Prentice Hall Reference Guide, 6/E
Muriel G. Harris, Professor Emerita, Purdue University

ISBN-10: 0131856405
ISBN-13: 9780131856400

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2006
Format: Spiral Bound; 640 pp
Published: 02/22/2005

Suggested retail price: $62.00
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For Freshman-level writing courses, such as Freshman Composition, English Composition, First-Year Writing, Expository Writing or any course where students need help with grammar, research and documentation.

The easiest handbook to use.

Muriel Harris was the director of the Purdue Writing Center where she worked elbow-to-elbow with students and for over twenty-five years.  As she worked with students, she realized that they asked the same questions over and over.  Based on her experience with thousands of students in the writing center, Muriel Harris authored this spiral-bound, tabbed and brief handbook.  Her unique feature, "Compare and Correct," and "Question and Correct," allows students to find what they need to help themselves with their writing, without needing to know the terms of grammar.  Muriel Harris' Prentice Hall Reference Guide is the easiest handbook for students and instructors to use.

What are your top three criteria in choosing a handbook?

 

EASE OF USE

 

Compare/Correct, Question/Correct Unique Feature (See Tab 1).  Students can find what they need in the handbook without knowing grammatical terms.  Now including specific page numbers, making it even easier to use in this edition.

 

Spiral binding (See book binding)

      Lays flat next to the computer, where students write and research. (Superior to plastic binding, which doesn't open fully and breaks.)

 

 RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

 

      NEW More material on writing research papers. Longer Annotated Student Sample Papers - New, longer, annotated sample student research papers in MLA and APA format guide students as they write their papers. (See double-page spreads on pages, 401, 402 & 436)

 

~An expanded section discusses doing research online and includes updated lists of resources and sites to search.  (See pages 318-326)

                ~Updated guidelines for citing electronic sources. (See page 318-339)

         ~Long student paper that illustrates writing about literature. (See page 534)

 

GRAMMAR AND WRITING PROCESS

Thorough Grammar Coverage with Student-Friendly Examples - Student-friendly and clear tone, concise explanations and examples that reflect what real students would write today, make the grammar section the easiest for students to use.  (See page 174)  

“Hint” boxes are provided to remind the writer of common errors that crop up in writing and offer strategies for using rules so not all rules have to be memorized. (See page 270)

Different Strategies - Since all writers do not write alike, numerous ways to plan, write, revise, and proofread are discussed in each chapter.  This allows the student to choose the strategy that best matches their writing style. (See Chapter 2, pages 1-19)

Getting help - The Writing Process section shows ways to seek help from peer response groups, friends, writing center tutors, and writing groups, along with ways to structure the interaction and questions to ask while working together. (See pages 12-16)

 

How do your students use the handbook – in and out of class?

 

    REFERENCE

  • Compare and Correct feature allows students to look up independently what they need in the handbook (See Tab 1)
  • Hint Boxes throughout the book display useful strategies and errors to avoid. (See example page 50)
  • The book’s organization is intended to help writers easily locate the information they need.  (See Table of Contents and Tabs)
  • Comprehensive Index allows for quick and easy referencing of handbook material.  (See page 570)

EXERCISES

  •  One of the few brief handbooks that contains exercises.  Exercises contain interesting bits of information about lighter topics as well as relevant, current topics. (See page 168). Exercises set up so that students can practice several types of skills simultaneously:  proofreading, sentence combining, and writing their own sentences while applying various rules.  

Are your students doing most of their writing on the computer?    

 

The easiest handbook to use, in print and now on-line too!  The book’s website, www.prenhall.com/harris has been enhanced for the sixth edition-A free OneKey access code to enter the site is included with every new copy of the text.

Website Features Include:

  • Customizable eBook that can be marked on and highlighted
  • Diagnostic tests to assess students' strengths and weaknesses
  • Interactive, self-graded exercises
  • Writing Matters Videos - Videos on using the handbook and interviews on writing at work
  • Tutor Center
  • 750+ self-grading ESL exercises
  • New Visual Rhetoric Activities and Instruction
  • Plagiarism detection software and "Understanding Plagiarism" website
  • Exchange - Online paper review, commenting and portfolios
  • PH Grammar Workbook
  • Editing Practice - Blue Pencil

             How are you integrating visual rhetoric into your course?

