Writers are travelers of a sort. This is a point made in numerous ways throughout The Ready Reference Handbook. Whenever writers begin to fill a computer screen or sheet of paper with words, they launch themselves on a journey. They may make a personal, private journey of discovery through the unfamiliar territory of new information or ideas, coming at last to new understanding or opinions. Or, they may trace familiar pathways through well-understood topics, aiming to share the insights of their frequent travels there with readers visiting these topics for the first time.
Even for well-practiced writers, such journeys are sometimes challenging, uncertain in their outcome. The aim of The Ready Reference Handbook Guide to Everyday Writing Assignments is to provide writers of all kinds with maps to aid them on their journeys. Actually, what you'll find here are three kinds of maps:
- These Web pages will point your way to the printed pages of The Ready Reference Handbook, showing you just where to go for specific tips and answers to your questions as you do the everyday writing projects assigned in school and on the job.
- Divided into chapters focusing on specific kinds of writing, these Web pages will guide you, step by step, through the differing procedures for personal experience writing, reports, essays, critiques, and persuasive writing.
- Full-length examples of essays, reports, and critiques show you how actual student writers have taken their individual journeys of discovery and communication.
To continue, select a section from the Contents list below or from the links to the left of your screen.
Writing Autobiography
Developing a Perspective on Autobiography
The Aims of Autobiography
Assignments: The Autobiographer's Options
"Inventing" an Autobiography
Finding a Topic
Exploring a Topic
Focusing Your Autobiography
Planning an Autobiography
Creating Your Persona (Your Voice)
Organizing Your Experiences
Writing and Revising an Autobiography
Paragraphing in autobiography
A Revision Checklist
Questions for Peer Reviews of Autobiography
Student Examples—Writing Autobiography
Writing Reports
Developing a Perspective on Reports
The Aims of Report Writing
Assignments: The Reporter's Options
"Inventing" a Report
Gathering Information
Focusing Your Report
Planning a Report
Profiling Your Audience
Organizing Information
Placing Your Conclusion Statement
Creating Your Persona
Planning an Introduction
Writing and Revising a Report
Choosing Words
Paragraphing in Reports
A Revision Checklist
Questions for Peer Reviewers of Reports
Student Examples—Writing a Report
Writing Essays
Developing a Perspective on Essays
The Aims of Essays
Assignments: Three Options
"Inventing" an Essay
Choosing a Topic and Expressing a Tentative Thesis or Purpose Statement
Gathering Materials for an Essay
Focusing on an Essay
Planning an Essay
Organizing a Thesis-Support Essay
Organizing an Instructional Essay
Planning an Introduction and Conclusion
Writing and Revising an Essay
Creating Your Persona
Paragraphing in Essays
Quoting for Support
A Revision Checklist
Questions for Peer Reviewers of Essays
Student Examples—Essay Writing
Student Examples—Writing About Literature
Writing Critiques
Developing a Perspective on Critiques
The Aims of Critiques
Assignments: The Critical Writer's Options
"Inventing" a Critique
Choosing a Topic and Evaluating Your Credentials
Gathering Materials for a Critique
Focusing a Critique
Planning a Critique
Organizing
Planning an Introduction and Conclusion
Writing and Revising a Critique
Creating Your Persona
Paragraphing in Critiques
Choosing Critical Words
A Revision Checklist
Questions for Peer Reviewers of Critiques
Student Examples—Writing a Critique
Writing Argument and Persuasion
Developing a Perspective on Argument and Persuasion
The Aims of Argument and Persuasion
Assignments: Options for Argument and Persuasion
"Inventing" Argument and Persuasion
Choosing a Topic
Exploring a Topic and Writing a Claim
Gathering the Support for Your Claim
Focusing Your Writing
Focusing Your Argument
Planning Argument and Persuasion
Building a Logical and Persuasive argument
Planning an Introduction and Conclusion
Planning a Trustworthy Persona
Writing and Revising Argument and Persuasion
Creating Your Persona
Creating a Persuasive style: Words and Sentences
A Revision Checklist
Questions for Peer Reviewers of Arguments and Persuasions
Student Examples—Writing Argument and Persuasion
