Writing Skills

This book is the ideal companion for any introductory college writing course and tracks the curriculum of a typical English Composition, College Writing, English 101, or Writing & Rhetoric course. You'll learn composition techniques, style, language, and grammar tips, and discover how to plan, write, and revise your material.

Packed with practical tips and example sources in both citations and reference lists, it makes referencing manageable and easy to follow for everyone.

This book is for university students, with at least a mid-intermediate level of English. It can be used as part of an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course, either alone or with the companion volume Giving an Academic Presentation in English. The chapters are independent so that EAP teachers and students can choose those sections that best fit their needs. This means that a course can range from a minimum of 20 hours, up to 60 hours or more. There is an introductory chapter that includes what role academics play in today's world, where success is not just measured in terms of paper output but also involvement in interdisciplinary projects and supporting society at large. Each chapter covers a particular section of a paper (Abstract, Introduction, Methods etc) and begins with a discussion exercise on what the exact purpose of each section is. This purpose is also highlighted by comparisons with non-academic situations where similar skills are required.

Designed to be an in-the-trenches desktop reference, this indispensable resource can help scholars develop a productive self-editing habit, advise their graduate and other students on style, and, ultimately, get their work published and praised.

The Persistent Writer: How To Thrive In Your College Writing Class is organized on the narrative arc of a student's pathway through college, focusing explicitly on the role that a first college writing class plays in the pathway. Case histories and photos spotlight others'journeys on the pathway so that students can see themselves as part of the larger narrative in their education. When they do that, they can understand the important role their course plays find intrinsic motivation to successfully complete the class.