Chapter Summaries

Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007

Chapter One Summary
Reading, Thinking, Viewing and Writing


This chapter teaches you to become a better reader. It involves critical thinking through your reading. You must first use a reading strategy: SQ3R. The breakdown of this strategy includes Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. Read actively by taking notes, annotating, outlining and evaluate the text.
After reading the text, you must respond to the text. Be honest, fluid, reflective and selective in your response. When summarizing, it is important to skim the text first, and then read closely. Capture what the text is trying to relay, the text’s argument. Test your summary by checking your summary against the original text.
Critical thinking through viewing involves giving the image your active attention. View with a purpose, open your imagination, look for key information, relate the image to the words and look for main points to remember. Interpret and evaluate the image and figure out what is the point of the image and what is it really trying to do.
Critical thinking through writing requires time and practice. Once the following habits are formed, you will find out it will pay off in the end.
1. Be curious, creative and open to new ideas.
2. Value others’ points of view, Get involved. Focus and be rational.
3. Make connections, tolerate ambiguity, and test the evidence.
4. Develop research-based conclusions and expect results.

Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007

Chapter Two
Beginning the Writing Process


This chapter involves rhetoric, the art of using language effectively. In the beginning process you must first understand your subject, audience, and purpose. Next you must understand the assignment and what actions you must perform. Look for key words. You must then select a subject that meets the requirements of the assignment and have some interest to you.

Once your topic has been chosen, generate writing ideas through journal writing, free writing, listing and clustering. Once you have a plan, begin collecting information by using all the sources that are available to you. Aside from books, websites there are primary and secondary sources available as well.

Primary Sources Interviews
Observations
Participation
Surveys
Secondary Sources Articles
Reference book entries
Books
Websites


Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007

Chapter Three
Planning


When planning an essay, there are two basic thinking objectives: (1) establish a thesis or focus for your writing, and (2) organize the supporting information.

Inventory your thoughts. Re-examine your topic and decide if you should move forward with your writing or reconsider and come up with a new topic. Reconsider the subject, audience and purpose. Once decided, continue the process.

Form a thesis statement. Does the thesis reflect a limited topic? Does it clearly stat the idea, is it supported by information you have to provide. A manageable or limited topic + a specific focus equal an effective thesis statement. Let the thesis guide you throughout your writing.

Develop a plan or an outline listing main points, topic and sentence outline and include a graphic organizer. You should now be prepared to write the first draft.


Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007

Chapter Four
Drafting


When writing your first draft, you should once again reconsider your audience and purpose. Then focus on your subject.

In writing there is an opening, middle and ending. The opening is the most important element in your writing. It is here where you engage your reader, establish your direction and get to the point. The middle is where you advance your thesis, test your ideas, and support your main points. The middle is also where you build a coherent structure and use different levels of detail. The ending is a place to reassert the main point and urge the reader by gaining their acceptance and look ahead.
Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007

Chapter Five
Revising

When revising, look at the big picture. Take it all in. Revisit your audience, purpose and subject matter. Ask yourself ways you can improve and make your first draft become more complete. Make sure all of your ideas and organization is fully developed. Listen for voice and style, readers relate better to reading that is less informal. Look at your paragraphs for focus, unity and coherence. Request feedback from others and ask that they provide appropriate feedback.
Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007


Chapter Six
Editing and Proofreading

When editing and proofreading, use a checklist as a guide. Make sure your sentences are clear, complete, and correct. Check and make sure they flow smoothly and have varied lengths.

Another key element in writing is word choice. The writing should be free of vague words. Check your word choices. Instead of using vague words, replace the vague nouns and verbs with words that generate clarity energy and excitement.

Proofread your writing. Check for spelling errors, punctuation, and usage and grammar errors. Make sure that research documentation is punctuated correctly and check the writing for form and presentation.
Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007


Chapter Seven
Submitting Writing and Creating Portfolios

A good page design will make it easier for the reader to follow your reading and will make it much more pleasant. Use an easy to read font and size. Indent your paragraphs and maintain a one-inch margin around each page and double-space throughout the paper. Creating bullets, charts and other graphics should also be considered.

Once you have submitted your writing, you should be ready to share with an audience. Create a portfolio for sharing with other audiences. There are two basic methods for submitting your work.
· Paper Submission: Print an error-free copy on quality paper.
· Electronic Submission: Send your writing as an e-mail attachment.


Patricia Allen
Dr. Sylvia Shoemaker
English 82A
Summaries Chapter One-Eight
September 29, 2007


Chapter Eight
One Writer’s Process

This chapter shows how one student followed the writing process outlined in Chapters two through eight. She began her writing process from beginning to the finished polished essay.
Angela’s, the student, started showing how she examined the assignment, explored and narrowed her assignment. In planning she reassessed her topic. She focused on her topic, researched and decided how to organize her writing. After composing her first draft, she added a title. During her first revision, she wrote notes to herself to keep her thoughts together. She asked a peer to review her second draft. Her edited draft was read aloud to check for clarity and smoothness. She then reviewed it checking for spelling, punctuation and agreement issues. This was her proofreading, which later ended in her formatting and submitting her finished essay.