For courses in developmental writing.

Inspire students to craft clear, concise, and engaging writing

Briefer and more accessible than full-length texts, Wordsmith: A Guide to College Writing is the antidote to dry, overwrought, and overly expansive writing guides. It engages students, serves multiple skill levels, and teaches enduring writing techniques in a way that’s actionable, contemporary, hands-on, and fun.

The 7th Edition is a powerful tool for students and teachers alike. With appealing, topical readings and expanded writing exercises, the updated text empowers instructors to meet students where they are and engage their collective interests. A three-part layout allows the freedom to mix and match the writing chapters, grammar chapters, and readings. Pam Arlov’s structured, yet flexible, approach to writing encourages clarity and creativity. Her direct, conversational, student-friendly tone is used throughout, with light-hearted chapter openers that promote a positive and playful way of learning.

The loose-leaf version of the text is also available with MyLab Writing

MyLab™ is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted content with digital tools and a flexible platform, MyLab personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student. When students enter your developmental writing course with varying skill levels, MyLab can help you identify which students need extra support and provide them targeted practice and instruction outside of class.

Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyLab Writing does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with MyLab Writing, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information.

If you would like to purchase both the loose-leaf version of this text and MyLab Writing, search for:

0134984412 / 9780134984414  Wordsmith: A Guide to College Writing, Books a la Carte Plus MyLab Writing with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package, 7/E

Package consists of:

• 0134772288 / 9780134772288 Wordsmith: A Guide to College Writing, Books a la Carte Edition
• 013480791X / 9780134807911 MyLab Writing with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Wordsmith: A Guide to College Writing

Preface

Updates to the Seventh Edition

PART 1: COMPOSITION

1. The Writing Process

2. Preparing to Write

3. Building a Framework: Thesis and Organization

4. Introducing the Essay

5. Developing Body Paragraphs

6. Concluding the Essay

7. Revising, Proofreading, and Formatting

8. Showing and Telling: Description, Narration, and Example

9. Limiting and Ordering: Definition, Classification, and Process

10. Examining Logical Connections: Comparison-Contrast, Cause-Effect, and Argument    

11. Writing a Research Paper

PART 2: GRAMMAR  

12. Verbs and Subjects

13. Subject-Verb Agreement

14. Coordination and Subordination

15. Run-on Sentences

16. Sentence Fragments

17. Pronoun Case

18. Pronoun Agreement, Reference, and Point of View

19. Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

20. Parallel Structure

21. Verb Shifts

22. Sentences with Style

23. Commas

24. Other Punctuation

25. Word Choice

26. Words Commonly Confused

27. Capitalization

28. Apostrophes

PART 3: READINGS

Reading at the College Level

Reading Essays and Literature

The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost

A Narrow Fellow in the Grass, Emily Dickinson

The Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin

Our Vanishing Night, Verlyn Klinkenborg

The “Black Table” Is Still There, Lawrence Otis Graham

Letting in Light, Patricia Raybon  

Curing the Social Media Blues, Chris Guessman

Date Rape: Exposing Dangerous Myths, John J. Macionis

Is National Service a Cure for America’s Woes? Larry Fennelly

I Wonder: Was It Me or Was It My Sari? Shoba Narayan