The Brief Penguin Handbook
Lester Faigley, University of Texas at Austin

ISBN-10: 0321067290
ISBN-13: 9780321067296

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2003
Format: Spiral Bound; 560 pp
Status: Out of Print

Suggested retail price: $56.40
Buy from myPearsonStore

In The Penguin Handbook, Brief Edition , Faigley rethinks the way handbooks present information and ideas with a reference that's tailored for today's visually and technologically oriented students.

Drawing on student feedback and a wealth of classroom experience to design a handbook that gives students the information they need in a format they will actually use, The Penguin Handbook, Brief Edition, addresses the changing nature of today's students as well as today's writing assignments. This text uses unique, “at-a-glance” documentation pages to help students visually understand how to cite sources, while “Common Errors” boxes for grammar and style help students identify the building blocks necessary for academic writing so that they can successfully employ them in their work. Additional visuals throughout the text help students with everything from how to construct a descriptive paragraph to understanding how visual information can be used in a paper, presentation, or Website.

The Penguin Handbook, Brief Edition, makes major advances over existing handbooks by broadening the context of communication, including concise, practical discussions of verbal and visual texts as well as detailed coverage of writing in its many forms. While an emphasis on the process of academic writing and research is maintained throughout, the book and its Website also include coverage of non-fiction genres—brochures, magazine articles, and letters of application—that are used more typically outside the classroom. In addition, The Penguin Handbook is the first handbook to combine this coverage with three purposes of writing: reflective, informative, and persuasive writing.

Throughout, Lester Faigley's expertise in matters relating to technology is consistently evident, including integrated references to the text's comprehensive and meticulously constructed Web site. This site extends the interactive nature of the text by providing self-scoring exercises linked to the “Common Error” boxes, “ESL Worksheets” for non-native speakers, “Writing in the World” projects linked to the writing process chapters, and more. On everything from Internet research and documenting online sources to cutting-edge chapters on writing for the Web and creating visuals for papers and oral presentations, The Brief Penguin Handbook, Brief Edition, ensures that student writers are adequately prepared for anything they are likely to encounter in today's academic environment and beyond.

  • Placing a unique emphasis on communication in many context, this handbook includes concise, practical discussions of verbal, visual, and online texts, as well as detailed coverage of print texts in their many forms.
  • A handbook for visual learners. For the student who has grown up with computers and will increasingly use the Internet for gathering information and communicating, this handbook innovates in its design as well as its content to make handbook topics accessible:
    • Visual images and photographs abound throughout the text, most of them by the author himself, giving it a more open, accessible look and feel.

    • Photographic icons are used in tandem with a keyword for each chapter to give students yet another way to find the topic they need.

    • Color is used throughout the handbook to help students visually process the information, especially in examples.

  • Thorough treatment of analysing/creating visual texts includes Chapter 6, “Critical Reading and Viewing,” which describes the critical analysis of words and images including sections on textual fallacies and visual fallacies. Part 3 on “Visual Rhetoric,” offers unique coverage of creating graphics, tables, and charts, as well as composing and delivering oral presentations with multimedia aids.
  • Practical, accessible coverage of grammar and style issues includes the use of 40 “Common Errors” boxes—a key at the back of the book makes the most common errors student writers make easy to find and focus on. Each box contains a specific error with information on how to think about and correct it.
  • Comprehensive, cutting-edge treatment of research includes more coverage of plagiarism and using sources than any other handbook on the market including a direct link to the Web site's “Avoiding Plagiarism” interactive tutorial. Unique, at-a-glance pages for in-text citations provides a visual guide to documenting sources in the latest styles of MLA, APA, CMS, and CBE. Includes in-depth treatment of citing and evaluating electronic sources and more models for MLA citation than any other handbook on the market.
  • Part 2, “Writing in College and Beyond,” addresses six nonfiction genres in the context of three different purposes for writing: writing to reflect, writing to inform, and writing to persuade. Traditional essays for each purpose are discussed, as well as genres such as the reflective magazine article, the brochure, and the résumé and accompanying letter of application.
  • “Writing in the World” boxes offer tips on writing contexts. When, where, and why do various rules of usage apply? What is the norm in the professional world? Do reviewers use the past tense when evaluating films or music? (No. They use the present tense just as academic writers do.)
  • Comprehensive coverage of technology throughout includes Part 4, “Writing for the Web,” with three chapters of detailed, step-by-step instructions for building Web sites using Web editors and HTML. “Computer Strategies” boxes give suggestions for working effectively on the computer while writing, revising, editing, and conducting research on the Web.
  • Provides free, seamless access to the text's Companion Website via URLS that link directly to the specific Web page needed. References to this useful, consistently relevant, Website can be found throughout the text including such features as:
    • “Writing in the World” projects & worksheets which offer students all the tools and source materials they need to complete projects in particular scenarios along with interactive worksheets to help walk them through a variety of writing tasks.

