Contents
Exercise 1–1: What Is Good Writing?
Exercise 1–2: Paths of Communication Based on Social and Political Relationships
Exercise 1–3: Paths of Communication Based on Level of Knowledge
Exercise 1–4: Consider the Reader
Point Out Benefits to the Reader
Consider the Reader’s Point of View
Exercise 1–5: Writing with an Appropriate Tone
The Outline as a Test of Logic
Exercise 2–1: Finding the Flaw in the Argument
Exercise 2–2: Get to the Point
Putting Your Supporting Ideas in Sequence
Exercise 2–3: From Brainstorm to Order
Choosing Appropriate Sentence Patterns
Exercise 4–1: Organizing Sentences
Emphasizing and Deemphasizing Ideas
Exercise 4–2: Beware the Dreaded Comma Splice
Exercise 4–3: Structuring for Emphasis
Creating Rhythm with Sentence Variety
Exercise 4-5: Parallel Structure
Exercise 4-6: Avoiding Dangling Modifiers
5 The Right Word: Appropriate Language
Dictionaries: Tools of the Trade
Exercise 5–1: Consulting a Dictionary
Sexist and Other Offensive Language
Exercise 5–2: Airing Out Stuffiness
Exercise 5–3: Subject-Verb Agreement
Agreement of Pronoun and Antecedent
Agreement of Pronouns in Other Sentences
Choosing the Right Verbal Image
Positive and Negative Associations
Exercise 6–1: Warm and Cold Words
Making Passive Sentences Active
Exercise 7–1: The Active Voice
Using the Passive Voice Appropriately
Using Concrete and Specific Language
Exercise 7–3: Concrete and Abstract Nouns
Verbized Nouns and Nounification of Verbs
It’s Absolutely, Totally Unnecessary to Overmodify Very Much
Exercise 7–4: Edit, Rewrite, Improve
8 Write and Rewrite: Punctuating and Revising
Exercise 8–1: Punctuation Practice
Incorporating Quotations into Your Writing
Rewriting, Polishing, and Streamlining
9 Research: Fact-Finding Missions
Exercise 9–1: Kinds of Questions
Exercise 9–2: Where in the World Is . . .
10 Plugging In: Computers and Business Communication
Presentation: The Eyes Have It
Guidelines for Electronic Writing
Writing that Functions as Speech