1. The Essay and Its Parts
The Essay Defined
A Sample Essay: "Razor Wire Sweat Lodge," Leah
The Thesis Defined
Sources for the Thesis
Writing the Thesis
Patterns of Support for the Thesis
Special Paragraphs Within the Essay
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: The Essay and Its Parts

2. The Writing Process: Prewriting
The Writing Process Defined
Prewriting Strategies
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Prewriting

3. The Writing Process: Writing, Revising, and Editing
Writing Your First Draft
Revising Your Writing
Adding Editing to Revision
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Writing, Revising, and Editing

4. Descriptive Narration: Moving Through Time and Space
A Natural Combination of Narration and Description
The Narrative Pattern
The Descriptive Pattern
Order for Descriptive Narration: Time and Space
Examining Essays of Descriptive Narration
Student Writer: "Magical, Stinky Gloves," Herman Velasco
Professional Writer: "The Pie," Gary Soto
Practicing Patterns of Descriptive Narration
Topics for Essays of Descriptive Narration
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Descriptive Narration

5. Exemplification: Writing with Examples
Writing Essays of Exemplification
Examining Essays of Exemplification
Student Writer: "Cheating Is Not Worth the Bother," Lara Olivas
Professional Writer: "Saturday Night and You're All Alone? Maybe You Need a Cyberdate," Beth Brophy
Practicing Patterns of Exemplification
Topics for Essays of Exemplification
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Exemplification

6. Analysis by Division: Examining the Parts
Writing Essays of Analysis by Division
Examining Essays of Analysis by Division
Student Writer: "Elvis Presley: Twentieth-Century Legend," Emmett Davis
Professional Writer: "Designer Babies," Michael D. Lemonich
Practicing Patterns of Analysis by Division
Topics for Essays of Analysis by Division
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Analysis by Division

7. Process Analysis: Writing About Doing
Writing Essays of Process Analysis
Two Types of Process Analysis: Directive and Informative
Working with Stages
Basic Forms
Examining Essays of Process Analysis
Student Writer: "What's Behind a Brilliant Smile," Chanya Werner
Professional Writer: "Zen and the Art of Pomegranate Eating," Will Brock
Practicing Patterns of Process Analysis
Topics for Essays of Process Analysis
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Process Analysis

8. Cause and Effect: Determining Reasons and Results
Writing Essays of Cause and Effect
Examining Essays of Cause and Effect
Student Writer: "Getting High and Living Low," Sergio Ramos
Professional Writer: "Effects of the Automobile," James M. Henslin
Practicing Patterns of Cause and Effect
Topics for Essays of Cause and Effect
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Cause and Effect

9. Classification: Establishing Groups
Writing Essays of Classification
Examining Essays of Classification
Student Writer: "Types of Fly Fighters," Jolene Carter
Professional Writer: "Managing Conflicts in Relationships," Rudolph F. Verderber
Practicing Patterns of Classification
Topics for Essays of Classification
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Classification
10. Comparison and Contrast: Showing Similarities and Differences

Writing Essays of Comparison and Contrast
Examining Essays of Comparison and Contrast
Student Writer: "The Piper Cherokee and the Cessna 172," Brittany Markovic
Professional Writer: "A Mixed Tex-Cal Marriage," Jose Antonio Burciaga
Practicing Patterns of Comparison and Contrast
Topics for Essays of Comparison and Contrast
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Comparison and Contrast

11. Definition: Clarifying Terms
Writing Essays of Definition
Examining Essays of Definition
Student Writer: "Modern Mother," Marie Maxwell
Professional Writer: "You and Your Boss," Paul Hertneky
Practicing Patterns of Definition
Topics for Essays of Definition
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Definition

12. Argument: Writing to Influence
Writing Essays of Argument
Examining Essays of Argument
Student Writer: "Teaching Our Kids to Shoot 'Em Up," Tina Sergio
Professional Writer: "How About Low-Cost Drugs for Addicts?" Louis Nizer
Practicing Patterns of Argument
Topics for Essays of Argument
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: Argument

Appendix A. The Research Paper
The Research Paper Defined
Ten Steps to Writing a Research Paper
Student Example: "Zoos--An Endangered Species?" Michael Chung
Writer's Guidelines at a Glance: The Research Paper

Appendix B
Subjects and Verbs
Kinds of Sentences
Sentence Problems
Sentence Combining
Variety in Sentences: Types, Order, Length, Beginnings
Parallel Structure
Omissions: When Parts Are Missing
Verbs
Pronouns
Adjectives and Adverbs
Avoiding Wordy Phrases
Punctuation
Capitalization