Writer's Handbook, The, 6th edition

Published by Pearson (July 14, 2021) © 2018

  • Lester Faigley University of Texas at Austin

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In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

In this eTextbook — More ways to learn

  • More flexible. Start learning right away, on any device.
  • More supportive. Get AI explanations and practice questions (select titles).
  • More interactive. Bring learning to life with audio, videos, and diagrams.
  • More memorable. Make concepts stick with highlights, search, notes, and flashcards.
  • More understandable. Translate text into 100+ languages with one tap.

Title overview

The Writer's Handbook (formerly The Brief Penguin Handbook) applies the fundamentals of good writing to a modern world. The text teaches the qualities of good writing that remain timeless even in the face of rapid digital change. Building on his experiences as a writing teacher, Faigley emphasizes clarity, brevity, readability, consistency and effective design. Accurate documentation, freedom from errors and the ability to capture a human voice are also emphasized as essential.

The 6th Edition is designed to help you find the right information at the right time, without overwhelming you with unnecessary detail. Complicated subjects are broken down into processes that will empower you to develop and effectively employ critical skills in your writing.

Table of contents

Part 1: Planning, Drafting, and Revising

  1. Think as a Writer
  2. Plan and Draft
  3. Compose Paragraphs
  4. Rewrite, Edit, and Proofread

Part 2: Analyzing, Informing, Arguing

  1. Read with a Critical Eye
  2. View with a Critical Eye
  3. Write an Analysis
  4. Write an Informative Essay
  5. Write a Position Argument
  6. Write a Proposal Argument

Part 3: Writing in the Disciplines

  1. Write About Literature and the Humanities
  2. Write in the Sciences and Social Sciences
  3. Compose for the Workplace

Part 4: Multimedia And Online Composing

  1. Communicate in Multimedia
  2. Design Presentations
  3. Compose in Online Genres

Part 5: Planning Research and Finding Sources

  1. Plan Your Research
  2. Find Sources
  3. Evaluate Sources
  4. Plan Field Research

Part 6: Incorporating and Documenting Sources

  1. Use Sources Effectively and Avoid Plagiarism
  2. Write and Revise the Research Project

Part 7: Effective Style and Language

  1. Write with Power
  2. Write Concisely
  3. Write with Emphasis
  4. Find the Right Words
  5. Write to Be Inclusive

Part 8: Understanding Grammar

  1. Grammar Basics
  2. Fragments, Run-ons, and Comma Splices
  3. Subject-Verb Agreement
  4. Verbs
  5. Pronouns
  6. Modifiers

Part 9: Understanding Punctuation And Mechanics

  1. Commas
  2. Semicolons and Colons
  3. Hyphens
  4. Dashes and Parentheses
  5. Apostrophes
  6. Quotation Marks
  7. Other Punctuation Marks
  8. Write with Accurate Spelling
  9. Capitalization and Italics
  10. Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Numbers

Part 10: If English Is Not Your First Language

  1. Writing in a Second Language
  2. Nouns, Articles, and Prepositions
  3. Verbs
  4. English Sentence Structure

Author bios

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