I. The Process of Writing Assessing the Writing Situation 1.1 How Writing Happens1.2 The Writing Situation1.3 Audience1.4 Purpose1.5 Subject1.6 Genre and MediumDiscovering and Shaping Ideas 2.1 Invention2.2 Thesis2.3 OrganizationSample Informative EssayDrafting, Revising, and Editing 3.1 First DraftSample First Draft3.2 Revising3.3 Peer Review3.4 Sample RevisionSample Revised Draft3.5 Editing3.6 Final DraftSample Final DraftWriting and Revising Paragraphs 4.1 Flow4.2 Unity4.3 Coherence4.4 Development4.5 Introductions, Conclusions, and TransitionsPresenting Writing 5.1 Academic Writing5.2 Visuals and Media5.3 Writing OnlineSample Literacy Narrative Blog Post5.4 Oral PresentationsSample Presentation Slides5.5 Portfolios II. Reading and Writing in and out of College Writing in Academic Situations 6.1 Purpose and Audience6.2 Genre6.3 Writing with Sources6.4 Academic Language6.5 Communication in Academic SettingsCritical Reading and Writing 7.1 Critical Thinking7.2 Techniques of Critical Reading7.3 Summarizing7.4 Critical Response7.5 Visual Analysis7.6 Writing a Critical Analysis7.7 Sample Critical ResponsesSample Critical Analysis of a TextSample Critical Analysis of a VisualReading Arguments Critically 8.1 The Elements of Argument8.2 Claims8.3 Evidence8.4 Reliability8.5 Assumptions8.6 Language and Tone8.7 Fallacies8.8 Visual ArgumentsWriting an Argument 9.1 Subject9.2 Thesis, Purpose, and Audience9.3 Reasoning9.4 Evidence9.5 Engaging Readers9.6 Organizing and Revising9.7 Sample ArgumentSample Proposal ArgumentTaking Essay Exams 10.1 Preparing10.2 Planning10.3 WritingSample Essay Exam AnswerPublic Writing 11.1 Social Media11.2 Letters and MemosSample Business LetterSample Memo11.3 Job ApplicationsSample Job Application LetterSample Résumés11.4 Reports and ProposalsSample Report and Proposal11.5 Community ServiceSample Social-Media Post III. Grammatical Sentences Understanding Sentence Grammar 12.1 Sentence Basics12.2 Sentence Patterns12.3 Single-Word Modifiers12.4 Word Groups12.5 Compound Constructions12.6 Inverted Order12.7 Sentence TypesCase of Nouns and Pronouns 13.1 Subjective, Objective, and Possessive Cases13.2 Compound Subjects and Objects13.3 Common Questions about CaseVerbs 14.1 Verb Forms14.2 Easily Confused Verb Forms14.3 Verb Endings14.4 Helping Verbs14.5 Verbs with Gerunds and Infinitives14.6 Verbs with Particles14.7 Verb Tenses14.8 Sequence of Tenses14.9 Subjunctive Mood14.10 Active and Passive VoiceAgreement 15.1 Subject-Verb Agreement15.2 Unusual Word Order15.3 Subjects Joined by Conjunctions15.4 Indefinite and Relative Pronouns15.5 Collective and Plural Nouns15.6 Pronoun-Antecedent AgreementAdjectives and Adverbs 16.1 Functions of Adjectives and Adverbs16.2 Comparative and Superlative Forms16.3 Double Negatives16.4 Nouns as Modifiers16.5 Determiners IV. Clear Sentences Sentence Fragments 17.1 Identifying Fragments17.2 Correcting Fragments17.3 Common Types of Fragments17.4 Acceptable FragmentsComma Splices and Fused Sentences 18.1 Identifying Comma Splices and Fused Sentences18.2 Correcting Comma Splices and Fused SentencesPronoun Reference 19.1 Clear Reference19.2 Close Reference19.3 Specific Reference19.4 Appropriate You, Who, Which, and ThatShifts 20.1 Types of Shifts20.2 Person and Number20.3 Tense and Mood20.4 Subject and Voice20.5 Direct and Indirect Quotations and QuestionsMisplaced and Dangling Modifiers 21.1 Clear Placement21.2 Limiting Modifiers21.3 Squinting Modifiers21.4 Separated Subjects, Verbs, and Objects21.5 Separated Infinitives and Verb Phrases21.6 Position of Adverbs21.7 Order of Adjectives21.8 Dangling ModifiersMixed and Incomplete Sentences 22.1 Mixed Grammar22.2 Mixed Meaning22.3 Incomplete Compounds22.4 Incomplete Comparisons22.5 Careless Omissions V. Effective Sentences Emphasizing Ideas 23.1 Subjects and Verbs23.2 Subject Beginnings and Endings23.3 Parallel Elements23.4 Repetition and Separation23.5 ConcisenessUsing Coordination and Subordination 24.1 Coordination24.2 Subordination24.3 Connecting WordsUsing Parallelism 25.1 Understanding Parallelism25.2 Equal Elements25.3 CoherenceAchieving Variety 26.1 Sentence Length and Structure26.2 Sentence Beginnings26.3 Word Order VI. Punctuation Chart: Commas, Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and Parentheses End Punctuation 27.1 Period27.2 Question