
          Reality Check! Are You Ready to Write? 
          How to Begin a Draft
          Reality Check! Ingredients for the Draft
          Five Steps Towards a Successful First Draft
          Let Us Show You: Beginning a Draft
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Beginning a Draft
     Overcome Writer’s Block
          Anti-Writer’s Block Strategy #1: Get Ready
          Anti-Writer’s Block Strategy #2: Know What a Draft is—and What it Isn’t
          Anti-Writer’s Block Strategy #3: Start Anywhere
          Anti-Writer’s Block Strategy #4: Write Without Fear
          Let Us Show You: Actual Drafting
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Actual Drafting
          Reality Check! Slaying Writer’s Block
          Reality Check! Is it Really a Draft?

Chapter 9. Successful Paragraphs: Don’t Leave Home Without Them
     The Structure of Successful Paragraphs
     Topic Sentences and Main Points
     Induction vs. Deduction
          Inductive Reasoning
          Deductive Reasoning
          Reality Check! The Sandwich Syllogism for Deductive Reasoners
          Structuring with Induction and Deduction
          Let Us Show You: Topic Sentences and Structure
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Topic Sentences and Structure
     The Body of the Paragraph
          Let Us Show You: The Body
     The Closing Statement, or Clincher
          Let Us Show You: The Clincher
     Paragraph Quality: Unity, Development, Organization, Coherence
          Achieve Unity
          Develop Your Paragraph
          Organize Your Paragraph
          Achieve Coherence
          Let Us Show You: Paragraph Structure and Quality
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Paragraph Structure and Quality
          Reality Check! Paragraph Structure and Quality

Chapter 10. Analytical Paragraphs: A College Student’s Best Friend
     The Claim
          Let Us Show You: The Claim
          Talk Amongst Yourselves… 
          Now You Try: The Claim
     The Context
          Let Us Show You: The Context
          Talk Amongst Yourselves… 
          Now You Try: The Context
     The Evidence
          Let Us Show You: The Evidence
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Evidence
     The Analysis
          Let Us Show You: The Analysis
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Analysis
     The Synthesis
          Let Us Show You: The Synthesis
          Talk Amongst Yourselves… 
          Now You Try: The Synthesis
The Complete Analytical Paragraph
           Let Us Show You: The Complete Analytical Paragraph
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Complete Analytical Paragraph
          Reality Check! The Analytical Paragraph

Chapter 11. Modes of Rhetoric: Different Ways of Thinking
     Form Follows Function
     The Modes of Rhetoric
          General vs. Specific Modes
     Modes of Rhetoric Toolkit
          Exemplification
          Narration
          Description
          Definition
          Comparison and Contrast
          Causal Analysis
          Effect Analysis
          Process
          Classification
          Division
          Practice!  Modes of Rhetoric
          Let Us Show You: Modes of Rhetoric
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Modes of Rhetoric
          Bonus Task!
          Reality Check! The Rhetorical Situation

Part 4: Revising and Editing
Chapter 12. Levels of Revision: One Step at a Time
     Revision is for the Reader
          Learn to Care and Not to Care
     Preparing to Revise: Get Feedback
          Peer Review: What to Expect
               Useful Critiques
              What to Comment On
          Let Us Show You: Peer Review
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Peer Review
          Reality Check! Peer Review
          Instructor Critique: What to Expect
               What Will Your Professor Say?
               What Will Your Professor Mean?
     Four Levels of Revision: Content, Structure, Coherence and Precision
          Reality Check! The Four Levels of Revision
          Let Us Show You: Preparing to Revise
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Preparing to Revise

Chapter 13. Content Revision: Say What You Mean, and Mean What You Say
     Revision Means Re-Vision
          Reality Check! Content Revision
          Does Your Thesis Have Issues?
          Does Your Argument Work?
          Is Your Essay Unified?
          Let Us Show You: Content-Level Revision 
          Talk Amongst Yourselves….
          Now You Try: Content-Level Revision
     Reverse-Engineer Your Draft
          The Formal Outline: Oh, Relax! This Won’t Hurt a Bit
          The Format of a Formal Outline
               The Sentence Outline
          Let Us Show You: Reverse-Engineer Your Draft
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Reverse-Engineer Your Draft

