Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs and Essays, Third Edition (Paperback)

~ (Author), Carol Wershoven (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Unlike other writing handbooks—which stop coverage of the writing process after a few chapters—this book takes readers with each exercise through all the steps of generating ideas, planning, drafting and revising, and proofreading with a sample. Covers the writing process using a step-by-step approach. Includes a new chapter on Writing a Paragraph that introduces readers to a basic paragraph before beginning specific patterns. Doubles the number of proofreading exercises in each writing chapter. Offers accessible new readings on invention, technology, and adolescents who smoke. Features new material on common "trouble spots" that includes a new chapter on Avoiding Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices, and new, separate chapters on punctuation trouble spots: the comma and the apostrophe. Takes a three-part approach to grammar reinforcement—1) Practice: Exercises for simple reinforcement of the grammar principle; 2) Collaborate: More complex exercises to be done with a partner or group; 3)Connect: Application of the grammar principle to paragraphs. A handy reference for any professional who wants to improve their business writing.

From the Inside Flap

Preface

We are deeply grateful to the adopters and reviewers of the first edition of Along These Lines. This second edition, Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs and Essays, has been refined and expanded in response to the encouraging reactions and practical suggestions from careful and generous reviewers. They appreciate the importance of combining individual and collaborative reinforcement in beginning writing classes. THE WRITING CHAPTERS

We have retained what you liked most: the meticulous and intensive coverage of the writing process. This step-by-step coverage continues to trace the stages of writing, from generating ideas, to planning and focusing, to drafting and revising, to the final proofreading. The lines of the title refer to these stages, which are called Thought Lines, Outlines, Rough Lines, and Final Lines to serve as convenient prompts for each stage. Every writing chapter covering a rhetorical pattern takes the student through all the stages of writing, in detail.

These chapters remain filled with exercises and activities, both individual and collaborative, because we believe that basic writers are more motivated and learn more easily when they are actively involved with individual or collaborative tasks. In keeping with these beliefs and with the emphasis on process, this edition of Along These Lines offers instructors more choices than ever. New Features

While the overwhelming response to the writing chapters was enthusiastic, some reviewers wanted more. Therefore, this edition of Along These Lines contains the following new features:

A chapter on writing the definition paragraph, with complete coverage of the writing stages More exercises on topic sentences Additional exercises on comparison/contrast Additional Features

Along These Lines continues to include these distinctive features:

A lively, conversational tone, including question-and-answer formats and dialogues Not much "talk" about writing; instead, no more than two pages of print are without a chart, a box, a list, an example, or an exercise Small, simple clusters of information surrounded by white space rather than intimidating expanses of small print Boxed examples of the outline, draft, and final version of the writing assignment in each chapter Exercises throughout each chapter, not merely at the end, so each concept is reinforced as soon as it is introduced Exercises that are not merely fill-in-the-blanks, but collaborative ones that have students writing with peers, interviewing classmates, reacting to others' suggestions, and building on others' ideas Numerous writing topics and activities in each chapter, providing more flexibility for the instructor A peer review form in each chapter, so students can benefit from a classmate's reaction to their drafts THE READING SECTIONS New Features

Reacting to reviewers' suggestions, we have made these changes and additions to the reading sections:

The chapter on "Writing from Reading" has been repositioned. It is now at the end of the writing chapters, so that it does not interrupt the flow of the writing instruction. A new section, "Writing the Essay Test," has been added. New readings, on such topics as high school and professional athletics, being bilingual, and reaching for the American Dream, have been added. The reading selections include more topics for writing a summary or answering a comprehension question. Additional Features

Along These Lines continues to offer these features:

A separate and detailed chapter on "Writing from Reading," explaining and illustrating the steps of prereading, reading, annotating, summarizing, and reacting (in writing) to another's ideas Vocabulary definitions for each reading selection Grouping of selections by rhetorical pattern Readings selected to appeal to working students, returning students, and students who are parents, spouses, and veterans. Selections focus on such topics as the workplace, getting an education, generational divisions and definitions, fitting in, or feeling left out Readings that are accessible to this student audience—thus many of the selections come from newspapers or magazines students would flip through at a newstand Topics for writing sparked by the content of the writing, designed to elicit thinking, not rote replication of a model THE GRAMMAR CHAPTERS New Features Thirty percent more exercises A chapter on adjectives and adverbs A chapter on spelling A chapter on sentence variety A chapter on words that sound alike/look alike A chapter on word choice An ESL appendix Expanded coverage of the uses of the apostrophe Expanded coverage of pronoun case in comparisons Expanded coverage of subject-verb agreement Additional Features

