College Writing Skills with Readings 8th edition by Langan, John
By: Langan, John
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Print ISBN: 9780073371658, 0073371653
eText ISBN: 007742445X
Edition: 8th
Copyright year: 2012
Key Features of the Book:
? Four principles are presented as keys to effective writing. These four
principles?unity, support, coherence, and sentence skills?are reinforced
throughout the book. Part 1 focuses on the fi rst three principles. Parts 2
and 3 show, respectively, how the four principles apply in the different
patterns of essay development and other types of writing. Part 4 serves as
a concise handbook of sentence skills.
? Writing is treated as a process. The fi rst chapter introduces writing as both a
skill and a process of discovery. The second chapter, ?The Writing Process,?
explains and illustrates the sequence of steps in writing an effective essay,
focusing on prewriting and revision strategies. More prewriting and revision
strategies accompany many of the writing assignments in Part 2.
? Activities and assignments are numerous and varied. Part 1 contains more
than ninety activities to help students apply and master the four bases,
and the entire book has over 250 activities and tests. A variety of writing
assignments follows each pattern of essay development in Part 2.
? Clear thinking is stressed throughout. In the opening pages of the book,
students are introduced to two principles: making a point and providing
support to back up that point. These principles, a focus point throughout
the book, are the bedrock of clear thinking and clear writing.
? The traditional essay is emphasized. Students are asked to write formal
essays with an introduction, three supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion.