    • “Common Errors” & “ESL Workbooks”—interactive exercises that give students practice and immediate feedback in those areas of grammar and usage where they need the most help.

    • Model student papers with commentary.

I. COMPOSING IN THE DIGITAL ERA.

Writing for Different Purposes in Different Media.

A Day in the Life of a College-Trained Professional.

The Complex Writing Demands of the Digital Era.

1. The Rhetorical Situation.

The Rhetorical Triangle.

A Writer's Audience.

A Writer's Ethos.

A Writer's Purpose.

2. Words and Images.

Verbal vs. Visual Media.

Where Visuals Work Best.

Where Words Work Best.

3. Planning and Drafting.

Establish Your Goals.

Explore Your Topic.

Write a Working Thesis.

Plan a Strategy.

Compose a Draft.

Stay Organized.

4. Composing Paragraphs.

Focus Your Paragraphs.

Organize Your Paragraphs.

Make Your Paragraphs Coherent.

Consider Paragraph Length.

Link Across Paragraphs.

Write Effective Beginning and Ending Paragraphs.

5. Rewriting, Editing, and Proofreading.

Switch from Writer to Reader.

Learn Strategies for Rewriting.

Respond to Other Writers' Drafts.

Edit for Particular Goals.

Proofread Carefully.

Learn to Edit the Writing of Others.

II. WRITING IN COLLEGE AND BEYOND.

6. Critical Reading and Viewing.

Two Kinds of Reading and Viewing.

Critical Reading.

Verbal Fallacies.

Critical Viewing.

Visual Fallacies.

7. Writing to Reflect.

Find An Reflective Topic.

Identify a Focus.

Develop Your Response.

Sample Reflective Essay.

A Reflective Magazine Article.

8. Writing to Inform.

Find an Informative Topic.

Narrow Your Topic and Write a Thesis.

Develop and Organize Your Ideas.

Sample Informative Essay.

An Informative Brochures.

9. Writing to Persuade.

Find an Arguable Topic.

Make an Arguable Claim.

Develop and Organize Good Reasons.

Sample Proposal Argument.

A Persuasive Letter of Application and Résumé.

III. VISUAL RHETORIC.

10. Design Basics.

Create Visual Relationships.

Make Similar Elements Look Similar.

Make Different Elements Look Different.

Understanding the Rhetoric of Type.

11. Creating Illustrations, Tables, and Charts.

Illustrations.

Image Editors.

Formats and Printers.

Tables.

Charts and Graphs.

12. Verbal and Visual Presentations.

Planning a Presentation.

Delivering a Presentation with Visuals.

Designing Effective Visuals.

IV. WRITING FOR THE WEB.

13. Web Basics.

The Architecture of a Web Site.

Visual Design on the Web.

Establishing Goals for a Web Site.

14. Steps in Creating a Web Site.

Get Started.

How HTML Tags Work.

Adding Links and Images.

Organize Your Web Site.

15. Building a Multi-Page Site.

Principles of Navigational Design.

Tools for Navigation.

Navigation on Complex Sites.

Make Your Site Accessible.

Test and Improve Your Site.

V. RESEARCHING.

16. Planning Your Research.

Analyze the Research Task.

Set a Schedule.

Find a Topic That Interests You.

Ask a Question and Draft a Working Thesis.

Decide What Kind of Research You Need to Do.

Plan Field Research.

17. Finding Sources.

Research in Libraries and on the Web.

Find Books.

Find Articles in Journals.

Find Newspaper Articles.

Find Information on the Web.

Start a Working Bibliography.

18. Evaluating Sources.

Determine the Relevance of Sources.

Determine the Reliability of Print Sources.

Determine the Reliability of Internet Sources.