Mark27.3 Exclamation PointThe Comma 28.1 Uses of the Comma28.2 Main Clauses Linked by Conjunctions28.3 Introductory Elements28.4 Nonessential Elements28.5 Series and Coordinate Adjectives28.6 Quotations and Other Conventional Uses28.7 Unnecessary CommasThe Semicolon 29.1 Main Clauses without Coordinating Conjunctions29.2 Main Clauses with Transitional Words29.3 Main Clauses That Are Long or Contain Commas29.4 Items in a Series29.5 Unnecessary SemicolonsThe Apostrophe 30.1 Possession30.2 Contractions and AbbreviationsQuotation Marks 31.1 Direct Quotations31.2 Titles of Works31.3 Words Used in a Special Sense31.4 With Other PunctuationOther Punctuation Marks 32.1 Colon32.2 Dash32.3 Parentheses32.4 Brackets32.5 Ellipsis Mark32.6 Slash VII. Mechanics Capitals 33.1 Conventions33.2 First Word of Sentence33.3 Titles and Subtitles33.4 Proper Nouns and Proper AdjectivesItalics or Underlining 34.1 Titles of Works34.2 Foreign Words and for EmphasisAbbreviations 35.1 Abbreviations in Nontechnical Writing35.2 Misuses of AbbreviationsNumbers 36.1 Numerals and Words36.2 Dates and Addresses VIII. Effective Words Using Appropriate Language 37.1 Standard English37.2 Texting and Electronic Shortcuts37.3 Slang, Colloquialisms, Regionalisms, and Jargon37.4 Indirect or Pretentious Writing37.5 Sexist and Biased LanguageUsing Exact Language 38.1 Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Spelling Checker38.2 Denotation and Connotation38.3 Abstract and Concrete Words38.4 Idioms38.5 Figurative Language38.6 Trite ExpressionsWriting Concisely 39.1 Achieving Conciseness39.2 Subjects and Verbs39.3 Empty Words and Phrases39.4 Unnecessary Repetition39.5 Other StrategiesSpelling and the Hyphen 40.1 Common Spelling Problems40.2 Spelling Rules40.3 Spelling Skills40.4 Hyphenating Words IX. Research Writing Planning a Research Project 41.1 The Process of Research Writing41.2 Research Questions41.3 Research Strategies41.4 Working BibliographiesSample Annotated Bibliography EntryFinding Sources 42.1 Search Strategies42.2 Reference Works42.3 Books and Periodicals42.4 Web Search Strategies42.5 Social Media42.6 Government Publications42.7 Visuals and Media42.8 Primary ResearchWorking with Sources 43.1 Interacting with SourcesSample Annotated Source43.2 Evaluating Sources43.3 Synthesizing Sources43.4 Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation43.5 Integrating SourcesAvoiding Plagiarism 44.1 Defining Plagiarism44.2 Information You Do Not Need to Cite44.3 Information You Must Cite44.4 Documenting Sources44.5 Copyright and PermissionsWriting the Paper 45.1 Developing a Thesis45.2 Organizing Your Ideas45.3 Drafting a Research Paper45.4 Revising and Editing45.5 Preparing a Final DraftUsing MLA Documentation and Format 46.1 In-text Citations46.2 List of Works Cited46.3 MLA Paper FormatTwo Research Papers in MLA Style 47.1 Sample Research Paper in MLA Style“The Dream of Sustainable Agriculture”47.2 Sample Literary Research Paper in MLA Style“Intersecting Race and Gender in Angelia Weld Grimké's Rachel” X. Writing in the Academic Disciplines Reading and Writing about Literature 48.1 The Methods of Literary Analysis48.2 Writing Assignments in Literature48.3 The Tools and Language of Literary Analysis48.4 Citing Sources When Writing about Literature48.5 Writing a Literary AnalysisSample Literary AnalysisWriting in Other Humanities 49.1 Methods and Evidence49.2 Common Writing Assignments49.3 Tools and Language49.4 Documenting Sources49.5 Paper FormatWriting in the Social Sciences 50.1 Common Genres in the Social Sciences50.2 Research Conventions in the Social Sciences50.3 In-text Citations in APA Style50.4 References in APA Style50.5 Research Paper Format in APA Style50.6 Sample Research Paper in APA Style“Perceptions of Mental Illness on College Campuses”Writing in the Natural and Applied Sciences 51.1 Methods and Evidence51.2 Common Writing Assignments51.3 Tools and Language51.4 CSE Style51.5 Paper Format51.6 Sample Paper“Caterpillar Defense Mechanisms”