Chapter 14. Structural Revision: Does It Have to Be a Five-Paragraph Essay?
     Structure Your Draft
          Inductive vs. Deductive Organization
               Inductive Organization
               Deductive Organization
          Reality Check! Inductive vs. Deductive Structure
          Let Us Show You: The Overall Structure
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Overall Structure
     Effective Body Paragraphs
          Reality Check! Effective Body Paragraphs
          Let Us Show You: Effective Body Paragraphs
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Effective Body Paragraphs
     Specialty Paragraphs: The Introduction (and the Main Point)
          V-Shaped Introductions
          The Main Point
          Let Us Show You: Introductions and Main Points
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Introductions and Main Points
     Specialty Paragraphs: The Conclusion (and the Main Point)
          Reality Check! The Conclusion
          Let Us Show You: The Conclusion (and the Main Point)
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Conclusion (and the Main Point)
          Reality Check! Revising for Structure

Chapter 15. Editing for Coherence and Precision: Words Mean Things
     Use Transitions to Create Coherence
          Transitions Within Sentences and Paragraphs
          Reality Check! Useful Transitions
          Practice!  Using Transitions in Sentences
          Transitions Between Paragraphs
          Reality Check! Coherent Transitions
          Now You Try: Coherent Transitions
      Achieve a Coherent Tone
          Diction
          Misjudging the Rhetorical Situation
               Dangers of Overwriting
               Dangers of Underwriting
     Appropriate Language Use
          Avoid Inappropriate Language
               Avoid Jargon
               Avoid Pretentious Language
               Avoid Euphemism
               Avoid Slang
               Avoid Offensive Language
          Reality Check! Coherence and Tone
          Let Us Show You: Editing for Coherence and Tone
          Now You Try: Editing for Coherence and Tone

Part 5: Writing Effective Arguments
Chapter 16. Making an Argument: It’s Rational -- And Fun
     Everything’s an Argument! No, It Isn’t. Yes, Actually, It Is!
     The Need for Logos: Evidence and Reasoning
          Establishing Logos by Providing Examples 
          Claims versus Statements of Fact
          Practice!  Claims vs. Facts
     Different Claims for Different Purposes
          Expositions and Claims of Fact
          Evaluations and Claims of Value
          Proposals and Claims of Policy
          Let Us Show You: Identifying Claims
          Now You Try: Identifying Claims
     Qualifies and Reservations
          Practice!  Narrowing Claims
          Let Us Show You: Understanding Claims
         Now You Try: Understanding Claims

Chapter 17. Supporting an Argument: Just Saying It Doesn’t Make It So
     Factual Evidence
          Evidence Doesn’t Speak for Itself
               Acknowledging Your Assumptions
          Let Us Show You: Supporting Claims with Factual Evidence
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Supporting Claims with Factual Evidence
     Appeals
          Appeals Don’t Speak for Themselves, Either
          Let Us Show You: Supporting Claims with Appeals
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Supporting Claims with Appeals
     Expert Opinion
          Not Even Expert Opinion Speaks for Itself
          Let Us Show You: Supporting Claims with Expert Opinion
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Supporting Claims with Expert Opinion
          Reality Check! The Elements of Argument
     Arguments and Counter-Arguments
          Let Us Show You: Arguments and Counter-Arguments
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Arguments and Counter-Arguments

Chapter 18. Faulty Reasoning: Bouncing the Check Your Argument Wrote
     Reasoning: A Quick Review
     Problems with Factual Evidence (or Inductive Fallacies)
          Reality Check! Inductive Fallacies
          Practice! Inductive Fallacies
     Problems with Thinking About Evidence (or Deductive Fallacies)
          Faulty Syllogisms
          Reality Check! Faulty Syllogisms
          Practice!  Faulty Syllogisms 
          The Derailed Train of Thought
          Reality Check! The Derailed Train of Thought 
          Practice!  The Derailed Train of Thought
          Failures of Perspective
          Reality Check! Failures of Perspective 
          Practice!  Failures of Perspective
          Let Us Show You: Effective Reasoning
          Talk Amongst Yourselves….
          Now You Try: Effective Reasoning
          Reality Check! Tune Up Your Reasoning

Chapter 19. Engaging the Reader: Oh, That’s What You Meant by “Conversation”
     Needs and Values: Maslow’s Hierarchy
          Let Us Show You: Connecting with the Reader
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Connecting with the Reader
     Components of Pathos: Empathy and Evocation
          Evoking Emotion: Show, Don’t Tell
          Let Us Show You: Empathy and Evocation
          Use Vivid and Active Language
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Empathy and Evocation
     Damaging Your Pathos: Making Bad Assumptions About Needs and Values
          Misjudging Appeals
          Reality Check! Misjudging Appeals
          Practice!  Misjudging Appeals
          Fallacies of Manipulation
          Reality Check! Fallacies of Manipulation
          Practice!  Fallacies of Manipulation
          Let Us Show You: Engaging the Reader
          Reality Check! Engaging the Reader
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Engaging the Reader
          Reality Check! Assessing Pathos

