Part I Basic Elements of English WritingUnit One Words 1.1 Meanings of a word 1.1.1 Polysemy of words 1.1.2 Extension of word meaning in different contexts 1.2 Use words correctly 1.2.1 The singular and plural forms of a special group of nouns 1.2.2 Abstract nouns 1.2.3 Collective nouns 1.2.4 Idioms 1.2.5 Synonyms 1.2.6 Transitional words 1.3 Use words precisely 1.3.1 Distinguish among synonyms 1.3.2 Distinguish between general words and specific words 1.3.3 Distinguish the words similar in spelling 1.3.4 Distinguish between formal and informal words 1.3.5 Distinguish the emotional coloring 1.4 Use words tersely ExercisesUnit Two Sentence Writing 2.1 Comparison between Chinese and English sentence writing 2.1.1 Synthesis vs analysis 2.1.2 Comparison:subjective awareness vs objective awareness 2.1.3 Comparison:straightforward vs periphrastic 2.2 Principles for writing English sentences 2.2.1 Know the basic sentence patterns of English 2.2.2 Know the extension of English sentences 2.2.3 Know the varieties of English sentences 2.3 Improve qualities of English sentences 2.3.1 Avoid redundant words 2.3.2 Avoid cliche 2.3.3 Construct precisely 2.5.4 Have coherence 2.3.5 Have good rhythm and beautiful pronunciation 2.4 Avoid typical sentence errors 2.4.1 Sentence fragments 2.4.2 Choppy sentences 2.4.3 Stringy sentences 2.4.4 Disturbing inconsistency 2.4.5 Incomplete constructions ExercisesUnit Three Punctuations 3.1 General introduction 3.1.1 Understanding punctuation 3.1.2 Functions of punctuation 3.2 Mistakes frequently made on punctuation 3.2.1 Mistakes by misunderstanding 3.2.2 Mistakes on punctuation resulting from grammatical confusion 3.2.3 Other mistakes 3.3 Different kinds of punctuation marks 3.3.1 Comma 3.3.2 Parenthesis 3.3.3 Dash 3.3.4 Colon 3.3.5 Semicolon 3.3.6 The ellipsis mark ExercisesUnit Four Paragraph Writing 4.1 General introduction 4.1.1 Definition 4.1.2 Comparison analysis 4.2 Components of a paragraph 4.2.1 A topic sentence 4.2.2 Supportin~ sentences 4.2.3 The concluding sentence 4.3 Paragraph development 4.3.1 Development by listing 4.3.2 Development by examples 4.3.3 Development by definition 4.3.4 Development by comparison and contrast 4.3.5 Development by cause and effect 4.3.6 Development by classification and division 4.3.7 Development by process analysis 4.3.8 Combined pattern of development 4.4 Special paragraphs 4.4.1 Introductory paragraphs 4.4.2 Concluding paragraphs 4.4.3 Transitional paragraphs or emphatic paragraphs 4.4.4 Paragraphs in a conversation 4.5 Build effective paragraphs 4.5.1 Unity 4.5.2 Coherence 4.6 Tips to avoid ineffective paragraph writing 4.6.1 Don't hesitate to show your main point in the first place 4.6.2 Don't try to achieve coherence without using anytransitional means 4.6.3 Don't use the subjective assumption to develop the paragraph ExercisesUnit Five Figures of Speech 5.1 General introduction 5.1.1 The definition of figures of speech 5.1.2 The value of figures of speech 5.1.3 The categories of figures of speech 5.2 Lexical stylistic devices 5.2.1 Analogy 5.2.2 Simile 5.2.3 Metaphor 5.2.4 Personification 5.2.5 Euphemism 5.2.6 Pun 5.2.7 Irony 5.2.8 Hyperbole 5.2.9 Oxymoron 5.3 Syntactical stylistic deviees 5.3.1 Parallelism 5.3.2 Climax 5.3.3 Enumeration 5.3.4 Antithesis 5.4 Phonetic stylistic devices 5.4.1 Alliteration 5.4.2 Assonance 5.4.3 Consonance ExercisesPart II Essay WritingUnit Six Narrative Writing 6.1 General introduction 6.1.1 Definition 6.1.2 Modes of narration 6.1.3 Characteristics of narration 6.1.4 The basic pattern of narrative writing 6.2 Constructing Process 6.2.1 Abstract a theme 6.2.2 Express the theme 6.2.3 List an outline 6.2.4 Select meaningful incidents and appropriate details 6.2.5 Select appropriate relating structure and order 6.2.6 Select a suitable perspective ExercisesUnit Seven Descriptive Essay Writing 7.1 Genera] introduction 7.1.1 Definition 7.1.2 Modes of descriptive writing 7.1.3 Structure of descriptive writing 7.2 Constructing principles of descriptive essay 7.2.1 Genera] introduction 7.2.2 Principles of descriptive essay 7.2.3 Build words and expressions 7.3 Graph description 7.3.1 Main types of graph writing 7.3.2 Trend description ExercisesUnit Eight Expository Essay Writing 8.1 General introduction 8.2 Types of expository writing 8.2.1 Process writing 8.2.2 Comparison and contrast writing 8.2.3 Cause and effect writing 8.2.4 Definition writing 8.2.5 Illustration writing 8.2.6 Division and classification writing 8.3 Language features in exposition writing ExercisesUnit Nine Argumentative Essay Writing 9.1 General introduction 9.1.1 Basic elements of an argumentation 9.1.2 Basic structure of an argumentative essay 9.2 Types of argumentation 9.2.1 Fact-clarifying essay 9.2.2 Position-taking essay 9.2.3 Cause-analyzing essay 9.2.4 Solution-proposing essay 9.2.5 Film or book review 9.3 Comparison between Chinese and English argumentative essay andthe negative transfers 9.3.1 Indirectness vs directness 9.3.2 Subjectivity vs objectivity 9.3.3 Parataxis vs hypotaxis 9.4 Useful expressions and sentence patterns ExercisesReferences