English

Ease of use 

• Benefits students because they have a handbook to consult as they write without waiting for the instructor to note problems or having to identify the information they need by terminology.  It also benefits instructors because they will have to correct fewer errors that students can correct before submitting the document. This includes:
  • 1) Ways to find the explanations they want without knowing the terminology by using the Question and Correct and the Compare and Correct features.
  • 2) Visuals, such as diagrams and arrows, to help students understand the  written explanation.
    • Example: See diagram for using apostrophes; Try This box in Ch. 28; or images of Web sites illustrating where to find information for citing sources (in Tab 10, Ch. 63)
  • 3) Hint boxes and Try This boxes to offer strategies to remember rules or avoid common errors.
    • The exercises help students practice rules and are offered in paragraph form rather than in disconnected sentences. Each tab has a TOC of the contents of that section, along with questions student can ask himself.
    • A separate section for ESL students also helps them with problems specific to ESL writers.  
  • 4) Features such as the laminated pullout sheet illustrating.  
  • 5) The common genres tab will help students by defining the structure and format of different genres, along with some examples and models to study.
  • 6) More student writing in the book so that students have models that are unintimidating. 

Friendly tone and clear explanation

• Helps the student realize that all writers consult handbooks and that everyone needs to check rules. Some students resist buying a handbook because they don’t want to decipher complex, formal, or authoritative language (e.g., “you must . . .”). 
• The authors understand that writers differ in the ways they compose and in their feelings of apprehension about writing. The writing acknowledges that, and the explanations, hints, and “try this” suggestions have been developed over years of tutoring students one-to-one. Example:
  • 1.  As you proofread, listen to the sound when you are linking or comparing similar elements. Do they balance by sounding alike? Parallelism often adds emphasis by the repetition of similar sounds.
  • 2.   As you proofread, visualize similar elements in a list. Check to see that the elements begin in the same way.
    • Not Parallel: Isaiah wondered whether to tell his girlfriend that he forgot or if he should make up some excuse.
    • Revised: Isaiah wondered whether to tell his girlfriend that he forgot or to make up some excuse.
    • Revised: Isaiah wondered if he should tell his girlfriend that he forgot or if he should make up some excuse.

Emphasis on writing research papers

• The Prentice Hall Reference Guide  offers extensive guidance with research writing, which permits instructors to assign such documents knowing that their students have adequate support when deciding on a topic, finding material in libraries, on the Internet, and in databases: evaluating sources: avoiding plagiarism: writing and revising the paper: and correctly compiling the citation section (MLA, APA, CSE, Chicago Manual).
• Updated material (e.g., expanded MLA and APA bibliographical formats for online and electronic sources, more information about researching library databases, updated lists of Web resources, etc. give the student the most up-to-date information, especially for writing research papers, thus allowing faculty to reduce the amount of supplementary material they need to provide to students.

New material on visual argument, multimedia, and document design

• Helps the many teachers who have asked for more material on document design, as well as help with compiling portfolios (and e-portfolios), designing Web sites, designing and incorporating multimedia in their writing. These and other additions reflect the new directions student writing is taking and student writing needs as they progress through college.

• New organization that reflects teacher preferences

• New ‘Try This” boxes for quick, easy reference, while keeping the HINT boxes

• More extensive coverage of writing processes, including discussion of the rhetorical triangle

• New material on writing arguments and composing visual arguments

• Uses of different media and multimedia presentations (e.g., including adding  images, developing PowerPoints, etc.) in writing and more on visual argument

• Help with compiling portfolios, including e-portfolios

• Whole new tab with discussions of the most common genres of writing

• New material on writing about literature and a new student paper

• Extensive updates to document design

• Extensive new material and updates on research writing with greater emphasis on doing research using online resources

• Visual guide to documentation

• More examples of MLA and APA format

• Quick laminated reference tearout sheet for documentation format

• New MLA paper

• More and new examples, models, and explanations throughout the book

• Much more material on the Web site (which makes the material available to students without increasing the length or price of the book)

Detailed list of changes

Correction Symbols (front of book): NEW! Additional symbols have been added

Tab 1

• Updated “Question and Correct” and “Compare and Correct” examples
• NEW! “Try This” Boxes
  • “Try This” boxes provide readers with examples of how to complete specific writing tasks, execute rhetorical techniques, locate research, or correct grammatical errors. These are great for showing students easy-to-use techniques for writing.
• NEW! “Checklist” Boxes
  • “Checklist” boxes provide students with a list of questions or ideas to help them develop their writing projects.