Part 6: Researching Effectively
Chapter 20. Research and Sources: The Intellectual Treasure Hunt
     Strengthen Your Argument with Research
     What Are Sources, Anyway?
          Primary Sources
          Secondary Sources
     The Research Process: Not as Scary as You Think
     Step #1: Formulate a Strong Research Question
          Reality Check! Strong Research Questions
          Let Us Show You: The Research Question
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: The Research Question
     Step #2: Find Sources
          Find Reliable Sources
          Reality Check! Reliable Sources
          Use the Library
          Use the Broader Internet
               Internet Research: A Giant Blessing
          Reality Check! Practice Safe Webbing
               Internet Research: A Bit of a Curse
          Let Us Show You: Finding Sources
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Finding Sources
     Step #3: Narrow Your Research Results
          Reality Check! Narrowing Your Search Results
          Now You Try: Narrowing Your Research Results

Chapter 21. Choosing and Using Sources: Do It Wisely
     Step #4: Evaluate and Choose Sources
          Reality Check! The Research Assignment 
          Watch for Bias in Your Sources
          Choose the Most Relevant Sources
          Reality Check! Evaluating and Choosing Sources 
          Let Us Show You: Evaluating and Choosing Sources 
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Evaluating and Choosing Sources
     Step #5: Understand Your Sources
          Go Head-to-Head with Your Sources
          Critical Analysis
          Practice!  Critical Analysis
               A Note on “Boring and Confusing” Sources
          Paraphrase Three Times
          Let Us Show You: Understanding Your Sources
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Understanding Your Sources
     Step #6: Take Good Notes
          Keep Track of Your Sources
               Develop a Reliable System of Note-Taking
          Reality Check! Reliable Note-Taking 
          Let Us Show You: Taking Good Notes
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Taking Good Notes
     Step #7: Integrate Sources into Your Essay
          Summarizing
          Practice!  Summarizing
          Paraphrasing
          Practice!  Paraphrasing
          Quoting
          Practice!  Quoting
          Avoiding “Dropped” Source Material
          Let Us Show You: Integrating Sources
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Integrating Sources

Chapter 22. Research and Ethics: Good Rules for Writers of Integrity
     Authoritative Source Use: Being Well Informed
          Failure of Authority: Being Under-Informed
               Use More than One Secondary Source
               Avoid Patchwork Plagiarism
     Integrity: Being Honest With Yourself
          Staying Open-Minded
          Avoid Unintentional Plagiarism
     Character: Being Honest With Your Reader
          Dishonest or Misleading Use of Authority
          Reality Check! Fallacies of Authority
          Practice!  Fallacies of Authority
          Intentional Plagiarism
     Ethics and Source Use: Citation
          Why Cite Sources?
          How to Cite Sources
               Components of Citation
          Let Us Show You: Ethical Use and Citation of Sources
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Reality Check! The Ethical College Research Paper
          Now You Try: Ethical Use and Citation of Sources
     And One More Thing: Ethos and Language Use

Part 7: Fine-Tuning the Text
Chapter 23. Writing with Style: Proofread for Clarity and Precision
     Proofreading Matters
          Use Standard English 
          The Rules—And Violations—of Standard English
          Practice! Violations of Standard English
     The Process of Proofreading
          Use Your Computer: Spell-Checking and Grammar Checking
          Reality Check! Responsible Spell-Checking 
          Use Your Brain: Actual Proofreading
     Beyond Rules and Violations – Writing to Express, not Impress
          Reality Check! Proofreading
          Let Us Show You: Proofreading
         Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Proofreading
  
Chapter 24. Grammar and Usage: Make Your Words Behave
     Problems with Verbs: Voice, Mood, Form, Agreement
          Errors in Voice
               Use the Active Voice
               Use Strong Verbs
          Errors in Mood
               Use the Subjunctive Correctly
          Errors in Form
               Two Troublesome Verbs: Use and Suppose
          Subject-Verb Agreement Errors
          Practice!  Problems with Verbs
     Problems with Pronouns: Agreement, Reference, Perspective, Case
          Errors in Pronoun Agreement
               Practice Good Pronoun Agreement
               Style with Pronoun Agreement
          Unclear Pronoun Reference
          Shifts in Perspective
               Avoid the Rhetorical Use of You
          Problems with Pronoun Case
          Practice!  Problems with Pronouns
     Problems with Prepositions
          Errors Based on Misheard Prepositions
     Problems with Adjectives and Adverbs
          Use Comparative and Superlative Adjectives Correctly
     Commonly Misused/Confused Words
          Reality Check: Grammar and Usage
          Let Us Show You: Proofing for Grammar and Usage
          Talk Amongst Yourselves…
          Now You Try: Proofing for Grammar and Usage
  