Hallmark and Updated Features A comprehensive guide to academic and research writing Academic Writing: Gives students a solid foundation in the goals and requirements of college writing, with 18 examples of academic writing and an emphasis on critical analysis, academic integrity, research writing, and more. New - All of the student samples in this edition, from short works in progress to complete papers, are new. More than 90 total samples are included, with topics and sources that are timely and attuned to student interests.Writing as a Process: The handbook takes a practical approach to assessing the writing situation, generating ideas, developing the thesis statement, revising, and other elements of the writing process.Research Writing: Discusses finding sources, managing information, evaluating and synthesizing sources, integrating source material, avoiding plagiarism, and much more. New - Coverage and visual examples of database searches are now in Chapter 42.Documentation: Covers four documentation styles — MLA, Chicago, APA, and CSE — and reflects each style’s latest version. Updated - All model papers and sample citations in the book have been updated to align with the new MLA and Chicago Manual of Style documentation styles.Usage, Grammar, and Punctuation: Core reference material reliably and concisely explains basic concepts and common errors, provides hundreds of annotated examples from across the curriculum, and offers frequent exercises. Additional topics give the text relevance beyond an academic setting Visual and Media Literacy: Helps students learn to process nonverbal information and use it effectively in their writing. New - Coverage of multimodal and online composing can be found in Chapter 5.Writing Beyond the Classroom: Extends the handbook’s usefulness beyond academic writing, including discussions of social media and job application writing. New - Composing for social media, in workplace and public situations, is now covered in Chapter 11.Guidance for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Writers: Provides extensive rhetorical and grammatical help, with examples, for writers whose first language or dialect is not standard American English. Accessible features make the text easy to understand and reference Accessible Reference Guide: Features streamlined explanations; explanatory headings; a clean, uncluttered page design; highlights and annotations; and more than 160 boxes that provide summaries and checklists of key information.New - Every chapter now begins with a list of learning objectives to help students understand what they’re expected to learn and accomplish. These objectives are written using language that reflects Bloom’s taxonomy of learning, and they also align in many cases with the WPA Outcomes Statement for First-Year Composition.New - An entirely new chapter on writing about literature (Chapter 48) follows a student as she reads, responds to, and writes about a novel (The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett). Check out the preface for a complete list of features and what's new in this edition.

The Little, Brown Handbook is also available via Revel™, an interactive learning environment that enables students to read, practice, and study in one continuous experience. Learn more about Revel. A comprehensive guide to academic and research writing All of the student samples in this edition, from short works in progress to complete papers, are new. More than 90 total samples are included, with topics and sources that are timely and attuned to student interests.All model papers and sample citations in the book have been updated to align with the new MLA and Chicago Manual of Style documentation styles.New coverage of multimodal and online composing can be found in Chapter 5.Composing for social media, in workplace and public situations, is now covered in Chapter 11.New coverage and visual examples of database searches are now in Chapter 42.  Accessible features make the text easy to understand and reference Every chapter now begins with a list of learning objectives to help students understand what they’re expected to learn and accomplish. These objectives are written using language that reflects Bloom’s taxonomy of learning, and they also align in many cases with the WPA Outcomes Statement for First-Year Composition.An entirely new chapter on writing about literature (Chapter 48) follows a student as she reads, responds to, and writes about a novel (The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett). Check out the preface for a complete list of features and what's new in this edition.