Foundations of Writing and Literature
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 162
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 270
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In the Fundamentals of Writing and Literature, students will navigate their college courses with a collection of classic reading selections and a handbook of writing essentials necessary at the college level. This book is designed to supplement writing and literature courses by providing nonfiction/fiction reading selections to invite lively class activities and/or engaging course assignments. Students will have access to a guidebook on writing essentials for college courses, helpful hints on brainstorming, drafting and revising, and a brief guide to source citation and research criteria at the college level. This book will help students from all majors practice, understand, and apply the fundamental skills necessary to become more engaging readers and more effective writers.
Foundations of Writing and Literature: An Introduction
Chapter 1 The Narrative and Descriptive Essay: Connections
College Reading and Pre-writing: The Brain and Critical Thinking
Reading and Annotating the Text: Write While You Read
Writing in College: Know Your Assignment
Brainstorming
Student sample
What’s Due When
Reading Selections with Discussion Questions and Essay Prompts
Benjamin Franklin “Arrival in Philadelphia” from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Louisa May Alcott’s “Transcendental Wild Oats”
Kate Chopin’s “Désirée’s Baby”
Chapter 2 The Expository Essay: Education and Work
Writing the Introduction
The Thesis Statement: The Outline
Writing Body Paragraphs with Evidence and Details
Peer Review and Revision
Writing the Conclusion
What’s Due When
Reading Selections with Discussion Questions and Essay Prompts
Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave”
Frederick Douglass’ “Learning to Read” from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
Fanny Fern’s “Working Girls of New York” from Folly as It Flies
Student sample: Tyerrah Ramos
Chapter 3 The Argumentative Essay: Freedom and Democracy
Academic Argument
Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle
Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle: Logos, Ethos, Pathos
Argumentative Thesis Statement
Examples of Kinds of Arguments
What’s Due When
Reading Selections with Discussion Questions and Essay Prompts
Declaration of Independence
Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments”
Chief Seattle’s “To President Pierce”
Chapter 4 The Research Essay: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice
Research and Writing
Credible Source Selection, Organizing your Research, and Note-Taking
Newspaper and/or Magazine: Evaluate Credibility and Source Relevance
Journal Articles, Magazine/Newspaper Articles, and Website Research
Integrating Research into Your Essay: Summarize, Paraphrase, and Quote Directly
What’s Due When
Reading Selections with Discussion Questions and Essay Prompts
Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”
Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?”
W.E.B. DuBois from The Souls of Black Folk: “Of Our Spiritual Strivings”
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper from Iolo Leroy: “Friends in Council”
Chapter 5 The Literary Text: Reflection
Writing About Literature: Close Reading
Literary Analysis
Literary Terminology
What’s Due When
Reading Selections with Discussion Questions and Essay Prompts
Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”
Edgar Allen Poe’s “Annabel Lee”
Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat”
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams”
Leslie Marmon Silko’s “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”
Student Sample: Laura Wozniak
Chapter 6 Citation Styles: MLA and APA
Works Cited Page (MLA) and Reference List (APA)
Citation Breakdown
Book
Journal Article
Magazine/Newspaper Article
Website
In-text Citation Style
Direct Quotations
Paraphrase
Summary
Sample Pages: MLA (Works Cited)/APA (Reference List)