PrefaceUpdates to the Seventh Edition PART 1: COMPOSITION The Writing ProcessPreparing to WriteBuilding a Framework: Thesis and OrganizationIntroducing the EssayDeveloping Body ParagraphsConcluding the EssayRevising, Proofreading, and FormattingShowing and Telling: Description, Narration, and ExampleLimiting and Ordering: Definition, Classification, and Process Examining Logical Connections: Comparison-Contrast, Cause-Effect, and ArgumentWriting a Research Paper PART 2: GRAMMAR Verbs and SubjectsSubject-Verb Agreement Coordination and Subordination Run-on SentencesSentence FragmentsPronoun Case Pronoun Agreement, Reference, and Point of ViewMisplaced and Dangling ModifiersParallel StructureVerb ShiftsSentences with StyleCommasOther PunctuationWord ChoiceWords Commonly ConfusedCapitalizationApostrophes PART 3: READINGS Reading at the College LevelReading Essays and LiteratureThe Road Not Taken, Robert Frost A Narrow Fellow in the Grass, Emily DickinsonThe Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin Our Vanishing Night, Verlyn KlinkenborgThe “Black Table” Is Still There, Lawrence Otis GrahamLetting in Light, Patricia RaybonCuring the Social Media Blues, Chris Guessman Date Rape: Exposing Dangerous Myths, John J. MacionisIs National Service a Cure for America’s Woes? Larry Fennelly I Wonder: Was It Me or Was It My Sari? Shoba Narayan

Hallmark features of this title Integrates real-world examples and delivers concepts in a direct, conversational way that engages students in learning.Helps students become quicker, more fluid writers building confidence through “Small Scrawls” writing practice in each of the modes chapters (accompanied by visual cues in Ch. 7-9).Presents material in a flexible 3-part layout that enables mixing and matching the writing chapters, grammar chapters, and readings.Groups rhetorical modes together based on actual usage, mirroring realistic writing strategies.Argument coverage includes discussion of ethos, pathos, logos (and identifying flawed arguments).A research chapter provides updated MLA/APA style guidelines and a Word Choice chapter covers more informal writing for the Internet and texting.Free download: The Pearson Guide to the 2021 MLA Handbook.

New and updated features of this title Brief, readable and actionable content UPDATED: Content has been enhanced (exercises, images, assignments, model essays, Grammar Alert! boxes, and chapter openers) to keep material current and engaging.NEW: Streamlined explanations and examples throughout (particularly in the subject-verb agreement chapter and 2 pronoun chapters), enhance clarity without sacrificing coverage.NEW: The Readings section includes 3 new essays: “Fish Cheeks,” by Amy Tan; “Our Vanishing Night,” by Verlyn Klinkenborg (sourced from National Geographic); and “Curing the Social Media Blues” by Chris Guessman. Thoughtfully organized for structure and flexibility NEW: Additional paragraph-style editing exercises have been added where students are most likely to have problems and need extra practice (e.g., subject-verb agreement; coordination and subordination; run-on sentences; sentence fragments; pronoun agreement, reference, and point of view). Handy, in-text, up-to-date style guide information NEW: Writing a Research Paper (Ch. 11) now contains an extensive section on incorporating quotes into research. Given college writing's focus on quotations in the context of research (rather than as dialogue) all quotation marks material now resides here.