Cover: Language Power, 1st Edition by Dana Ferris

Language Power

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First  Edition©2014  Dana Ferris

ISBN:9781457650192

ISBN:9780312577803

About

Take control of your writing. With strategies and tools for understanding and improving vocabulary usage, grammar, and style, Language Power teaches you to understand your options as  a writer. Learn to make confident choices on how to communicate with your audience and achieve your goals.

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Table of Contents

Introductions (How to use this book and overview of concepts)

  • Preface for teachers: Provide suggestions for integrating the material into a course syllabus and providing effective feedback. Discussion of research informing the content and structure of the lessons and other materials in the book. References to support materials online.

  • Introduction for students: Provide context for all material in the book. Discuss why errors matter (real-world audiences, clarity & effectiveness of communication for readers). Define and discuss global and local revision.

Finding out what you already know (Diagnostic)

  • Grammar knowledge questionnaire for students

  • Diagnostic writing/error analysis activity for students/teacher to identify initial trouble spots for individuals and the whole class

  • Charts for students to track their progress—also available online?

Mastering the basics (Foundation)

  1. Parts of Speech Review

  2. Understanding Subjects & Verbs

  3. Clause Types & Sentence Patterns

    4. Developing Academic Language & Style (Application)

  4. Analyzing Vocabulary in Assigned Readings

  5. Cohesion & Coherence Between & Within Paragraphs

  6. Lexical Variety in Writing

  7. Grammar Power

  8. Punctuation Power
    9. Tackling Problem Areas (Practice)

  9. Strategies for Self-Editing

  10. Wordy Sentences

  11. Passive Voice

  12. Inaccurate Word Choice

  13. Informal Word Choice

  14. Word Form Errors

  15. The Big 3 Comma Errors

  16. Apostrophe Errors

  17. Other Punctuation Problems

  18. Pronoun Reference & Shifts

  19. Verb Tense (Shifts and Contrasts)

  20. Subject-Verb Agreement

  21. Sentence Boundaries (Run-Ons, Comma Splices, & Fragments)

  22. Noun Plurals

  23. The Big 3 Article Errors

  24. Verb Phrases (verb form issues; modals and other auxiliaries)

  25. Prepositions/Prepositional Phrases
Appendix (Review)

  • Grammar Knowledge Questionnaire

  • Final Writing & Error Analysis

  • Reflection & Analysis Activities

Answer Keys

Index

Dana Ferris

Dana Ferris is Professor and Associate Director for Lower-Division Writing in the University Writing Program at the University of California, Davis. An applied linguist by training (Ph.D., University of Southern California), she has many years of experience teaching in ESL/multilingual writing programs and in mainstream composition programs. She also has spent over 20 years as a teacher educator, working with future K-12 teachers, with M.A. students in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Composition, and Reading, and with Ph.D. students in Linguistics, Education, and English.

Her research has focused extensively on response to student writing and on written corrective feedback in second language writing. Her work has been published in a range of journals including TESOL Quarterly, Research in the Teaching of English, Studies in Second Language Acquisition, Journal of Second Language Writing, Across the Disciplines, Writing and Pedagogy, TESOL Journal, and CATESOL Journal. 

She has previously published seven books. These teacher preparation and reference books have focused on the needs of multilingual/second language writers and readers and on responding to student writing. Titles include Teaching L2 Composition: Purpose, Process, and Practice (3rd Ed. 2013, with John Hedgcock, Routledge), Treatment of Error in Second Language Student Writing (2nd Ed. 2011, Michigan), and Teaching Readers of English (2009, with John Hedgcock, Routledge).