Chapter 25. Solving Sentence Structure Problems: Build a Solid Foundation
     Problems with Clauses, Part 1: Fragments
          Sentence Fragments  
          Fixing Fragments
     Problems with Clauses, Part 2: Run-on Sentences
          Fused Sentences and Comma Splices
          Fixing Run-on Sentences
          Practice!  Fixing Fragments and Run-on Sentences
     Problems with Sentence Structure and Purpose
          Problem #1: Shifts
               Avoid Shifts from Statement to Question
               Avoid Shifts from Direct to Indirect Quotation
          Problem #2: Mixed Constructions
          Problem #3: Faulty Parallelism
               Practice!  Problems with Sentence Structure and Purpose
     Problems with Phrases: Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
          Dangling Modifiers
          Misplaced Modifiers
               Practice!  Problems with Modifiers
          Let Us Show You: Proofing for Sentence Structure
          Reality Check! Sentence Structure
          Talk Amongst Yourselves….
          Now You Try: Proofing for Sentence Structure

Chapter 26. Solving Problems with Punctuation: Form Healthy Relationships Between Words
     Common Problems with Terminal Punctuation
          Practice!  Terminal Punctuation Marks
     Common Problems with Internal Punctuation
          Colons and Semicolons
               Semicolons and Lists
               Colons and Lists
               Semicolons with Phrases and Clauses
          Commas
               Commas and Independent Clauses
               Commas and Other Coordinating Conjunctions
               Avoid Putting Commas Between Subjects and Verbs
               Commas and Internal Phrases
               Commas and Introductory Material
               Practice!  Internal Punctuation Marks
     Common Problems with Grammatical & Mechanical Punctuation
          Hyphens versus Dashes
          Quotation Marks
               Using Commas with Quotation Marks
               Using Other Punctuation Marks with Quotation Marks
               Avoid Using Quotation Marks Ironically
          Apostrophes 
               Create Correct Possessives and Contractions
               Avoid Apostrophes with Possessive Pronouns
               Practice!  Grammatical and Mechanical Punctuation Marks
               Practice!  Punctuation
               Let Us Show You: Proofing for Punctuation
               Reality Check! Avoiding Common Punctuation Errors
               Talk Amongst Yourselves…
               Now You Try: Proofing for Punctuation

APPENDICES: The Writer’s Toolkit
Appendix A: Basic Grammar and Punctuation Reference
     The Parts of Speech
          Nouns
               Three Types of Nouns
               Do a Noun Test
          Verbs
               Three Types of Verbs
               Verb Tense and Agreement
               Identifying Verbs
          Pronouns
               Eight Types of Pronouns
          Adjectives
               Three Forms of Adjectives
          Adverbs
          Prepositions
          Conjunctions
               Correlative Conjunctions
          Interjections
     The Parts of the Sentence
          Subjects
          Predicates
               Complete Verbs
          Objects
          Complements
          Clauses
     Sentence Structure
     Sentence Purpose
          Phrases
     Punctuation
          Terminal Punctuation Marks
          Internal Punctuation Marks
               The Semicolon
               The Colon
               The Comma
               Dashes and Parentheses
          Non-Structural Punctuation Marks
               The Apostrophe
               Quotation Marks

Appendix B. Writing and Citing Across the Curriculum
     Writing in the Arts and Humanities
          Content
          Sources
     Citing Sources in the Humanities: MLA Style
          MLA In-Text Citation (example)
          MLA List of Works Cited (a.k.a. Bibliography) (example)
     Writing in the Social Sciences
          Content
          Sources
     Citing Sources in the Social Sciences: APA Style
          APA Parenthetical In-Text Citation
          APA In-Text Citation (example)
          APA List of References (a.k.a. Bibliography) (example)
     Citing Sources Using Chicago Style
          Chicago-Style Footnotes (example)
     Writing in the Natural Sciences
          Content
          Sources and Citation
          The Bottom Line

Appendix C. Readings for Writers
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift
“The Deep Sadness of Elk That Don’t Run” by Michael Byrne
"Bad Feminist" by Roxanne Gay
"Serving Life for Surviving Abuse" by Jessica Pishko
“The Cosmic Perspective” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
“Black Men and Public Spaces” by Brent Staples