Contents
Chapter 1
Reading to Write: Strategies for College Writing
What Do We Mean by “Reading Rhetorically”?
The Demands and Pleasures of Academic Reading
Reading and Writing as Conversation
Joining the Conversation
For Writing and Discussion
Reading and Writing as Acts of Composing
Reading Rhetorically as a Strategy for Academic Writing
The Purposes of the Author Whose Text You Are Reading
Your Own Purposes as an Active Reader/Writer
Questions Rhetorical Readers Ask
For Writing and Discussion
An Extended Example: Researching the Promise of Biofuels
Chapter Summary
Chapter 2
Analyzing Your Reading and Writing Context
Rhetorical Context: Purpose, Audience, and Genre
Analyzing an Author’s Purpose
FWD on Table 2.1
Identifying an Author’s Intended Audience
Analyzing a Text’s Genre
For Writing and Discussion
Analyzing Your Own Rhetorical Context as Reader/Writer
Determining Your Purpose, Audience, and Genre
Matching Your Reading Strategies to Your Purpose as Reader/Writer
How Expert Readers Use Rhetorical Knowledge to Read Efficiently
Using Genre Knowledge to Read Efficiently
Using a Text’s Social/Historical Context to Make Predictions and Ask Questions
Typical Reading-Based Writing Assignments Across the Curriculum
Writing to Understand Course Content More Fully
In-Class Freewriting
Reading or Learning Logs
Double-Entry Journals
Short Thought Pieces or Postings to a Discussion Board
Writing to Report Your Understanding of What a Text Says
Writing to Practice the Conventions of a Particular Type of Text
Writing to Make Claims About a Text
Writing to Extend the Conversation
Chapter Summary
Chapter 3
Listening to a Text
Writing as You Read
Preparing to Read
Recalling Background Knowledge
Using Visual Elements to Plan and Predict
Spot Reading
An Extended Example: Spot Reading in Kirk Savage’s Monument Wars
Listening As You Read Initially
Noting Organizational Signals
Marking Unfamiliar Terms and References
Identifying Points of Difficulty
Annotating
Connecting the Visual to the Verbal
Visuals That Enhance Verbal Content
Visuals That Support Verbal Content
Visuals That Extend Verbal Content
For Writing and Discussion
Listening as You Reread
Listening As You Reread
Mapping the Idea Structure
Describing What Verbal Texts Say and Do
For Writing and Discussion
Describing What Visual Texts Do
Writing About How Texts Work: Guidelines and Two Examples
How Summaries Are Used in Academic and Workplace Settings
Guidelines for Writing a Summary
Jaime’s Process Notes for Summarizing “Chew on This”
Sample Summary with Attributive Tags
Guidelines for Writing a Rhetorical Précis
Jaime’s Rhetorical Précis
A Brief Writing Project
Chapter Summary
Kirk Savage, The Conscience of the Nation
Chapter 4
Questioning a Text
What It Means to Question a Text
Examining a Writer’s Credibility and Appeals to Ethos
For Writing and Discussion
Examining a Writer’s Appeals to Reason or Logos
Reasons
Evidence
Assumptions
For Writing and Discussion
Examining a Writer’s Strategies for Engaging Readers, or Pathos
For Writing and Discussion
Examining a Writer’s Language
For Writing and Discussion
Examining a Text’s Ideology
For Writing and Discussion
Examining a Text’s Use of Visual Elements
Visual Elements and Ethical Appeals
Visual Elements and Logical Appeals
Visual Elements and Audience Appeals
Visual Arguments
Exploring Your Responses to a Text
Before/After Reflections
The Believing and Doubting Game
Interviewing the Author
Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Paper: Guidelines and an Example
Guidelines for Writing a Rhetorical Analysis
An Annotated Rhetorical Analysis of “A Lifesaving Checklist”
Chapter Summary
Atul Gawande, “A Lifesaving Checklist”
Chapter 5
Using Rhetorical Reading for Researched Writing
Rhetorical Reading and Information Literacy
Formulating and Analyzing Questions
Establishing Your Purpose
Using Question Analysis to Plan a Research Strategy
Tips for Finding Reliable Sources
Tip #1. Preferred Sources Have Undergone Solid Editorial Review and Fact-Checking
Library Databases and Web Search Engines
Tip #2. Specialized Periodicals for General Audiences Can Be Very Useful
Tip #3. Weigh Questions About Relevance
Tip #4. Ask a Librarian
Tips for Evaluating Sources
Tip #5. Read the Abstracts and Discussion Sections of Scholarly Articles
Tip #6. Examine a Text’s Currency and Scope
Tip #7. Check Authors’ and Experts’ Basis of Authority
Tip #8. Consider the Reputation of Publishers and Sponsors
Chapter Summary
Chapter 6
Making Knowledge: Incorporating Reading into Writing
Asserting Your Authority as a Reader and Writer
Managing Your Writing Process
Strategies for Getting Started
Strategies for Generating Ideas
Strategies for Writing a First Draft
Strategies for Evaluating Your Draft for Revision
Strategies for Peer Response and Revision
Strategies for Editing and Polishing Your Final Draft
Integrating Material from Readings into Your Writing
Using Summary
Using Paraphrase
Using Direct Quotation
Avoiding Plagiarism
Using Attributive Tags to Frame Sources Rhetorically
Using Parenthetical Citations
Understanding Academic Citation Conventions
Chapter Summary
Incorporating Reading into Writing: An Example in MLA Format
Appendix
Building an MLA Citation
Formatting MLA In-Text Citations
Quick Guidelines for Placement and Content
Variations
Setting Up an MLA Works Cited List
The Basics
Process Advice
Model MLA Citation Formats
Citation Models for in Periodicals
Citation Models for Books and Other Nonperiodical Print Sources
Citation Models for Web Sources