Course Text:

The Student Writer, Editor and Critic
                  by Barbara Fine Clouse

Paperback - 512 pages 4th edition (July 1, 1995)
                  McGraw-Hill Higher Education; ISBN: 007011448X

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Text Description

This rhetoric/reader/handbook features a true balanced approach that helps students to discover their own successful writing process, and at the same time learn the qualities of effective writing. Numerous strategies are presented for idea generation, organizing, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading within the context of rhetorical modes as patterns for thought.

Woven throughout the text are a generous number of student and professional essays to serve as both models and departure points for writing assignments and a wide variety of activities for completion both in and out of the classroom.

Additional Material:

You are encouraged to read as many different writing styles as you can. This can include daily newspaper articles, magazine articles on topics that interest you, short stories, professional essays and research papers.  You can find a ton of these on the Internet. Analyze them and to make notes for yourself on what makes that style easy or difficult to read.  How does the writer convey his/her message?  As you go through the course, you will begin to be able to identify the type of essay and critique it.

Completing the Course:

Read slowly through the full text, completing the assignments after the appropriate chapters as indicated in the Course Outline below.  The text is very comprehensive and you are cautioned not to sip any sections. Many exercises are included in the text. While these are part of your required assignments, we strongly recommend that you complete as many as possible for better understanding and practice.

Part One - The Writer's Process and Essay Structure

1. Shaping Topics and discovering Ideas
2. Structuring the Essay
ASSIGNMENT 1
3. From Ideas to Essay
ASSIGNMENT 2
4. Revising for Sentence Effectiveness

Part 2 - Patterns of Development

5. Description
6. Narration
7. Illustration
8. Process Analysis
ASSIGNMENT 3
9. Comparison-Contrast
ASSIGNMENT 4
10. Cause and Effect Analysis
ASSIGNMENT 5
11. Definition
12. Classification
13. Argumentation-Persuasion
ASSIGNMENT 6
14. Writing in Response to Reading
ASSIGNMENT 7
15. Research Writing
ASSIGNMENT 8

Part 3 - Editing Guide

Chapters 16-23 cover various problems that writers have and the solutions to those problems. Proper word choice, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices, subject-verb agreements, tense shifts, problems with pronouns, person shifts, misplaced modifiers, punctuation and writing mechanics.

Appendices:

A - This appendix lists many lists many common writing problems and what to do about them.

B - This gives a student's essay in various stages from first to final draft.

C- With more and more research being done on the Internet, this appendix shows how to properly quote electronic sources.

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignment 1 - Developing ideas

a) Illustrate how the prewriting concept of 'clustering' could be used to develop ideas based on the topic 'fashion'.

b) Complete question 3 on page 37. Write only the two thesis statements. You do not have to write the full essay.

c) Complete question 2 on page 41

Assignment 2 - From ideas to essay using an outline

Complete the 'Essay in Progress' exercise on page 75, 81 and 84. Submit it once you are satisfied with it. (Be sure to read 'Writing realities' on pages 84-86!) **

Assignment 3 - Process Analysis Essay

Select a topic from 'Essay Topics: Process Analysis' on pages 219-220. **

Assignment 4 - Comparison - Contrast

Select a topic from 'Essay Topics: Comparison-Contrast on pages 245-246. **

Assignment 5 - Cause and Effect

Select a topic from 'Essay Topics: Cause-and-Effect on pages 267-268. **

Assignment 6 - Argumentation-Persuasion

Select a topic from 'Essay Topics: Argumentation-Persuasion on pages 332-333. **

Assignment 7 - Writing in Response to Reading

Select a topic from 'Essay Topics: page 345 or 351-2, 356-7, 359 or 364-5. **

Assignment 8 - Research Report

This will be your last assignment and the longest.  The report should be 10-12 single pages and must include at least one properly referenced piece of data or quotation. See the example on pages 389-395. You may add a title page if you wish.  Before you begin, please submit the topic you have chosen and indicate the thesis statement.

As with your other essays, please do not use fancy script - use Times New Roman, or Arial 12 or 14pt. font (typeface). Be sure to include a 'Works sited' page. You may include a table, illustration if it adds value or coherence to your report.
 

** Write a five-paragraph essay (may be longer if you wish).  It should contain an introduction, three or more body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph. Remember to narrow down your subject, have a clear thesis statement, a topic sentence for each body paragraph and a definite conclusion. You will want to follow the techniques used in the text to revise and redraft your essay.  Refer often to Chapters 16-23 on editing to correct errors.  When you make errors, make a note of the type of error you are making so that you will be able to avoid the same errors in future. Submit the essay when you are satisfied with it. Please do not use fancy script - use Times New Roman, or Arial 12 or 14pt. font (typeface) for all essays.

Grading

Assignments will be marked and returned with comments by the instructor.  They will either receive a grade of SATISFACTORY or IN PROGRESS. IN PROGRESS means that the instructor would like you to make changes and resubmit the assignment.
 
 

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