Focus Writing Paragraphs and Essays

This comprehensive book offers an integrated, balanced approach to paragraph and essay composition skills, grammar, and punctuation. It presents writing as a holistic activity through specific grammar/punctuation rules within the context of the specific types of writing where they are most often used (and misused).Making extensive use of writing samples, this book outlines the stages of the writing process by using those examples to demonstrate the stages. It offers a balance of rhetoric and grammar by showing specific organizational techniques for each rhetorical purpose and outlining revising and editing strategies for paragraphs and essays. It also includes guide questions to underscore the power of writing as a creative exchange between writer and reader. Ultimately, the book provides an effective bridge from paragraph to essay writing. The second edition ofWriting Paragraphs and Essayshas been revised to include a new section in each chapter called Writers as Spiders, containing links to Internet resources to reinforce grammatical/rhetorical concepts within each chapter with some writing assignments now tied to World Wide Web searches.An essential reference for every writer.

1. Focus on Writing.
Why Write in a High-Tech World? Speaking versus Writing. Informal versus Formal Writing. Focus on the Reader. Focus on the Writer. Focus on the Writing Process. Student Sample: “If I Won the Lottery” by Nicole Masko. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

2. Focus on the Paragraph.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Generating Ideas. Student Sample. Focus on the Topic Sentence. Focus on Supporting Details. Focus on Transition. Focus on the Concluding Sentence. Focus on Grammar. Writers as Spiders.

3. Focus on Development by Example.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on Organizing. Focus on Transition. Focus on Grammar. Focus on Punctuation. Student Samples - Development by Example. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

4. Focus on Narration.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on Organizing. Focus on Transition. Focus on Diction. Focus on Grammar. Focus on Punctuation. Student Samples - Narration. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

5. Focus on Observation.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on Organizing. Focus on Transition. Focus on Diction. Focus on Grammar. Focus on Punctuation. Student Samples - Observation. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

6. Focus on Comparison/Contrast.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on Organizing. Focus on Transition. Focus on Diction. Focus on Grammar. Focus on Punctuation. Student Sample - Contrast Paragraph - Point-by-Point Pattern. Student Sample - Contrast Paragraph - Block Pattern. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

7. Focus on the Essay.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on the Development by Example Essay. Student Sample - Development by Example Essay. Focus on the Comparison/Contrast Essay. Student Sample - Comparison Essay. Student Sample - Contrast Essay. Student Sample - Comparison/Contrast Essay. Focus on Grammar. Focus on Diction. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

8. Focus on the Problem-Solving Essay.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on Generating Ideas. Focus on Organizing. Focus on the Problem Essay. Student Sample - Problem Essay. Focus on the Problem/Solution Essay. Sample Editorial - Problem/Solution Essay. Focus on the Solution Essay. Student Samples - Solution Essay. Focus on Transition. Focus on Grammar. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

9. Focus on the Persuasive Essay.
Focus on Purpose. Focus on Choosing a Topic. Focus on Generating Ideas. Focus on Organizing. Focus on Transition. Student Sample - Block Pattern for Persuasive Essay. Student Sample - Point/Counterpoint Pattern for Persuasive Essay. Focus on Diction. Sample Persuasive Speech - “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr. Focus on Peer Review. Writers as Spiders.

10. Revising and Editing Strategies.
Why Revise and Edit? Revising versus Editing. Focus on Revising Strategies. Focus on Editing Strategies. Focus on Conferences with Tutor/Teacher. Writers as Spiders.

Appendix A. Tips for ESL Students.
Appendix B. Outlining.
Appendix C. Manuscript Form.
Appendix D. Glossary of Key Grammatical Terms.
Answers to Selected Odd-Numbered Exercises.
Index.