NEW material on presenting writing in visually effective ways has been added. Chapter 5, “Writing Visual Arguments” teaches students how we are influenced by visuals and how we influence others through the careful use    of visuals. (See page 39)

What problems do your students have with plagiarism?

 

NEW Expanded attention to evaluating and integrating sources into papers and avoiding plagiarism.  Because plagiarism has become such a widespread problem, there is material on understanding why plagiarism is wrong and why it should be avoided (see 51b page 292) and also on recognizing plagiarism (see 56a page 346). 

~Various formats for citing sources are discussed, including the latest updates of MLA, APA, Chicago Manual (CM), and the Council of Science Editors (CSE) styles. (See pages 373-483)

 

 

 

 

      New material on presenting writing in visually effective ways has been added.  This chapter helps students learn more about how we are influenced by visuals and how we influence others through careful use of visuals.

                                                                                                                                

~Chapter 5, “Writing Visual Arguments” by Clyde Moneyhun, teaches students how we are influenced by visuals and how we influence others through the careful use of visuals.

 

Expanded attention to evaluating and integrating sources into papers and to avoiding plagiarism.  Because plagiarism has become such a widespread problem, there is material on understanding plagiarism and why it should be avoided (see 51b) and also on recognizing plagiarism (see 56a).

 

~Various formats for citing sources are discussed, including the latest updates of MLA, APA, Chicago Manual (CM), and the Council of Science Editors (CSE) styles.

 

      More material on writing research papers.  New, longer, annotated sample research papers in MLA and APA format guide students as they write their papers.

 

~An expanded section discusses doing research online and includes updated lists of resources and sites to search. 

                ~Updated guidelines for citing electronic sources

                ~Long student paper that illustrates writing about literature added.

 

      Compare/Correct and Question/Correct sections now feature page numbers!   

      

                ~Makes it even easier for students to find material in handbook!

 

    

The easiest handbook to use, in print and now on-line too!

 

The book’s website, www.prenhall.com/harris has been enhanced for the sixth edition-A free OneKey access code to enter the site is included with every new copy of the text.

 

Website Features Include:

    • Customizable eBook that can be marked on and highlighted
    • Interactive, self-graded exercises
    • PH Grammar Workbook
    • 750+ self-grading ESL exercises
    • Editing practice - Blue Pencil
    • Diagnostic tests to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses
    • Plagiarism detection software and “Understanding Plagiarism” website
    • Videos - How to Videos on using the handbook and interviews on writing at work
    • Tutor Center 
    • Exchange - Online paper review, commenting and portfolios
    • Research Navigator with Autocite

CONTENTS

A Personal Message . . . vi

To the Instructor vii

Hints for Using This Book xvi

Question and Correct
& Compare and Correct

      Question and Correct: Some
of the Most Commonly Asked Questions About Writing qc1

