Critical Modes
an introduction to college composition
Table of Contents
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Skills for Writers
Chapter 1: Writing in the World
• Why Bother Learning to Write?
• Writing for a Specific Audience
• Writing With an Aim: Expression, Persuasion and Information
• Writing with a Voice
• Writing and the Map Strategy
• Applying the Map Metaphor to a Practical Problem: Plagiarism
• Writing to Learn: The Writer’s Toolkit
• Summary
Chapter 2: Critical Reading and Critical Thinking
• Purposeful Reading
• Before You Read
• While You Read
• After You Read
• Reading Argumentative Images
• Reading Visual Arguments
Chapter 3: Discovery Methods
• Writing to Learn
• Identifying the Task
• Writing to Communicate
Chapter 4: Building the Document
• Moving from Discovery to Drafting
• Using Discovery Materials in the Rough Draft
• The First Rough Draft
• The Intermediate Draft
• The Submission Draft
• A Flow Chart for Building Documents
• Summary
Chapter 5: Writing Effective Paragraphs
• The Purpose of Paragraphs
• Essential Criteria for Paragraphs
• Types of Paragraphs
Chapter 6: Constructing Clear Sentences
• Meaning What You Say. Saying What You Mean
• Sentence Complexity
Chapter 7: Diction: Writing for Accuracy and Effect
• Becoming Aware of Your Audience
• Reference Tools
• Figurative Language
• Inefficient Language
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The Modes as Critical Tactics
Chapter 8: Narration: Stories that Create Meaning
• Key Features of Narration
• Recognizing Narration
• Identifying Narrators
• Three Examples of Narration
• Flow Chart For Writing Narrations
• Writing Your Own Narratives
• Summary
Chapter 9: Description: Creating a Dominant Impression
• Key Features of Description
• Three Examples of Description
• Knowing the Audience
• Writing Your Own Description
Chapter 10: Illustration: Clarifying Your Emerging Insight •
• Key Features of Illustration
• Illustration for Clarifying Evidence
• Illustration for Clarifying the Claim
• Illustration in the Sciences
• Illustration in Popular Sources
• Illustration and its Relatives
• A Flow Chart for Creating an Illustration
• Writing Your Own Illustrations
• Summary
• Writing Your Own Illustrations
Chapter 11: Comparison and Contrast
• Key Features of Comparisons
• Using Comparison for Critical Thinking
• How to Create a Comparison
• Three Examples of Comparison
• A Flow Chart for Writing Comparisons
• Writing Your Own Comparisons
• Summary
Chapter 12. Classification: Recognizing the Map's Naming System
• Key Features of Classifications
• Three Roles for Classification in Critical Thinking
• Classification as a Discovery Method
• How to Write a Classification
• Two Examples of Classification
• Summary
• Writing Your Own Classification
Chapter 13: Definition: Boundaries that Create Meaning
• Key Features of Definitions
• Using Definition for Critical Thinking
• How to Create Extended Definitions
• Three Examples of Definition
• Definition and the Other Modes
• A Flow Chart for Writing Definition
• Writing Your Own Definition
• Summary
• Writing Your Own Definition
Chapter 14: Process: Identifying the "How"
• Key Features of Process
• Two Examples of Process Documents
• Flow Chart for Writing Process
• Summary
• Writing Your Own Process Documents
Chapter 15: Cause and Effect: Identifying the "Why"
• Key Features of Cause and Effect
• Using Cause and Effect for Critical Thinking
• How to Create a Cause and Effect Paper
• Three Examples of Cause and Effect Papers
• Summary
• Writing Your Own Cause and Effect Papers
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Integrating the Modes: The Critical Thinking Task
Chapter 16: Argument: Redrawing the Map
• What is the Question Really About?
• Evidence and Claims
• Key Terms
• An Argumentative Paper
• A Flow Chart for Argumentative Writing
• Writing Your Own Argumentative Documents
Chapter 16-a: Visual Argument
• Reading Argumentative Images
• Reading Informative Images
• Summary
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Chapter 17: Research for Critical Thinking
• The Keystone Approach
• Managing the Information
• Techniques for Finding Expertise
• Tools for Finding Information
• Library Databases and Why We Should Use Them
• Other Databases and Online Resources
• Building on the TEQ Sheet: Annotated Bibliographies
• Why Academic Papers Cite Sources
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Note: a brief summary of the thinking/writing process is available at Contingencies, the instructor's handbook. Students might find it a concise introduction and review of the the modes and the tools for using them as tools for critical thinking.