Tab 2

• 1. Thinking about Writing – This chapter contains some new and updated material.
  • NEW! 1a. Rhetorical Triangle – This section provides students with an understanding of the relationships among writer, audience, and topic.
  • NEW! 1e. Medium – This is a new section that provides students with an understanding of the organization, voice/style, technology, textual appearance, and special features that are associated with a wide variety of media, including traditional papers, multimedia presentations, Web sites, e-mail, and professional correspondence. This section also contains a “Checklist” to help students select the best media for their messages.
  • 1f. Thesis – The examples in this section have been updated.
• 2. Writing Processes and Strategies-examples have been updated
  • NEW! Planning and composing strategies for using computers are presented as ‘Try This” suggestions
• 3. Paragraphs
  • NEW! More extensive discussion of writing introductions and conclusions
• 4. Argument – Several updates, including the following:
  • The chapter contains a revised discussion of logical, emotional, and ethical appeals.
  • A new “Try This” box in 4c will help students to consider their own approaches to building argument. This fill-in-the-blank approach will offer readers with an easy-to-follow method for building their writing projects.
  • Chapter 4d includes a revised discussion about the relationship between claims, reasons, and warrants.
  • In 4e, “Recognizing and Avoiding Fallacies” is now presented as a separate chapter, rather than as a “Hint” box in the 6^th ed.
  • In 4f, a “Try This” box leads students to fill in the blanks to develop their own arguments.
• NEW! 5. Visual Argument – Completely rewritten from the sixth edition, including
  • An updated discussion of claims, evidence, and warrants in visual form
  • Photographs from Hurricane Katrina that illustrate logical, emotional, and ethical appeals
  • Advertisements that illustrate how to read a visual argument (great examples for instructors who assign students to analyze advertisements for logical, emotional, and ethical appeals)
  • Updated advice about how to create effective visual arguments.
• 6. Document Design – This section is now earlier in the book than it was in the sixth edition (was in Tab 12).
  • 6b. Incorporating Visuals has been heavily revised with a new layout.
    • NEW! Example of contrasting photographs (from the Asian tsunami) to send a message to readers.
    • NEW! Two-page layout of graphs, charts, tables, and maps makes it easy for students to understand when to use them and how to design them.
  • 6c. Paper Preparation has some new tables and layouts to allow readers to easily compare items (such as parallelism in outline headings and spacing for punctuation)
  • NEW! 6d. Multimedia Presentations – Completely new section on planning, organizing, designing, and presenting multimedia presentations in programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint
    • Includes sample PowerPoint slides that illustrate the beginning of a presentation arguing for ways the US government can reduce America’s dependence on oil.
  • 6e. Web Page Design – This section has been revised to include key design strategies that can help writers to communicate effectively to their online readers.
    • NEW! Includes a sample navigational flowchart and a sample homepage for a student’s e-portfolio for a composition course.
    • Updated list of online web design resources.

Tab 3

• 7. Writing about Literature
  • NEW! 7d. Sample Paper – Completely new paper providing an analysis of The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. The paper is in MLA format.
• 8. Professional Writing
  • 8e. Resume
    • NEW! New sample resume that highlights a reverse chronological format as well as a skills list.
    • NEW! This section now includes a brief discussion of profile/summary of qualification statements for resumes.
    • NEW! This section also contains a new “Try This” box for preparing for a job search.
  • 8f. Newsletters and Brochures
    • NEW! Completely new sample newsletter and brochure. The brochure was created for Brookgreen Gardens in Pawleys Island, SC, by students at Francis Marion University.
• NEW! 9. Writing Portfolios
  • This is a new section that provides students with information about process portfolios and presentation portfolios. Portfolios (and online versions called e-portfolios) are becoming a more popular way for instructors to shape courses and assess students’ work over the course of a semester. This section contains information about 1) reviewing and revising papers, 2) reflecting on the work and the changes made in the revision process, 3) arranging materials for the portfolio, and 4) designing and constructing print portfolios and e-portfolios.

Tab 4

• 15. Avoiding Shifts
  • NEW! Added material on active/passive voice, in the consistency discussion (15d)
• 18. Sentence Clarity
  • More emphasis on avoiding passive voice in the sentence clarity section (18f)

Tab 6: Reordered chapters to reflect teacher preferences, updated discussions and more and new examples.