Because reviewers especially praised the focus and the exercises of the grammar chapters, these chapters continue to include these features:

Emphasis on the most important skills for college readiness Grammar concepts taught step-by-step, as in "Two Steps to Check for Fragments" Numerous exercises, including practice, editing, and collaborative exercises

This new edition of Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs and Essays also retains its dual appeal: both traditionalists and innovators will find something useful in the many activities, assignments, and exercises designed to get students thinking, reacting, and connecting ideas. It stresses the planning stage of writing and proposes the outline as a useful tool. Instructors who feel uncomfortable with outlining may skim the outlining sections, preferring to spend more time on the extensive sections on generating ideas and on revision. The text is designed to be a menu: we recognize that every instructor knows what works best in his or her classroom. Our goal is to provide sufficient options to accommodate a diversity of teaching strategies and student populations.

Instructors will find Along These Lines, second edition, easy to use for several reasons:

It has so many exercises, activities, assignments, and readings that teachers can pick what they like and adapt their choices to the needs of different class sections. The tear-out exercises reinforce every instructional concept and eliminate the pressure instructors face in preparing supplemental materials. The exercises provide an instant lesson plan for any class period or individualized work for students in a writing lab.

This book will appeal to instructors, but more importantly, it will work for students. Along These Lines has many distinctive features, but the book's most distinctive feature is our belief that a basic text does not have to be tedious, patronizing, or boring. In contrast, Along These Lines is written with the philosophy that an effective text should not only stimulate and motivate students, but it should also respect their individuality and their innate desire to learn and succeed. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 3 edition (March 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131112198
• ISBN-13: 978-0131112193
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #449,446 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best How To Write Essay Book Available, February 7, 2004

By	"ginazone" (Glens Falls, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I am a writer with a disability that pokes holes in my memory just when I need most to retrieve vital information, so I needed a totally complete book on essay writing to look up the types of essays I want to use for my freelance essay writing efforts, and had considered taking a class or workshop, but knew I'd only forget the best parts, later. So, I spent days searching here in the novelist, journalist and writer's subject areas for a thorough "How To" book on writing essays that covered ALL of the rhetorical forms for structuring essays. A few books focused on only one type of essay or were only 100 pages of highlights featuring at most, one or two essay types.

Luckily I thought to check the textbook area on Amazon.com. These books aren't just for "kids". Now I have added the textbook area to my favorites list. :-)

"Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs and Essays, Third Edition
by John Sheridan Biays and Carol Wershoven" would get 10 stars if possible. The book is 640 pages. The first 396 pages are devoted to essay writing instructions, idea generating lessons, very clear examples (through out), free flow and journal writing, simple and challenging exercises, countless writing prompts, indepth paragraph structure, writing from reading, and tear-out peer review critique pages in each section with fun word quizzes, individual & class tests. I have the Annotated Instructor's (3rd) Edition, containing the answers, a benefit for writers who want to test their knowledge for each chapter, before moving to the next one. The rest of the book's pages extensively cover grammar and punctuation as used in writing sentences, paragraphs and essays. "Along These Lines" is extensively indexed also.

"Along These Lines" contains dozens of beautiful full color photographs (every picture tells a story) and side-bars, with plenty of white space on the pages and margins, that makes the text a pleasure to look through and read. "Along These Lines" is perfect for writers who want a refresher course on essay writing and grammar; writers who enjoy word puzzles, word & vocabulary quizzes and self-testing; any one who writes or wants to be a writer, whether just for fun or a professional, student, journalist or amateur, and wants a course or workshop in Creative Writing, an English refresher class, english-as-second-language practice, or upper level high school or college students.

If the price is a problem, there are great alternative sources on Amazon, for used and like-new quality texts at a quarter of the price. My copy came from Amazon Marketplace seller. Now I'm on to edit my wishlist, and remove all the so-so essay writing books that aren't even a third as complete or thorough as "Along These Lines", though they cost about the same price (or more) than I paid for this book. "Along These Lines" is the ONLY Essay Writing book you or I will ever need.

3.0 out of 5 stars The wrong book!, June 8, 2009

By	Latin Honey "Latin Honey" (L.A, CA) - See all my reviews

The book was in good condition. It took it little longer than I expected to receive it so it was an even bigger upset to realize that it was the wrong book, but I was able to purchase the correct book the same day.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Costly, yet fast, February 16, 2007

By	Arintha L. Sklenar - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Along These Lines: Writing Paragraphs And Essays, 4th (Paperback)

I could have bought the book for less money somewhere else, but I needed the very next day. With amazon I was able to receive it the very next day. Very fast shipping, yet it did cost me quit a bit. Overall, I'm happy; I'll just order books I need in advance next time.