The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing, 4th Edition

Preface. I. A RHETORIC FOR COLLEGE WRITERS. 1. Posing Problems: The Demands of College Writing. Why Take a Writing Course? Subject-Matter Problems: The Starting Point of Writing. Shared Problems Unite Writers and Readers. The Writer as Problematizer. Posing a Problem: A Case Study of a Beginning. College Writer. Posing Your Own Subject-Matter Questions. Characteristics of Good Subject-Matter Questions. Rhetorical Problems: Reaching Readers Effectively. An Example of a Rhetorical Problem: When to Choose Closed Versus. Open Forms. Readings: David Rockwood, "A Letter to the Editor" Thomas Merton, "A Festival of Rain" Distinctions between Closed and Open Forms of Writing. Where to Place Your Writing along the Continuum. Chapter Summary. Brief Writing Project. Readings: Noel Gaudette (student), "Questions about Genetically Modified Foods?" Brittany Tinker (student), "Will the Development of Third World Countries Destroy Our Environment?" Showing Why Your Question Is Problematic and Significant (for Option 2). Showing Why Your Question Is Significant. Planning Your Essay. 2. Exploring Problems, Making Claims. What Does a Professor Want? Learning to Wallow in Complexity. Seeing Each Academic Discipline as a Field of Inquiry and Argument. Posing an Engaging Question. How a Prototypical Introduction Poses a Question and Proposes an Answer. Seeking a Surprising Thesis. Try to Change Your Reader's Views of Your Subject. Give Your Thesis Tension. Supporting Your Thesis with Points and Particulars. How Points Convert Information to Meaning. How Removing Particulars Creates a Summary. How to Use Points and Particulars When You Revise. Chapter Summary. Brief Writing Project. Playing the Believing and Doubting Game. Reading. Anonymous (student), "Believing and Doubting Paul Theroux's NegativeJohn D. Ramage is the author of 'The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing, 4th Edition', published 2005 under ISBN 9780321291509 and ISBN 0321291506.