• 31.NEW! Chapter distinguishing style from grammar and explaining the differences
• 32.  General vs. Specific Language:
  • Greatly expanded coverage, including new discussion of general vs. specific statements (32a)
• 37.  Nonsexist language
  • Updated and more expanded treatment

Tab 7

NEW! Try This boxes added, in addition to Hints boxes, some revision of explanations for more clarity, more examples

• 38.Commas
• 39. Apostrophes
• 40. Semicolons
• 41. Colons
• 42. Quotation Marks
• 43. Hyphens
• 44. End punctuation
• 45. Other punctuation

Tab 8

NEW! Try This boxes added, in addition to Hints boxes, some revision of explanations for more clarity, more examples

• 46.  Capitals
• 47. Abbreviations
• 48. Numbers
• 49. Underlining/Italics
• 50. Spelling

Tab 9

NEW! Try This boxes added, in addition to Hints boxes, some revision of explanations for more clarity, more examples

• 51.  American style in writing
• 52.  Verbs
• 53.  Omitted words
• 54.  Repeated words
• 55.  Count and noncount nouns
• 56.  Adjectives and adverbs
• 57.  Prepositions
• 58.  Idioms

Tab 10

• 59. Finding a Topic
  • This chapter contains some new “Try This” boxes for information on deciding on the topic and purpose of a paper. The research paper examples have also been updated.
• 60. Searching for Information
  • NEW! 60b. Searching Libraries and Library Databases – The emphasis on library databases in this book is new. Many university libraries now subscribe to online databases (Infotrac, Lexis-Nexis, OCLC FirstSearch, JSTOR, NewsBank, and ScienceDirect, to name a few) that contain online versions of print articles. The articles might appear exactly as they appeared in the original text (in PDF files), or the articles might appear in a reformatted online form. Instructors like to refer students to these resources because they combine the convenience of searching online with the reliability generally associated with print sources. This is a major change in the way research is now conducted in many composition courses. This section of the book provides students and instructors with more information about how to find these materials.
• 60c. Searching the Internet – This section contains updated information about conducting online research, including a new “Hint” box discussing the reliability of Wikipedia and a discussion about the primacy of Google in the search engine market. An updated list of Boolean operators is also included.
• 61. Using Web Resources
  • All of the lists of Web resources have been revised and updated. Chapter 61c also contains a revised discussion about copyright and the use of online images.
• 62. Evaluating Sources
  • Two new screenshots of Web pages (PandemicFlu.gov and FluArmour.com) have been included in an exercise in this chapter to help students assess the credibility of online sources.
• 63. Collecting Information
  •  This chapter includes more emphasis on researching, writing, and drafting with computers. Some information about the notecard method, however, is still included.
• 64. Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism
  • The definition and discussion of plagiarism has been revised and thoroughly updated, still maintaining a very strong message about the importance of academic honesty.
  • 64b. Recognizing Plagiarism and Documenting Sources Responsibly
    • There are more examples of what constitutes “common knowledge” (material that does not require a citation).
    • There are more examples of appropriate and inappropriate paraphrasing. This will be particularly helpful for instructors in trying to teach students techniques for avoiding plagiarism.
  • Chapters 64c and 64d also contain additional examples of acceptable and unacceptable summaries and paraphrases, along with updated exercises.
  • Chapters 64e and 64f contain new examples of material properly quoted and punctuated.
• 65. Writing the Research Paper
  • This section contains material that has been converted into two new “Try This” boxes.

Tab 11

• 66. Documenting in MLA Style
  • NEW! This chapter now lists 107 Works Cited examples for citing sources. There have been many updates and additions to this list from 6e, including greater emphasis on online sources and library database materials. This should be a big selling point for the book.
  • 66a. In-text Citations - This section contains new examples for citing in-text material, including the Bible and material from library databases and subscription services.
  • 66c. Works Cited List - This section contains a new visual layout for creating Works Cited entries for material from library databases and subscription services.
    • Examples 36-39 provide examples for citing works from library databases and subscription services.
    • Examples 40-64 contain examples for online sources. Some new additions include examples for citing a blog and a podcast.
    • Under the new heading of “Additional Sources in Print, Audio, Video, Online, or Other Formats” (Examples 69-107), there are new examples for many sources that can now be accessed online, such as television programs, radio programs, sound recordings/MP3s, films, photos, etc.
  • 66d. Sample MLA-Style Paper
    • NEW! A completely new paper has been included in this section. The sample paper is a problem-solution paper about improvements needed in rural South Carolina schools. This paper illustrates elements of argument in Chapter 4 as well as provides more examples of citations for Internet sources and online sources from library databases.