      Compare and Correct cc1

The Writing Process

1   Purposes and Audiences 1

a Purpose 1

b  Topic 1

c  Thesis 2

d  Audience 2

2   Writing Processes and Strategies 4

a  Planning 4

b  Drafting 10

c  Organizing 11

d  Collaborating 12

e  Revising 16

f   Editing and Proofreading 18

3   Paragraphs 20

a  Unity 20

b  Coherence 20

c  Development 21

d  Introductions and Conclusions 21

e  Patterns of Organization 21

4   Argument 28

a  Writing and Reading Arguments 28

b  Considering the Audience 29

c  Finding a Topic 32

d  Developing Your Arguments 33

e  Organizing Your Arguments 36

5   Visual Argument 39

a  Similarities and Differences Between Verbal and Visual Argument 41

b  Reading Visual Arguments 45

c  Writing Visual Arguments 47

Revising Sentences for Accuracy, Clarity, and Variety

6   Comma Splices and Fused Sentences 49

a  Comma Splices 50

b  Fused or Run-On Sentences 50

7   Subject-Verb Agreement 52

a  Singular and Plural Subjects 53

b  Buried Subjects 53

c  Compound Subjects 54

d  Or and Either/Or Subjects 54   

e  Clauses and Phrases
as Subjects 55

f  Indefinites as Subjects 55

g  Collective Nouns and Amounts as Subjects 56

    h Plural Words as Subjects 56

                 i Titles, Company Names, Words, and Quotations as Subjects 56

     j Linking Verbs 57

     kThere (is/are), Here (is/are) and It 57

l Who/Which/That and One of as Subjects 57

8   Sentence Fragments 59

a  Unintentional Fragments 60

b  Intentional Fragments 63

9   Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers 65

a  Dangling Modifiers 65

b  Misplaced Modifiers 67

10 Parallel Constructions 69

a  Parallel Structure 69

b  Faulty Parallelism 70

11 Consistency (Avoiding Shifts) 72

a  Shifts in Person or Number 72

b  Shifts in Verb Tense 73

c  Shifts in Tone 74

d  Shifts in Voice 74

e  Shifts in Discourse 75

12 Faulty Predication 76

13 Coordination and Subordination 78

a  Coordination 78

b  Subordination 80

14 Sentence Clarity 83

a  Moving from UnKnown (Old)
 to known (New) Information 83

b  Using Positive Instead of
 Negative Statements 84

c  Avoiding Double Negatives 84

d  Using Verbs Instead of Nouns 85

e  Making the Intended Subject
 the Sentence Subject 85

f   Using Active Instead of Passive
  Voice 86

15 Transitions 87

a  Repetition of a Key Term or Phrase 87

b  Synonyms 87

c  Pronouns 87

d  Transitional Words and Phrases 88

e  Transitions in and Between Paragraphs 89

16 Sentence Variety 93

a  Combining Sentences 93

b  Adding Words 94

c  Changing Words, Phrases,
and Clauses 95

Parts of Sentences

17 Verbs 99

a  Verb Phrases 100

b  Verb Forms 100

c  Verb Tense 103

d  Verb Voice 111

e  Verb Mood 111

f   Modal Verbs 113

18 Nouns and Pronouns 114

a  Nouns 114

b  Pronouns 117

19 Pronoun Case and Reference 122

a  Pronoun Case 122

b  Pronoun Reference 127

20 Adjectives and Adverbs 132

a  Adjectives and Adverbs 132

b  A/An/The 135

c  Comparisons 137

21 Prepositions 140

a  Common Prepositions 141

b  Idiomatic Prepositions 141

c  Other Prepositions 142

22 Subjects 143

23 Phrases 146

24 Clauses 148

a  Independent Clauses 148

b  Dependent Clauses 151

25 Essential and Nonessential Clauses and Phrases 155

a  Essential Clauses and Phrases 155

b  Nonessential Clauses
and Phrases 156

26 Sentences 158

a  Sentence Purposes 161

b  Sentence Structures 161

Punctuation

27 Commas 165

a  Commas in Compound
Sentences 166

b  Commas After Introductory Words, Phrases, and Clauses 168

c  Commas with Essential
and Nonessential Words,
Phrases, and Clauses 171

d  Commas in Series and Lists 173

e  Commas with Adjectives 175

f   Commas with Dates, Addresses, Geographical Names,
and Numbers 177

g  Other Uses for Commas 179

h  Unnecessary Commas 181

28 Apostrophes 183

a  Apostrophes with Possessives 183

b  Apostrophes with Contractions 184

c  Apostrophes with Plurals 184

d  Unnecessary Apostrophes 185

29 Semicolons 189

a  Semicolons in Compound
Sentences 189

b  Semicolons in a Series 191

c  Semicolons with Quotation
Marks 191

d  Unnecessary Semicolons 192

30 Colons 193

a  Colons to Announce Elements
at the End of a Sentence 193

b  Colons to Separate Independent Clauses 194

c  Colons to Announce
Quotations 194

d  Colons in Salutations and Between Elements 195

e  Colons with Quotation Marks 19

f    Unnecessary Colons 195

31 Quotation Marks 197
a Quotation Marks with Direct
and Indirect Quotations 197
b Quotation Marks for Minor Titles and Parts of Wholes 199
c Quotation Marks for Words 199
d Use of Other Punctuation with Quotation Marks 200
e Unnecessary Quotation Marks 200

32 Hyphens 202
a Hyphens to Divide Words 202
b Hyphens to Form Compound Words 202
c Hyphens to Join Word Units 203
d Hyphens to Join Prefixes, Suffixes,and Letters to a Word 203
e Hyphens to Avoid Ambiguity 204
33 End Punctuation 205
a Periods 205
b Question Marks 207
c Exclamation Points 209
34 Other Punctuation 210
a Dashes 210
b Slashes 212
c Parentheses 214
d Brackets 215
e Ellipsis (Omitted Words) 217

