Full Description
Master the basics of writing with THE LEAST YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ENGLISH: WRITING SKILLS. The book's simple approach (embraced by students for decades) gives you the power to strengthen your writing with clear explanations, real-world samples, and practice from over 200 exercises with full answers that provide instant feedback in all areas of writing. First, you'll learn the basics of word use, sentence structure, and punctuation. You'll also find brief, easy-to-follow guidance for writing all types of paragraphs and essays and for strengthening basic skills (from writing summaries to including quotations) that you will use in college and beyond. Exercises on a variety of topics broaden your knowledge of science, art, history, film, literature, social studies, business, and the media while you improve your English skills. When the course ends, the book becomes a valuable "go-to" reference resource for all your future writing needs.
Contents
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Getting the Most from The Least You Should Know about English.
Part I: WORD USE.
What Is the Least You Should Know about Word Use?
Word Use Preview Test.
1. Words Often Confused (Set 1).
2. Words Often Confused (Set 2).
3. The Eight Parts of Speech.
4. Adjectives and Adverbs.
5. Contractions.
6. Possessives.
7. Consulting a Dictionary.
Word Use Progress Test. Word Use Practice.
Part I: SENTENCE STRUCTURE.
What Is the Least You Should Know about Sentence Structure?
Sentence Structure Preview Test.
8. Locating Prepositional Phrases.
9. Finding Subjects and Verbs.
10. Understanding Dependent Clauses.
11. Correcting Fragments.
12. Correcting Run-on Sentences.
13. Identifying Verb Phrases.
14. Using Standard English Verbs.
15. Using Regular and Irregular Verbs.
16. Maintaining Subject-Verb Agreement.
17. Avoiding Shifts in Tense.
18. Recognizing Verbal Phrases.
19. Correcting Misplaced or Dangling Modifiers.
20. Following Sentence Patterns.
21. Avoiding Clich�s, Awkward Phrasing, and Wordiness.
22. Correcting for Parallel Structure.
23. Using Pronouns.
24. Avoiding Shifts in Person.
Sentence Structure Progress Test. Sentence Structure Practice.
Part III: PUNCTUATION.
What Is the Least You Should Know about Punctuation?
Punctuation Preview Test.
25. Periods, Question Marks, Exclamation Points, Semicolons, Colons, Dashes.
26. Commas Used to Separate Elements.
27. Commas Used to Enclose Elements.
28. Quotation Marks and Italics/Underlines.
29. Capital Letters.
Punctuation Progress Test. Punctuation Practice.
Part IV: WRITING.
What Is the Least You Should Know about Writing?
Writing as Structure.
First, Second, and Third-Person Approaches.
Basic Structures.
30. The Paragraph.
31. The Essay. Writing Skills.
32. Writing in Your Own Voice.
33. Finding a Topic.
34. Organizing Ideas. Organizing an Essay.
35. Supporting with Details.
36. Choosing and Using Quotations.
37. Writing in Response to a Reading.
38. Writing an Argument.
39. Writing Summaries.
40. Revising, Proofreading, and Presenting Your Work.
Answers.
Index.