Tab 12

• 67. Documenting in APA Style
  • NEW! This chapter now lists 76 References List examples for citing sources. There have been many updates and additions to this list from 6e, including greater emphasis on online sources and library database materials.
  • 67c. References List – The beginning of this section has an improved layout for showing how to order items in a references list entry for a book and a journal article.
  • Examples 31-33 show the differences in citing PDFs and online versions of materials from library databases and subscription services. This section is preceded by a new Hint box containing a glossary of terms for searching library databases and subscriptions services.
  • Examples 34-51 include references for more online sources, including citations for blogs and podcasts.
  • Examples 52-76 include many new references for sources that can now be accessed online, such as television programs, radio programs, sound recordings/MP3s, films, photos, etc.
• 68. Documenting in Other Styles
  • 68a. Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)
    • NEW!This chapter now lists 34 examples for citing sources. There have been a few additions to this list from 6e, including greater emphasis on online sources and library database materials.
  • 68b. Council of Scientific Editors (CSE)
    • There have been a couple of updates to this section, including an example of how to cite an article from an online journal.
  • 69c. Resources for Other Styles
    • This list has been updated with the latest information.
  • NOTE: The section on Columbia Online Style (COS) has been dropped from PHRG. 
• NEW! Before Glossary of Usage there is a laminated pullout card illustrating MLA and APA citation formats for books and articles.