19. Avoiding Plagiarism When Using Sources.

The Purpose of Documenting Sources.

Intellectual Property and Scholastic Honesty.

Avoid Plagiarism.

Quote Sources without Plagiarizing.

Summarize and Paraphrase Sources Without Plagiarizing.

20. Writing the Research Project.

Review Your Goals and Thesis.

Plan Your Organization.

Incorporate Quotations, Summaries, and Paraphrases Effectively.

Write Your Draft.

Review Your Draft.

Edit and Check Formatting.

VI. DOCUMENTING.

21. MLA Documentation.

In-Text Citations.

Books In Works Cited.

Parts of a Book, Volumes, Editions, Translations.

Other Nonperiodical Sources.

Online Publications in Works Cited.

CD-ROM, Software, and Unedited Online Sources.

Visual Sources in Works Cited.

Multimedia Sources in Works Cited.

Sample Research Paper with MLA Documentation.

22. Writing About Literature.

Become a Critical Reader of Literature.

Develop an Original Argument.

Support Your Argument.

Sample Literary Analysis.

23. APA Documentation.

In-Text Citations.

Books in the References List.

Other Book and Nonperiodical Sources.

Periodicals in the References List.

Online Sources in the References List.

Other Visual, Computer and Multimedia Sources.

Sample Research Paper with APA Documentation.

24. CMS Documentation.

CMS Notes and Bibliography.

Books.

Other Book and Nonperiodical Sources.

Periodicals.

Online and Computer Sources.

Multimedia Sources.

Sample Pages with CMS Documentation.

25. CSE Documentation.

Name-Year and Citation-Sequence Systems.

In-Text Citations.

Books.

Periodicals.

Online Sources.

Multimedia Sources.

Sample Pages with CSE Documentation.

VII. EFFECTIVE STYLE AND LANGUAGE.

26. Write with Power.

Recognize Active and Passive Voice.

Use Action Verbs.

Name Your Agents.

Project Personality.

27. Write Concisely.

Eliminate Unnecessary Words.

Reduce Wordy Phrases.

Simplify Tangled Sentences.

28. Write with Emphasis.

Manage Emphasis Within Sentences.

Forge Links Across Sentences.

Use Parallel Structure with Parallel Ideas.

Use Parallel Structure with Lists.

Use Parallel Structure in Paragraphs

29. Write with Effective Words.

Recognize Varieties of English.

Be Aware of Levels of Formality.

Be Aware of Denotation and Connotation.

Use Specific Language.

Use Effective Figurative Language.

30. Write to Be Inclusive.

Be Aware of Stereotypes.

Be Inclusive About Gender.

Be Inclusive About Race and Ethnicity.

Be Inclusive About Other Differences.

31. Write with Accurate Spelling.

Know the Limitations of Spelling Checkers.

Distinguish Homonyms.

Learn Spelling Rules.

VIII. UNDERSTANDING GRAMMAR.

32. Basic Grammar.

Sentence Basics.

Word Classes.

Clauses.

Phrases.

Sentence Types.

33. Fragments, Run-On Sentences, and Comma Splices.

Fragments.

Run-On Sentences.

Comma Splices.

34. Subject-Verb Agreement.

Agreement in the Prsent Tense.

Singular and Plural Subjects.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects.

Collective Nouns as Subjects.

Inverted Word Order.

Amounts, Numbers, and Pairs.

35. Verbs.

Basic Verb Forms.

Irregular Verbs.

Transitive and Intransitive Verbs.

Shifts in Tense.

Shifts in Mood.

36. Pronouns.

Pronoun Case.

Pronoun Agreement.

Problems with Pronouns and Gender.

Vague Reference.

37. Effective Modifiers.

Choose the Correct Modifiers.

Place Adjectives Carefully.

Place Adverbs Carefully.

Revise Disruptive Modifiers.

Revise Dangling Modifers.

IX. UNDERSTANDING PUNCTUATION AND MECHANICS.

38. Commas.

Commas with Introductory Elements.

Commas with Compound Clauses.

Commas with Nonrestrictive Modifiers.

Commas with Items in a Series.

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives.

Commas with Quotations.

Commas with Dates, Numbers, Titles, and Addresses.

Commas to Avoid Confusion.

39. Semicolons and Colons.

Semicolons with Closely Related Independent Clauses.

Semicolons Together with Commas.