 Mechanics and Spelling

35 Capitals 219

36 Abbreviations 223
a Abbreviating Numbers 223
b Abbreviating Titles 223
c Abbreviating Place Names 224
d Abbreviating Measurements 224
e Abbreviating Dates 224
f Abbreviating Initials Used
as Names 224
g Abbreviating Latin
Expressions 225
h Abbreviating Documentation 225
37 Numbers 227
38 Underlining/Italics 230
a Underlining for Titles 230
b Other Uses of Underlining 231
39 Spelling 233
a Proofreading 233
b Using Spell-Checkers 235
c Some Spelling Guidelines 235
d Plurals 241
e Sound-Alike Words (Homonyms) 243

Style and Word Choice

40 Sexist Language 247
a Alternatives to Man 247
b Alternative Job Titles 247
c Alternatives to the Male or Female Pronoun 248
41 Unnecessary Words 250
a Conciseness 250
b Clichés 253
c Pretentious Language 254

 42 Appropriate Words 255
a Standard English 255
b Colloquialisms, Slang, and Regionalisms 255
c Levels of Formality 257
d Jargon and Technical Terms 260
e General and Specific Words 261
f Concrete and Abstract Words 262
g Denotation and Connotation 264
h Offensive Language 264

ESL Concerns

43 American Style in Writing 267
44 Verbs 268
a Helping Verbs with Main Verbs 268
b Two-Word (Phrasal) Verbs 270
c Verbs with -ing and to + Verb
Forms 271
45 Omitted Words 274
a Verbs 274
b Subjects and There or It 274
46 Repeated Words 275
a Subjects 275

b Pronouns and Adverbs 275
47 Count and Noncount Nouns 276
48 Adjectives and Adverbs 279

a Placement 279
b Order 279
c A/An/The 280
d Some/Any, Much/Many, Little/Few,

Less/Fewer, Enough, No 283
49 Prepositions 284
50 Idioms 286

Research

51 Finding a Topic 289
a Deciding on a Purpose 290
b Understanding Why Plagiarism Is Wrong 292
c Deciding on a Topic 296
d Narrowing the Topic 297
e Formulating a Research Question 299
f Formulating a Thesis 300
52 Searching for Information 302
a Choosing Primary and Secondary Sources 302
b Searching the Internet 305
c Searching Libraries 312
d Searching Other Sources 315
53 Using Web Resources 318
a Web Site Bibliographic
Information 318
b Useful Web Sites 321
54 Evaluating Sources 326
a Getting Started 327
b Evaluating Internet Sources 328
c Evaluating Bibliographic Citations 335
d Evaluating Content 337
55 Collecting Information 340
a Keeping Notes on a Computer 340
b Printing and Annotating Photocopies and Printouts 341
c Starting a Working Bibliography 344
d Writing Notecards 346
56 Using Sources and Avoiding
Plagiarism 346
a Recognizing Plagiarism 346
b Summarizing Without Plagiarizing 352
c Paraphrasing Without Plagiarizing 354
d Using Quotation Marks to Avoid Plagiarizing 356
e Using Signal Words and Phrases
to Integrate Sources 361
57 Writing the Research Paper 367
a Getting Started 367
b Planning and Organizing 368
c Writing a Draft 370
d Reviewing the Draft 371
e Revising, Editing, and Checking  the Format 371 MLA Documentation

58 Documenting in MLA Style 374
a In-Text Citations 375
b Endnotes 378
c Works Cited List 379
d Sample MLA-Style Research

 

59 Documenting in APA Style 422

a In-Text Citations 423

b Footnotes 426

c References List 426

d Sample APA-Style Research Paper 435

60 Documenting in Other Styles 462

a Chicago Manual of Style (CM) 462

b Council of Science Editors (CSE) 471

c Columbia Online Style (COS) 475

d Resources for Other Styles 482

Document Design, Public Writing, and Writing About Literature

61 Document Design 485

a Principles of Document Design 486

b Visual Elements 488

c Web Page Design 490

d Paper Preparation 497

62 Public Writing 504

a Public Documents 505

b Résumés 514

63 Writing About Literature 527

a Ways to Write About Literature 527

b Writing the Assignment 529

c A Glossary of Literary Terms 531

d Conventions in Writing

About Literature 531

e Sample Paper 533

Glossary of Usage 539

Glossary of Grammatical Terms 550

Index 570


 

 

 

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