Table of Contents

Prentice Hall Reference Guide, 7^th Edition by Muriel Harris

Tab 1  Question & Correct/ Compare & Correct/ Try This

Tab 2  Writing Processes

1.       Thinking about Writing

                                                 a.      Rhetorical Triangle

                                                 b.      Topic

                                                 c.      Audience

                                                 d.      Purpose

                                     e.      Medium

                                                 f.      Thesis

2.       Writing Processes and Strategies

                                                 a.      Planning

                                                 b.      Drafting

                                                 c.      Organizing

                                                 d.      Collaborating

                                                 e.      Revising

                                                  f.      Editing and Proofreading

3.       Paragraphs

                                                 a.      Unity

                                                 b.      Coherence

                                                 c.      Development

                                                 d.      Introductions and Conclusions

                                                 e.      Organization patterns

4.       Argument

                                                 a.      Reading and Writing Arguments

                                                 b.      Considering the Audience

                                                 c.      Finding a Topic

                                                 d.      Developing Your Argument

                                                 e.      Recognizing and Avoiding Fallacies

                                                  f.      Organizing Your Argument

5.       Visual Argument

                                                 a.      Similarities and Differences between Written and Visual Arguments

                                                 b.      Appeals in Visual Argument

                                                 c.      Logical Fallacies in Visual Argument

                                                 d.      Writing Visual Arguments

6.       Document Design

                                                 a.      Principles of Document Design

                                                 b.      Incorporating Visuals

                                                 c.      Paper Preparation

                                     d.      Multimedia Presentations

                                                 e.      Web Page Design

Tab 3  Common Categories of Writing

7.      Writing Essay Exams

8.       Writing About Literature

                                                 a.      Ways to Write About Literature

                                                 b.      Writing the Assignment

                                                 c.      Conventions in Writing About Literature

                                                 d.      A Sample Paper

9.       Professional Writing

                                                 a.      Memos

                                                 b.      E-Mail Communications

                                                 c.      Business Letters

                                                 d.      Cover Letters

                                                 e.      Résumés

                                                  f.      Newsletters and Brochures

10.  Writing Portfolios

Tab 4  Revising Sentences

11.   Comma Splices and Fused Sentences

12.   Subject-Verb Agreement

13.   Sentence Fragments

14.   Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers

15.   Parallel Constructions

16.   Consistency (Avoiding Shifts)

17.   Faulty Predication

18.   Coordination and Subordination

19.   Sentence Clarity

20.   Transitions

21. Sentence Variety

Tab 5  Parts of Sentences

22.   Verbs

23.   Nouns and Pronouns

24.   Pronoun Case and Reference

25.   Adjective and Adverbs

26.   Prepositions

27.   Subjects

28.   Phrases

29.   Clauses

30.   Essential and Nonessential Clauses and Phrases

31.   Sentences

Tab 6  Style and Word Choice

32.   Style versus Grammar

33.   General and Specific Language

                                                 a.      General versus Specific Statements

                                                 b.      General versus Specific Words

                                                 c.      Concrete versus Abstract Words

34.   Conciseness and Wordiness

35.   Passive versus Active Voice

36.   Unnecessary and Inappropriate Words 

                                                 a.      Cliches

                                                 b.      Pretentious Language

                                                 c.      Offensive Language 

37.   Appropriate Language

                                                 a.      Standard English

                                                 b.      Formality Levels

                                                 c.      Emphasis

                                                 d.      Denotation and Connotation

                                                 e.      Colloquialisms, Slang, and Regionalisms

                                                  f.      Jargon and Technical Terms

38.   Nonsexist Language

                                                 a.      Alternatives to Man

                                                 b.      Alternative Job Titles

                                                 c.      Alternatives to the Male or Female Pronoun

Tab 7  Punctuation

39.   Commas

40.   Apostrophes

41.   Semicolons

42.   Colons

43.   Quotation Marks

44.   Hyphens

45.   End Punctuation

46.   Other Punctuation

Tab 8  Mechanics and Spelling

47.   Capitals

48.   Abbreviations

49.   Numbers

50.   Underlining/Italics

51. Spelling

Tab 9  ESL and Multilingual Writers

52.   American Style in Writing

53.   Verbs

54.   Omitted Words

55.   Repeated Words

56.   Count and Noncount Nouns

57.   Adjectives and Adverbs

58.   Prepositions

59.   Idioms

Tab 10  Research

60.   Finding a Topic

                                     a.      Deciding on a Purpose and Audience

                                                 b.      Deciding on a Topic

                                                 c.      Narrowing a Topic

                                                 d.      Formulating a Research Question

                                                 e.      Formulating a Thesis

61.   Searching for Information

                                                 a.      Choosing Primary and Secondary Sources

                                                 b.      Searching Libraries and Library Databases

                                                 c.      Searching the Internet

                                                 d.      Searching Other Sources

62.   Using Web Resources

63.   Evaluating Sources

                                                 a.      Getting Started

                                                 b.      Evaluating Internet Sources

                                                 c.      Evaluating Bibliographic Citations

                                                 d.      Evaluating Content

64.   Collecting Information

                                                 a.      Keeping Notes on a Computer

                                                 b.      Printing and Annotating Photocopies and Printouts

                                                 c.      Starting a Working Bibliography

                                                 d.      Writing Notecards

65.   Using Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism

                                                 a.      Understanding Why Plagiarism is Wrong

                                                 b.      Recognizing Plagiarism and Documenting Sources Responsibly

                                                 c.      Summarizing without Plagiarising

                                                 d.      Paraphrasing without Plagiarising

                                                 e.      Using Quotation Marks to Avoid Plagiarizing

                                                  f.      Using Signal Words and Phrases to Integrate Sources

66.   Writing the Research Paper

                                                 a.      Getting Started

                                                 b.      Planning and Organizing

                                                 c.      Writing a Draft

                                                 d.      Reviewing the Draft

                                                 e.      Revising, Editing, and Checking the Format

Tab 11  MLA Documentation

67.   Documenting in MLA Style

                                                 a.      In-text Citations

                                                 b.      Endnotes

                                                 c.      Works Cited List

                                                 d.      Sample MLA-style Research Paper

Tab 12  APA and Other Documentation

68.   Documenting in APA Style

                                                 a.      In-text Citations

                                                 b.      Footnotes

                                                 c.      References List

                                                 d.      Sample APA-style Research Paper

69.   Documenting in Other Styles

                                                 a.      Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)

                                                 b.      Council of Science Editors (CSE)

                                                 c.      Resources for Other Styles

“I would say ease of use for students is the greatest strength. I've not had any students tell me they didn't like the book. Every semester I have students who tell me they really like it and will keep it for future classes because they found it to be so helpful and easy to understand.”

—Judy Hatcher, University of Houston—Clear Lake

“The seventh edition has everything you and your students need in freshman composition.”

—Anne Kuhta, Northern Virginia Community College

“…[A] great book for freshman composition classes. There are plenty of examples for all the grammar mistakes students make. In addition there are examples to cover all the rhetorical strategies as well as help in doing MLA documentation.”

—Martha Bachman, Camden County College

“Well-organized, user-friendly, and clear.” 

—Richard Turner, Ozarks Technical Community College

“The Prentice Hall Reference Guide offers every teacher a "one-book, one resource" strategy for providing the means for near total success in an English class, regardless of prior English experience from grade school to college.”

—Allen Swords, Clemson University