Colons in Sentences.

Colons with Lists.

40. Hyphens.

Hyphens with Compound Modifiers.

Hyphens with Compound Nouns.

Hyphens That Divide Words at the End of Lines.

Hyphens for Clarity.

41. Dashes and Parentheses.

Dashes and Parentheses vs. Commas.

Dashes and Parentheses to Set Off Information.

Other Punctuation with Parentheses.

Other Punctuation with Dashes.

42. Apostrophes.

Possessives.

Contractions and Omitted Letters.

Plurals of Letters, Symbols, and Words Referred to as Words.

43. Quotation Marks.

Direct Quotations.

Titles of Short Works .

Other Uses of Quotations.

Misuses of Quotations.

Other Punctuation with Quotation Marks.

44. Other Punctuation Marks.

Periods.

Question Marks.

Exclamation Points.

Brackets.

Ellipses.

Slashes.

45. Capitalization, and Italics.

Capital Letters.

Italics.

46. Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Numbers.

Abbreviations.

Acronyms.

Numbers.

X. IF ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE.

47. Nouns and Articles.

Kinds of Nouns.

Count and Noncount Nouns.

Singular and Plural Forms.

Articles.

48. Verbs.

Be Verbs.

Modal Auxiliary Verbs.

Verbs and Infinitives.

Verbs and -Ing Verbals.

Phrasal Verbs.

Conditional Sentences.

Participial Adjectives.

49. English Sentence Structure.

Subjects.

English Word Order.

Placement of Modifiers.

Direct and Indirect Questions.

50. Idiomatic Structures.

Prepositions.

Adjectives with Prepositions.

Phrasal Verbs.

Writing Essay Examinations.

Glossary of Usage.

Index.

  • 0321245318Brief Penguin Handbook, The (book alone), 2/E
    Faigley
    © 2006 | Longman | Spiral Bound; 592 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0321245318 | ISBN-13: 9780321245311
    Brief Description
  • 0321465148Brief Penguin Handbook, The (with Essential Study Card for Grammar and Documentation), 2/E
    Faigley
    © 2006 | Longman | Kit/Package/ShrinkWrap; 592 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0321465148 | ISBN-13: 9780321465146
    Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore
  • 0205585736Brief Penguin Handbook, The (with What Every Student Should Know About Using a Handbook), 2/E
    Faigley
    © 2006 | Longman | Kit/Package/ShrinkWrap; 592 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205585736 | ISBN-13: 9780205585731
    Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore
  • 0205505821Brief Penguin Handbook, The (Book Alone), 3/E
    Faigley
    © 2009 | Longman | Spiral Bound; 592 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205505821 | ISBN-13: 9780205505821
    Brief Description
  • 0205662676Brief Penguin Handbook, The (with MyCompLab NEW with E-Book Student Access Code Card), 3/E
    Faigley
    © 2009 | Longman | Kit/Package/ShrinkWrap; 592 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205662676 | ISBN-13: 9780205662678
    Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore



"It's not too often that one finds a book that offers students practical suggestions about ways that they can enhance both the form and the context of their essays... Please pass my best wishes on to the author for a job well done. This is exactly the kind of book that composition teaching needs."
—Chris Fosen, California State University, Chico State


"What I like most about the book is its emphasis on genre and visual form and its attention to emerging technologies... It feels like the text is modeling visual design in addition to addressing it within the content."
—Marshall Kitchens, Oakland University


"I think students will respond marvelously to the icons. They are a great idea for a visually literate generation... Students will find this handbook more 'familiar' to them simply because they'll recognize the 'look' of it as belonging to their world of visual information."
—Thomas Amorose, Seattle Pacific University


"What is most impressive is the emphasis on visual literacy here. It's what makes the book distinct and cutting edge... The use of icons, the color waves, and the graphics in these pages are stunning."
—Lisa Langstraat, University of Southern Mississippi

View a Sample Chapter PDF:

  • Companion Website
    Faigley
    © 2003 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Estimated Availability: 12/22/2002
    ISBN-10: 032111261X | ISBN-13: 9780321112613
    URL: http://www.ablongman.com/faigleywriter1e


  • Test Item Files for WebCT
    Longman
    © 2001 | Longman | On-line Supplement | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0321096495 | ISBN-13: 9780321096494
    View Downloadable Files

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